Aerogram said:

I understand that, but to me whether MusicAngel leaves permanently or not is not particularly the point, it's just interesting how easily people jump at the chance to be cruel to others, or hit them with their "clever" one liners... is it really justified to insult this one person because of a collective irritation with some people who keep threatening to leave and never do?

Thanks, Music Angel for the detailed post. A nice way to explain why you are leaving.
Well, IMO, Prince is more distant from the New Agers than ever before. New Agers have much more in common with esoterism than with the ´radical´ Christianism that Prince follows now. He was much closer to New Agers when he talked a lot about re-incarnation in 94/95 (talking about his and Mayte´s past lives, writing songs like ´Dolphin´, etc).
Prince always tended to Christianism. Even on ´Lovesexy´ he says: ´Jesus, I´ve been a fool´...now he is only deeper into it. And he seems to be happier now, and his music sounds more relaxed and beautiful now.

why are there so many lonely, attention-seeking individuals on this site?

See ya, take care. Hope this is not another Oceana copycat.

It's just music!

See you at www.cher.org

Many of you aren't listening to the honesty behind her post and just trying to protect Prince. Here's one issue I believe this girl has a complete understanding of. I just hope that all of you aren't becoming too involved with all of what Prince does because I am telling you it is a Cult. My dad went through a similar religion called the Worldwide Church of God and it is also a cult. What many don't understand is that these type of religions cause many people to commit suicide's simply because that is the religion. JW included. And honestly my father is still in that religions teaches. He began that religion in his early 20's and is currently 49 most of his life was wasted because it was actually a Nazi type religion as is JW. This stuff is hard to shake. Why? Because it is a form of brainwashing. Maybe you will once understand if you go through something similar but until that day I wish everyone the best and a word to the wise somethings are good to listen to hence, a early warning.

Musicangel,
I don't care for the new people in Prince's life
either, and I think JWs arenot smart, and I don't like
TRC, but there is nothing evil about Prince.I find
him to be a gentleman, and what is this about a Rainbow?
I always thought they were beautiful and I think you
misinterprete Prince's meaning of Rainbow.

Besides, it's about listening to music and going to
concerts and Prince has the best, so really all your
doing is depriving yourself.
But that's up to you.

If anybody is becoming too involved with what Prince does it's the person who made this thread. And some people think all religions are cults, so what you're saying isn't exactly new. it's odd how you can disassociate yourselves from a performer because of his personal beliefs but had nothing negative to say when he sang about explicit sex. It's on you.

Good luck in finding what your searching 4.
Peace

Honey Angel there really is SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH YOU! Find a PSYCHIATRIST RIGHT AWAY. You are INSANE. Anyone who goes off like this is UNSTABLE. Rainbow Children is Wonderful. Prince is wonderful and the JWS are not an Evil bunch neither is being RELIGIOUS. Nobody said you had to be a NUN and you are Human and there is FREE Will. You are taking things WAY Too SERIOUSLY. You need a LOBOTOMY and a VACATION. WHICHEVER comes first . GET YOUR BRAIN CHECKED sounds like a CASE of TOO MUCH CRACK cause you sure as Hell are CRACKING-UP ! Boy are you a Head-Case. Stupidity Reins SUPREME. You should DEFINITELY Leave . ARREVIDERCHI BAMBINA. Caio.

Vagina,
at least she went willingly, y do u have 2 b dragged out kicking and screaming?

MusicAngel said:

Hasta luego...

see you at the table!

When I listen 2 the Rainbow Children, the only thing I get
out of it is that God is good, and God is Everywhere.

I don't feel it tells people 2 become Jehovah Witnesses',
but to accept a higher power at work which I believe.

All I know is that Prince makes good music because of God,
and I respect that.I don't think he'll become Darth Vader
or anything.

Diva said:

That alone is not a very good reason, you're right, but if you consider MA wrote...

"Then comes The Rainbow Children, first I was surprised by the title. With Prince's new found "religious" beliefs, did he not know anything about the negative connotations now associated with the rainbow? Listening to the CD, I was shocked. Besides the few lines that are blatantly JW, there was so much else that seemed so distorted, so wrong. My husband then walked in and listened to some of it and read some of the lyrics. He was also shocked but made a joke the way he always does, telling me, "Like I said, Prince is one fudged-up little cracker!"
I have not been able to listen TRC all the way through since then. "

Doesn't convey a whole lot of tolerance, eh? I think in this case, it's the mix of announced departure and what a lot of people would consider to be narrow-mindedness. Beliefs are beliefs, and whether you are Michelangelo or Prince, the art that serves to express them is still art. So when people on a fan site see someone who apparently demonstrates little tolerance for a work like TRC, they react in kind, on top of the usual cynicism about announced departure. Is it right? No. Is it predictable? Yes... especially if the person leaving has a nick with the word "angel" in it (kind of a nice role to pick for oneself, no?).

In other words, yes people are a bit "hard-hearted", but they've also been subjected to a lot of these dramatic departures, sometimes by people who are being judgmental. I wouldn't so much judge THEM than look at it in context. There's usually a dynamic at play when so many people react the same way.

Does anyone READ these threads?
Silly you.
GET A LIFE!

Where is Oceana?

I agree with 2yhe9's and Diva completely, let music angel have a proper goodbye. Besides, she is trying to start a discussion, but since everyone here is so fucking uptight about prince's beliefs, the only thing they are capable of doing is insult musicangel.

What I don't understand though is why musicangel presupposes that there is something wrong with every cult, or with the occult in general. In my opinion there is a very thin line between cults and religion in general.Mysticism, cults and whatever have long traditions in the christian history (to name one example: Sir Isaac Newton, a devout christian, was a keen follower of many cults). If there is a reason why we should fear Prince's beliefs, mucicangel shoul give examples of specific beliefs that are disputable. Then we might have a real discussion.

shizzle said:

I'm interested in what Satanists Believe versus Christians, Mainstream religions, now that would make for an interesting topic. Choosing just one religion to discuss is boring. Oh and bye "Angel" person sorry you had to ummm, leave on such a note. But before you go could you elaborate on the occult for us?

MusicAngel said:

WE DONT CARE...

Please dont reply to this...

Just let them go!!!

rdhull said:

Ah, drama

Janeau said:

I've often wondered that myself

ZaZa said:

ROFL!

RESPECT & goodbye

MusicAngel said:

HOLY SHIT!!!

I AM A NEW-AGER! BRING FORTH THE MOST LUGUBRIOUS ONE!

By the way... see you later, MusicAngel... good luck and be happy.

How does one "give up" on art or an artist? Why would someone say "never again" to listening to music that at one time brought them enjoyment? How arbitrary and ridiculous is that?

This past June, I wanted to "leave" the Org, and I pretty much have. But I'm not going to do anything as ridiculous as issuing a "statement to the public", as if I were the damn Pope or something. I just decided it was time to cut back on the amount of time and energy I spent on here, because certain changes in the site made it less enjoyable for me.

Meanwhile, the person to whom this site is dedicated has been making music that I've enjoyed less and less over the past few years, and has created a music club that, at this present moment, I can only say has taken my money and thrown their obligations in the garbage.

It's a shitty time for me to be a fan or a "fam" of this guy, and it's a shitty time for me to be as supportive of this site as I used to be.

But ya know, once upon a time, I was able to rock out to both. So sure, I'll at least lurk around here. I'm not going to delete my account and make some loud exit - what if I wanted to come back? What kind of an idiot would I look like reneiging on my Grand Org Retirement?! And really, what difference does it make in the first place? IT'S A WEBSITE! It's not even a true online community - Ben and Matt have proven that through their moderation decisions. They don't CARE about any sense of "community" this site may have fostered. This is a design project for them. It's something to put in a portfolio. It's their electric ant farm that they can pick up and shake whenever they want. Get it? And that's cool, because, again: IT'S JUST A WEBSITE.

As for the little man...I'll continue to buy his albums, providing he makes them available in stores or deems me worthy enough of actually getting the music I paid a hundred bucks for, and steps up his club's service to make me want to renew my membership.

I've seen enough "triumphant comebacks" in my life to think that maybe there's an Act II for Prince, and that maybe it's worth it to stick around at least enough to see what's going on. And there are a handful of people I've become acquainted to on here who still continue to hang around, and there's no reason for me to lose touch with them cuz I'm less than thrilled with the vibes as of late...so why "EXIT"? It's silly. Just dumb.

shizzle said:

Actually going by the title of her post she is not trying to start a discussion. She is announcing her departure, because she is "fucking uptight about Prince's beliefs".

And the reasons why people posted what they have in response to her announcement have been articulated more than once in this thread.

Anxiety said:

Exactly.

Anxiety said:

With all due respect though Anxiety, (to both you and to Ben and Matt) why is it up to Ben and Matt to set the parameters for any community? (Other than obviously creating the site.) Or for it to be successful based on what they do once the site is set up? Why are the dynamics of an online community any different than any other social dynamic? If someone wants to announce that they are leaving, it could be for a very good reason. I've seen people post more personal stuff here and not get flamed for it; and not be called "drama queens." Any sense of community comes from our behavior, how we react to others. Sure it's "just a website." But does that mean we throw all courtesy out the window?

I think Diva said it remarkably well:



If this place isn't a community, well, in this case we can't blame Matt and Ben for that. When people start seeing the Org as a "collective" entity instead of as individuals, then in my mind it stops being a community. We don't have to like or even know MusicAngel, but why do people find it necessary to dog her? This isn't some fraternity where we all have to think alike and be in lockstep, but instead a wide variety of people, to whom this site may mean different things.

I don't even know MusicAngel, which is all the more reason why I wouldn't claim that what she was doing was simply attention-seeking. I like to read why people make decisions about these things. I dislike seeing comments like "don't let the door hit you..." Or "Drama queens.." etc.

I realize the logistical nightmare of everyone announcing their departures and entrances, but I also am sorry when people I have come to know and like just disappear without a word.

Likewise, I think those who announce their entrances seem to have a better chance of penetrating that Oldie/Newbie divide, the existence of which is also a staple of most online communities, but the strength of which in my mind is an index of the weakness of a community. We don't need inner circles and villians and role players and that bullshit. The more we see this site as static, the more static it becomes. The more we long for the past, the harder it becomes to see the present.

Anyway, Anxiety, I am directing this at you, but since I think you have always been an important contributor to the dynamic of this site I obviously mean nothing personal by it. I was just shocked and a little dismayed by the uniform reaction to MusicAngel's announcement.

Hey, at least she wasn't bitching about the closure of the GD!

And P.S. To those of you clicking on her Profile, it can take several days for an account to be deleted.

Wolf said:

lol!!!