I, like all other NPGMC members, paid $25 to find out that our opinions are not welcome if they don't fit in with Prince's ideals. Are they going to refund us? Of course not. Would I ask for a refund? Never, it would only frustrate me more.

So far this year the club has let us down, just like this time last year. Back then everyone said 'wait and see'. To a degree they were right. We got ONA Live and Xenophobia as a sweetener, but that didn't entirely vindicate the club's attitude over the year.

I personally thought paying $25 was a much better idea, but so far the only privilage has been to purchase N.E.W.S. and Live in Las Vegas before general release but at a much higher price (once I'd paid postage). A tour would help of course, but that is extremely unlikely, and even if there was, many would still be unsatisfied as he can't be everywhere.

So, what's the least we can get from the club? The opportunity to have our opinions aired and respected would be a good start.

I would like to tell you all that next year I will not be joining, but the fact is I have to be a member in case he tours again. In spite of everything, getting to a pre-show and after-show in Dublin was the only thing that made last year worth-while, and my love of his live performance is what keeps me coming back for more.

Next year, let's not have this silly flash-based site. Just have a mailing list so the news comes to us instead of logging on to a never-changing web-site. Also, if he does tour, offer pre- and post-show tickets for $20 above ticket price to cover additional expense. This would also eliminate after-show problems like those experienced last year with venues trying to charge for entry or refusing it all together.

I'll probably get shouted down for negativity, which is ironic considering this is the site where we are allowed to freely express our opinions, but either way I look forward to reading your responses.

Didn't you listen to ONA Live? It's better to be a follower than a leader!

Critical thinking isn't welcome over there, nor have they ever made any claims that it was. If you're not in harmony with Prince's worldview, you probably don't have much business posting your thoughts over there.

I'm not trying to be a smart ass.

If you want to pretend like you were one of the happy, pretty, smiling kids in the Raspberry Beret video, dancing around in unison while Prince preaches it from overhead, NPGMC is the place to be.

If you have a mind of your own and want to express it, you're outta luck.

And I'm not saying the club is without its merits. It's just not an open marketplace for ideas from the members' perspective.

Kinda sucks, but that's how it goes.

Geeman said:

Did you start a "Guess My Weight" thread too??

2the9s said:

9s!!!

stymie said:

stymie!

I spend nearly no time keeping up w/ what is said in the forums at NPGMC. However, I am of the believe that comments deleted there are so for reasons other then being purely critical. Which brings to mind, what does being critical mean? Does it mean that I can say any nasty, negative foul thing I want any way I want to and expect it to remain on their board for their paying members to read? I would agree wholeheartdly with your comment here on freedom of speech if anyone here can provide just ONE critique on NPGMC that did not contain foul harsh language/attitude YET was still deleted. ANY TAKERS on my offer??? I read here on P.org alot about freedom of speech issues at NPGMC. So, I'm curious if anyone here can provide an example of a fair and balanced critical comment made at NPGMC that was deleted.

I didnt get Xenophobia/Xpectation...they didnt bother emailing me the link

jtea4p said:

Well, it's kind of difficult to go looking for examples, isn't it, when they've all been deleted? Though I think the post at the top of this thread is a pretty good example of a well-thought out example of NPGMC feedback that was deleted within minutes of its transmission.

If I were the kind of packrat who kept a copy of every internet post on my hard drive as I wrote them (do people like this exist?), I could give you some samples from my own experiences at the club.

What defines foul?

What defines harsh?

Some shows on TV have warnings of "coarse language" at the beginning...what does that mean?

Is it safe to deal with blurry lines when we're creating guidelines by which we are expected to express ourselves? Are the worldwide cultures of the people who interact on the Internet really so similar?

I have doubts.

Anxiety said:

Ditto. I thought everyone knew this by now? In NPGMC defense, they gave us warning this year, telling us not to expect anything for our $25 except access to the website. That's why I didn't join, and won't until he confirms tour dates.

I am of the believe that the Aladdin DVD was a result of our aired respected opinions. If I had issues with the structure of the NPGMC website, I certainly would not write them w/ the opinion that theirs was a never changing silly flash-based site. I would make suggestions on what I thought might be cool. I would offer up reasons why I think this would be better then that. I wouldn't TELL them what they should or shouldn't do. It goes on and on. About the best thing I can offer to anyone finding themselves in the postion where they need to hit the NPGMC up is to talk to them like you want people to talk to you. It is that simple.

I've had some problems w/ the club over the years. I write them, explained my problem and asked if they could help. They fix it and/ or told me what to do to fix it. I don't DEMAND they fix/correct anything. I don't belittle them, I don't cuss at them, I don't tell them what I expect them to do, I don't tell them what they better do. I ask and I thank them for their help. The fact that I'm a paying member is a given so there is no need to include that in ANY conversations I have w/ them.

As far as views being expressed and respected, I wonder what any of you who have this opinion would do if the roles were reversed. Whatever your passion, you had a membership website expressing that passion. How would you handle opposing views to YOUR passion on your website? Example; you BELIEVE in God, or, you don't; either or is your passion and purpose that drives your website. Along with those who share your view, others come to your site w/ sarcastic, flippant observations/opinions/statements/comments opposite your postion on the matter. Then what??? What do YOU do?
How do YOU address that on YOUR website?

The "purple kool-aid" drinkers at NPGMC offer up constructive suggestions. THEY are being heard and the cause is being advanced. The negative criticism is deleted from the NPGMC and makes it's way here to be discussed among those who share the same view. Makes sense to me.

Deleting hurtful and threatening content is one thing. I think we all have an idea of when something goes too far, and there's a point at which deleting comments may become necessary.

However, I think it displays a gross lack of confidence to delete comments that are merely contrary to the standard POV of Prince and NPGMC. It makes me feel that the atmosphere over there is somewhere between PR propaganda and (yeah, I'll say it) a cult.

I've said this about other people, and lord knows I've said this about Prince before: If you can't take people talking smack about you, DON'T BECOME A PUBLIC FIGURE. Become an accountant. Be a librarian. Design greeting cards. I don't know.

As it is run now, NPGMC's forums seem overly self-conscious and paranoid, and the moderators behave like inexperienced Barney Fifes who all woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

I don't begrudge anyone who posts over there because they're just fans trying to show their love and loyalty, but I can't help but be creeped out by some of the comments I've read on NPGMC's boards about how "giving up a little freedom is a good thing". Creepy.

His venues are so small, you could get regular seats available to the general public for $40 and still have a nice spot. Who needs to spend extra money on a "club" only to *hope* they remember to email you in time about the presale, then go to their site only to find out it cant handle the server load because psycho fams are marauding it nonstop to buy as many tickets as they can.

Anxiety said:

It's like filling out a comment card in a store, then some dipshit employee reads over it first to see if anything is "negative" on it, then rips it up if there is.

jtea4p said:

Everyone at that site paid $25, showing their support of the club. Respect goes both ways, the NPGMC is condescending to its supporters by treating them like children and deleting posts that are NOT offensive or outlandish. They ought to consider the diverse background of people coming there, instead of constantly imposing their narrowminded idiotic restrictions on conversation. The NPGMC and its little group of fams are making it pretty clear that noone else is welcome unless they lower themselves to their retarded ideals. I hope they stand by their attitudes next year, when the rest of us back out of joining and sending them our money. I'm guessing they'll compromise (at least temporarily) in another insincere attempt to get people to pay again, then it will start all over.
[This message was edited Thu Aug 21 9:56:21 PDT 2003 by Tom]

The first rule of the NPG Music Club is...

NEVER speak of the fucking NPG Music Club!!

i dont pay 2 access websites anyway.
i just pay for music.
i don't have 2 worry.

2the9s said:

9s!!!