altruistic-skittles:

You know, there’s such a fine line between admiration and idolization that I don’t think people really know the difference.

Admiration means you respect someone. You acknowledge they do good, and you’re willing to make yourself be better by doing the same good they do. There’s a level of humanity to it. The person may not be perfect, but they are striving to be the best they can be, and because of that, it makes you a better person. It could be as simple to someone fighting cancer to someone who speaks with kindness. Either way, it’s something you hope to accomplish and try to achieve.

Idolization is taking admiration to an unhealthy level. That person has become so good in your eyes that you’re not willing to admit they can make mistakes. No one is allowed to dislike them. No one is allowed to even think they’d be bad. It’s dehumanizing. It’s believing that person is such an untouchable person that you can’t even be in their presence.

I’ve run into both, and I must say, I’d much rather be admired than idolized.

No one really understands the pressure of being idolized until they are. There’s a status pressed upon you that you can’t be normal. That you can’t make mistakes. That you aren’t allowed to be human. And heavens forbid you do something wrong. It can take 3 seconds to go from “idolized” to “demonized” over just a simple opinion.

Everyone deserves the chance to make mistakes. Every deserves the chance to show humility and learn and grow. To err is human.

Likewise, when someone is idolized, there is an air that is thrown upon them that because they can do no wrong, people look for reasons as to why they can. They dig up history. They make callous posts. They send angry anons. They do anything they can to bring this idolized person back down to their level. However, chances are, that person didn’t want to be idolized in the first place, and all they’re doing is revving up the people who like that person to begin with.

That’s why I will never say a bad word about anyone who dislikes Thomas or Jack or anyone that I do admire. I know they don’t like being idolized. I also know that opinions matter, especially if they don’t hurt anyone. “I don’t like [person]” is a valid opinion, especially if it’s kept out of spaces of people who do like that person. It might hurt your feelings, but it’s not your job to say who they can or can’t like.

For example, I really like Ellen DeGeneres. Sometimes she’s over the top, and I can see why people don’t like her, but they’re allowed to have their opinion same as mine. You’re allowed to tell me you don’t like Ellen. Chances are, I’ll say “cool story, bro” and move on with my life. Why? Because I respect Ellen as a person. She’s not a God. She’s just someone who I admire because of how she talked about her sexuality when people told her to sit down. That’s the strength I want to have.

I guess what I’m trying to say is, take a moment to think about the people you look up to. Do me a favor and recognize they can make mistakes. Keep them human. 

It’ll help more in the long run than you think ❤

-Cat