A lot of people are asking what ARMY-twt was like years ago…
Before Stationhead and Scener, we used to do synchronised streaming. I guess you could call them "anchor accounts" like BCD, and others would post a screenshot of what song we're all streaming next. Yes, we used to do time zone hand-offs. It was really nice back then. Lots of good mornings and goodnight posts on the TL, Tag-ur-it posts...
We really did work well as a team back then.
Question: Why did this stop? How do we get back to this?
My Answer from my POV:
As the fandom grew, so did the number of people joining simply because of the hype. Too many started calling themselves "ARMY" without taking the time to truly understand BTS's and ARMY's history. Our history shapes why we do things the way we do. It explains why certain behaviours are discouraged, while others are encouraged. This is what a fandom is supposed to be—a community that celebrates and cooperates.
My suggestion for those who want to count themselves as ARMY is simple: do the legwork. Study our history. Take the time to watch the primary source content BTS has been producing for the past 12 years. STOP relying on fan edits with hidden or not-so-hidden agendas, just because you think you can use them as a 45min cheat sheet or crash course into our shared history.
Listen to BTS’s story from BTS themselves—they’ve been telling it since the very beginning of their careers. If you find it too long or too boring, how on earth did you come to the conclusion you’re a fan, if simply getting to know BTS is a chore.
Once you get to know BTS better, you’ll understand ARMY better. ARMY takes our lead from BTS. We’re not their managers, or parents, or delusional partners—we know we are fans who are voluntarily here to support them. We work with what we’re given. BTS TRUSTS ARMY to maximize our resources and showcase ARMY’s talent because every rollout is their approved choice/plan.
Things like streaming parties? That wasn’t the label’s idea—it was ARMY’s. Organizing voting parties by time zones? ARMY’s idea. Contacting local radio stations in the U.S. to play BTS’s songs & help chart? ARMY’s idea. Organising, "Buying parties with SS" to fight to BOT narrative, ARMY's idea. Testing streaming platforms to find the most efficient ways to structure playlists? Again, ARMY’s idea.
BTS has trusted us all these years as their only true partner against this rigged game. Show them you’re not like other fandoms that wait to be spoon-fed their “records” just for headlines and bragging rights they never really earned.
#BTSHistory
We will NOT share any pic of 🐱at the police station. We will NOT engage with those who do but report and block them. We will work together to continue to fight the smear campaign in the media and we will be the shield.
#ARMYShieldsBTS
ARMY💜
Please spread these translations for #BTSPurpleRibbonProject
Available in 8 languages:
Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish, Bengali, Hindi, French & English
This is to call for ARMYs to join in the support project💜
#ArmyShieldsBTS#2024PurpleRibbonProject
Dear @Spotify , you're tripping.
I follow #RM , so I should be recommended to listen to Pharrell, Nas, Tyler The Creator, Childish Gambino
I follow #JHOPE , so why don't you recommend Hip-Hop classics of the 90s
I follow #SUGA , so why don't I have Epik High or T.I. on my Discover mix?
I could go on with every member & their influences, which is the kind of music they resemble to the most.
Your algorithm is NOT algorithm-ing how and algorithm should.
Same thing happens to me.. It’s very frustrating seeing as I’m not interested in listening to any of the kpopie songs that it pops up with. AND NOT TO MENTION, I can no longer block them either 🙄 @Spotify Do better.
Dear @Spotify , you're tripping.
I follow #RM , so I should be recommended to listen to Pharrell, Nas, Tyler The Creator, Childish Gambino
I follow #JHOPE , so why don't you recommend Hip-Hop classics of the 90s
I follow #SUGA , so why don't I have Epik High or T.I. on my Discover mix?
I could go on with every member & their influences, which is the kind of music they resemble to the most.
Your algorithm is NOT algorithm-ing how and algorithm should.
If you're ARMY I'd really recommend not to hang out on the soIo side of the fandom. If you do, you'll hear things like "no one but us" and "why don't ARMY" and "Big OT7 ARMY accs never". Don't let OT1 narratives colour your views of all things Bangtan and ARMY.
Remember to turn your YouTube playlists into queues for a faster count of their views during release week and as a habit.
It takes SECONDS to do that.
Here's how:
https://t.co/fvcZqngGRz
BCD created this site so we can see milestones achieved, streams per artist/song/album, itunes achieved....
But running it smoothly has a cost, so whenever I can I send a Ko-fi their way.
If you want to do the same?
https://t.co/Uh4vE5Ze4e
FYI for newer ARMYs: this is how all BTS chart accounts used to give us updates in the past: without promoting other artists or fuelling fanwars by mentioning them (let alone adding their photos).
“Whatever happens to us in the future… as long as you TRUST US, we’ll be able to overcome whatever gets in our way…
So please BELIEVE IN US.”
-@BTS_twt Namjoon
#BTS#RM