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Comment by SQueeeeeL | Hacker News Reader

This is a big problem with the culture section of the Times. They really don't think/write for the average consumer. Last week a saw them use the word "Staning" in an article, it's really baffling editorial decisions. (Staning refers to the song the character Stan, from a 20 year old Eminem song, whose an obsessed fan)

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Here's a fun thought - what if you (or the readership you defend) are no longer the average consumer?

Newspapers don't tend to target the average consumer though. They carve out a readership, because people want to read what they want to read.

Sure, and when you get down to it, there is no single prototypical average consumer that it's profitable to market to. Publications create their own average consumer. Fair to say though that the Times's own 'average' has definitely shifted over the last decade.

From my perspective (mid 20's), 'stanning' is a pretty ubiquitous word/idea. Many people use it pretty casually and those who don't are likely familiar with what it means in general (even without the context of the Eminem song). Those in touch with culture would be even more likely to recognize it.

From my perspective, someone who bought the Marshall Mathers MP when it came and loved the song Stan (I'm mid 30s). I would say "Stanning" isn't ubiquitous at all, in fact, I've never heard of it until today.

Just did a quick check around my office (Fintech company)(mostly 25-35) and no one had heard of it.

So yeah, I don't think it's that commonly used.

I'm well familiar with stanning (fintech, 26). It's ubituitous in certain circles and certain subscultural values, so if you don't hold them and don't participate in it you probably don't know it.

Also, I don't think fintech is anywhere remotely close to "an average consumer" population to judge whether or not tabloid/instagram relationship applies to large swaths of people.

When you have teenagers, your cultural consciousness will be reset to the much, much faster flow of that age. And you will return to the era of non-stop slang and hipness.

Stan-ing is very much a common term for Gen-z. And they have stan accounts. And I sort of get it. :)

This happens gradually, but started in full force at my house around age 15.

I have 3 boys, 13-18. It's an incredible amount of fun.

I wouldn't expect having a large sample size determines if anyone knows it. Having a diverse sample is what would determine that.

Definitely would not be surprised if a disproportionately large number of HN readers in Fintech have never heard of it lol

Mid 30s here as well, I see this used on the internet all the time - especially in rap circles

Same demographic, and I too just heard this word for the first time.

Is it a problem? I don't think so. The business section of the Times doesn't write for the "average consumer" (whatever that is). They write for people who are especially interested in business. The sports section writes for people who are interested in sports. Likewise the culture section write for people who are especially interested in celebrities. It's ok for people to have different interests.

For those wondering, "Stanning" is a portmanteau of the words "Stalker" and "Fan", meaning overly obessed fandom of some celebrity.

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Stanning

That actually sounds much more logical of an explanation than the link to the Eminem song. I discovered the term back in the Tumblr days of 2013 or so and was surprised to hear it was related to a then 13-year old song.

You could also see this as a chance to see how others see the world.

No I just think the average consumer is defined by the (mathematical) mode of consumer tastes. Like mainstream TV, it is designed for the most common individual which is a pretty bland person with terrible taste... but it’s a shrinking population.

In past generations the mode was likely also the majority

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