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ianmar · 23 Aug 2010, 11:45

Hi,

I've been a member of this site for years and I visit regularly - in fact almost daily - but rarely post. I love the people here and like reading the arguments and different points of view. I'm also a long time Meat Loaf fan going right back to 1978 when I was 11. I have spent literally thousands of pounds on concerts, CD's, books, DVD's and even the occasional bootleg - shh. I've stood for hours at times on book signings and in queues for tickets. Other than my deep love of Springsteen's music, no other artist has made such a major contribution to my life. I feel I am entitled to speak here.

To me, this is a fan site, not an artist site. Visitors here, whilst I hope that they would all be Meat Loaf fans to some extent (not everyone has to LOVE him), are quite within their right to discuss both Meat's highlights and lowlights. That kind of discussion, and often disagreement, is what makes this site the success it is. 99% of us are simple fans who know no more about Meat than we read here or in the media. We don't know the background on relationships, TV shows, live concerts etc. We don't know the real nature of some of the difficulties Meat has encountered in his career. That doesn't stop us talking about these things, of course, in our blissful ignorance. It's what us fans do!

It is rare for an artist to connect with his fans in the way that Meat does here, and I'm very happy that he does, but he should be coming on here and having fun with people who love him whilst laughing at our ignorance. He should respect the things we like and the things we don't - because it is OUR site. Instead, he is at times being quite nasty to people who care about him. He is misinterpreting their words and calling nice people idiots and stupid, saying people "don't matter" etc. That type of criticism has started to change this board. One or two decent people have left and others, in my opinion, are becoming afraid to voice any opinions that might incur Meat's wrath. It's quite a surreal situation when the artists posts themselves are having to be removed. This is not healthy.

I don't want Meat to stop visiting the board but I think he should remember that this isn't his official site - it's our fan site where all our views are legitimate no matter how misguided they may be. Let's correct people where they are wrong, but let's do it in a way that doesn't belittle them or make them feel bad. Any other way will result in more people leaving this site and Meat alienating the very people who have loved and supported him through his career and who have spent quite large sums of hard earned money in the process.

Thanks.

Ian.

23 Aug 2010, 11:45	#1
ianmar Junior Loafer Join Date: 29.04.2002 Location: but living in Leeds, England Posts: 28	Recent Events Hi, I've been a member of this site for years and I visit regularly - in fact almost daily - but rarely post. I love the people here and like reading the arguments and different points of view. I'm also a long time Meat Loaf fan going right back to 1978 when I was 11. I have spent literally thousands of pounds on concerts, CD's, books, DVD's and even the occasional bootleg - shh. I've stood for hours at times on book signings and in queues for tickets. Other than my deep love of Springsteen's music, no other artist has made such a major contribution to my life. I feel I am entitled to speak here. To me, this is a fan site, not an artist site. Visitors here, whilst I hope that they would all be Meat Loaf fans to some extent (not everyone has to LOVE him), are quite within their right to discuss both Meat's highlights and lowlights. That kind of discussion, and often disagreement, is what makes this site the success it is. 99% of us are simple fans who know no more about Meat than we read here or in the media. We don't know the background on relationships, TV shows, live concerts etc. We don't know the real nature of some of the difficulties Meat has encountered in his career. That doesn't stop us talking about these things, of course, in our blissful ignorance. It's what us fans do! It is rare for an artist to connect with his fans in the way that Meat does here, and I'm very happy that he does, but he should be coming on here and having fun with people who love him whilst laughing at our ignorance. He should respect the things we like and the things we don't - because it is OUR site. Instead, he is at times being quite nasty to people who care about him. He is misinterpreting their words and calling nice people idiots and stupid, saying people "don't matter" etc. That type of criticism has started to change this board. One or two decent people have left and others, in my opinion, are becoming afraid to voice any opinions that might incur Meat's wrath. It's quite a surreal situation when the artists posts themselves are having to be removed. This is not healthy. I don't want Meat to stop visiting the board but I think he should remember that this isn't his official site - it's our fan site where all our views are legitimate no matter how misguided they may be. Let's correct people where they are wrong, but let's do it in a way that doesn't belittle them or make them feel bad. Any other way will result in more people leaving this site and Meat alienating the very people who have loved and supported him through his career and who have spent quite large sums of hard earned money in the process. Thanks. Ian.