Group Moderating is like Parenting
…at least I think. I am not a parent, so I don’t really know what it’s like to enforce rules on other people.
This week, in my attempts to encourage my BTS Facebook Group to engage a little more, and to ensure they do so in a way that is respectful and follows the guidelines I laid out when I first created it, I shared a little post with some fandom-relevant language that I hope will come off as cute and funny instead of driving straight into overkill.
I had plans of filming a short video, but was swiftly humbled in my lofty ideas of using specific footage due to copyright and my rudimental editing skills.
Thus I presented my (now 58) members with a simple graphic that complemented the design of my header, which, hopefully has stood as its own for a little bit of BTS-adjacent branding (it is reminiscent of the album design for the Love Yourself trilogy).
Along with my post, I wrote the following to contextualize the rules and hopefully convey that the group is a safe space to share, whether you are well-versed in BTS lyrics or not. But before we get into the details, I’ll share why I used the language in my guideline headers that I did.
“Speak Yourself” is an often-used line by BTS that is typically accompanied by the phrase “Love Yourself”, as in the Love Yourself album trilogy, as well as the Love Myself UNICEF campaign (the band and branding interchange yourself/myself depending on the context). “Teamwork makes the dream work” is a common phrase, but was tweeted by BTS first in 2013 before their debut, and has subsequently been tweeted many times over the years after BTS reached milestone achievements in their career as a nod to the fans who helped them along the way. “We are not seven with you” is a line from the third song in a series titled “We Are Bulletproof” and is in reference to how the band feels like they are not just seven members in the band, but a culmination of everyone who has been with them since their inception. And finally, “You’re nice, keep going!” is a line said by member Jimin in a 2017 Buzzfeed interview.
These quotes are pretty widely known among the BTS fandom and are generally understood out of context. So, now that you know more than you probably cared to about Things BTS Have Said™, here are my simple guidelines for keeping the peace within Bangtan Lit:
- Speak Yourself
Don’t be afraid to share your thoughts, art, funny takes, or questions in the group, this is your space! We’ve got army from so many different places, and who have been around for a long time and a little time, so there’s always something to teach, learn and share. - Teamwork makes the dream work
That being said, we’ve got to stick together and keep this space lovely and safe. We respect all backgrounds and everything else here. - We are not seven with you
Like BTS says, be sure to love all the members! We keep it positive around here. Only healthy questioning, no criticizing or favoritism. We’ve all got our bias but they’re all equally special and important. - You’re nice, keep going!
BTS has all inspired us in some way, and in this group we want to celebrate that! We like to spread that message of hope and healing around here, and we know you’ll do the same.
I contextualized the random post about rules by prefacing that before the group releases their new album this week, I wanted to just make sure everyone was on the same page so we could have smooth transition into what will hopefully be a season of higher engagement for the group.
Here’s to hoping my little group’s members feel encouraged and supported by the fact that their moderator is here to keep the peace.
