Kim Namjoon Appreciation Post - Tumblr Posts

I read this almost a year ago when I was first getting into BTS and trying to research more about them. I'm SO GLAD I DID. It has helped me to understand and navigate so much crap and misinformation that spreads so quickly and easily and gives me a starting point for understanding context and doing my own research on things. I cannot thank the OP enough for putting this together. Anyway, this post is what made me fall so hard for Namjoon - because I was astonished at his remarkable COURAGE to continue to get up and try to be a better person. As someone who also cares about being life, love and support to others, I've found that the MORE I put myself out there -- the more I speak on topics or interact with others -- the MORE likely I am to make mistakes that hurt someone. I was a high school teacher for several years, and navigating how to handle each student and each situation perfectly is frankly impossible. People are not gods - we don't have all the information and the 'right' way is often unclear. This means that for every handful of students I really helped, there was also one I that I likely hurt. That was incredibly difficult for me to handle emotionally - that I could hurt someone despite trying to do my best to be a support system. I ended up burning out because of it and developed pretty serious anxiety. I became afraid to speak because I didn't want to say the wrong thing. I became afraid to help in case I would discover later my actions hurt someone instead. So witnessing Namjoon ALSO accidentally hurt people -- and not just one or two, but with mistakes broadcasted across the world -- and then get up and try again, and again, and again. To be misunderstood but keep speaking. To apologize but not quit trying - to not believe that his mistakes 'disqualified' him from ever speaking or acting again, but to use them as a point of growth....wow. And it is only because he was willing to keep moving -- speaking, acting, putting himself in positions where he was likely to make mistakes again and again -- that he's been able to change (and, frankly, save) the lives of thousands upon thousands if not millions of people. That is a courage I'm still trying to learn. If I can somehow grow in myself the courage he has in his little pinky, it would be the proudest achievement of my life.

Someone who easily is able to brush off their own mistakes and how their actions impact others will not understand what level of courage this takes -- but Namjoon clearly wrestles with it deeply to this day. And yet he keeps reaching out his hand. So yeah. I don't love him because he's perfect, but because he's so damn human who tries his absolute best to be a good one. And even though the world has maligned him over and over again, he continues to show his vulnerabilities to it. What a human being. Really and truly.

Everything BTS has ever done, both good and bad, related to all social justice issues

I find it absolutely fascinating how so many different people talk about BTS in such different ways, with some of their fans saying they’re among the most progressive celebrities on the planet while others say they’re the prime example of racism in K-Pop.

I was out sick for a couple days, had some time off, couldn’t get this off my mind (we love fixations), and I like pretending to be a sociologist, so: here’s a chronological list of everything BTS has ever done related to all social justice issues (racism, misogyny, LGBT issues, mental health issues, etc), both good and bad, compiled just to have it all in one place.

This could be used as both a callout post and a compilation of how great they are. Either way, I just request that you read all of it beforehand for a complete picture.

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I know I’ve been awol for forever and I’ll probably continue to be but popping in to say how obsessed I am with Namjoon’s album and his visuals and his wordplay and his vision and his face and his entire being and self and he’s so fucking cool and I really want to just like have a drink with him and maybe have him give me mental health advice and just life in general advice and like —

That’s all k bye