Feel free to repost this anywhere you see fit.
In an open letter to extreme fans,
I’d like to address a continuing issue that I see coming up in various communities and fandom’s throughout the internet. Though my issue isn’t specific to LiveJournal, it is here that I chose to make my stand and be heard. I’ve tried for longer than I can remember to turn the other cheek and ignore the words typed in responses to inquiries, but I have finally had enough. Should you be unable to take any criticism please stop reading as I’m going to do my damnedest to offend each and every one of you, as you have offended me.
I am completely sick and tired of the self-righteous attitude extreme fans take with others in relation to the objects of their obsession. This isn’t related to just one set of fans, or one band, or one genre, rather the fanatics on the whole who have taken it upon themselves to ridicule and bark at those they have deemed unworthy.
You have no business to ever criticize any other fan of any band at any time for any reason. You do not get to judge how someone spends their time. There is no ranking system of the best fans. There is no point meter determining who will win the affection of the object of your obsession. Nobody is handing out cookies to their number one fan, and though they appreciate it, the band is not ever going to make a public statement lauding you with some accolade because you “stood up for them.”
We are all pleased that you are willing to fight so vehemently for what you believe in. We are pleased that there are fans who have the best interest of the band at heart, but your words, name calling, abusive and destructive language take what would be a proud moment and turn it into something disgusting. In the end no matter what point you are trying to make, when you turn to name calling you are insulting other fans. This is not your place. Protecting the band is the responsibility of managers, attorneys and parents. It is not the responsibility of over-zealous arrogant stalkers who have decided to attempt to earn affection by swinging a sword of truth and merit. I know that the bands you support would be saddened by the way you treat the people who support them.
It makes no difference how long you’ve been a fan. There is no prize for longevity. Though bands are often grateful for the fans who’ve been with them in the beginning I have never heard of one request that newer fans hold off on buying ticket or merchandise so that their older fans can still have a shot. They may long for the ability to please all their fans, but they will not sacrifice one set for another.
Criticizing someone’s mode for discovery is unacceptable. Whether you turned on the radio and discovered the band, caught them as an opener for another band or were handed a CD outside of a venue, your loyalty is not above anyone else’s. Being a fan, simply means being a fan, no matter how you became a fan. There will always be some event that turned you on to a certain band. Whether you were introduced by a friend, saw a picture on the internet or happened across an interesting article in a magazine, you are still a fan and still as worthy as anyone else to be so.
I understand there is a war brewing in fandom over legally recorded and illegally downloaded music. I understand both sides of the coin and I have heard arguments from artists who are both for and against file sharing. That being said, nothing makes me happier than knowing one of the biggest fans I’ve ever seen happens to be dear close personal friends with the objects of his obsession and he only heard about them because he bought an illegally downloaded bootleg CD from a homeless person on the street in Europe.
Yes, while you were crusading on your keyboard, some people are out making a life out of their obsessions and reaping a benefit of friendship and experience with those you try to hold so tightly.
You claim to support the bands, but in reality, you are not being supportive. You are cutting off a vital bloodline by turning away prospective fans. I must admit if I met the fans first I would never be a fan of the bands you claim to love. You attack fans because they admit, honestly that they are fans of a band solely due to aesthetics, but really why does that matter? Why does it matter if someone loves them just because they are cute? They are still supporting the music you love. They are still turning on new fans. They are still checking websites, buying music, watching TV and obsessing much like you are. There is no difference in loving a band because the lead singer is hot or loving a band just because you’ve known the drummer since grade school. Either way, there is an ulterior motive to your promotion.
We are proud that you stuck buy the band in the lean times, but your insensitive treatment of all new fans threatens to send the band right back to being lean. If there finally ceased to be new fans and all that was left was the core group of die-hard extremists you must understand the band would no longer be viable. Most likely they would be forced to get regular jobs and eventually any opportunity you had to interact would be gone as the demands of life pushed aside their ability to do their jobs.
You cannot play music for free. You cannot write music while you’re running the fryer at McDonalds and you cannot be a musician without an audience. Understand that the bands you want to hoard must make music, must broaden their horizons and must expand their audiences. It is inevitable and commendable for a band to become commercially successful and by discriminating against the fans who arrive after commercial success is to simply deny the band what financial and artistic accolades they rightfully deserve.
While many artists often long for the days of intimate shows, the feelings are fleeting and masked by the swell of success. Though that fruit can turn bitter and change people, in the end, no band ever started because they wanted to spend the rest of their lives, starving and playing in a garage. They start because they want to make music that touches millions of people. They want to make music that makes a difference because they believe maybe someone will be touched by their expression. Whether the life changing moment comes when the song is first played or ten years later, nobody has the right to discredit that moment.
I say this because I have been blessed to know some of the people you covet. I have been blessed to see some of the biggest bands when they were small and struggling, unable to feed themselves and buy gas. I remember being in rooms with only a handful of other people, spending years watching careers take off and go places I never dreamed. I remember when bands would spend hours sharing stories, cutting up and laughing in real conversations. I remember how it stung the first time I was cut off so another autograph could be signed. I remember feeling jealous that there were new people taking attention I was accustomed to away from me and I remember being a little angry.
Then I grew up.
Now, when I see a new band, in my heart I usually know if one day I’ll be shoved away by new fans who are over-eager and desperate to meet my old friends. I am never as angry at the new fans. Now I find myself watching young band playing their hearts out to just a few loyal friends and cringing because I know that someday, someone in the audience will find perverse happiness making a new fan feel bad about the length of time they have been involved.
Learn to understand that part of supporting the objects of your obsession is giving up the hour you used to spend chatting for only a few minutes. Understand that occasionally a fan will become a friend, but usually, you just remain a fan. Be thankful that you found the music you love and have the ability to experience it.
Understand that the objects of your affection would likely be sickened by the way their fans treat each other. Understand that condescension and arrogance will not make you look good to the bands. Understand that no matter what you say, what point you have, what issue you feel compelled to address, when you turn to name calling and berating others, being abusive and downright shitty to anyone else you are doing a disservice to the band.
We share a commonality. Everyone is a fan of someone. Every person, regardless of age, race, gender, social status or location is a fan of something. We should spend our time being a community, a strong and warm comfort to the people we love who work so hard and go without so long to bring us music that makes us feel so alive. Understand that without each and every fan, there would be no new music. There would be no concerts and soon, there would be no bands. Do not give into your jealousy and fear and degrade each other. Do not let the greed inside of you push others away. Music is a singular experience. You cannot tell anyone how to feel about a song. You cannot tell anyone how to hear a song. You should not tell anyone how to celebrate the song-maker.
To those of you who have been berated, abused, teased, made fun of and hated I want you to know that I apologize. I am sorry on behalf of those who are too narrow minded to apologize. I am sorry that you have any bad experience to associate with the object of your obsession. I am sorry for the times you’ve been ridiculed, picked on or snapped at for asking a question. I am sorry for the times you’re talked down to because you are new. I am sorry that you must go through this.
I want you to know that the bands you love do not think less of you because you are new. They don’t think less of you because you haven’t been there since the beginning. There is no test for you. You don’t have to prove anything to be a fan, to be appreciated and to be loved by the band. You have done nothing wrong. You are thanked fully and completely and never, ever distinguished by longevity. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been listening a year or a month or a decade, the support and love you give out is just as valuable today as it will be in twenty years. Don’t ever let anyone turn you off from the band you love. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you do not deserve to be fan.
There will always be super fans. There will always be snide comments and jealousy because you are taking five precious minutes away from someone who’s only joy in life is music. Do not give into petty arguments and name calling. Understand how really sad it is that there is nothing else in life to occupy these people but the over consumption of knowledge of a band, not because of an interest, but solely to know more than anyone else.
Understand how sad it is to use music, the universal bridge between mankind to make other feel ashamed.
Be a fan. Embrace other fans. Don’t pollute the art by ridiculing those who share your love.
Always,
Airie
I’d like to address a continuing issue that I see coming up in various communities and fandom’s throughout the internet. Though my issue isn’t specific to LiveJournal, it is here that I chose to make my stand and be heard. I’ve tried for longer than I can remember to turn the other cheek and ignore the words typed in responses to inquiries, but I have finally had enough. Should you be unable to take any criticism please stop reading as I’m going to do my damnedest to offend each and every one of you, as you have offended me.
I am completely sick and tired of the self-righteous attitude extreme fans take with others in relation to the objects of their obsession. This isn’t related to just one set of fans, or one band, or one genre, rather the fanatics on the whole who have taken it upon themselves to ridicule and bark at those they have deemed unworthy.
You have no business to ever criticize any other fan of any band at any time for any reason. You do not get to judge how someone spends their time. There is no ranking system of the best fans. There is no point meter determining who will win the affection of the object of your obsession. Nobody is handing out cookies to their number one fan, and though they appreciate it, the band is not ever going to make a public statement lauding you with some accolade because you “stood up for them.”
We are all pleased that you are willing to fight so vehemently for what you believe in. We are pleased that there are fans who have the best interest of the band at heart, but your words, name calling, abusive and destructive language take what would be a proud moment and turn it into something disgusting. In the end no matter what point you are trying to make, when you turn to name calling you are insulting other fans. This is not your place. Protecting the band is the responsibility of managers, attorneys and parents. It is not the responsibility of over-zealous arrogant stalkers who have decided to attempt to earn affection by swinging a sword of truth and merit. I know that the bands you support would be saddened by the way you treat the people who support them.
It makes no difference how long you’ve been a fan. There is no prize for longevity. Though bands are often grateful for the fans who’ve been with them in the beginning I have never heard of one request that newer fans hold off on buying ticket or merchandise so that their older fans can still have a shot. They may long for the ability to please all their fans, but they will not sacrifice one set for another.
Criticizing someone’s mode for discovery is unacceptable. Whether you turned on the radio and discovered the band, caught them as an opener for another band or were handed a CD outside of a venue, your loyalty is not above anyone else’s. Being a fan, simply means being a fan, no matter how you became a fan. There will always be some event that turned you on to a certain band. Whether you were introduced by a friend, saw a picture on the internet or happened across an interesting article in a magazine, you are still a fan and still as worthy as anyone else to be so.
I understand there is a war brewing in fandom over legally recorded and illegally downloaded music. I understand both sides of the coin and I have heard arguments from artists who are both for and against file sharing. That being said, nothing makes me happier than knowing one of the biggest fans I’ve ever seen happens to be dear close personal friends with the objects of his obsession and he only heard about them because he bought an illegally downloaded bootleg CD from a homeless person on the street in Europe.
Yes, while you were crusading on your keyboard, some people are out making a life out of their obsessions and reaping a benefit of friendship and experience with those you try to hold so tightly.
You claim to support the bands, but in reality, you are not being supportive. You are cutting off a vital bloodline by turning away prospective fans. I must admit if I met the fans first I would never be a fan of the bands you claim to love. You attack fans because they admit, honestly that they are fans of a band solely due to aesthetics, but really why does that matter? Why does it matter if someone loves them just because they are cute? They are still supporting the music you love. They are still turning on new fans. They are still checking websites, buying music, watching TV and obsessing much like you are. There is no difference in loving a band because the lead singer is hot or loving a band just because you’ve known the drummer since grade school. Either way, there is an ulterior motive to your promotion.
We are proud that you stuck buy the band in the lean times, but your insensitive treatment of all new fans threatens to send the band right back to being lean. If there finally ceased to be new fans and all that was left was the core group of die-hard extremists you must understand the band would no longer be viable. Most likely they would be forced to get regular jobs and eventually any opportunity you had to interact would be gone as the demands of life pushed aside their ability to do their jobs.
You cannot play music for free. You cannot write music while you’re running the fryer at McDonalds and you cannot be a musician without an audience. Understand that the bands you want to hoard must make music, must broaden their horizons and must expand their audiences. It is inevitable and commendable for a band to become commercially successful and by discriminating against the fans who arrive after commercial success is to simply deny the band what financial and artistic accolades they rightfully deserve.
While many artists often long for the days of intimate shows, the feelings are fleeting and masked by the swell of success. Though that fruit can turn bitter and change people, in the end, no band ever started because they wanted to spend the rest of their lives, starving and playing in a garage. They start because they want to make music that touches millions of people. They want to make music that makes a difference because they believe maybe someone will be touched by their expression. Whether the life changing moment comes when the song is first played or ten years later, nobody has the right to discredit that moment.
I say this because I have been blessed to know some of the people you covet. I have been blessed to see some of the biggest bands when they were small and struggling, unable to feed themselves and buy gas. I remember being in rooms with only a handful of other people, spending years watching careers take off and go places I never dreamed. I remember when bands would spend hours sharing stories, cutting up and laughing in real conversations. I remember how it stung the first time I was cut off so another autograph could be signed. I remember feeling jealous that there were new people taking attention I was accustomed to away from me and I remember being a little angry.
Then I grew up.
Now, when I see a new band, in my heart I usually know if one day I’ll be shoved away by new fans who are over-eager and desperate to meet my old friends. I am never as angry at the new fans. Now I find myself watching young band playing their hearts out to just a few loyal friends and cringing because I know that someday, someone in the audience will find perverse happiness making a new fan feel bad about the length of time they have been involved.
Learn to understand that part of supporting the objects of your obsession is giving up the hour you used to spend chatting for only a few minutes. Understand that occasionally a fan will become a friend, but usually, you just remain a fan. Be thankful that you found the music you love and have the ability to experience it.
Understand that the objects of your affection would likely be sickened by the way their fans treat each other. Understand that condescension and arrogance will not make you look good to the bands. Understand that no matter what you say, what point you have, what issue you feel compelled to address, when you turn to name calling and berating others, being abusive and downright shitty to anyone else you are doing a disservice to the band.
We share a commonality. Everyone is a fan of someone. Every person, regardless of age, race, gender, social status or location is a fan of something. We should spend our time being a community, a strong and warm comfort to the people we love who work so hard and go without so long to bring us music that makes us feel so alive. Understand that without each and every fan, there would be no new music. There would be no concerts and soon, there would be no bands. Do not give into your jealousy and fear and degrade each other. Do not let the greed inside of you push others away. Music is a singular experience. You cannot tell anyone how to feel about a song. You cannot tell anyone how to hear a song. You should not tell anyone how to celebrate the song-maker.
To those of you who have been berated, abused, teased, made fun of and hated I want you to know that I apologize. I am sorry on behalf of those who are too narrow minded to apologize. I am sorry that you have any bad experience to associate with the object of your obsession. I am sorry for the times you’ve been ridiculed, picked on or snapped at for asking a question. I am sorry for the times you’re talked down to because you are new. I am sorry that you must go through this.
I want you to know that the bands you love do not think less of you because you are new. They don’t think less of you because you haven’t been there since the beginning. There is no test for you. You don’t have to prove anything to be a fan, to be appreciated and to be loved by the band. You have done nothing wrong. You are thanked fully and completely and never, ever distinguished by longevity. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been listening a year or a month or a decade, the support and love you give out is just as valuable today as it will be in twenty years. Don’t ever let anyone turn you off from the band you love. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you do not deserve to be fan.
There will always be super fans. There will always be snide comments and jealousy because you are taking five precious minutes away from someone who’s only joy in life is music. Do not give into petty arguments and name calling. Understand how really sad it is that there is nothing else in life to occupy these people but the over consumption of knowledge of a band, not because of an interest, but solely to know more than anyone else.
Understand how sad it is to use music, the universal bridge between mankind to make other feel ashamed.
Be a fan. Embrace other fans. Don’t pollute the art by ridiculing those who share your love.
Always,
Airie