this is the exact point of what I’m saying though - fandom is easily divided by media play and ultimately it benefits sm. oh if only cbx hadn’t done this then there’d be a winter album you must hate them and wish they hadn’t taken legal action :( oh how mean of cbx to do this and interfere with other members promotions you must hate them and wish they hadn’t taken legal action :( because fandom has no unity anymore it’s easy - a malicious article turns fans against suho, which makes suho fans turn on group fans, because none of us are united in protecting the group or seeing sm as the enemy in these situations. instead of knowing to not trust these things and stand strong for the boys, we’re in an environment that encourages blaming other members and siding against groups of other fans to protect your own. but who would cause these problems on purpose? who does it benefit if we distrust the members when they themselves are so clear about wanting the best for exo as a unit and exo fans? (it’s sm, desperately trying to distract from their wrongdoings by throwing anyone convenient to them under the bus like they always have

I don’t understand your use of innocuous in this scenario. and as you’re talking to me directly, I did raise that fans should understand this was a crappy low effort move from sm. they were able to get away with giving him a pitifully small budget thanks to filling the mv with genai art, but the majority of fans didn’t seem to read it that way because on the surface it appears to be a very full video. I also raised that the cheapness factor is a concern FOR him. the conflict of interests with his image is a concern FOR him and how these things will come to reflect on this moment in his career when times and attitudes to this technology have moved on. he absolutely did deserve better than this, he deserved to have real art commissioned like he did in the past. junmyeon’s own fans, and even then only the anti-ai ones, were upset that this happened, but it was for the b-side of his solo and by all means not as obviously poorly executed as what’s happened with rv. their artists and the staff they employ all deserve better than this

it’s so annoying! 😪 it’s a common fear-of-cringe issue, but it’s really stinky when something suddenly becomes too popular and is then picked apart as being bad/having excessive flaws/oh so embarrassing to have liked that. people are afraid to like things with their hearts and brains 🤺 (though funnily it is both things depending on which circles you’re in..to some people a thing is cringe and bad if there’s barely any interest in it because they expect something good to perform. but then as soon as it’s popular it has a very quick expiry date before it’s not cool anymore 🤔) ah well. people may be silly about selectively watching things to look good online, but they’re the ones not having any fun 😤 I’m glad you’ve found something you’re feeling really excited for! I hope you can avoid people that bring the mood down 🤺

thanks, I think.. but yeah I’m just. kind of a sounding board for people working their feelings out a lot of the time? and in his case it just is what it is, that unfortunately his circumstances and the way he’s viewed will always be different. it comes as an unpleasant surprise to a lot of new fans when it inevitably happens, but 🤷 to be honest I keep out of as much of this stuff as I can, so I don’t know what other member’s fans are doing that is in some way better. we do seem quite scattered and cautious, but if anything the main source of unison I see from other member’s fans is displeasure. everyone is angry and unhappy all the time, whether their guy is under his own management or touring or whatever. I don’t think as fans we are all even on the same page about what he wants/needs some of the time. (but that’s why I’m fairly isolated from the fandom and just here replying to people 🚶)

it’s also wise to be distrusting of media and reports that are purposely putting blame on members. it’s to sm’s advantage when the fandom fractures and can focus on the distress of members ruining things instead of on what’s actually happening. how definite are reports about an alleged comeback allegedly getting cancelled? how definite is the blame on their side when we know sm have cancelled schedules then pointed the finger at the boys? and have a history of mistreatment, media manipulation and overall being big stinky liars?
I’ve been following this slowly to be absolutely sure of details/mistranslations/misinformation being spread during a hectic stressful time, but we know the group and fans are their priority. and whatever happens it’s only impacting on the other members solos because fans are acting up. they’re doing this not just because of their own poor treatment but to help other artists too, so of course sm want them to be demonised. I don’t believe what’s being reported about the album, but either way I’d rather the guys persisted in doing what’s right for themselves and others under the company

right;; agree with all of this. back in the day when we had the first departure it seemed obvious that jm as leader would handle it all (and we as younger fans wanted him to be the one to reassure us), but in retrospect it’s like ??? they really fucking put him through it just so the company didn’t have to deal with it themselves. and then that became the precedent, which suited them perfectly :/ I never imagined I’d say it’s a good thing they’re less active as a group, but it really does seem it rn;; this absolutely would have fallen to him, which as you say wouldn’t be preferable for cbx either :( jm went above and beyond to reassure fans when it Was his job, and though of course he’s always there for the boys, it’s good (for them and him) that they can reliably handle these things themselves and all have each others/exos/exo-l’s best interests at heart. it gives me chills just thinking about if his role was the same as it used to be;;