250728 V Weverse Voice Live – The current state of our fandom

This army edit video doesn't have subs but I think it was edited well with apt imagery for easier understanding, which is why I chose it to upload. Here is the gist of what is being said here by Tae:

I want to, like we did in the past, say "byyyee we'll go and come back safely!" and dress up to take pretty pictures there at the airport with you guys. In the past, ARMYs even organized projects like the "Purple Ribbon ARMY Project," ^{(in which armys barricaded themselves with purple ribbon to ensure order and BTS's safety at their LAX arrival}) but I think that has disappeared these days. No matter how prettily I want to dress up — hey I want to strike poses to take pretty pictures too — but the airport isn't ours and we can't do that [anymore these days in our current state] because of safety reasons. If ARMYs would just adhere to safety precautions [and maintain orderly conduct going forward we can go back to the way things were and be able to take pretty pictures and enjoy things like we used to]…please do me this favor.

I honestly think we should be embarrassed as a fandom. He has said something like this I think twice since he's been discharged. That's two times too many.

I left a comment on this in another thread about the current climate of our fandom but this is not what we used to be like as a fandom. In that comment, I also mentioned the very same army project that Tae mentions in this Weverse live. That he would bring that up himself — that he had to bring that up himself — lamenting how our fandom used to be and how he misses how orderly and respectful we were is something we should be ashamed of collectively as a fandom, regardless of whether or not we ourselves engage in this toxic behavior.

We were known as a well-organized, orderly, and self-regulating fandom that always put the BTS members first. We had our bad apples back then too, yes, but as a whole, the majority of the time, we were a respectable fandom that had class (yes, class. Can you believe it?) and prioritized the well-being of the members. We listened to the members wishes so well. We were a great example of a fandom. I fear those days are now long gone, and it saddens me to no end. I still have hope for future reform, but it is looking bleak atm.

I don't think the new army initiates got the memo because nearly all the armys that showed up on discharge day were foreigners. The flock of armys that were photographed on discharge day were foreigners. I saw people say that the armys that showed up on discharge day said they felt "entitled" to go see BTS at their discharge (and then some) because they flew such a long distance to see them. That is point blank disgusting. I cannot even fathom rationalizing toxic behavior in that way. Let's not be like this please.

I doubt posting this will achieve anything, especially considering reddit armys are usually a super chill bunch and likely aren't the ones engaging in this problematic behavior (please prove me right on this), but I really wish this message would spread far and wide. I'm just feeling so hopeless seeing how armys these days have been imposing themselves on BTS and violating their privacy and safety. I really really miss how proud I felt being part of a fandom that was so structured and mannerly. Let's do better, please. Listen to Tae. Listen to the members.