justanotherdawn:

I think we need to be aware of the power of words and how much they can hurt when we categorize fans according to our own subjective notions of their motives and shortcomings.

THen they should stop being creepy.

lord_byron:

but back to technology - and cowpie, you might be able to answer this one - don't you think km.com and how the site is set up enables all of this overly excitable fandom to happen with the format in the comments section? 

Yeah, I think to some extent it does. On the old board, there was an "Ask the Band a Question" section, and I think it got shut down mainly because people were asking inane questions and the band didn't really have the time to answer anymore, but it also turned into what the comments section is like. I think knowing that the band potentially read the comments posted there and the fact that it seems like more of a "direct link" to the band could play a part in what people post there.

justanotherdawn:

I've been following this thread since it started, and I have to say it's fascinating how a discussion/query about semantics can turn into such an intense debate about how we all conduct ourselves in relation to the band and the music. Aside from commenting on behaviour that's actually causing harm to other people, I think we need to be aware of the power of words and how much they can hurt when we categorize fans according to our own subjective notions of their motives and shortcomings.

Thank you Dawn! Thank you!
I too have been reading thru this thread & I've been holding back until now.

How about this? I don't consider myself any of the titles mentioned.
I call myself a "Diehard" or a "Hardcore" fan. I even quoted the words. Discuss...

annie nyc:

justanotherdawn:

I've been following this thread since it started, and I have to say it's fascinating how a discussion/query about semantics can turn into such an intense debate about how we all conduct ourselves in relation to the band and the music. Aside from commenting on behaviour that's actually causing harm to other people, I think we need to be aware of the power of words and how much they can hurt when we categorize fans according to our own subjective notions of their motives and shortcomings.

Thank you Dawn! Thank you!
I too have been reading thru this thread & I've been holding back until now.

How about this? I don't consider myself any of the titles mentioned.
I call myself a "Diehard" or a "Hardcore" fan. I even quoted the words. Discuss...

I probably shouldn't write more about this, and I really don't want to add more... but I just want to point that I wrote my "definition" not to label people, but basically because I've been called fanatic, groupie, fangirl, etc; myself and not in the funny way.
And I don't consider myself that; but I do understand what it is to line up for hours to get the best spot in a concert, or save for weeks to get tickets, travel, and post drooling smilies on pictures (And still don't do many things that have been mentioned on other posts.). I see myself just as a big fan. (Maybe "diehard" or "hardcore" would be more appropriate)
Some people might see all this as obssessive or plain crazy, but I think that as long as you are not invasive of people's privacy and you don't offend or harm anyone, there's nothing wrong with being a fan.
Or a diehard fan. Or whatever.
Who knows. Who cares.

ana_lore:

annie nyc:

justanotherdawn:

I've been following this thread since it started, and I have to say it's fascinating how a discussion/query about semantics can turn into such an intense debate about how we all conduct ourselves in relation to the band and the music. Aside from commenting on behaviour that's actually causing harm to other people, I think we need to be aware of the power of words and how much they can hurt when we categorize fans according to our own subjective notions of their motives and shortcomings.

Thank you Dawn! Thank you!
I too have been reading thru this thread & I've been holding back until now.

How about this? I don't consider myself any of the titles mentioned.
I call myself a "Diehard" or a "Hardcore" fan. I even quoted the words. Discuss...

I probably shouldn't write more about this, and I really don't want to add more... but I just want to point that I wrote my "definition" not to label people, but basically because I've been called fanatic, groupie, fangirl, etc; myself and not in the funny way.
And I don't consider myself that; but I do understand what it is to line up for hours to get the best spot in a concert, or save for weeks to get tickets, travel, and post drooling smilies on pictures (And still don't do many things that have been mentioned on other posts.). I see myself just as a big fan. (Maybe "diehard" or "hardcore" would be more appropriate)
Some people might see all this as obssessive or plain crazy, but I think that as long as you are not invasive of people's privacy and you don't offend or harm anyone, there's nothing wrong with being a fan.
Or a diehard fan. Or whatever.
Who knows. Who cares.

Great point. WHO CARES? Why do people have to judge anyway? I'm NOT saying someone is judging anywhere on this thread or forum BUT it does start to feel like people are pointing fingers. I am, and damn proud to say, a hardcore. I don't think I'm a groupie cos I'm not after them in that way (I do start the drooling & fangirl giggles but who doesnt?) I am boardie, I'm writing here arent I? & I am a fangirl but again... WHO CARES?

Just read through all this -- and while I agree to some extent with a lot of people's opinions re: I do not go on the Keane Band threads at all. I have once or twice to make sure any photographs I've taken are correctly credited, but otherwise, not for me. Yes, I am one of those fans that will travel to see the band multiple times. No, I don't get bored seeing them -- otherwise I wouldn't go. Though I've usually only gone to 2-3 gigs per tour, that's because I can afford it and I enjoy it, as I can listen to their albums over and over again and not get bored. Keane's just that band for me. No one has to be "missing" anything in their life nor have to have a "mental illness" to do so.

In terms of the "labels" that everyone has come up with thus far -- some are on the mark, some aren't. This message board was the first time I'd heard the term "boardie" being used to describe users. Groupie = a fan who follows an artist practically everywhere with sexual intentions, IMO. Fangirl/boy is the squealy type of fan -- and yes, I do "fangirl" on occasion because it can be hella fun (and also funny)!

In any case, everyone's got the right to their opinion, but this thread, to me, has more negative undertones to those who can and choose to travel to multiple gigs and that doesn't sit well with me. Then again, I don't post all that much except in the Live & General threads, so take my opinion for whatever you think it's worth.

Once again, I am sorry if I hurted anyone, but what I meant is, some people are really scarying me. The ones who actually BELIEVE they can marry TTRnJ. But I understand, I truly understand that some people may feel close of TTRnJ. I somehow do, I mean, they are my favourite band and write all these things I feel too but cannot express all by myself. My first motivation for being a journalist in the music industry is to interview them and get paid to see them live, so yeah, I admire Keane, but I remember that I will never be part of their lives.

And you know, I myself can be put in a category, because Keane, this band, their music, they are what saved my life. I was 13 years old, my family life was a big masquerade, I don't need nor want to describe you how an alcoholic father and depressed mother can make you life a big mess, and all I wanted was to find the courage to put an end to my life, but when I first heard SOWK, I had a smile on my face for the first time in months. And Under The Iron Sea was what prevented me from drowning in despair after I've been assaulted. So maybe, yeah, that just makes me a crazy stalker, I dunno. And maybe that is what Keane is so bloody precious to me, and that I don't want to spoil the magic by following them all around.

But I've been eating only pastas for the whole September month because it is cheap and because I am broke because I went to two Keane gigs in three days which costed me more than 210 euros when I have only 400 euro per month and I never tire of their discs, never. I mean, take a look at my Last.fm page!! And I got Sovereign Light Café only on Wednesday and my iTunes says that I listened to it 134 times. But I do make a difference between how I much I love this band and the music they create and how I will never be a part of their lives. That was what I meant, maybe that was not clear but again, I am sorry, I don't speak English that well.

I never, NEVER told that people following them on a whole tour were crazy. I just told that I would not do it even if I had the money for it. Because, I go to the cinema once a week, and to me, Keane is not like going to the cinema. I saw them 6 times, and it is alright, but maybe it is because I did not like PS as much as I loved H&F and UTIS, actually, the gig I loved the mos was the Winterhur's one because there were more songs from UTIS and H&F than PS. And I totally understand people who wake up early to queue, I was in the queue in London at 10 am (even if I waited more than three hours at the wrong entrance LOL) and in Marseille at 1 pm because my train arrived here only half an hour before but I had to wake at 3 am this morning to take a train at 4:30 am

I just said that some people out there make me feel sorry, because they obviously live in their dreams, and they are going to suffer. I mean, I learnt about a woman who doesn't want to have sex with her husband unless if he wears Tom's mask. What can you answer to that? She's going to wake up one day, and realise that she will never be with him, and she's going to suffer, and that is why I think she needs an analysis.

 I love Keane, I admire TTRnJ, I'm not in love with TTRnJ. Full Stop.

 Oh, I'm in a café, and IIAW? just started on the radio and I shouted a big "AAAAAAAAH". So yeah, I'm a bit of a fanatic.

Sometimes it's hard to know where stand XDD

Annie, you may be enthusiastic but I've seen people are waywaywaywayway worse.
I guess the big difference in it all is knowing where to draw the line and knowing where enough is enough with the level of obsession. Some people just don't have that filter and that is where I think the big mental disorder comes into play. It's just. Creepy.

b0red:

Annie, you may be enthusiastic but I've seen people are waywaywaywayway worse.
I guess the big difference in it all is knowing where to draw the line and knowing where enough is enough with the level of obsession. Some people just don't have that filter and that is where I think the big mental disorder comes into play. It's just. Creepy.

I agree that there are some who don't know when to stop but they don't know better, that's why we're all individuals. Some know how to stop, some don't WANT to stop & some just reach levels of restraining orders! 
I just don't like the titles & the judging people do. I just leave people alone. If thats what they wanna do then go for it. I know my limits, I love TTR to pieces, they know I do, I've told them I do but thats as far as I go.
I've managed to hug them or whatever but I always ASK first. I don't look for their homes or find out where they hang out or search for their hotel or plane reservations (I don't have --nor want -- access even if I work for an airline)

I hope no one is overly offended here. It pushed my buttons but I'm over it. I don't care what people think or say about me. I never have. I've had the experience of my mom constantly comparing my to my cousins who have acheived high paying jobs by the age of 22 so I've been there & done that, I don't give a f**k!!! That's why I don't care what people say about me. I'M ME, take me as I am or f**k off!!

So what that I've been to loads of gigs, SO WHAT? That's what I want to do with my time, money & energy. SO WHAT? WHO CARES? & WHY should they care? Am I harming anyone? I'm not even harming myself --altho my foot still hurts-- Its all my doing. It never hurt anyone, so lemme just have my fun. I'm single, I have no kids, I have no real responsibilities so NOW is the time for me to do what I really wanna do with my life. Its My Life!!

For some people it takes just 1 gig, some people it takes 50 gigs. Big deal? We love TTRnJ. Some of us more than others, some of us not as much & some of us can & can't afford to go to 20 Billion gigs.

urgh.... rant over

first off, cowpie21, thanks for some insight on that with the comment  section and thanks to everyone that has contributed to this thread in true ‘wall of text’ fashion. take this as a warning for my incoming and hopefully final post for awhile.  it's just that i have been thinking about this thread a lot so it might serve as a roundabout psychoanalytic (thx _marinaa) reading of my keane experience post-montreal as i am just getting back into the swing of things after staying a couple of extra days in the city.  i totally did not want to come back home. boo hoo.

but honestly, i never meant for this thread to go the route that it has and sad to say, it put a bit of a damper on my keane high from montreal and seattle. _marinaa, thanks for opening up with your own experiences. i see your concern about fans who you think take it way too far but really, i started the thread not to categorize and pigeonhole anyone but as an exercise in my own bewilderment with why these words were used and how given the advent of new technologies like message boards and social networking sites.  like lightstarangel, i had never heard of the word 'boardie' before until i came here. i also didn't know 'groupie' still had such strong sexual or so-called stalker-like connotations for some so i tried to reword the question to make it less polarized, stereotyped and predictable. as i noted before, i really don't know anyone well enough to make or want to make any judgments since i truly believe that music is such a subjective and felt expression that each and every person experiences differently (through listening, meeting the band, gigs, merch, etc…). everyone is entitled to their own opinion and to say what they want but i am just the type to check my own entitlement in the attempts to avoid saying what is right, wrong, 'crazy’, correct, ‘insane’ or whatever.  as i get older, i find myself wanting to be more of an inclusive and accepting person. i want to understand how others feel as a way to understand myself as i continue to grow.

willowtucker2, you mentioned something about how you never really questioned why you are a keane fan. i had an interesting convo with others in montreal waiting in line for the keane concert and they confessed that their love of keane is something you really can’t articulate or feel the need or want to explain. the love for music and said artist is so deep that it’s unspeakable. i find this fascinating.  i think i told them (i was too geeked out to remember), i was and am in this mode where I want to explain what is felt and heard to others who may not understand or question me about my own fandom, over excitability and ‘earmarked budget’ for travel to see keane live.  i'm currently in a field where this is what i do most of the time so it carries over into my love for music and encourages me to ask myself and others these questions. i think my explaining a way for all of this could be a stealth keane conversion tactic too for the music crowds I hang with who don’t listen to stuff like this. besides, i'm new so i was hungry to speak with others about why we come together all for the love keane and what we do to express that love and how. keane’s music and performances are very emotional and intense for me so I figure it gives me leeway and allows myself and others to act out in kind and within reason too, yes? then again, i am thinking that my newness and endless curiosity could just be plain old fangirl giddiness and a healthy obsession.

annie_nyc, i use 'hard-core' and 'extra' quite a bit to describe my confessed intensity as a keane enthusiast.  i was struck by how deep i became only after a few months from finding out who keane were whereas with other bands or artists, it was a slow and steady burn towards loving them.  like a number of other people here, i feel that i 'know' a few so-called famous people in other circles.  i just never felt compelled to want to meet artists or get  autographs before keane came along so this was all new and exciting to me.  seriously, i had only meant to see them once in seattle and call it a day but something came over me that 'forced' me make a last minute on the fly decision to go to montreal because i wanted to see them that much again.  i don't think i would have even gone to these concerts had it not been for this forum getting me hella hardcore on keane. true, my schedule is very flexible but i was a little frightened by my own sudden and heightened enthusiasm and felt i needed to check myself by seeing if others do this by accepting, denying or wondering about the fangirl/groupie/boardie tag as identities and how technology might come in to speed up, aide or hinder that process or by morphing them all together as ana_lore mentioned to create new ones.  

i now know there is alot of hesitation with using the term 'groupie' because of the sexual connotations as tennosix, amyzza and others have   noted.  i admit that i'm quite liberal with my views on sex, gender, and sexuality despite being a real time prude (lol). my prince/vanity avatar and the  lord_byron user name may serve as dead giveaways seeing that these icons possess ambivalent yet overt romantic sexualities for me.  but again, i find myself to be an empathetic and compassionate person (if i ever have kids, they will run all over me!) and habitually place myself in others shoes so i do have sympathy towards these so-called groupies who are viewed only through a sexed and/or an assumed ‘stalker’ lens.  yes, i would question the motives/tactics but i think i can imagine the intensity of wanting to be so close to the music and artists that much.  again, i am not justifying it, only attempting to understand it. no, i am not a super sexual freak - and there is nothing wrong with that if one is - but i am very sensual meaning i touch people when i talk, i’m emotive and i can get intense with my way of communicating through writing, listening and  talking in the way i relate to others, in trying to express myself and also in imagining how they might feel in order to be connected to them. just like this right here and now as i type and edit this. yes, the way i relate to music can be a bit overwhelming and frustrating for me to decipher so i ask questions and wonder why just to get at an understanding of it all.  i am thinking that despite tim’s reserved manner, he does this by acting out on his piano in the throes of violent musical passion, right? i  saw it with my own eyes twice and i love it.

ana_lore and annie_nyc, both of you wondered if it really mattered or if we should even care about all of this stuff. i want to say no it should not  matter but i only asked the questions because i feel as if i'm inquisitive and quite self-reflexive and think and write a lot about what i am feeling,  why, and how it relates to others. honestly, if i were to take a strict musical standpoint by focusing on lyricism in relation to this discussion, one of the things that stands out for me lyrically with PS as a whole album is the love for humanity with all of our faults and how we all might improve the conditions of our existence for ourselves and for others.  of course, these are just words and contradictions abound in virtual and real time for many parties including myself. i just took these words to heart when i was trying to discover what this new community i feel a part of was all about.  

it's way too late here, my dear keane-sters. but all and all, i’ve learned so much from all of your thoughts on this topic. i realize that i talk/write too much and need to take a chill pill! please accept my apologies if any feelings were hurt, damage done, or eye strain (!) because of this thread.  i guess i'll go back to lurk mode and wildly random comment page posts...

always and forever in music, lord byron the girl 

lord_byron:

it's way too late here, my dear keane-sters. but all and all, i’ve learned so much from all of your thoughts on this topic. i realize that i talk/write too much and need to take a chill pill! please accept my apologies if any feelings were hurt, damage done, or eye strain (!) because of this thread.  i guess i'll go back to lurk mode and wildly random comment page posts...

I don't think anyone was hurt by this thread. Groupies and fangirls really don't care what others think, anyway. lol We had wanted to say something and we found a place for that.

annie nyc:

So what that I've been to loads of gigs, SO WHAT? That's what I want to do with my time, money & energy. SO WHAT? WHO CARES? & WHY should they care? Am I harming anyone? I'm not even harming myself --altho my foot still hurts-- Its all my doing. It never hurt anyone, so lemme just have my fun. I'm single, I have no kids, I have no real responsibilities so NOW is the time for me to do what I really wanna do with my life. Its My Life!!

I'm with you. So what, I traveled several countries to see Keane live, don't hate me, I'm really sorry that I had money and managed to schedule my holidays. I'm not like you who just whine why you can't see Keane, you can't speak English or don't have courage to join this forum? Oh you say you don't have time for that! Well I really don't care about you. Why are you interested in my life? Fuck off. I don't need any stalker. Sorry this is off topic, but I also want to say something. lol

I don't care about Keane members personally. Sorry but it's true, as long as I can listen to their music. I don't understand when I read that someone says she loves everything about them because they have good personalities, although she really doesn't know them in real life. Well she can say she reads many interviews and follows them closely, but it doesn't assure that she knows everything about them. She blinds herself and she enjoys her delusion. I only have two categories: fans and stupid fans. That's all. Oh don't repeat that you don't agree with me and everyone is entitled to have his / her opinion, because I know that and that is why I'm posting this. Don't expect me to have a similar / same opinion like you. Why are you making excuses for yourself? (or am I too intimidating for this forum? lol) This is a messageboard, not a frantic fansite. Or is it too conservative place? Too off topic. Sorry lord byron, am I ruining your thread?

 dannnnnnggggg, muse-ic!!!  girl, i wanted this thread to die!!! oh no...

hm, I have a new hero.
Ballsy.

But too many 'sorrys'. Difference of opinion is what makes things here interesting. 

lord_byron:

 dannnnnnggggg, muse-ic!!!  girl, i wanted this thread to die!!! oh no...

Oops. Then and

okay, muse-ic you know on the real that i straight up told you that yes, you were intimidating. i am hyper aware to a fault so i have to be honest despite being over the top with expressing myself. but really muse-ic, if you don't personally care about keane members, then why are you even posting here? what good does it do you to even be on the forum? anyone can use this thread as a their own soapbox, but in my career and social world, i enter conversations and dialogue in such as way that will allow me to grasp various sides of whatever issue may be at hand. to me, it's not just so-called 'stupid fans' and 'fans.' that's way too polarized and simple for me to even consider. oh --- and again, i didn't start the thread as literal plain-speak of any real person. i just wanted to know more about technology, forum boards and new identies that came about because of this but you all can use it as an outlet for other means. i came to it more as an intellectual inquiry about the history of technology and science and social identity formation. that's what i do for school so it carries over here. again, i'm out...

muse-ic:

I only have two categories: fans and stupid fans

 

Wow, this conversation is getting heated, time to jump in.  I think I may be a "stupid fan" LOL!

muse-ic:

I traveled several countries to see Keane live, don't hate me, I'm really sorry that I had money and managed to schedule my holidays.

 

I think it's great when people travel to see a band or whatever.  I've done it.  It's your money, your time, your life.  Do what makes you happy is what I say!

 

lord_byron:

if you don't personally care about keane members, then why are you even posting here?

Meet other fans?
Talk aboutt he music?

b0red:

lord_byron:

if you don't personally care about keane members, then why are you even posting here?

Meet other fans?
Talk aboutt he music?

 

Thanks Mel.