Such powerful thoughts have been so clearly expressed in this thread that I reckon it is time for me to chuck my 50p in (I know it used to be ha'penn'orth or 0.5p, but hey, that was years ago, and 0.5p ain't what it used to be!).
To me, like so many others, the ritual and horrific verbal abuse that CarylB (and occasionally others, EVEN ML himself) has had to put up with is entirely abhorrent (to my knowledge, that's the first time I've ever used that word, and I am appalled to find that it's first outing should be on such a fantastic forum, which main aim is to allow discussion of Meat Loaf and his Music).
I agree 100% that this board should be about tolerance...
That is, tolerance of
any OPINION about Meat or his music. On no account however should that mean that anyone should have to put up with horrible abuse.
It doesn't matter how good your English is, or how intelligently you communicate.
All that matters is that the good name of the site is upheld, and not sullied by vicious attacks on regular contributors.
Kudos to the mods / regs or whatever the right word is. R sounds a bit scary but is 100% right. Whatever you think of SueW's words, the intent behind closing that thread was clearly right, and all manner of flying mice get my vote too.
Lets hope these clear signals, and follow up action, discourage the people who waste their time and ours by attacking people rather than discussing opinions.
Meat has had a stressful year to say the least. Let's get back to celebrating Meat and his work. Fan is indeed short for fanatical, and there is no harm in being a fan. That's not to say you have to be as devoted as Caryl, everybody supports Meat in their own little way. But that does not make Caryl's way wrong.
I'll let you in to a secret, that I have not told very many people at all about.
I was bullied verbally by many people all through primary and high school, for several reasons. There was a tramp in town with the same name as me. I never wore trendy clothes. My name is Simon. I was very skinny.
It hurts like hell.
But it makes you tougher. I'm glad to see that Caryl is tough as nails against the bullies that threaten this site with closure through putting off other genuine visitors (and that is NOT abuse - it's a complement to Caryl).
In fact, I myself went too far the wrong way into toughness and ended up hurting people with my own verbal abuse.
Every time I think about that now I hang my head in shame, and I wish that it could be undone. But it can't.
The only way to prevent the hurt is NOT TO DO IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Please - whoever is responsible - stop. It doesn't help, and the vast majority of people at this site do not support abuse in the slightest.
I have changed my ways. Meat always says that all he ever wants to do is become a better person. Well, ICHSIBM. I recommend it to any bully who takes the easy, cowardly, option by hiding behind an internet connection and a keyboard. The hurt still hurts. I KNOW.
Goodnight my friends. I am not leaving this site. I truly believe that we are extremely lucky to have this site, AND visits from Meat Loaf.
And I will support anyone who has abuse levelled at them, for what my support is worth.
Love, S.