Okay... we've all seen it or been a 'victim' of it: you start a thread, or contribute to one, about an artist/topic that you are interested in. Everything's going well... then BAM! In come the supposed 'haterz' with their contradictory viewpoints and everyone's up in arms before the appears.

The Madonna 'Greatest Hits Pt 3' is the perfect example (or just pick any MJ/Janet/Mariah/Beyonce/etc) thread. (Interestingly, it's always the biggest stars that seem to polarise everyone...). Debate going well, people offering their opinions... then someone pipes up with a different opinion and all hell breaks loose.

Do you think this is rude?

Do you think this is raining on peoples' parades?

Or do you see this as simply excercising free speech?


This is not directed at anyone in particular - just, when this happens, I often see Orgers saying 'Why do you bother if you're not a fan/interested in the subject matter?!'.


My opinion is divided on this - I think everyone, regardless of opinion (whether it's for or against the thread subject) should be allowed to comment. It's good to have the debates! It's just the *way* that comment is made makes the difference.

In real life, when I hear someone getting all fammy and gushing about something they love - even when I hate what they're talking about - I don't wanna rain on their parade. Why ruin someone else's enjoyment??! That sometimes spills on to the Org when I see something I *could* post a 'negative' comment about, but think twice. There again... this place would be boring as hell without all the different opinions!


Anyway... apologies for the long-ass post... I'm just interested to see what you guys think.


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[Edited 8/5/09 12:44pm]

Personally, if I see a thread about an artist I don't like I ignore it. Why? Because I have nothing to contribute to it and if people enjoy their music and want to discuss it, then let them do it.

It's really that simple I cannot stand Michael Jackson but I never go read and post hateful messages about him on his threads.

I get what U mean...

Sometimes I open a thread out of curiosity, but then I think, " Whatever... " But I don't respond with the rude comment I may be thinking. Other times I might add something that I think is constructive just to show another point of view.

BUT there are people on here who have not learned the difference between THEIR OPINION and FACT. They think that if they don't like a song or artist, it's okay to trash everyone or anything associated with it.
And if U say anything, they get all "flamy"

Sometimes people who argue "Freedom of Speech" are actually arguing "Right to Insult and Hide behind a Phrase".

Go figure...

Thanks Alej/Lynn! I appreciate your comments.

For me, it's a difficult one - sometimes you learn about other artists that, previously, you had no interest in. Or, sometimes, there is no way in HELL I want to read about certain artists. It's a fine line - letting others enjoy themselves whilst adding your own perspective.

onenitealone said:

Yes

When it's an artist I had never even heard their name I go and try to listen to something. I've discovered many great people that way on this site. But when it's someone I know I can't stand I just ignore it. It's amessing

Alej said:[quote]

onenitealone said:

Or maybe we're just gluttons for punishment. Everyone on the Org, that is.

onenitealone said:

could be
[Edited 8/6/09 15:15pm]

I agree with Alej. Sometimes I'll pull something up on YouTube because of a posting. If I don't like it, I don't come back and berate the person...

chocolate1 said:

There's so much diversity here - and knowledge - I love reading everyone's opinions. It's great when you discover something for the first time. It's just when it's someone I reaaaaally hate that I step back from the thread.

onenitealone said:

Yes. And the really sad thing is that - in my case, I avoid threads about Lady Gaga because I know there will be the posts of people (I won't mention names) who contribute absolutely nothing and, I'm sure, haven't even listened to her album but simply hate her. So all they can say is call her names and such.

It's not cool

I'm hit or miss, depending on what thread I've click on at the moment, I'll throw my opinion in and move on. I'm not out to kill a thread or make some sort of hoopla I'm just expressing myself. Doesn't matter if I like the subject matter or not. I don't avoid any topic cause I don't like the artist or subject matter.

Some people should just start a thread tiled "(_____ sucks!" (insert artist name in the blank),say all the negative stuff they want,get it out their system and move on I really don't see the point in going into a thread where fans are discussing an artist,only to spew negativity,start nasty arguments,and ruin an otherwise good discussion.There is a big difference between constructive criticism and baiting.There are a few troll-types on this forum who don't enter these threads for the purpose of having a rational discussion about that artist and their music.


I can't stand R.Kelly and Kid Rock so if there was a thread devoted to them,I would most likely stay away from it.Besides,I've already voiced my opinion about those two,lol.No need to keep talking about how much I don't like someone.Why waste time trying to convince their fans that they are crap artists?


Also,I think that if you already decide that an artist is whack,there is no way that you can seriously discuss/analyze/critique their music in a fair,objective manner.If someone hands you a copy of their latest CD,you're automatically gonna say that it's crap.It would be like me trying to review an R.Kelly CD

chocolate1 said:

Exactly! There are certain folks here who truly don't know the difference between a fact and an opinion.

onenitealone said:

That particular thread was going along just fine----fans staying on topic and disussing the upcoming Greatest Hits CD,writing their own dream tracklists,talking about what songs should or shouldn't be included---until a certain "troll" came along and ruined it.This person does the exact same thing on the Janet and MJ threads.He isn't there to have a rational discussion about the artists and their music.He's just playing a transparent game that goes like this...


He offers up a bunch of negative opinions and when the fans disagree,they are called names ("floons" is the latest deragatory term that he's using,lol).



The irony is that this person claims that he doesn't even listen to Madonna and doesn't pay attention to her at all.So if he's not into her music,the only reason he's on that thread is to start trouble and argue with fans.Furthermore,the purpose of the thread is to discuss her upcoming Greatest Hits set,which this person didn't even comment on.That's why I said that certain people just start a "Madonna Sucks" thread,discuss why they hate her,criticize her aggressively,get it out their system and move on! lol.Don't come into a good thread/discussion and ruin it with your petty negativity!

Don't forget the ones who claim to know it all, and once their ignorance is exposed, in comes the flames...



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lazycrockett said:

Thank you. I thinks that's a great approach.

SoulAlive said:

SoulAlive said:

I get what you're saying - and I kinda agree. I think people should be able to post what they like, within reason... just there's a whole difference between offering a different opinion or constructive criticism and all-out baiting.

kumala75 said:

Exactly, NO-ONE knows it all. There's always something to learn. Maybe it's how certain people display their level of fandom, perhaps. Who cares?

I think you're overlooking the fact that people in here diss Prince too!
I'm only here about a week and I've been seriously put off...
I came here because I love Prince and expected to find people who love him too and have a good time together. I certainly didn't expect a bunch of "haters formerly known as Prince fans"...
I don't know what's the custom around here, but in the greek fan-forums I participate no-one's allowed to badmouth the artist they're dedicated to!
I'm shocked really...

porfyrivrohi said:

Well, that's just boring. It sounds like the Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera forums I've been on.

porfyrivrohi said:

You'll find both, the lovers and the haters... It just takes a while.

A bit of criticism on Prince shouldn't hurt anyone when people do their homework and say something based on a fact. Plus everybody has an opinion that should be respected.

Until you find the wrong Orger who thinks has the right on everything, and believes you should change your thinking simply because it's not his/hers.

But then who knows, sometimes the whole flame comes out of (probably) misreading a post


You know, it just takes a while.




By the way, another thread on the haters is now on - on and on, on, the beat goes...




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porfyrivrohi said:

First off... welcome.

Secondly, very annoyingly , I just started a huge reply and the bloody Org swallowed it. So, in a nutshell, I think Alej and kumala75 said it for me.

What I wanted to say is try not to let it get to you - what you like is what you like. What other fans think - well, that's their business.
This place is full of all sorts - all types of people, with diverse tastes; we all have opinions. And I really do think this place would be less interesting if people said what they thought they should say. Good or bad, as long as people state their case with respect, then it creates a proper dialogue. I just wouldn't let that affect your enjoyent of the thing that brought you here in the first place - i.e. Prince!

Apologies, that's a short, lame version of what I'd already written but I can't find the strength to type it all out again.

kumala75 said:

yup.

SUPRMAN said:

NO-ONE knows it all, simple as that. So anyone who comes to the Org claiming they have the answer to everything, or trying to make out they're a bigger fan than the next person, is talking rubbish. What is it based on? The amount of concerts you've seen? The amount of magazines you've collected? How many times you've listened to a particular bootleg? It's absurd. It reminds me of when you watch a quiz show with someone and they feel compelled to shout out the answers just to prove they know them. Very annoying and pathetic, too.


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[Edited 8/9/09 4:22am]

all right onenitealone, you're my man



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kumala75 said:

Okay, I gotta go - I was supposed to be meeting mates, like, 20 minutes ago. Enjoy your day!

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[Edited 8/9/09 9:22am]

I have absolutely no problem with people being critical of another orgers opinion, but when you get critical of the orger themselves that's just being a troll in my book.

dollwoman said:

Agreed. There's no need to get insulting about things - especially over half the frivolous, stupid things we all talk about here.

SoulAlive said: