Disappointed in PJ Fans Today

walkunafraid

Logged on tonight (for the first time in a while) expecting to see PJ fans standing tall in solidarity with the band in its decision to cancel the show in North Carolina. Instead I've spent the last 20 minutes reading posts filled with anger, bitterness, insults, and otherwise (mostly) negative reactions to the decision.

Look, I get it. You had tickets to a concert of a band you love and rarely get to see, and you're upset that you won't get to have that experience now (at least not for the time being). Some of you even traveled from some distance away and spent gobs of money on hotels, car rentals, flights, etc. It sucks. It really does. And I understand the disappointment.

But you know what sucks worse? A bill that is disgustingly discriminatory and that threatens that rights of good people who are being treated like inferior citizens. A state government that feels that protecting basic rights is only important for citizens who it deems are worthy of its protection. A law that opens the door for bigots to get away with bigotry under full protection of a bigoted bill.

Yes, Pearl Jam could have decided to play the show and donated the money to entities fighting against the bill. But how far would that really go? A one-time contribution is empty compared to setting a precedent of staying away from a state that has decided to close its doors to equality and tolerance. This isn't about a single show or a single band or a single night, it's about strength in numbers. What Springsteen (and others) started can only have an impact and momentum if others follow. A boycott is only as effective as the number of entities willing to participate in the boycott. And while playing a show and donating the income may have been a nice gesture, cancelling the show altogether -- knowing full well the negative backlash such a move would receive from many fans the band relies on for its success -- was the courageous and the right thing to do.

Yes, the decision was likely dependent on Springsteen's cancellation, but isn't that the idea of a boycott? One person or group gets the ball rolling, and others follow. If others don't follow, nothing happens, nothing changes, nothing gets accomplished. The hope now is that this is only the beginning, and that as still others follow, the bigoted politicians who created this bill will see that they live in a country where such intolerance isn't just going to be accepted as a sign-of-the-times occurrence. But that's only going to happen if enough groups and organizations stand together. Part of the privilege/price of having fame and power is having the ability to influence change -- or to hide from such responsibility. The fact that the band decided to act on their influence in the way that they feel can best and most powerfully drive home their opposition to HB2 is to be commended, not derided.

Kudos to the band for having the balls to put its beliefs ahead of its fans. That might sound shitty to some of you, but in my mind, it's brave and admirable, and the only correct thing to do given the circumstances. Going on with the show would have been akin to crossing the picket lines, except the stakes here are basic human rights and equality for a group of people who have neither the numbers nor the political presence to fight back on their own.

I don't know about you, but that's worth much more than a Pearl Jam concert and a few hundred (or thousand) dollars to me.

lolobugg

Disappointed on missing out on the show but agree with their decision.

Mdeanseattle

I've been on the losing end of a last minute Pearl Jam / Vedder cancellation so I feel the pain of losing out on those non refundable travel expensive . It would be nice if as a Ten club member they would give all those ticket holders a free bootleg download . You have made a commitment to your fans , not the politician . If you do want to make a stand what better way to make it than 65000 fans signing a petition as they come thru the turn styles..
When I book concerts I always book for a destination city in case anything happens .
To me this about commitment both to your fans and to yourselves. In the fight against ticketmaster the found ways around it . Give these fans something something , anything ,that won't degrade your stand . Don't just walk away ,it would be like not touring North America to hurt Bush .

southernmanfan

walkunafraid said:

Logged on tonight (for the first time in a while) expecting to see PJ fans standing tall in solidarity with the band in its decision to cancel the show in North Carolina. Instead I've spent the last 20 minutes reading posts filled with anger, bitterness, insults, and otherwise (mostly) negative reactions to the decision.

Look, I get it. You had tickets to a concert of a band you love and rarely get to see, and you're upset that you won't get to have that experience now (at least not for the time being). Some of you even traveled from some distance away and spent gobs of money on hotels, car rentals, flights, etc. It sucks. It really does. And I understand the disappointment.

But you know what sucks worse? A bill that is disgustingly discriminatory and that threatens that rights of good people who are being treated like inferior citizens. A state government that feels that protecting basic rights is only important for citizens who it deems are worthy of its protection. A law that opens the door for bigots to get away with bigotry under full protection of a bigoted bill.

Yes, Pearl Jam could have decided to play the show and donated the money to entities fighting against the bill. But how far would that really go? A one-time contribution is empty compared to setting a precedent of staying away from a state that has decided to close its doors to equality and tolerance. This isn't about a single show or a single band or a single night, it's about strength in numbers. What Springsteen (and others) started can only have an impact and momentum if others follow. A boycott is only as effective as the number of entities willing to participate in the boycott. And while playing a show and donating the income may have been a nice gesture, cancelling the show altogether -- knowing full well the negative backlash such a move would receive from many fans the band relies on for its success -- was the courageous and the right thing to do.

Yes, the decision was likely dependent on Springsteen's cancellation, but isn't that the idea of a boycott? One person or group gets the ball rolling, and others follow. If others don't follow, nothing happens, nothing changes, nothing gets accomplished. The hope now is that this is only the beginning, and that as still others follow, the bigoted politicians who created this bill will see that they live in a country where such intolerance isn't just going to be accepted as a sign-of-the-times occurrence. But that's only going to happen if enough groups and organizations stand together. Part of the privilege/price of having fame and power is having the ability to influence change -- or to hide from such responsibility. The fact that the band decided to act on their influence in the way that they feel can best and most powerfully drive home their opposition to HB2 is to be commended, not derided.

Kudos to the band for having the balls to put its beliefs ahead of its fans. That might sound shitty to some of you, but in my mind, it's brave and admirable, and the only correct thing to do given the circumstances. Going on with the show would have been akin to crossing the picket lines, except the stakes here are basic human rights and equality for a group of people who have neither the numbers nor the political presence to fight back on their own.

I don't know about you, but that's worth much more than a Pearl Jam concert and a few hundred (or thousand) dollars to me.

Could not have put it better myself. Well said man!!!

Bird889

Sorry but having 65,000 fans sign a petition, the majority who don't vote in NC, will not have any effect on the NC legislature. If those who passed the bill think they will be voted out of office the bill will change. Maybe the regular NC person on the street, who is economically affected by companies and entertainers boycotting, will be pissed off enough to vote for change.

Nice post by the OP

wall232

I think people have a right to be upset and post their feelings. I also think most of us on these boards agree with their stand, it's the timing that has everyone upset. And no, I don't think the venue would have been able to book another group to play last night if Pearl Jam cancelled last week.

Daron Oshay

wall232 said:

I think people have a right to be upset and post their feelings. I also think most of us on these boards agree with their stand, it's the timing that has everyone upset. And no, I don't think the venue would have been able to book another group to play last night if Pearl Jam cancelled last week.

The idea that the venue would book another act (especially while other acts are boycotting the state) is laughable. It's not even feasible in a normal situation.

I thought Ed explained the reasoning very well at the show last night.

cincybearcat

I'm surprised at all the people surprised at fans venting. Give people time

Bentleyspop

Hold on a minute

You were surprised at the extremely negative reaction of Pearl Jam fans not getting what they want from Pearl Jam??!!

Clearly you haven't been on here in a long time.

Awesome post and I agree with all your points.

Electro_UK

As I said elsewhere, I'm glad Pearl Jam is doing *something* in reaction, but I think debate as to what it could have done better is healthy. Guys calling it 'despicable' and saying the band are 'hypocrites' need to chill out, though.

pdalowsky

Whilst there has been some reaction that has gone too far, I would say from what ive read the discussion has been a well mannered one, and engaging to a degree.

wall232

pdalowsky said:

Whilst there has been some reaction that has gone too far, I would say from what ive read the discussion has been a well mannered one, and engaging to a degree.

Exactly, there have been some on both sides that have taken it a bit too far. But a discussion with different points of view is healthy.

SVRDhand13

cincybearcat said:

I'm surprised at all the people surprised at fans venting. Give people time

pdalowsky said:

Whilst there has been some reaction that has gone too far, I would say from what ive read the discussion has been a well mannered one, and engaging to a degree.

Yes to both

very few people have gotten out of line. Disagreeing with PJ's decision or timing can be, and has been done by many, in a respectful manner.

We shouldn't let the few outliers ruin the voice of others.

The Akkus

I am just pleased to see dialog. I respect everyone's views, regardless of how much it disagrees with my own. I love all of ya'll.

JimmyV

SVRDhand13 said:

cincybearcat said:

I'm surprised at all the people surprised at fans venting. Give people time

pdalowsky said:

Whilst there has been some reaction that has gone too far, I would say from what ive read the discussion has been a well mannered one, and engaging to a degree.

Yes to both

very few people have gotten out of line. Disagreeing with PJ's decision or timing can be, and has been done by many, in a respectful manner.

We shouldn't let the few outliers ruin the voice of others.

Agreed on all points. I'm seeing just as much finger wagging as I am criticisms that are out of line. Neither adds much to the conversation, IMO.

fall by the wayside

Great post OP.

CapnBob

Very awesome post OP! cheers!

jeffwalsh

Great post, and only Pearl Jam can really decide what feels right for them. I've been encouraging the NC boycott to keep this law in the news cycle, but since I also had 10C tickets for Raleigh, I had non-refundable tickets there, so it was a dilemma.

And the poor 10C e-mail team had to send weirdly nuance-y e-mails to me trying to get a refund for Raleigh in advance: "You most certainly have the choice to attend or not. However please know that Ten Club tickets are only refunded in the event of the show being canceled, so the tickets would not be refunded. But again, it is completely your choice if you want to attend or not." Heh. At least they have a definite answer now.

serpent boy

It's Pearl Jam's right to boycott and protest, but why single out only NC's discriminatory policy when many other states have equally if not much more discriminatory policies in place toward LGBTQA?

SmallestOceans

People truly reveal themselves when shit hits the fan in times of trouble. Some people are so diseased. Absolutely infected. All about them, their own personal experience, and nothing else. Remember the Twilight Episode, "The Shelter"?

wall232

The fact that some people can't understand why some of the fans are frustrated is frustrating. Some have gone on to call people who don't agree with the timing not true fans, which is a bunch of nonsense.