Recent Events

[ianmar]

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.

[Pudding]

Absolute kudos to you Ian for having the balls to post that. I'd place a safe bet that very shortly the post will be removed and you'll be banned or even worse, you'll get a very long response from annoyed forum members.

[Evil One]

I'll back up Pud and say you're pretty much spot on Ian.

[roomster]

Very well said Ian.

I hope the moderators don't removes this thread.

[SueW]

Originally Posted by roomster

I hope the moderators don't removes this thread.

It was the moderators who suggested that he post it in Site Feedback after it was originally posted elsewhere on the board.

[LucyK!]

Great post Ian, really well written. And I'm sure you'll find it won't be removed as there's absolutely no need for it to be!

[K1ttycat]

Very good post. I totally agree. Maybe I am a bit of an oversensitive soul but I've been feeling a bit let down by recent....disputes. There is so much exciting and positive things that are discussed here and it is a shame to see anything that is slightly critical being attacked and focused on. I only wonder if Meat will see this thread due to its location.

Kathryn

[Sarahdk23]

I couldnt agree with you more, Iain!!

[GDW]

Originally Posted by Evil One

I'll back up Pud and say you're pretty much spot on Ian.

Nothing like backing up into a nice Pud.

[mariella]

Ian

[roomster]

Originally Posted by K1ttycat

I only wonder if Meat will see this thread due to its location.

My thoughts too.

[Evil One]

If he doesn't then he'll probably see a few PMs telling him how people are saying nasty, horrible, evil things about him, how he should go and let rip and pointing him in this direction.

[Sarge]

I'd like to thank Ian for this post. I think most of you know my opinion on the issue by now. I temporarily left some weeks ago because of the problems described above. This is a nice community, actually the nicest I know, but it's no longer possible to have decent discussions and I'm getting tired of the unnecessary (!) arguments and fights. When the artist this forum is dedicated to says he doesn't care if he pisses everybody off and drives us away from here then something is going very, very wrong.

[Rage Against]

I'd also like to say thank you to Ian for his post. Ian gives me something interesting to comment on with my 200th post. And since Pudding said nothing about a long response from me, I'll feel free to post.

I agree with 95% of what you've said. I would only add that even though we are fans, that does not give us the right to attack or be insulting. Maybe you were trying to convey that with your post and if so, my apologies. However, I think if we look at the amount of critical posts on this forum, we'd see only a small portion, about 5% to 10%, provoke a response from Meat Loaf. Why? I'll leave that question up to everyone else's perspective.

And to Pudding, I'd like to play chess or some other game of strategy with you (if I'm not doing that already). I think that would be interesting as your posts, while seemingly harmless, definitely have a strategy.

[Evil One]

Originally Posted by Rage Against

I think that would be interesting as your posts, while seemingly harmless, definitely have a strategy.

I've had this said about my posts before and there really is no strategy behind them, although that doesn't stop others from inventing one.

[CarylB]

I agree with Rage, the proportion that provoke a reaction from Meat is small and imo the reason for it is usually clear and to me understandable, even if he does post in haste and emotion. You said "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 ..." .. and it's often that background which is missing when we see Meat provoked, as was the case most recently

Caryl

[Sarge]

Originally Posted by CarylB

and it's often that background which is missing when we see Meat provoked, as was the case most recently

Nothing has happened on this board that justifies reactions that are way more offensive than the posts that upset him.

[AndrewG]

Some posts and comments are taken far too serious. No-one has come on the board recently and acted like an absolute moron provoking Meat saying some of the things he has done from what I can deduce.

Great post Ian, hope you decide to post more. Not enough Scots on the board!

[Devil's Son]

it's been a while since i've got the feeling i have something to say but after reading ian's words i think i have to. i wont explain why i have nothing to say, it's not the right place and it will take to much time.
first, thanks ian, for writing this.
second, thanks that it seems that this posting isn't removed (now)
i don't care if meaty reads this but these words seems to be necessary to remember all of us whose home this is. it's ours, so to say.
everyone on the board should take care of the rules - we and meaty. same rules for everyone and i mean it that way.
having meaty here is great as long as he takes care of the rules as everyone.
and by the way i also agree with sarge's words.
and now ... report me, banish me or whatever.
G

[The Flying Mouse]

I've had a little tidy up of a couple of posts.

Can we please continue the thread without any unnecessary references to other forum members.

I think this thread brings up an interesting and valid point, and one that may be helped with a little civil communication.

I'd hate to see this thread locked, but that's what is going to happen if the discussion descends into the usual bickering and name calling between the usual factions.

Post with a little respect please and something good might actually come out of this thread.

[AndrewG]

Originally Posted by The Flying Mouse

Post with a little respect please and something good might actually come out of this thread.

I also hope this does not turn into a "let's gang up on Meat Loaf" thread as he does not deserve that either imo and after all he is also a forum member and a human being. Meat already pointed out that he wears his heart on his sleeve and that that is the reason why he probably posts with so much passion and perhaps what is perceived as aggression. This is tricky as I can see it from both sides but I sure as hell hope Meat never scares a fan away, I'm sure deep down he wouldn't really want to do that.

[stretch37]

Hey Ian,

Thanks for posting that. It sums up almost all of how I feel about the situation, being a pretty active member of this site before these problems began.

We have to remember that this is the INTERNET. As such, it is easy to overreact and misjudge what is written.

While I do not like how Meat has treated some fans, and how some fans treat Meat, I agree that it needs to stop.

I think part of the problem is that Meat has a high amount of stress on tour. And he likely does not have time to sit and think about the multiple ways he could interpret the dozens of written posts he goes through discussing his life or his apparent "choices"

The result that he reacts with his initial reaction. And then has to do damage control later and apologize.

Some of you do not enjoy this method. I can see why. Especially If I were the one being told I was a stupid idiot by my idol.

I truly hope this thread can be a success and a beginning to some small changes around here. Mainly, what the Mods have been suggesting all along: Read your post and think about how it will effect others before posting it.

Thanks again Ian for bringing it up in a way it can be discussed

[Sarge]

Originally Posted by AndrewG

I also hope this does not turn into a "let's gang up on Meat Loaf" thread

I don't think that is going to happen. I believe everybody favors a solution that does not make anybody feel bad. We are here because we like him and that's why it is especially tough to cope with the current events.

[Devil's Son]

Originally Posted by Sarge

I don't think that is going to happen. I believe everybody favors a solution that does not make anybody feel bad. We are here because we like him and that's why it is especially tough to cope with the current events.

exactly and from my point of view:
the rules are for everyone, right? and when i say everyone i mean it. not only person a or person b or c,d ..... all. and as far as i see these words are not disrespectful.

G

[stretch37]

Originally Posted by Devil's Son

as far as i see these words are not disrespectful.

G

I agree with that.

No single user should be considered 'above' the normal rules of conduct and courtesy. And no, I am not talking about Meat. I'm talking about anyone who has ever said a crude statement in the heat of the moment, myself included.

The rules of post conduct are for all users of all levels, and it makes sense to be this way. Fair treatment is why I used to post more.

I agree with some of you who say that Meat seems to feel at times like his opinions are being ganged up on, or "not believed". To address this point, I think it would be overwhelming to have hundreds of people nonchalantly posting opinions of me. It would be difficult to NOT overreact, especially if I were under stress of touring.

Meat is the only human being on mlukfc with this problem.

It is not normal for an artist to become a lively part of their fan forum.

So perhaps we need to start to act different than your average fan forum?

My proposal: Treat this forum as if your sitting in a room full of MLUKFC members and Meat is sitting at the head of the table. And he is listening to everything that is discussed.

This post should help Meat feel like he is not being alienated. I think an effort needs to be made from both the fans and Meat.