Stanning 101

It has come to my attention that the concept of stanning needs to be addressed. On fan boards, on communal boards, or wherever you are in life whilst stanning. This will be a two part series in the Rhythmless Nation.

Some of you don’t know how the stan properly.

Some of you don’t even know what a stan is.

Some of you are stanning for all the wrong reasons.

Some of you still wear high top K-Swiss. But we won’t get in to that.

For those of you who don’t know what stanning or what a stan is, kick off your shoes and relax your feet, party on down to the Rhythmless beat because I’m going to spell it out for you. I understand this is a very touchy subject for some of you, so I’ll try to keep it light.

To understand the idea of a “stan”, we need to trace our roots back to the earliest signs of stanning, which began sometime in the early 20^th century. For the sake of time (and the fact that CSI is about to come on) we won’t go back that far. In the 20^th century, artists were huge. They had huge followings. There was no term to accurately describe these homo sapiens, so they were just considered overzealous fans or “fanatics” if you will. Luckily in 2002, a rapper by the name of Eminem coined the term “stan”. What a sigh of relief it was to do away with “fanatic”. Stan had a nice 21^st century ring to it. The song "Stan" embodied all the aspects of what it means to be a huge fanatic of a music artist. And there we have our history of the word “stan”.

[sighs]

This is a very delicate subject, and we must treat it with extreme care. [sighs again] You can’t just go stanning all whilly nilly. There is an art, a science, and a math to stanning people. You have to know who you are stanning for and why you stan for them. One thing you have to remember is when you’re stanning, you’re representing not only yourself, but the artist you stan for as well. So you have to watch what you say and how you act. Remember, you’re representing a fan base, and you will be the general consensus of how stans of certain artists act. To put it in lamest terms, if you act like an idiot, people will assume all fans/stans of that artist are idiots as well. If you act smart, people will assume the same concept. Watch how you act.

When you’re a stan, there are certain civic duties you must perform. Having assorted print media (albums, posters, magazines, etc) is all fine and dandy, but I’m speaking on the social aspect. When stanning, be sure to wear your artist of choice on your sleeve. When someone asks who you’re listening to on your iPod, don’t be afraid to tell them. Be sure to wear artist memorabilia on your person. This includes but it not limited to t-shirts, buttons, pins, and handbags. People should know who you stan for without knowing your name. When someone makes a comment about your artist, understand it is their opinion. You can’t change it. However, when someone decides to get slick at the mouth, only then is it okay to intervene. Intervening can range from correcting the person, snatching a wig, or even framing them for murder. When you’re at Best Buy for example, put the artist’ most recent album in the front of their section. If there are two shelves, put the most recent album in the front on one shelf, and your favorite album in the front on the other.

The reason why you stan is also very important. Reasons will vary, but be sure to stan for the right reasons. When you stan, there should be a reason. The artist should inspire you, their music should have helped you personally, or they represent something that draws you to them.  A few examples from the kids on Janet-Xone (edited for grammar):

“What Janet Means To You?”:

“Happiness…Her music has been the soundtrack to my life (especially the Janet. album -- whew)! She's the perfect combination of talent, poise, strength, humility and beauty -- inside and out. I don't agree with everything she does or like everything she puts out there. But, she is one of the few artists who seem to have the ability to connect with their fans.”

 -cabmia

“Janet to me means inspiration. Being able to be inspired by someone you don't even know is a powerful thing. There are no words to even express to her on how much she has meant to me in my journey in life. And when someone like Janet can inspire me with words alone it's truly magical.”

 -Philly

“Long story short...I wouldn't be where and who I am today without her.”

-N2

“Janet's music was a way for me to escape when I was kid…her music represents an entirely different world. I think Janet's a very hopeful person. She's not afraid to show the public that she can be both sexual, vulnerable, and shy. She's the perfect representation of somebody who is very shy in public, but have no stage fright. She's influenced my own dancing style greatly, and she's always doing something to catch my attention.”

-Rockbird

“What does Janet mean to me? I've tried to put these to words before - quite unsuccessfully. Let's see what I can say about her...Janet is a sort of moral presence that I often think about when making decisions. If you notice in her music there is nothing hateful, nothing negative, no complaining, and no whining. She does everything with such grace and dignity and wants nothing to do with negativity or hate. She is never a victim. And has so much strength. It's the outlook that many don't have and I definitely take it to heart every day of my life. I tell myself this everyday: I cannot and will not live a life of hate. And also, Janet makes it okay to be sexual. She makes it okay to be freaky. To crave sex. To want something so intimate with someone. Yet is never a whore, never raunchy, never degrading to herself. It's this sort of proud sexual vixen personality that really inspires me. She also says it's okay to be vulnerable. It's okay to feel lost. Because in the end, we'll all get through it. If Janet Jackson - the strongest woman I know - says it's okay to be vulnerable, than shit --- ITS OKAY. Also, she is always out to make a difference in the world - speaking out for those who can’t and simply by being a kind human being. She has so much humility and respect for others. And lastly, I am a musician. I write songs. Her music is so complex and intricate and well written that she is an amazing source of musical inspiration, too. Her incredible outlook is heard through her music. She puts so much of HERSELF in her records and is always pushing it forward. I find it so inspiring. That is what Janet means to me.”

-Sharn

And, of course, this:

These are examples of why you you’re stanning for a particular artist. Stanning for someone because they have X amount of hits, or sold X amount of albums is not proper stanning, and is frowned upon by other stans. This also includes stanning for someone because of their image, persona, etc is not acceptable justification for stanning. You should be stanning because the music has helped you through troubled waters, their talents inspire you as a person, they have helped shaped your life, etc. Stanning should be deeper than musical. It should reach you personally, emotionally, spiritually, and to an extent, psychologically. Stanning is all about taking an artist for what they offer..and following them. You have to take the good and the bad and the highs and the lows. The good times of success, the lows of when an artist hits a snag in their career. The lows make you stronger and build character. Weather the storm. And it is here where most artists create their best work (i.e. Velvet Rope, Blackout, My Life, Dangerous, etc). Taking only the good is fairweather, and I'm sure there are many of those floating around.

So to conclude Part I of Stanning 101, understand what stanning is, what it means, and how it's done. Is there a right or wrong method to stanning? Yes. Can it be rectified? Yes.  

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

1.   Can I stan for more than one artist?

Yes. However, it is confusing to be stanning for more than 3 artists.

2.   If I stan for more than one artist, do I have to like them equally?

No. It is at your discretion. You can love each equally or one more than the other. One artist may offer one the other doesn’t. Thus causing you to gravitate towards them a bit more.

3.   When picking an artist, what are some of the best options?

Your options are unlimited. The music industry has produced an array of artist to serve you if you are taste specific. Choose the artist whose music you can relate to, or best fits your interest.

4.   Is it okay if I stan for a flop?

Yes. Remember, you are stanning for talent and music, not sales, success, image, popularity, etc.

5.   How will I know if I’m a stan?

There’s a sensor in your cerebral cortex that ignites when you become a stan.

6.   My parents think I’m becoming obsessed with my artist. What should I do?

Your parents will be the least understanding. Don’t panic, this is common. Inform them that it’s not an obsession, it’s a way of life. Your fellow stans will be your best support system.

7.   What is the time period for being a stan?

It is contingent. Some people stop stanning for a variety of reasons. As long as you can find comfort in your artist, your stanning can go on for eternity. There is nothing wrong with teaching God the “If” breakdown, or helping Mother Teresa up from the floor during the “Get Me Bodied” extended dance  mix.

8.   What if I don’t find an artist I want to stan for?

No worries. This can take time. The key is to not search for an artist, but let the artist find you. Something will click when you hear a song, and the light bulb will illuminate.

9.   Is there some kind of membership fee assessed once I become a stan?

Yes. However, the fee is not monetary. We will address this is Part II of Stanning 101.

10.Am I required to like the other stans?

No. Some stans are idiots.

If you have any further questions, comments, concerns, or complaints, please feel free to drop them in the comment box below, and we here at the Rhythmless Headquarters will address them in Part II of Stanning 101. Thank you.