Taylor Swift: the name plastered across every billboard, the face plastered over every tabloid. Taylor Swift may just be the most iconic name of our decade. Swift’s openness helped lead her debut in 2006, but this country/pop star is no longer the teenage girl lugging around a heavy heart. The old Taylor made be “dead,” but her era lives on- this time, with a fortress built high around her once fragile heart. While this new style has been the hot topic gossip blogs and parked-car conversations, it is an unarguable fact that Swift maintains one of the largest fan bases in modern America. Swifties around the nation stand high to protect their idol and best friend- and trust me- they do not want to be messed with.

Here are 6 things you should never, under any circumstances, say to a Swiftie:

1. All her songs are the same.

First, people complain that her songs are all about boys. Then, they claim “she doesn’t write her own music.” To top it all off, they say all of the songs sound the same. Sure, the majority of “old Taylor” music was based off of past relationships. But that’s what makes her so good! Each boy carved his own path in Swift’s heart. How could every song sound the same, if no two boys have the same effect on a girl? She’s been through it all. She puts feelings into words when we don’t know how. Having your heart broken by the cutest senior jock seems to be incurable, but when you realize someone else has been through the exact same hurt, life seems a bit more bearable. It feels good to have someone there to tell you that there is more to life than him. That someone is Taylor Swift. Always. 

2. Is there anyone she hasn’t dated?

So you’re telling me that if you had the chance to date Harry Styles, Taylor Lautner, Jake Gyllenhaal, or a Kennedy, not to mention her other handful of celebrity dream-boys, you wouldn’t? If women in their 20s aren’t supposed to date, what are they supposed to be doing? Let’s get real- a talented and beautiful girl like Taylor Swift earned that list accordingly. Frankly, if our pool of options included any of her exes, you bet we would put ourselves out there just a little more. Okay, maybe a lot-a-bit more.

3. She can’t even pick one genre.  

“Pretty blonde learns to play guitar, moves to Nashville, Tennessee,” a fake headline said. Her first two albums, “Taylor Swift” (#5 on the billboard charts) and “Fearless” (#1 on billboard), were solely country based. Although both were nominated for “Album of the Year” in their own times, Fearless snagged the win. Alongside this accomplishment were Taylor’s wins for Female Vocalist of the Year, Crystal Milestone Award, and a lengthy list of other awards offered by the Academy of Country Music Awards. “Speak Now,” her third album, responded to criticism of her “country-pop” persona. Accordingly, it won Favorite Country Album at the AMA’s, alongside Taylor’s wins for Favorite Country Female Artist and Artist of the Year. Continuing tradition, her fourth album “Red” was nominated for both the Favorite Country Album and Favorite Pop/Rock Album. Though “Red” only won Favorite Country Album, her fifth album “1989” won Favorite Pop/Rock Album. Taylor is now completely under the Pop genre, with her sixth album “Reputation” set to debut Nov. 10. Her first two singles off the album, “Look What You Made Me Do” and “…Are You Ready For It?” have hit #1 and #4, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100. Long story short, Swift is one of the only artists to make the full jump from one genre to another. Still think she didn’t make it? That’s not what our noble Hollywood award show producers say.

4. She can’t be that surprised, all the time. She’s so fake. 

This argument may just be the saddest of them all. It is not sad for the fact that Taylor is “disingenuous”- it is sad for the fact that Hollywood is disingenuous. The argument stems from award shows. You can name any: Grammys, AMA’s, Emmys- the list goes on. It always seems as if the show is planned step by step. It’s always exactly who you think will win, giving the speech exactly as you imagine it to be. It’s like the whole “live” aspect of these shows are one big scam…as if artists know they’re going to win. It’s not a surprise for them, evidently. Unlike the polished Hollywood superstars, Swift is genuine. Is it wrong for her to be genuinely surprised she won a Grammy? I don’t think anyone should be able to see that coming- no matter how great and popular you are. Don’t bash on Swift for being humble- bash on Hollywood for not being the same.

5. She doesn’t care about her fans. 

Swift is actually one of the only superstars that genuinely understands she is who she is because of those who support her. From personally baking cookies for fans to helping pay for their college tuition, Swift always finds little ways to give back. Her most recent tie with TicketMaster caused an uproar in the media. Fans are encouraged to participate in daily events, such as watching a video or posting a hashtag on Instagram, to further their position in line. The “line” waits for the release date of her album (November 10), since that will be the day tour tickets are released. Swift stated this promotion is so that her fans get hold of the tickets directly, rather than the resale companies. Talk about caring.

6. She’s a straight-up sellout.

Sorry- can you repeat that? It’s hard to hear you over the sound of her four #1 albums, seven #1 songs, and the applause ringing from her 10 Grammys.

One word of advice? Next time you think about saying something bad about Taylor Swift, don’t. We will shoot you down. Every. Single. Time.