Deciphering New Kids on the Block Haters

I'm starting to notice that a lot of the younger generation, the teenagers, the untainted minds, are starting to wonder why so many people are making rude comments on youtube for the "Summertime" video from New Kids on the Block. Well, since they weren't really there for the drama, I'm going to explain this as best that I can since I was there.

First off, who are the haters? Let's quarantine them. Most of the haters tend to be:

A) Around the ages of 27 - 36ish, more or less.
B) Fairweather fans
C) Those who don't know the meaning of "living life to the fullest"
D) Smug, self-proclaimed music experts
E) Ex-boyfriends of diehard NKOTB fans
F) Jealous smartasses who won't admit they wanted to be like them
G) Conformity fanatics
H) Those who take life too seriously
I) Those who ran with the majority crowd
J) Easily influenced followers who wanted badly to fit in during school days and last but not least,
K) Brats, snobs, anti-pop music fans, grunge advocates, selective metal heads, 80s/90s hater mentality maintainers, those who can't think outside the box, and cynics, critics, pessimists, devil's advocates, wise guys, and bullies.

I'm sure there are plenty more but for now, this is what I see. If you know a hater, they most likely fit one of these categories. How did they manifest into an NKOTB hater, you ask? Hear me out.

Back in maybe 88-89, when NKOTB started getting big, they were very popular and they were cool among the kids age 2 - 17. They were everywhere! Merchandise came out with their faces all over t-shirts, books, board games, bedsheets, pillowcases, lunchboxes, it was CRAZY! So many millions of girls swooned over these guys because they were hot, talented, & were dubbed the "hardest working kids in showbiz." They really were. They toured the world and everybody, or should I say, every young female fan, tried everything they could just to get a glimpse of these 5 heartthrobs.

By then, people who were not fans did not see what the big deal was and started to ridicule the fans for being so head-over-heels in love with the the New Kids. They didn't see the connection NKOTB had with their fans. They didn't see how NKOTB had influenced their fans to grow up right. They didn't see the attachment the fans had to the band as positive, but rather, illogical. As a result, it became "uncool" to like the New Kids on the Block because they were now old news. Ridicule sounds like a word that describes innocuous teasing & joking but when you have fans who have their lockers burned, belongings stolen, been beaten up, ridicule hardly justifies the hell we went through to stay true as a fan. So today, the name "New Kids on the Block" is associated with being "cheesy," "corny," "lame," "boyband," "lip-synch" and countless other derogatory synonyms. Many former fans find themselves feeling "embarrassed" to have been a fan. (That, ladies & gentlemen, would fall under category B, G, I, & J.

As immature kids, we tend to make fun of others simply for no reason, for our own selfish pleasure, or for the sake of trying to be funny. However, as you age, it is only appropriate for one to mature into a grown-up personality. You stop fighting, you stop making fun of others at their expense, and you start appreciating humanity for what it is. In this day and age, the NKOTB reunion has brought back fond childhood memories for the diehard & loyal fans while for haters, bullies & cynics, it has brought immaturity, condescending personalities, and irresponsible journalists/critics/bloggers/attention hoggers who think they're qualified to lecture us on how their musical tastes are far more superior than ours. You will continue to hear these types of comments but if you're strong-willed, you will not let their stuckup sarcasm, foul-mouthed slurs, and smartass unfunny jokes persuade you from enjoying the music you want to listen to.


NKOTB raised a generation full of tough, independent, and full-of-life individuals. Because of them, I grew up right. I stayed in school, I took their message to heart and I stayed away from drugs. I purposely sought out people like me and we became lifelong friends. If it weren't for them, who knows what type of person I may be today? I feel really lucky to have found them to admire, to appreciate, to raise me, and to turn to. At times when I was down, I remember turning on their music and it was as if they picked me up and cradled me until I felt whole again. The non-fans can never understand the connection we have with the New Kids. Their favorite band will never return the kind of love they show them and they're just jealous that the New Kids and their fans have this special relationship. I stand behind the boys & I will defend them no matter what a hater throws my way. Since I am a fan, I actually know what I'm talking about. I have plenty of ammunition to throw in the faces of the non-believers and there's nothing they can criticize that I cannot counter.

Haters like to make the assumption that NKOTB fans have the musical tastes of an 8-year old. However, their assumptions are invalid, erroneous, and subjective. Personally, my music tastes span far and wide. Besides New Kids, I also enjoy music from BONE Thugs n Harmony, The Cranberries, Evanescence, Boyz II Men, Jodeci, and even up & coming artists such as Power Struggle, Golda Supernova, Girlas, and Paula Fuga. I know it's crazy to imagine that we actually have music tastes outside of the boys but it's TRUE! Believe it!


The following are a list of questions that have surfaced from the haters:


1. Why do you still like them? They were a teen sensation. Grow up.
2. Why are they reuniting? Their heyday is over.
3. Shouldn't they change their name to "Old Men on the Block?"
4. Aren't they too old to be dancing around in matching outfits?
5. Weren't they caught lip-synching back in the day?
6. Has the world of music gotten so bad that we had to resort to recycling old boybands?
7. Aren't you too old to be liking New Kids on the Block? Cmon! Their music's so dated!


*Sigh*


Relax. The guys are just having a good time. Why are you so focused on their age? Since when are you restricted to being under 30 to have fun? If you think this reunion is ridiculous, try listening to yourself. You're getting all worked up over something you're not even interested in so why even bother complaining? Why rain on our parade? Is it really that important to you that you have to be negative, condescending, and disrespectful? Next time you want to comment, try editing. Think outside of the box.

My personal opinion is that you only think this is ridiculous because you are unable to see its profundity. Get deeper and you'll find where the love for this band lies within each and every diehard fan. Not only did the New Kids help us discover our passionate side, but they also brought us up to be just like them. They were idols who made a positive impact on our lives even when our parents dismissed the phase for a temporary "puppy love" crush. We strived to imitate them. We learned to dance, were inspired to sing, learn instruments, volunteer for communities, donate to charities, treat others with respect, keep our heads up when times are rough, be drug-free, stand up for yourself, and have fun in life! What is so wrong with that?


To the haters, be cool. Is that possible?


To the younger generation, don't trip off the haters. If you choose to be a fan, be prepared to face negative feedback. But know that their opinion is worthless because you have a mind of your own.


To the skeptics, age has no impact on their music. They are in an untouchable category.


To the ardent, diehard fans, you're not alone. We are everywhere and anywhere. This is the biggest "pop band" reunion to date. Let's party. ;-)