jick
Refugee
To me, U2 is just a product. U2 is just merchandise. A music cd where I can listen to the best music in the world.
I don't care what Bono is having for breakfast, or Clayton's refusal to be a Christian, or Edge's extra-marital affairs, or Mullen's exercise habits. I am a consumer of U2 merchandise - mostly the music and that's it. I am in this forum for U2's music. I got into U2 becuase of their music. And I will continue to be into U2 because of their music. Once they stop making albums, I couldn't care less about U2 because there would be nothing left for me to buy.
It's just that I see many people in the forum talk about the individual band members as if they were best friends. They get hurt when people criticize the band members bad points, and even take it personally. Why is that?
Now ask yourself, does U2 really care about YOU? To U2, we are all just statistics . one of the 7 million who bought POP, or the 16 million who bought the Joshua Tree. Does U2 send you birthday cards? So why bother sending them when they are filthy rich - much richer than you will ever be? Why bother taking offense to statements that seem to criticize individual band members?
I have no problem sending makers of good products my compliments. But I don't feel an attachment to the CEO of Coca-Cola, Microsoft, or Toyota - such that I'd take things personally when they are attacked. What makes U2 different? They are just a music product. Ear candy, really. The music critics review U2 albums the same way Road and Track reviews cars or Popular Mehanics review gadgets. We buy the music, the product, the compact disc - not the people or the band members. Yet there are people who take the individual band members too seriously and take things personally when their works are put under the microscope.
So let me ask all you U2 fans, to which school of thought do you belong to? U2 as a "friend" or U2 as a "product"?
Cheers,
J
I don't care what Bono is having for breakfast, or Clayton's refusal to be a Christian, or Edge's extra-marital affairs, or Mullen's exercise habits. I am a consumer of U2 merchandise - mostly the music and that's it. I am in this forum for U2's music. I got into U2 becuase of their music. And I will continue to be into U2 because of their music. Once they stop making albums, I couldn't care less about U2 because there would be nothing left for me to buy.
It's just that I see many people in the forum talk about the individual band members as if they were best friends. They get hurt when people criticize the band members bad points, and even take it personally. Why is that?
Now ask yourself, does U2 really care about YOU? To U2, we are all just statistics . one of the 7 million who bought POP, or the 16 million who bought the Joshua Tree. Does U2 send you birthday cards? So why bother sending them when they are filthy rich - much richer than you will ever be? Why bother taking offense to statements that seem to criticize individual band members?
I have no problem sending makers of good products my compliments. But I don't feel an attachment to the CEO of Coca-Cola, Microsoft, or Toyota - such that I'd take things personally when they are attacked. What makes U2 different? They are just a music product. Ear candy, really. The music critics review U2 albums the same way Road and Track reviews cars or Popular Mehanics review gadgets. We buy the music, the product, the compact disc - not the people or the band members. Yet there are people who take the individual band members too seriously and take things personally when their works are put under the microscope.
So let me ask all you U2 fans, to which school of thought do you belong to? U2 as a "friend" or U2 as a "product"?
Cheers,
J