Bill S wrote:"As for the condescending remarks of 'I feel sorry for him (the reviewer)', you just ruptured my cringe reflex
Grow up & have a good day"
Is there anyone out there that thinks this wasn't an insult?
Words are what I do (definitely no musician! ), so if I might make an observation: It is quite common on online forums for someone to post a harshly-worded message, then feign innocence if someone takes offense. It is not unusual for the person who made the original provocative remark to then deflect negative reactions by blaming those who took offense ("Don't be so sensitive," etc.). This phenomenon is well-known in communication theory...
How long one of these square dances lasts is mostly a function of the provocateur's motivation. If their original venting met their emotional needs, they will typically refrain from further comment. But often they find satisfaction in the controversy and negative attention they have stimulated, and will continue to poke the bear for some time. By the time you reach the stage where much of the discussion is "Why are you attacking me for having an opinion?" and "It's a free country and I can say what I want," it is usually clear that reason has left the building and all that is going on is folks seeking to satisfy some need for emotional conflict...
I should add that it was this sort of thing (i.e., conversational threads where folks who suggested negative commentary didn't belong in this particular forum were attacked by folks playing the "you're just a mindless fanboy" card) that caused me to take a break from this place...
Personally, I'm fine living in a world where there are folks who don't dig Joe's stuff. Less competition for tickets! Having said that, though, people who feign surprise that negative commentary about him will be less than warmly received are either naive or willfully obtuse. Honestly, what could they have expected would happen in THIS place? This isn't some garden-variety message board devoted to music in general, it is the gathering place for Joe's fandom. It is Bonamassaville. That is its purpose. If you think we are mindless fanboys, kindly go elsewhere. We sort of like being fanboys. And, speaking strictly for myself, there is nothing "mindless" about my appreciation for Joe and his music, thank you very much. BCC didn't really do it for me, for instance, but I'm okay with others in these parts loving it, and I certainly would never presume to post negative comments about BCC in this forum. Does that make sense?
It is apparent in Joe's own responses to these types of controversies that the only thing that really bothers him is someone saying insulting things about US, his fans. If he doesn't mind what reviewers are saying about HIM, I see no purpose in our getting bent out of shape about it. Personally, I'm too busy licking my chops in anticipation of Joe and Beth's forthcoming album to give two hoots about what some reviewer said...
Terrance Shuman
Kansas City, MO