Image via Complex Original
For those of you keeping score, DoAndroidsDance turned two-years-old today. It's been an interesting couple of years for the EDM, and we've learned a lot of things from some weird places. One of the best spots to pick up knowledge is on that may not seem like it'd be brimming with intelligence, but I'm here to tell you now: you can learn a lot from haters. And we're not just talking "oh I now know how to block people on social media"—I'm talking about life lessons that will stay with you, guiding you on your chosen path.
Since today is Hardwell's birthday, it made sense to put you androids on to the lessons you can pick up from people who hate on Hardwell on Twitter... or hate people who hate on Hardwell on Twitter. Basically, any hate associated with Hardwell is an opportune moment to learn something, trust.
Be an individual
While this particular tweeter ended up saying that she wasn't fond of Hardwell to begin with, peer pressure can be a bitch. That in no way means you should succumb to that, even if you AREN'T a fan. Hardwell might end up having some material on United We Are that might appeal to you... no reason to not check it out just because you have some people in your crew who dog him. And to those people in your crew, don't force your will on someone you consider a friend or even someone that's cool enough to chill with. If they like Hardwell, cool... just go to the dubstep room when they're at the main stage, no biggie.
Not everyone will like what you like
And that's OK. The EDM scene is pretty vast–there are a number of genres and sub-genres to get lost in. And if someone chooses to hate Hardwell, that's fine. That doesn't mean it's a personal attack on you–it's just a difference of opinions, which truly makes each one of us unique.
Stay true to what you believe
Now here's something we all should be familiar with: many of us have acts that we felt we "discovered' or at least championed before they got big, and once they start to pop up everywhere, we immediately start to disdain them. It's not the fault of the artist–shit, we should be ecstatic that everyone is starting to realize why we fell in love with said artist in the first place. And assuming that the artist hasn't conformed or changed into something they weren't to get ahead, the best you can do for said artist is to congratulate their shine, and make a boatload of new friends at their shows.
Don't hurt others
Again, everyone is entitled to their own opinions. We learn so much from each other based on our differences. There's no reason to "take it there" just because someone says they hate Hardwell. Either try to prove their points of hate wrong or agree to disagree. The last thing you need to be doing is going to war with someone over your likes and dislikes, and that goes for EDM DJ love, your favorite football teams, whatever. That "P" in "PLUR" stands for peace.
Sometimes, you have to do things you don't want to do
This is another one of those situations where the sheer variety at many EDM shows can help out. Say your friend wants to go to a festival that has Hardwell as a main attraction. You're not really a Hardwell fan (hell, you might "hate" him for one reason or another), but that doesn't mean you won't have fun. We'd obviously recommend scanning who else is on the bill and plotting around Hardwell's set (with a pre-determined meet-up time for you and your friend). Or who knows, maybe you can check out some old Hardwell live-show footage. I know I've hated a certain song or DJ, but when I saw them in a club or at a rave, understood the appeal and even dug what they were doing.
Your actions have a greater impact than you realize
It's hard to erase the stigma EDM shows have when you hear of kids ODing and dying from drugs on both sides of the Atlantic. Especially when the culprits are under-aged or not mature enough to handle the real life situations they are putting themselves and their peers into. In some cases, one rotten apple can spoil the bunch, especially when it comes at a show being cancelled because of rampant drug and alcohol situations. We always preach safety, and hope that if you're going to do what you do, know what you're getting yourself into. Education is key–you don't want to fuck up the fun for the rest of the crowd, right?
If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything
Biting your tongue can suck, trust us we know first hand. And while there are situations where it helps to be open and honest about your feelings, there are times when it's just better to play the silent game regarding something you hate. Especially on Twitter, where some future employer might unbeknownst to you be checking on your social media and seeing you posting some insane shit. Just bear in mind that your words can get you in hot water.