I still believe that the biggest factor in all of this is Meat's (and Paul's) presence on the forum.
Without Meat and Paul we would be what we used to be. A forum of people who liked to discuss the work of the artist we love, and none of it would make a difference. If there was disagreement it was good natured and interesting disagreement.
But like it or not things changed when Meat landed.
Anything that would once have been thought of as a negative opinion about something is now seen as "nit picking", "disrespectful", and "insulting".
I don't believe that on the whole most people want to be insulting or disrespectful (although now and again someone will post something to get a rise).
People just want to relax in the company of people who share their interest and to speak their mind in a equally relazed way. i.e..............
The rap on HIHB is crap.
Without Meat some people might say that agree, some people will say i'm nuts not to it, but there's no harshness or conflict when we are fans discussing it among ourselves. Thyat's why the forum is here.
To say the rap on HIHB is crap
with Meat on the forum prompts replies of "how can you say Meat's work is crap" "why do you have to be disrespectful?" etc etc.
The way things used to be, we could speak our mind about anything.
That doesn't work anymore.
How can you say something is crap in a respectful way?
Any negative opinion is seen as insulting because it's personal to Meat's work. And he works hard at what he does.
In theory, posts can be reported and deleted, and opinions are withdrawn, for the simple fact that the person who disagrees with it says that it's disrespectful to say such a thing about Meat's work.
I mean WTF?
Having Meat and Paul on the forum is great. Especially the way Meat's been recently. Talking to the fans in a relaxed and friendly way rather than telling them off and storming off the forum has been delightful for me to see
But it all comes at a price.
So what do we do to have freedom of speech?
Ban Meat?
Move to another forum Meat doesn't know of and change the subject if he happens to find us?
Create a section of the forum that Meat can't see so that we can communicate our opinions to each other without being offensive (or at least accused of being offensive) towards Meat?
I don't think any of those ideas are realistic.
I happen to agree that as a fan club the membership here, his fanbase, should naturally be a place that supports Meat and has a positive feeling towards Meat.
Thios is something that I personally have no problem with 98% of the time.
But at the same time I want to be able to express a negative opinion if I have one.
I tend to agree with Lucy that there's not much point in a forum if you know what's said without reading it.
You might as well take away the text box, take away the dislike button, and just leave a large like button in the middle of the screen
