Oh, I wasn’t going to comment on this. I really wasn’t! I can see all arguments…all sides.
A fan from America made a comment about why Minds always seem to stick to touring Europe and never seem to get stateside.
Jim made a rather flippant (and possibly tactless) reply about there being aeroplanes available.
It’s a two-way street!
Jim always seems to have had this attitude of “if you love us, you’ll commit” but perhaps if he used more tact sometimes, fans would WANT to keep committing? Fans will continue to commit if they feel appreciated.
I know from personal experience. You want the love you feel reciprocated. It can take the smallest of acts! For me, just him liking a comment I’ve made, or replying to me…even if it *is* bitchy, sarcastic…or on the very rare occasion downright spiteful and tetchy (okay, maybe not then…but I still prefer a response than to being ignored…and I have had a kind of roundabout apology from him in the past…and he REALLY DOESN’T DO APOLOGIES!)…he *can* be caught at a bad time…he has his off moments, just like the rest of us. We think he’s a god (he sometimes thinks he’s a god!) but he’s just a bloke. A damn talented one, granted, but a bloke nontheless, with all the foibles and faults we all have (If I look at myself, I have plenty – selfishness being my worst and ugliest!).
I get a little pissed that there are the fans of 30+ years and those who have been to multiple gigs that get seemingly “preferential” treatment. I mean…we all have to start SOMEWHERE! But, I suppose it is rightly so they do.
I’m still less than three years into mega fandom…and I have only been to three gigs so far, but I have found other ways to show my love, passion and enthusiasm for this band. And it HAS been appreciated…and the “love” gets reciprocated…probably not to the degree I want…particularly not so much now…but I am one of MANY fans clamouring for attention…and they (in turn) are MY ONE BAND.
For better or worse, Jim has a pretty good idea of who I am now…and probably actually gets quite exasperated when he sees me responding to comments, posting on their visitor wall, etc, but he rarely shows it. I know I make a pest of myself…and I am endlessly apologising for it!
So…yes! ALL fans…no matter how “fair weather” they may seem want to feel appreciated. We invest our time and money in these bands….a little reciprocation, no matter how (seemingly) unwarranted makes us feel good.
Of course, in the days before the Internet, our feelings and views as fans would hardly have been heard. And certainly reply correspondence would have been VERY rare. It is only really with the take off of social media, particularly within the past 10 years have we been able to “reach out and touch the stars”.
The fan could have worded his comment better. Jim could have been more tactful in his reply. A bit less sarcastic. His humour doesn’t always come across…esp. to those fans not used to it, or those with which English is not their first language. Things can be taken very much at face value.
Music is such an emotive thing. And such a joyous thing. Our love of music is one thing that unites us as humans. It’s one of our genuine universal languages.
If we can’t love each other…can we just agree to love the music and respect each other while doing so?
“We all have our problems
Some big, some are small”
– Prince, The Cross