Attention all members of prince.org:

As the world has suffered the loss of the person for whom this site has been dedicated to, whom we have known and loved for all these years, it is important at this time that we as Orgers and Moderators concentrate on the reason we’re here and the person whom we celebrate.

This venue has always been a hub where people have felt they can come to and talk about all things Prince - but also all things going on in the world yesterday, today and tomorrow.

That hasn’t changed.

But, as we continue to go through these next few days (or weeks) dealing with the loss and the heartache, we would like to concentrate specifically on The Man.

With this in mind, effective immediately and until further notice, we are going to be suspending all of the forums except the following three:

• Prince: Music & More
• Associated Artists & People
• Org Site Discussion

Doing so will allow the moderators to concentrate more on the forums that are considered to be more directly involved with Prince, and in the site in general. It will also allow the moderators a chance to get to know all of our new members who have recently joined - without being bombarded with the drama that can sometimes come with the other forums.

We don’t have an exact return date for those forums, but, in their absence, we will make every effort to give you swift, timely and fair moderation in the sites that remain open.

We hope you appreciate the effort being made by the moderators just as we appreciate the continued posts, responses and love that you have shown for the 'org over all these years.

A lot of questions have come to us in regards to our remaining open - since the person whom we are honoring has since passed.

We are not going anywhere.

We are here to stay.

If life on the org has taught us nothing else, it has taught us that we will never run out of things to talk about when we’re talking about Prince!

Long Live Prince and Long Live prince.org!

As we are all grieving the loss of this beautiful man who gave us so much joy and hope, I must strongly plead that you at least allow for the 'Fan Gatherings' Forum to also be included in this list of forums where replies are allowed. Many of us would like to meet up with Purple Family members in our hometowns so we can have kindred spirits to turn to during this extremely heartbreaking and life-changing time. Us being able to schedule meet ups will help us heal and unite us even more than we already are during this difficult time. Thank you guys for always being so amazing in looking after the Org over the past decade+...you're dedication to not just Prince but to us has not gone unnoticed. Love always!

Sounds like a good idea. I forget most of those other forums even exist much of the time. I get that they are valuable and people enjoy them, but makes sense to focus on the primary ones right now.

Ben et al, I understand the rationale here, but if you're going to do this, PLEASE make this messaging extremely prominent, perhaps particularly in the General Discussion forum. As it were, I fear some orgers will miss this announcement, try and participate in one of suspended forums, and upon not being able to do so assume this site is going/has gone largely defunct with Prince's death. (Wow... a part of me can't believe I just typed that phrase. )

"Crisis" management can really have a make-it-or-break-it impact. Our communication strategy, then, should probably err on the side of being almost stupidly hand-holding.

Thanks for all the work y'all are doing.

[Edited 5/2/16 12:08pm]

Dear Ben et al, thank you very very much for Prince.org. I believe Prince.org is an invaluable place for everyone here especially at this time. I fully understand the rationale to limit the forums at this time and of course to do whatever you think best.

I most kindly request that the 'Fan Gatherings' forum be kept active as I imagine much fan gathering will be taking place around the world.

With love and best wishes - Mark

[Edited 4/25/16 2:24am]

Thanks Ben and the other mods for all your work over the years. This is a great idea.

Though i don't log in, or post often, i do come by here a lot & read posts and learn new stuff. I do appreciate the Mods and all of their hard work to keep the site clean and running. This is a great idea and i do look forward to having the full site running again in the future. Thanks for all you guys do!

Thank you for everything over the years....

I'm glad you're keeping the site going!

Thanks Ben for this site. It has helped many of us more than you will ever know...

estelle81 said:

As we are all grieving the loss of this beautiful man who gave us so much joy and hope, I must strongly plead that you at least allow for the 'Fan Gatherings' Forum to also be included in this list of forums where replies are allowed. Many of us would like to meet up with Purple Family members in our hometowns so we can have kindred spirits to turn to during this extremely heartbreaking and life-changing time. Us being able to schedule meet ups will help us heal and unite us even more than we already are during this difficult time. Thank you guys for always being so amazing in looking after the Org over the past decade+...you're dedication to not just Prince but to us has not gone unnoticed. Love always!

Thank you Ben and I totally get it but I agree with Estelle - please can we also have fan gatherings. This is important to us as we always have connected with fans at concerts and other times. We need each other now more than ever.

Thanks Ben, and all the mods.

This site was a huge comfort over the weekend - can't tell you how much I appreciate it. Been coming here, on an off, since 2002 - but it feels like it's needed more than ever.

Robbajobba said:

Thanks Ben, and all the mods.

This site was a huge comfort over the weekend - can't tell you how much I appreciate it. Been coming here, on an off, since 2002 - but it feels like it's needed more than ever.

Thx Orgteam :hug

I agree, the org has been a haven the last few days, coming here is reasuring that we all in this together and to keep the thoughts and memories alive through the people who follow him.

I'm sad of reading all the news/media reporting, its not healthy seeing that every day.

Keep up the great work here.

good decision in my opinion. this site has helped alot dealing with this difficult time.. just by coming here and expressing ourselves.

The org has helped me a lot processing this terrible mess.

Love u all.

Thanks Ben and mods.

This sounds like a good idea.

I want to thank Ben & everyone involed in the operation of this site.

Prince org about Prince? Stellar. Ben, you know we adore u. Utopia is us.

Chewymusic, hey there.

Thank you so much for your dedication to the org and the Prince fam. This is the only place I can go to be amoung like-minded people who understand what we're all going through.

I only ask that you please please reinstate the Fan Gatherings forum so we can plan some get-togethers, especially over the next few days while the movie is in theaters.

Thank U

Love4OneAnother

Thank you for being so sensitive to our needs especially during this time of grief. I so appreciate the prince.org. Although like some, I don't post often but I do read the boards. Thank you for everything! xoxo

strawberrybubblegum said:

Could you help us to understand a little more about why this step's being taken? Is it to free up bandwidth, or mods' time, or just because it 'feels right' or what? I ask because some problems could perhaps be solved by less 'surgical' measures - e.g. mods feeling stretched or struggling could be aided by adding more mods, especially to the more demanding forums. I've said before that I'd be happy to be a dedicated mod for P&R, and I'm sure others could be found if that helps avoid a longer-term closure.

And is this definitely just a temporary suspension and not a 'soft retirement' of those other forums? Excuse my twitchiness, but it's just that it's been a week where it feels like the ground's slipping away from beneath my feet. If this actually reflects question marks over the orientation of the site, going forward, it'd be good to bring those up and discuss them while we're all still around. Shame if it's the beginning of the end, as, for all their bluster, they're a good part of the site, I think.

[Edited 4/25/16 17:25pm]

FunkiestOne said:

Sounds like a good idea. I forget most of those other forums even exist much of the time. I get that they are valuable and people enjoy them, but makes sense to focus on the primary ones right now.

I agree!

June7 said:

strawberrybubblegum said:

Thank you Ben and I totally get it but I agree with Estelle - please can we also have fan gatherings. This is important to us as we always have connected with fans at concerts and other times. We need each other now more than ever.

[If you post a "Fan Gathering" topic in the Prince forum, we'll sticky it. this should suffice for now. Concerning the area of the fan gathering - it could go like this: Fan Gathering: Los Angeles or Fan Gathering: Quebec, or whatever ... Remember folks, this is just temporary June7]

I did this, and then my topic/post was moved to the Fan Gatherings forum, so no one can post a reply.

Ben, please leave GD up or else I'm kinda out of a job...

I understand. It would be a shame though if Music: Non-Prince would close, which seems like a community within a community.