Are you stuck inside Gaga's world?

[Florian 19,952]

I understand what you're saying but idk in my case it's quite the opposite. Her inspirational journey to get to the top actually motivated me to push harder during my college years and I graduated with my masters a few months ago and I've been fascinated with her since 2008 but I never let my fascination with her interfere with my personal life. 

This exactly.

In my opinion, Gaga doesn't aim to make us dependent (but let's be real, she still wants us on her side). My point is that, as a self-called Mother Mother, Gaga's aim is more to help us and open our minds.

Indeed, what is the role of a "mother" ? Isn't it her goal to do her best to raise her kids and learn them how to be a mature and independent adult ? Yes it is. And that's a bit what Gaga is trying to do : she teaches us how to be confident, she teaches us that nobody is an outcast and have his place in our society, she opens our mind introducing us to art and acceptance and even fight for our rights.

As @Didybae said, there is also a marketing process (and it's quite understandable, that's how she makes her living) but I think her goals are genuine : keeping us united (some of us might be probably alone irl or introverted etc), using her starpower to teach kids/teens/adults to be tolerant and open-minded.

[Didymus 34,379]

Its like she stole a part of my life because she was my prime entertainment source for so long. I should have been using that time to discover what I like and who I am in the non media/cyber world. But I can't even blame her because I allowed it to happened.

That's what people do At least you realized now and can remember that people are prone to do this kind of thing forever to keep you on the right track. It's something we all have to learn Even Gaga

[holy scheisse 22,254]

You're sentiment was worded so well. And I think you've helped me realize that I need to stop coming on this site lol.

My obsession with her has been waning for a while now too. I think I've realized that many of the things I fell in love with about her were not really who she is. This whole behind the Aura thing really changed who Gaga was to me as a person. I thought she was the enigma popstar genuinely but it turned out... lady gaga is a character.

[Katie14 4,828]

I can see your point but I think I am living my own life and enjoying a pop star's life as well. Honesty, without gaga's impact on my life, I wouldn't have been able to be courageous enough to do the things I'm doing now. And I don't think that's a bad thing. She's influencing a generation in the positive. Yes, she still needs to make her coins, but I think she loves the culture and community.

 

You can still enjoy Gaga's daily life AND do your own thing. 

 

Although one of the monsters I ran into dropped out school to follow her on the BTWB that is way too much. I'll go to her concert when it's around my city but I'm not going to drop everything for six months to go to every concert of hers 

I definitely agree and you better believe I will be glued to this site when LG5 drops. I just think that some of us with obsession personalities have tendencies to get too involved and addicted to her. I have been thinking a lot lately about my own identity. I have been looking back and noticing all these missed opportunities for self discovery. Spending so much time on Gaga related things and then thinking about her all the time on top of that has definitely slowed my own personal development. And its not like I havn't been doing anything useful during this time. I graduated college and matured a lot. I just feel like i could have discovered more about my interests and desires if I wasn't so relentlessly attached to her.

[Didymus 34,379]

A lot of the fanbase doesn't even participate in this stan/forum/community format. It's like a niche within a niche.

And Gaga doesn't have time to babysit her mentally ill fans. She lives in a totally different world than us. Remember when she tried to do a skype chat, or LM.com chats? 

But the people who went on and on about how she needs to be on top, are the same people who are never going to be satisfied anyway. In her mind, they probably don't get to define the whole fanbase.

I get what you're saying, but I don't really agree since Gaga actively used those "mentally ill fans" to represent the fanbase on more than one occasion. I mean, she's made so many conflicting statements about her fanbase that it basically convinces me there's like an InterscopeGa and an expression of what Gaga really wants: for her fans to become their own unique self.

But I do think it's safe to say that a large portion (if not a majority) of her fanbase isn't getting this last part and I don't think that you can just wish away Gaga's absolute silence on this issue or her attempts to glorify and/or intensify the stan behavior that contradicts her own social activist message.

I mean, I don't want Gaga to feel the need to babysit anyone, but at the same time she has repeated over and over again since 2010 that her fans are the only reason she's alive etc. etc. and that she lives to please them and that they're a family and that she'll always love them and all this claptrap that basically attracts every one who will feed off of her for the wrong reasons and I don't believe there's any way to logically state that Gaga didn't do this on purpose If she experienced living in a completely different world than her fans, she wouldn't have stressed her relationship with the fans over the years in the degree that she did.

Anyway, like I already said, I think it's a mix of things and I don't think she's intentionally stealing people's lives or whatever, but if she calls herself a philanthropist and social activist etc. she can sure share some words about what she wants her fans to reach for in life and so far the vague comments about bravery and identity just aren't cutting it for me.

[Katie14 4,828]

 

I mean, I don't want Gaga to feel the need to babysit anyone, but at the same time she has repeated over and over again since 2010 that her fans are the only reason she's alive etc. etc. and that she lives to please them and that they're a family and that she'll always love them and all this claptrap that basically attracts every one who will feed off of her for the wrong reasons and I don't believe there's any way to logically state that Gaga didn't do this on purpose

If she experienced living in a completely different world than her fans, she wouldn't have stressed her relationship with the fans over the years in the degree that she did.

 

I specifically remember her saying that she wants to be one of her fans. I think it was in 2011 during an interview in Central park. She has also talked about how she was a hard core Britney fan and used to wait outside to see her and other musicians. Maybe she is telling the truth but it seems likely to me that she is just trying to glorify standome. She is basically saying that its okay and actually ideal to live this type of life. Its totally not okay! People need to live their own lives. And some people are able to find a good balance but others fall into her fantasy head first.

[mic 1,415]

I specifically remember her saying that she wants to be one of her fans. I think it was in 2011 during an interview in Central park. She has also talked about how she was a hard core Britney fan and used to wait outside to see her and other musicians. Maybe she is telling the truth but it seems likely to me that she is just trying to glorify standome. She is basically saying that its okay and actually ideal to live this type of life. Its totally not okay! People need to live their own lives. And some people are able to find a good balance but others fall into her fantasy head first.

This. I think that's what makes it all feel so awkward at times. She has created the Gaga mania within strong devoted fan base, what's more - she told us it is ok to be crazy about a popstar. She gave us The Fame, Paparazzi, Born This Way era (talking only about us). She helped many of us but at the same time she has began the trend to be hardcore fan again. I think it is essential to understand she did that for herself, she always wanted fame. So that's why this 'I love my fans so much' jazz occurred. Look at Amy Winehouse, before her breakthrough she said she would never be famous, she didn't care. And that's why she didn't create a fanbase with own name and didn't refer to them on every single interview.

Gaga is highly intelligent person and I look so up to her. But she is human, she has ego, she doesn't always care about consequences. That's why I also regret all these years when I separated myself from the world to just focus on her. It didn't hurt my aspirations since I follow my career path the way I always wanted, but since some time I understood that I need more real people in my life - I also have ego - just as everyone else.

[Shadow 6,625]

I've felt this way for a long time. In fact, if it wasn't for AHS, there would even less interest for me to monitor her life. It was more interesting when she was fighting to make it and stay relevant.  I think we can agree she has more than made it. I'll remain a fan as I still love her and what she's about, but not nearly invested in her like I was back in 2011. We all have to live our lives. I'm glad others are seeing the vanity in idolizing anyone for too long. It takes so much precious time, when there is so much we could do with our valuable life.

[Sister 9,907]

No I am lost in my own life and treading deep waters. Gaga is just for pure off time enjoyment. It's just not all that serious to me.

[Katie14 4,828]

I've felt this way for a long time. In fact, if it wasn't for AHS, there would even less interest for me to monitor her life. It was more interesting when she was fighting to make it and stay relevant.  I think we can agree she has more than made it. I'll remain a fan as I still love her and what she's about, but not nearly invested in her like I was back in 2011. We all have to live our lives. I'm glad others are seeing the vanity in idolizing anyone for too long. It takes so much precious time, when there is so much we could do with our valuable life.

I fell like being so obsessed and involved in someone else's life is similar to being a d--g addict. Its like this quick fix of fun and enjoyment but it does nothing to help our lives for the future. All the time we spent witnessing and a--lyzing her career, we could have spent working towards a skill or craft that can actually benefit ourselves. Maybe I am being a bit extreme. To be honest, if I wasn't coming on this site, I probably would have been watching tv or going on Facebook during my spare time. Posting and making threads on here has probably been beneficial in helping my writing and a--lytical skills (or at least has been more educational than watching a useless tv show).

But its about more than just the specific time I have spent on Gagadaily or Youtube. Her life has woven its way into every part of my existence. There have definitely been moments in my life when I have thought, "I don't know what i would do without Gaga and this fanbase". In the past I feel like I have given up trying to make my real life a happy place because I felt like I could just escape into Gagaland if I had to. I know I have thought that way many times.  Its very strange and Im sure my family would think I am insane if I told them any of this. We can't escape into her world forever. Eventually we all need to come to terms with our own lives and figure out a way to be happy with reality.

[Katie14 4,828]

Also, I knew that this has been true for a long time. I just could never fully admit to myself the detriment.

[djBuffoon 12,115]

I love discussing her work and her music, because she simply is a talented and fascinating person. She is a born star, there is a magnetism about her that makes people want to lean in and know more.

Having said that, I can't say that she has taken anything away from me. If anything, she inspires me not really through her tweets or interviews, but through her fearlessness onstage, in her element. I just don't care about how she charts, or spend hours a--lyzing every little thing she says, or any of the extraneous stuff because it's, well... extraneous. 

Also, I do think it is absurd to accuse her of calculating her fans to care about her, and only her. Straight up, ridiculous. The number of times she has said "follow your dreams", "be brave", "make your own things", etc....  

[Benji 20,113]

It's kind of genius (and I genuinely think this is one of Gaga's genius achievements, even though I'll probably be dragged for saying it) how Gaga managed to, with unique untried social media tools for which she will be remembered more than her fashion - trust me, build this community around her that is of such extreme commercial benefit due to personal entanglement. I mean, I know that everyone thinks Gaga has a genuine relationship with her fans blah blah, even if that's true, that still doesn't nullify the fascinating psychology tricks going on.

I mean, this whole "I can only feel good about myself until Gaga is on top and the queen and slayage etc. etc." movement is as scary as it is effective. Over the years I have found it shocking that Gaga pretends to be 100% unaware of this mechanism of psychological projection that's going on in her fanbase, to the extent that it's one of my prime reasons for thinking that Gaga may have unspoken motives in the way she approaches us.

I dunno, it'll be interesting to see it develop in the future. I'm glad that, even though I love discussing Gaga, I couldn't give one **** about her success (simply because I have so many other artists to pay attention to - probably why I'm saved from the curse), I'm not forsaking my life to make Gaga a richer woman. & I'm glad you had a very simple but inevitably dramatic realization about that too

You pretty much hit the nail on the head. I think people forget, or at least, weren't around when there was a lot of people talking about how she's a good bussiness woman and how her use of media is smart. It's not until the last couple of years that nearly every artist has a very strong online presence.

Whilst I believe she does genuinely care for her fans, she also knows how to exploit them. We only have to look back a couple of years to see that.

One was promising to meet the first fan in line. That meant fans were queuing extremely early for her shows causing the press to hype them, plus it gives off an extremely strong image seeing people literally camping for a concert.

Another is her deal with Apple. She actively promotes the brand to her fans for them to promote her as well. I mean she literally told us to buy iPads....

The list goes on and on, basically people need to remember Gaga is and always has been aware of her brand and uses it to coin in. She's just a little more subtle about it than some other pop artists.

[Whispering 18,865]

I love discussing her work and her music, because she simply is a talented and fascinating person. She is a born star, there is a magnetism about her that makes people want to lean in and know more.

Having said that, I can't say that she has taken anything away from me. If anything, she inspires me not really through her tweets or interviews, but through her fearlessness onstage, in her element. I just don't care about how she charts, or spend hours a--lyzing every little thing she says, or any of the extraneous stuff because it's, well... extraneous. 

Also, I do think it is absurd to accuse her of calculating her fans to care about her, and only her. Straight up, ridiculous. The number of times she has said "follow your dreams", "be brave", "make your own things", etc....  ,i

I feel the same. 

 

It is absurd. Gaga is no different than any other music artist, who at least tries to communicate and stay connected to their fans. I've seen this exact message we see in the OP in other fanbases throughout the years. Music artists have always had those die hard fans. I mean, Elvis has been dead for years and there is still tens of thousands of fans from all over the world that go to Graceland for the anniversary of his death. 

Gaga is not unique in this situation and her fans aren't some unusual group. The culture of following an artist, at varying levels, has been around before Gaga was even born. 

Good for fans if they decide to quit using Gaga as their escape from real life, but not all fans are detached from real life or not participating fully in their lives...and it certainly isn't Gaga's fault if any fan makes the choice to ignore certain aspects of their life. If individuals have an average IQ and aren't severely mentally unstable, then they are responsible for how they spend their time and the choices they make, both past and present. Gaga isn't to blame for anyone's poor choices or for choices they regret. 

Like everything in life, sometimes we use certain distractions or props when we need them, but the choice is always ours. Those distractions can be a fun hobby or they can become an outright addiction. Individuals are responsible for monitoring themselves and pulling back when needed. 

[Bio 23,538]

It's called growing up