Before this gets out of hand any further... I've already had someone write a hostile PM to me and if I get any more, I will ask Joel to ban the accounts (you know who you are...).
I offer my apologies to Follower. I too think she is very sweet. In fact so sweet, that I found her thread out of character.
My point is, I also felt that she was being unrealistic. If Follower had said she sent a note congratulating Bono for his work in Africa, I'd be there applauding. I'd hope and pray that Bono would see her note so that he knows that there are people like Follower out there - fans of both him and his work outside of U2 - who took the time to write to compliment him.
But she said she sent a simple note stating that Brazil won the World Cup. As important as this is for Brazil and for soccer fans around the world, let's be candid - Bono knows. The chances of anyone relaying that particular bit of information to him are slim - not because she is "just" a U2 fan, but because Bono already knows.
It's because Follower's actions seemed odd to me that I wrote what I did. She is such an energetic person with so many brilliant ideas. She deserves praise. But I feel we also have to be realistic. As such, I tried to give her a little light-hearted teasing.
The irony is that some of you are attacking me for my comments on Follower's views. If Follower has a right to be a bit frivolous, don't I? If she can express herself, can't I? Did any of my comments really offend her that much? She herself admitted to being a dreamer.
I do not want to be on a board where if one person disagrees with another, they are flamed with nasty PM's sent to them. And this is why I dislike U2 fans. Many are hypocritical, unable to see that they are guilty of the same sins that they are attacking. I've also noticed U2 fans take sides as if there is a "good" and a "bad." I say one person is "silly" - so I must be evil for doing so. Please! If you've nodded your head at 99.999% of the things I wrote, but disagreed with one, does that suddenly make me this "evil" person? Why think any less of me over one item? I certainly think no less of Follower!
Nevertheless, to reiterate, what I thought was a little light-hearted teasing at Follower has turned nasty. People think they have the right to attack me when they are guilty of the same of the same behavior - in fact, they are far worse.
Therefore, Follower, I wish you the best. I hope Bono responds personally and that you have a treasured item for the rest of your life. You are a fun person and I wish you the best. Congratulations to you and your country on your success in the World Cup.
To the rest of you - bugger off!
My thoughts exactly. If you don't want to burst someone's bubble, then don't. Be cynical and skeptical all you want but keep it to yourself. Why is it that we always need to be reminded that Bono doesn't remember what he says or that our emails don't get forwarded to him? I for one like to keep just a glimmer of hope that maybe he does like to stay connected with his fans. 
