What does it mean to me to be a fan? You raise a great question, Di. First of all, let me say that everything that follows is my personal opinion. Personally, I believe being a fan means enjoying someone's work- whether music, art, sports, literature, or other myriad areas. It means wanting to see that person succeed and be appreciated by others. It means wishing them well in life. It does not mean thinking the person can do no wrong, but rather acknowledging that we all have short comings, and admiring the person anyway. I look at it the way I do my children. They are wonderful and I love them dearly. I am their biggest fan. I know they have flaws, and love them anyway. I can address things with them privately. However, I would never expect anyone to seek out a way to publicly criticize or embarrass them. What would be gained from that?
Being a fan doesn't mean living with blinders on. It means seeing a person for who they really are, and loving them anyway. So sez me
