on being a fan....


Squire of Dimness ([email protected])
Tue, 15 Dec 1998 02:04:36 -0600 (CST)


ok. regarding the Wire vs. Exit (substitute name here) argument....

blah blah blah. get over it.

basically, the fact of the matter is that being a u2 fan is not some
bizarre pissing match, which everyone seems to want it to be. "i was at
29 shows on POPmart, so i know what bono said...." "i've been on WIRE for
17 years, so shut your mouth, newbie" "hey, i've got 6530348346 bootlegs,
anyone wanna trade?" ugh. *rolls her eyes* not that anyone specifically
has said any of those things...but it's the attitude that shines through.
i mean, what difference does it really make what list you subscribe to or
how many shows you saw or how many boots you have?!!?!? god, i get so
sick of this shit.

i don't see what's so hard about being a fan, to whatever extent you
enjoy, and letting everyone else be fans to whatever extent floats their
boat. *shrug* there is NO reason to be so catty about it. and i'm not
saying i'm not guilty of it. oh no, i'm just as bad....i feel that little
pang of righteous indignation every time i'm reminded that i haven't been
INVITED to join Exit, or whenever someone mentions that awesome bootleg
that i'll probbaly never hear or see.

but the truth is that that is SO far from what really matters. all that
matters is the power we've all talked about before, the power we've all
felt, that we all FEEL in u2's music. our connection to that power, that
greater THING, is our connection to each other and the band. don't forget
that.

as unfortunate as it may be, and as much as some of us may fool
ourselves, none of us has anything even close to approximating a
RELATIONSHIP with bono or any other member of u2. but many of us have
ridden in each others' cars, or slept on each others' floors, or cried on
each others' shoulders. those relationships are the gifts we have, given
to us by 4 guys who just wanna PLAY. so let them play, and let me drive,
and let you sleep, and let her cry.

i guess is just my affirmation to everyone out there who reads some of
these posts and doubts their worth as a fan....(cos lord knows i do
sometimes)...it's ok, cos it doesn't matter what list you subscribe to or
how many bootlegs you own or how many shows you saw. as long as you live
in the music and the music lives in you, fuck the rest of it.

*whew*

i feel better already.
hope everything's groovy....

love,
mia.



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