If you hate Prince so much, why do you come to this site?

I usually only post around here when something major is happening like concerts, an album release, etc. While I think that it is healthy to have balanced, rational discourse about Prince or any artist/topic for that matter, every time I try to come back to this site and participate, I quickly realize how many unbalanced/unstable, hate-filled people frequent it.

Having gone to all three W2C shows, all three Purple After Jams, and the Andy Allo listening party, I tried to present a balanced review of all the shows I attended - the good and the bad. Yet, the deluge of hostile, negative, and misleading posts that I have seen regarding these shows highlights to me that some of the people on this site need to not only take a break from the site but from Prince in general. It is obvious to me that several of the people here have an idea of who and what Prince should be and their minds are closed to anything else. Their perception of everything he does is filtered through their negative beliefs of him. So no matter how much he tries to do something good or make a right from a wrong, they are unsatisfied. They act as if they created this man in a laboratory and have the right to control his every move. Some people openly hope he loses his JW faith so that they can get him to do the music they want to hear. Some dog his religious and political beliefs with disturbing vitriol. Others don’t like his choice of charities – forget the fact that he is even donating money to charities and helping people out. Every charity thread that I have read has negative comments. Really? People hate Larry Graham – a musical legend – because they think he took their Prince away from them. At some point, Prince stopped being human to these people. They want him to be their personal marionette. If he doesn’t do something the way they want it when they want it, he is the scion of Satan. I have never seen anything like this with other artists. I can go to the Santana fan site and see people who are unhappy with certain musical or career moves that he makes. However, there is still a genuine love and respect for him as an artist. It is never anything like this.

Whenever someone tries to type a positive word about Prince they are referred to as purple Kool-Aid drinking “stans,” and they are mocked for not jumping on the Negative Nancy/Whining Wendy/Psycho Sid bandwagon. It is hilarious to me that I can take breaks from this site for months and return to see the same posters posting negative remarks about everything Prince does. How completely pathetic is that? I could care less about the vast majority of artists out there. As such, I have never visited their fan sites. Yet, some people have made bashing Prince on a fan site part of their daily grind. Who does that?

These same people who constantly bash him check the concert threads, listen to albums, watch and listen to bootlegs, etc. only to tear them and the people who enjoy them apart. What is so funny about these Prince bashers is that they are the sources of some of the most inaccurate information that I have seen. Some of them would have you believe that the W2C shows were a complete disaster; that Prince has lost it; that he just took everyone’s money; that people stormed out; booed, etc. These are some of the same people who predicted that half the arena would be empty and that he wouldn’t be able to do multiple dates in Chicago. Because he proved them wrong, they attempted to mislead folks about what really happened. Thank God I was there. I know what happened at every event.

Actually, if one ventures outside the warped minds of some of the posters on this site to other sites, you will find that people cannot stop talking about the shows – in a good way. I went to Ticketmaster to read reviews from people who actually bought tickets and attended the shows, and most of the reviews were between 4 and 5 stars for all the shows. There were several 1 to 3 star votes for Monday’s shows, but overall the reviews were very good. Some of the very things that people complained about on this site were listed as favorite moments by reviewers on Ticketmaster. Yet, I come to Prince.org and get drenched in the same old tired bitter downpour that folks have been spewing for the last 10 years.

Like I said, it is completely healthy and normal to disagree with things that he does and to share an honest, rational critique or opinion about his music, concerts, style, related artists, etc. It can be a lot of fun to share different perspectives on an artist that people have a shared appreciation for. After all, this is supposed to be a “fan community site.” However, some of the people here have strayed so far left of right that they need an intervention. If you are over Prince, then be over him. It’s cool. However, what reason do you have for coming to a Prince fan site just to bash him? Seriously, you need to look into the mirror and ask yourself what compels you to spend so much of your time and energy on someone you cannot stand? If the Prince train has reached its final destination for you, leave the station. After seeing the reactions to the W2C shows, one thing I know is that someone else will gladly take your seat. So, why not go spend your time and energy on the site of an artist that you respect and appreciate? It’s ok. To quote another Orger, “You look better gone.”

well that's called freedom of speech !. Come on, there are no such things as haters - they and sometimes me! are just incredibly frustrated at how he uses / mis-uses that God given talent. I and many others could probably write a tonne of stuff in response but let me ask you this - what sort of a site would it be if only positive comments were allowed? we'd be heading into Chinese, North Korean or even worse NPG Music club territory !.

What I dont get is why you let it affect you so much? People will not always agree, and I can almost guarantee that these people you call haters, do like some Prince music! Why should they leave because they dont like ALL of his music or ALL he does?

So anyone whose opinion of the Chicago shows differs from yours is a hater. Got it.

Next!

Wall of text, blah blah blah....

This tired shit, AGAIN.

If you could actually comprehend how similar you are to these "haters" you're calling out...

Well obviously you can't, so this tired shit. Again.

As I said on http://prince.org/msg/7/388030..

Folks do it on the MJ thread.....

Folks do it in associated artists forum towards every protege.

Those spewing negativity could be trolls or just wanting a flame fest maybe.

Everything cannot be all positive. Got to take the positive with the negative.

I'm sure other artists get bashed on other sites as well in net land.

What's new?

NouveauDance said:

Wall of text, blah blah blah....

To respond to you all, and I will try to hit all the points because I need a break from this place. Every time I try to give this site another chance and decide to post, I regret it because it is clear to me that there are some people with other agendas here.

Veronikka, it really doesn't affect me beyond my natural curiosity in the human mind and the actions it dictates. As a teacher of critical thinking, I am constantly baffled by the actions of people who claim to not like an artist but constantly, almost daily, visit a site about him only to bash him. Trolling or not - what type of personality does that? It is an interesting psychological display. What is funny is that most of them cannot respond as to why they still choose to follow Prince.

Comprehension - MarquesMarq, if you could comprehend or even read my post, you would see that I stated multiple times that there is nothing wrong with honest, rational, discussion - good and bad. However, because you lack the comprehension that you claim I am missing, you responded with a dismissive post. No where in my post did I state anything about wanting all positive comments or wanting to hinder free speech. It is actually funny that that is the first response haters give. It is as if they have it on auto. No one wants to curtail anyone's free speech. However, the question remains, why are you using it to bash an artist you apparently don't like or respect?

Comprehension part II - No where in my post did I state that anyone who didn't like the W2C shows was a hater. However, I pointed out the misleading nature of some of the posts. Genesia, even you had to self correct your initial review of the first W2C show. As a teacher and journalist, I just like facts. Opinions are opinions - facts are facts. Too many people here try to pass their opinions off as fact even though there are facts that dispute them. If you hated the shows, that is fine. However, don't say that the whole W2C run was poorly recieved, as you stated on another thread, because that simply isn't true.

Peace to you all - keeping doing what you do.

The Original Poster, bellanoche, considers the post is about Prince's Music, performances etc.. and people's response to it, so has reposted without specific reference to use of prince.org, in the Music and More forum. Discussion available over there.