Understanding Why Highly Educated People Don't Engage in Fan Activities

1 時間前

Overview

Elites view fan activities as inefficient pursuits that lack direct personal benefits, choosing instead to prioritize strategic self-investment.
Their strong desire for autonomy and mastery leads them to reject dependence on external celebrities and fandom rituals.
Cultural and social distinctions reinforce their disinterest, positioning fan devotion as an activity that conflicts with their identity of high culture and refined taste.

The Logical Foundation of Self-Directed Pursuits

In Japan, among the most accomplished individuals—be they entrepreneurs, scholars, or top professionals—life often resembles a meticulously planned game aimed at continuous self-enhancement. For instance, a CEO might spend countless hours refining leadership skills, participating in advanced seminars, or pioneering innovative projects. These activities deliver measurable, tangible returns—such as increased influence, wealth, or knowledge—that reinforce their social standing. On the other hand, engaging in idol fandom or collecting memorabilia, although emotionally appealing, is perceived as an aimless gamble with uncertain, often negligible, benefits. Their reasoning is compelling: why squander their limited resources—time, energy, money—on activities lacking clear, tangible outcomes when they can channel them into pursuits with predictable, high-impact results? As a consequence, fan activities appear as irrational as betting on a long-shot without a guaranteed payoff.

Maximizing Resources Through Focused Investment

Consider their approach to resource allocation as a strategic game—like chess at the highest level. These individuals excel at directing their vital resources toward pursuits with high expected returns. Imagine an accomplished scientist investing years in groundbreaking research or a successful investor analyzing market trends to maximize profit. These efforts yield results with direct, measurable benefits, such as prestige, financial independence, or intellectual fulfillment. Conversely, supporting a celebrity—buying merchandise, attending concerts, or participating in fan chants—offers uncertain emotional rewards that don’t influence their life’s trajectory. To them, their resources—be it hours, capital, or mental effort—must produce reliable dividends; thus, the seemingly futile nature of fan activities makes them fall out of favor, deemed inefficient and irrational.

Autonomy and Control: Defining Personal Mastery

Imagine a top-tier academic or a leading entrepreneur—they prize complete independence and control over their actions and outcomes. Engaging in fan rituals—waiting for idols’ schedules, supporting them blindly—feels like surrendering their agency. Take, for instance, an esteemed researcher who cannot tolerate the idea that external scandals or career shifts of a celebrity might influence their peace of mind. Their sense of mastery derives from crafting their own destiny through deliberate, self-directed efforts. They prefer activities where effort directly correlates with success—such as developing innovative ideas, expanding their professional networks, or acquiring new skills—rather than succumbing to unpredictable external forces controlling their emotional landscape. For them, true autonomy is synonymous with mastery—mastery they achieve through strategic pursuits, not passive fandom.

Critical Thinking and Cultural Distinction

High-achieving individuals scrutinize popular culture with keen analytical minds. For example, they often dissect the social, economic, and media-driven mechanisms that sustain fandom, recognizing how commercial interests and social pressures manipulate masses. Their critical perspective allows them to maintain a cultural distance—valuing avant-garde art, complex literature, and philosophical debates over mass entertainment. As Pierre Bourdieu emphasized, such rejection of populist hobbies is a subtle, yet powerful, act of social distinction—symbolizing their superior taste and cultural capital. Engaging obsessively in idol worship, they argue, risks eroding their social standing—diluting the image of high culture they work so hard to cultivate. Their behaviors serve to reinforce the boundary between high and low culture, solidifying their position within a refined social hierarchy.

Dedication as Self-Realization

Interestingly, their form of devotion often manifests inwardly, directed at self-improvement rather than external idols. Picture a successful executive who dedicates nights to learning new languages or mastering complex technical skills—these acts are akin to a personal 'fan' activity aimed at self-optimization. For example, a renowned scientist might obsessively read the latest research or refine their personal branding to elevate their influence. Their commitment is driven by a desire for continual growth rather than fleeting fame. This inward-focused dedication is often more fulfilling and sustainable, as it produces visible, lasting results—such as expanded knowledge, enhanced reputation, or improved physical condition—serving as their ultimate expression of devotion.

Philosophical Roots of Disinterest: A Cultured Perspective

Fundamentally, their disinterest in fan pursuits stems from a worldview emphasizing rationality, independence, and mastery. For example, activities like idol concerts or figurine collecting—though popular among mass audiences—are seen as ephemeral and lacking intellectual substance. Instead, these individuals dedicate themselves to pioneering groundbreaking inventions, producing influential literature, or engaging in high-level strategic decision-making—activities that reinforce their identity as autonomous creators and thinkers. Their conviction is that true excellence arises from deliberate effort and purposeful action, not emotional dependence or fleeting admiration. Consequently, their energy flows into pursuits that elevate their social and cultural standing, marking them as exemplars of high culture and refined taste—solidifying their position at the top of the social hierarchy, far removed from the fleeting passions of mainstream fandom.