Okay, so my question is, if Prince follows through with the cease and blah-blah order, what if we go to log-in here one day and the site no longer exists?

What will we do?

Will our names and contact info be preserved some way so as that we can keep in touch or at least get picked-up in some reincarnated format of another board?

Doesn't Prince realize he has created a Family of Fans... a "Fanily" that can be torn apart by his threats? What will become of us orphans then?

No problem. All you have to do is spend, what...50,000 seat arena times $100 a ticket...Let's call it half a million bucks. On your own. Look on the bright side: you'll have GREAT seat(s).

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

Okay, so my question is, if Prince follows through with the cease and blah-blah order, what if we go to log-in here one day and the site no longer exists?

What will we do?

Will our names and contact info be preserved some way so as that we can keep in touch or at least get picked-up in some reincarnated format of another board?

Doesn't Prince realize he has created a Family of Fans... a "Fanily" that can be torn apart by his threats? What will become of us orphans then?

Cry my fucking eyes out. I love this place and all the peeps here and the friendships made.

luv4u said:

There is life after Prince and the Org

Janfriend said:

I have always wondered if Prince read this site. I know if I were him, I would want to know what people thought of me and my work so I know I would be reading the comments.

purpleunderground said:

Cry my fucking eyes out. I love this place and all the peeps here and the friendships made.

psychodelicide said:

My name is Prince
I am a prick
My name is Prince
With a little dick
I did not come to make no fans
Just buy my records and I'll take the cash
In the beginning, I needed thee
but in this decade, you're on your knees
Ya'll was tryin' to appreciate when you heard the sound
Sound like a letter cold gettin' down
I tried to take the high road but I might not last
My God I'm worried, ya'll kick my ass

My name is Prince
I am a prick
My name is Prince
With a little dick - hurt me

(Beat him, beat him, somebody)
(beat him, beat him, somebody)
Hurt me (beat him, beat him, somebody)
(Beat him, beat him, somebody)
(beat him, Beat him, somebody)
(beat him, beat him, somebody)
(beat him, beat him, somebody)
(BEAT HIM, BEAT HIM, somebody)

My name is Prince and I am on crack
When it comes to crack It is not wack
I think I'm righteous free from your sins
I had 2 wives but that had to end
Don't look me in the eye, cuz I just might lie
And tell you my shoes are not from hide
Without a pistol, without a gun
When u kick my ass you'll be havin' fun
That's when I gottcha that's when u mine
Now cease and desist before you die

My name is Prince I am a prick (You can't stop Prince)
My name is Prince with the little dick - hurt me (You can't stop Prince)

My name is Prince, and I wanna be king
Cuz Larry Graham's on top and it's just my dream
Pics with me and women and fancy clothes
Will make you smile, but it won't save your soul
I'm here to tell you that there's a better way
Would Jehovah be happy if He came 2 day?
I am sayin' I'm better, I'm better than u
If u want 2 play my music, u better learn the rules

Ouah! My name is Prince!
[Edited 11/5/07 21:28pm]

luv4u said:

Ben can just rename the site.. doesnt have to disappear.. and like someone else said.. we can just refer to Prince as.. 'the one who can not be named'

"The one who cannot be named" what is this The Village??

1KissAtATyme said:

And the color purple will be forbidden to wear

For the first time in almost four years, I've decided to change my avatar from my usual lion's head tattoo design. I realize this is not one of the most earth-shattering expressions ever dared in the history of human dissent, but what the hell do you people WANT from me on a Monday?


I fully support Ben and his partners in the PFU project. (Clever acronym, by the way. Subtle, guys. Real subtle.) I feel disgusted, disillusioned, disoriented and...just plain DISSED...by Prince's latest round of legal bullying. It feels as if he peels away a layer of trust and communication within the fan community and just before we have a chance to fully accept the latest compromise, he and his winged monkeys begin peeling away the next layer of what we can and cannot do when referring to His Royal Royaltyness.


For a while, I will admit: I thought Prince had a point. I thought he was being an anal retentive schmuck, but I also had to admit that he had a good argument for his schmuckiness.


Today, I think the man has lost the plot and his behavior is just plain MEAN.


I'm sure if he wanted, he could send in his team of legal stormtroopers and have them mandate that we are no longer allowed to use the word "purple" on unofficial Prince fan sites because the color has become a trademark of his pop culture persona and fans are compromising his marketability, blah blah blah. We all know this is absurd. Prince HAS to know this is absurd. Powerful lawyers know this is absurd...but the messed-up thing is, Prince can afford to let his legal team play every trick in the book until the resources of us mere mortals (read: not filthy rich pop stars) are completely tapped and we have to cry a collective "UNCLE!", et voila: no more using the word "purple" on the Org.


That was just a hypothetical situation, folks. But is it THAT unrealistic?


Freedom of expression is such a tricky thing. We want to wear it as an armor, but the armor has holes. Big holes. And just because you have armor protecting you doesn't mean that you want slings and arrows aimed at you, regardless of what is protecting you.


But we know what is right and we know when we have been pushed too far. Many of us feel that this is one of those times, and we're finally ready to push back.


Already the voice is loud. How long is this thread now? Ten, eleven pages? I started this thread not even four hours ago, I think. The PFU has already made it to Perez Hilton's gossip site. Associated Press and Yahoo News won't be far behind. Even if it's a bunch of people using keyboards to lob verbal bricks through Windows2007 in the privacy of their homes, Earth to Major Nelson: there's a riot goin' on.


All of this to state ONE IMPORTANT POINT I'd like to make about my support and participation in this so-called "revolt", and it's a point I direct to The Man Himself:


Prince. Dude. C'mere.


What's this all about? What's going on here?


Wait, don't answer that. We all know you're in "no comment" mode, so you wouldn't anyway.


I do miss your dialogs with the fans, though. I just gotta be honest. When you made some particularly crackety-ass demand of fans, it was a lot easier to accept when you talked about it personally on television or in a magazine interview, or even better, on your web site or in a web chat. I still may not have agreed with you, but at least I could respect the accountability you took for some of your wackier demands .


(which reminds me: I'm STILL not going to mail my import Prince CDs to Ohio, FYI - I don't even care that you'll send me a NPS baseball cap in appreciation).


Now, Prince, now...I think you've lost touch. I think a few snarky "fams" got a little too critical when you were extending yourself to the masses via NPGMC, you didn't have a thick enough skin to deflect it, and you began building walls between you and your fanbase. Then you dug a moat. Then you installed evil robot alligators in the moat. Now you're having the alligators run around the entire damn kingdom and zap us in the butts whenever we dare to take your name in vain.


PRINCE, STOP IT. YOU'RE FREAKING US OUT.


If you think what you're doing is so righteous, talk to us. We don't have a stake in your failure, and if you think you're creating an example for a more ethical or well-conducted information superhighway, well then DAMN - clue us in a little, willya? Shoot us a manifesto or have Mel B. interview you about it or whatever makes you comfortable enough to just TALK TO US.


Otherwise, a whole bunch of people who otherwise love you are going to be turning against you, and lemme tell you - as someone who's loved your music for over half a lifetime, that feeling really sucks nasty rotten eggs.


Which brings me to what I *really* want to say, not only to Prince, but to everyone involved in the fan community, whether pro/anti/don't-give-a-damn:


I am expressing dissent in this situation because I am a fan and I love Prince.


I'm not doing this because I think Prince is a big smelly [insert profanity here] or because I hate everything about him. In fact, I wish people would think twice before they started posting that kind of adolescent venom, because it makes the rest of us look really base and stupid, kthx.


The reason I "take sides" is because I love Prince's art, and I love other people who love Prince's art, and I love the idea of new eyes and ears opening their minds to Prince's art. It's a beautiful thing, talking about it - sharing it - enjoying it.


I think about all the artists in the world - perhaps a few whose talent might even make Prince look like a second rate hack, but those who we may never know due to the fickle finger of fate - who would ADORE having the attention and dialog surrounding their work that Prince generates.


I think about all the artists who DO have Prince's level of success, and how graciously and affably they interact with their fan bases.


Perhaps most notably, I think about what's really important in all this mess: duh. THE MUSIC.


I can't blame all this on THE MUSIC. It's pure and beautiful and genius and without it, we wouldn't be here talking about him and he wouldn't have mountains of money with which to make us stop talking about him.


THE MUSIC is the nucleus of all this, good and bad, and it's innocent and pure. When I put "Lovesexy" in the stereo, the music doesn't punish me for singing along off-key or in a silly voice. When I watch my "Gett Off" videocassette, the tape doesn't scold me for making fun of Prince's bathing suit in the "Gangsta Glam" video. The end product is the end product and it's there for us to purchase and enjoy in our own way.


Prince can't ever take that away from us, and we as fans can never cheapen that enjoyment for other people. THE MUSIC is impervious to all this racket. It's above the business of being a celebrity or the indignation of fans on the internet. Food doesn't care how you eat it, cuz it's going to nourish you the same no matter if you cut it up or eat it whole.


As long as Prince continues to create music that even a FRACTION of his fans enjoy, he's still going to be giving away a part of himself for people to own, and that bit of his soul will belong to the fans with every lyric, every solo, every melody we memorize. Will he and his lawyers decide to come after THAT someday, too? I wish they would. I wanna SEE that.


So yeah. I don't hate Prince. I certainly will not be giving up my Prince collection, hanging up my Mod hat or deleting my Org account anytime soon. If anything, it makes me even prouder to be part of this fan community, because...well...LOOK at all you people!


Prince needs every single bitchy crabby grouchy potty-mouthed irritated angry hurt disgusted annoyed PISSED OFF one of us as much as we've needed his music at one point or another throughout our lives...don't let him or his monkeytroopers tell you any differently!, and if he had one ounce of sense in his head (yeah, I know, but let's pray) he would realize that he needs to AT THE VERY LEAST reach out and explain why all this is necessary.


Cuz till then, a lot of us are going to be very vocal and very angry and we're going to educate ourselves and we're going to FIGHT.


We love ya Prince, but you gotta work this one out with us before we can even DREAM of coming around to your way of thinking, if indeed your way of thinking is even worth coming around to.


These aren't words of disrespect, but words of intervention. A message in a bottle. A valentine with a razor tip. Be careful where you touch, but know it's the thought that counts.


That's about it.


Banzai, Godspeed and all that other good stuff to EVERYONE,

Anx

purpleunderground said:

Cry my fucking eyes out. I love this place and all the peeps here and the friendships made.

psychodelicide said:

My name is Prince
I am a prick
My name is Prince
With a little dick
I did not come to make no fans
Just buy my records and I'll take the cash
In the beginning, I needed thee
but in this decade, you're on your knees
Ya'll was tryin' to appreciate when you heard the sound
Sound like a letter cold gettin' down
I tried to take the high road but I might not last
My God I'm worried, ya'll kick my ass

My name is Prince
I am a prick
My name is Prince
With a little dick - hurt me

(Beat him, beat him, somebody)
(beat him, beat him, somebody)
Hurt me (beat him, beat him, somebody)
(Beat him, beat him, somebody)
(beat him, Beat him, somebody)
(beat him, beat him, somebody)
(beat him, beat him, somebody)
(BEAT HIM, BEAT HIM, somebody)

My name is Prince and I am on crack
When it comes to crack It is not wack
I think I'm righteous free from your sins
I had 2 wives but that had to end
Don't look me in the eye, cuz I just might lie
And tell you my shoes are not from hide
Without a pistol, without a gun
When u kick my ass you'll be havin' fun
That's when I gottcha that's when u mine
Now cease and desist before you die

My name is Prince I am a prick (You can't stop Prince)
My name is Prince with the little dick - hurt me (You can't stop Prince)

My name is Prince, and I wanna be king
Cuz Larry Graham's on top and it's just my dream
Pics with me and women and fancy clothes
Will make you smile, but it won't save your soul
I'm here to tell you that there's a better way
Would Jehovah be happy if He came 2 day?
I am sayin' I'm better, I'm better than u
If u want 2 play my music, u better learn the rules

Ouah! My name is Prince!
[Edited 11/5/07 21:28pm]

Okay, here are my thoughts on this subject:

Prince, what the hell are you thinking???? I know that I speak for many fans on here when I say that I have supported you and your music for over 20 years (since the Purple Rain era). I have admired your musical talent, and have stuck up for you over the years to people who have called you weird, gay, or whatever. I even wanted to quit my job and become a musician like you, because you were so talented and because I admired you so much. Your songs have always touched and inspired me, made me laugh, cry, dance, whatever. But I knew that I was not musically talented, and there was no way that I could ever be the successful musician that you are.

But lately, these feelings are being diminished in light of what you are pulling on us, YOUR FANS. We have paid you A LOT of money on concert tickets, albums, tour merchandise, memorabilia, etc., etc., and this is the thanks and respect that we are being shown???? This is BULLSHIT, plain and simple! I was not real happy when you went after youtube and other websites for posting your images and/or your music. But now you're telling us that we can't discuss YOUR MUSIC?? That's taking it a bit too far, don't you think??

As other people have stated, if it were not for us, YOUR FANS, you would not be where you are today. You would not be able to enjoy the many luxuries that you have had in your life, ones that YOUR FANS will probably NEVER have in their lifetime. What's next, are you going to tell us how to dress, walk and talk too? You seriously need to GET A GRIP, and to realize that when you are a celebrity such as yourself, people are going to talk about you. They are not only going to discuss your music, but they are also going to discuss you and your personal life, BOTH GOOD AND BAD. In case you have forgotten or have just lost touch with reality (which I SERIOUSLY think you have), that is part of being a celebrity.

There was a rumor going around that you were going to retire after you toured London, and that saddened me. Now I think perhaps you will HAVE to retire, because if you are successful in telling us to NEVER talk about you EVER (which I DOUBT that you will be), you will not have ANY FANS left to talk about you, or to even attend your concerts anymore. Is that what you want???? It certainly is starting to look that way. If you are thinking about getting out of the music business, then this is a pretty FUCKED UP way of going about it.

I was excited when you had us vote for where we wanted you to tour next, but guess what? I don't feel that way anymore. You have totally ruined the feelings of admiration that once had for you. You are an attractive man (always have been), but you are doing things that are making you look very UGLY to your fans right now. I guess you don't give a damn about the shit that you're pulling right now, but it makes me VERY ANGRY that you are. You are TOTALLY out of line for doing this, and trust me, prince.org and the other websites that support you are going to FIGHT YOU AND WIN (think we ain't???)

I think you need to go back and study the Bible a little more closely. I don't think the Bible would support a person acting like a little Napoleon, telling his fans what they CAN and CANNOT do. I took down my avatar picture, because I don't even want to look at your face right now, that's how ANGRY I am at you right now. You have PISSED me off and ANGERED me more than words can ever express. I always knew that you were a control freak, and this just confirms it. It also makes me think that your need to control everything is the reason why you have so many failed relationships in your life.

Oh well, there's always lots of great 80's music to listen to. That's what I'm going to be jamming to.

psychodelicide said:

Okay, here are my thoughts on this subject:

Prince, what the hell are you thinking???? I know that I speak for many fans on here when I say that I have supported you and your music for over 20 years (since the Purple Rain era). I have admired your musical talent, and have stuck up for you over the years to people who have called you weird, gay, or whatever. I even wanted to quit my job and become a musician like you, because you were so talented and because I admired you so much. Your songs have always touched and inspired me, made me laugh, cry, dance, whatever. But I knew that I was not musically talented, and there was no way that I could ever be the successful musician that you are.

But lately, these feelings are being diminished in light of what you are pulling on us, YOUR FANS. We have paid you A LOT of money on concert tickets, albums, tour merchandise, memorabilia, etc., etc., and this is the thanks and respect that we are being shown???? This is BULLSHIT, plain and simple! I was not real happy when you went after youtube and other websites for posting your images and/or your music. But now you're telling us that we can't discuss YOUR MUSIC?? That's taking it a bit too far, don't you think??

As other people have stated, if it were not for us, YOUR FANS, you would not be where you are today. You would not be able to enjoy the many luxuries that you have had in your life, ones that YOUR FANS will probably NEVER have in their lifetime. What's next, are you going to tell us how to dress, walk and talk too? You seriously need to GET A GRIP, and to realize that when you are a celebrity such as yourself, people are going to talk about you. They are not only going to discuss your music, but they are also going to discuss you and your personal life, BOTH GOOD AND BAD. In case you have forgotten or have just lost touch with reality (which I SERIOUSLY think you have), that is part of being a celebrity.

There was a rumor going around that you were going to retire after you toured London, and that saddened me. Now I think perhaps you will HAVE to retire, because if you are successful in telling us to NEVER talk about you EVER (which I DOUBT that you will be), you will not have ANY FANS left to talk about you, or to even attend your concerts anymore. Is that what you want???? It certainly is starting to look that way. If you are thinking about getting out of the music business, then this is a pretty FUCKED UP way of going about it.

I was excited when you had us vote for where we wanted you to tour next, but guess what? I don't feel that way anymore. You have totally ruined the feelings of admiration that once had for you. You are an attractive man (always have been), but you are doing things that are making you look very UGLY to your fans right now. I guess you don't give a damn about the shit that you're pulling right now, but it makes me VERY ANGRY that you are. You are TOTALLY out of line for doing this, and trust me, prince.org and the other websites that support you are going to FIGHT YOU AND WIN (think we ain't???)

I think you need to go back and study the Bible a little more closely. I don't think the Bible would support a person acting like a little Napoleon, telling his fans what they CAN and CANNOT do. I took down my avatar picture, because I don't even want to look at your face right now, that's how ANGRY I am at you right now. You have PISSED me off and ANGERED me more than words can ever express. I always knew that you were a control freak, and this just confirms it. It also makes me think that your need to control everything is the reason why you have so many failed relationships in your life.

Oh well, there's always lots of great 80's music to listen to. That's what I'm going to be jamming to.