Diehard R.E.M. fans have ALWAYS been bitter about U2. It bothers them that U2 reached such high levels of fame after coming out of the same college rock soup that R.E.M. did. It's sad because the bands are such good friends, yet in a lot of these people's minds U2 can do nothing right. They're sellouts, Bono's an idiot, etc.
It must piss them off even more that R.E.M. has practically fallen off the face of the eath here in the U.S. and that no one gives a shit anymore. Maybe if the band would go back to writing good songs and trying to put some fucking life into their music again someone will notice.
Keep in mind this is coming from someone who LOVES Up, and saw them at that Avalon fan club show that the Life And How To Live It clip came from. I thought they kicked ass that night, loved the "new" rock songs on the In Time collection, and thought they were going to put out something with balls to follow. Alas it was Around the Sun, which not only was without balls, but teeth as well, leaving the dentures on the nightstand.
I've never become so disinterested by a band I loved so much. New Order's recent album had more of a pulse, and they've got 5 years on R.E.M. And the Rolling Stones might be going through the motions, but at least they put up a better front.