Final thoughts of a kool-aid drinker

[Indiana Jolly Mon]

Well it happened, this west coast debacle has become the cobo moment for this site.
I knew it would happen. Why? Because there are 4 types of JB fans. Casual that have the yellow album, which is probably about 25% of the audience. Those that think he is perfect, probably about 10%. Those that think everything he has done since CILCIA is greedy crap, probably about 5%. And the rest are those that dont take it too seriously, it is just music.
The 5%ers have come out if full force on here, just like previous site. Maybe I am 'F'in stupid' or just a 'kool aid drinker' or just need to be told again 'no, you are only disagreeing because you dont get it'.
I have seen a lot of great things in my life, also a lot of tragic things. I love Jimmy's music, I love the message. Do I agree on everything he does? no, but the majority of his fans do or do not care. His music makes me happy, makes me think, makes me remember good times with life long friends that I go to the shows with.
Don't take it too seriously, enjoy the ride. When he is done, dont be sad, remember the good times. But make sure that it was good times, dont make small disappointments major problems that are wrecking friendships. Spend some time in a childrens hospital, visit terminal kids who are alone there because the parents cant take any more time off work or be fired and not pay for treatment. That is tragic, a missed concert that would have been #36 for you is not.
This site was about the fun, laid back lifestyle, about Jimmy and the music that we all love. Sure you can not like what he does sometimes, hell I thought TTWWY was awful, but people that like it arent stupid, they are entitled to opinions.
Sorry to ramble and be all preachy here, but we as a group are better than this. I think we should all just admit that the cancelling of shows sucked and move on. Y'all are good people, lets get back to acting like it.
For me, I am gone. I know most will say 'who' or 'who cares' (except those that follow the something completely different thread). Life is much better if you go through it with eyes wide open, but with a positive attitude. It takes you through good times and bad, keeping you a good person.
Before you bash me or ignore me, go put on your fave JB song, have your favorite drink and enjoy. That is the tie that binds us on this board, and as Jimmy fans.
Keep your fins up and have fun.
IJM

[Spider Johnson]

IJM

EXCELLENT!!!

I doubt it will have much affect though.

[RinglingRingling]

it's not that I have a problem with folks thinking Jimmy is God, the problem is those folks hate to hear other opinions and trot out the variation of "America, love it or leave it" known as "Buffett, Luv Heem ur Leev here". Nothing like being told that an alternative viewpoint is "whining and bitching" to make you feel really cooperative.

[Spider Johnson]

From elsewhere:

10 Stages of a Parrot Head

1. Jimmy Who...
Who the hell is Buffett, oh that guy who did (choose one)
a. Margaritaville
b. Cheeseburger in Paradise
c. Why don't We Get Drunk and Screw.
(Spells Buffett with one "t")

2. Oh it's with two "t's"
Buys "Songs You Know by Heart" because he heard "that one song" at a party. Starts hearing all about the wild concerts and openly declares to the world that he/she is a parrot head. Goes out and buys that
Hawaiian shirt they wanted all their life, or at least since last week.

3. Look at me, I'm a parrothead!
Goes to a Jimmy Buffett concert and is amazed by all things parrothead. Loved the show but can't remember any of it through the alcoholic haze.

4. One Particular Parrot
Decides they should buy a few more albums so that the old timers will stop laughing at them when Jimmy plays "One Particular Harbour" and he/she says "that's a great song, I've never heard it."

5. Domino College
Buys the box set so they don't have to buy all the old albums. Still gets laughed at or ignored because they've never heard "Migration", and "Cowboy", The good news is she/he knows "Fins" well enough to move his/her hands the right way at the concert.

6. Buffett is God
Starts collecting the albums, buys a couple more Hawaiian shirts, maybe even a coconut bra. Has two concert tees, and a subscription to the Coconut Telegraph. Suddenly has a burning need to find out all
that is Buffett. Considers Buffett to be GOD, 'though they've never heard the song "God's Own Drunk". Actually believes Buffett is a beach bum.
NOTE: Some people never get passed this stage...

7. Say it Ain't so Jimmy
Is reading everything there is on Buffett and is getting a little disillusioned. They are closing their ears and screaming "say it ain't so" when people criticize their "hero". No one stays at this stage for very long They either punt and return to Stage 6 or move to Stage 8.

8. Screw Buffett...
Accuse Buffett of being a heretic, Accuse him of selling out ... and all the concerts sound the same...Screw Buffett; This is also a dead end stage for many fans. Cancel subscription to CT, complains about
concerts and new records and every other money grubbing venture Mr. Margaritaville is wrapped up in. Hates it when his/her non parrothead friends label him/her a parrot head.

9. My name is ...... and I listen to Buffett music.
Comes to the realization that Buffett is human, and deals with it, with the help of other Buffett fans or some internal strength. Understands the myth, and to some degree, the man who created it and finds compromise somewhere between stage 6 and stage 8. Can't buy anymore albums because they have them all, already. Enjoys the music for what it represents, which is why they bought it in the first place and ignore all the other ***** as best as possible, without forsaking their own moral standards.

10. If you reach stage nine and still continuously listen to Buffett and enjoy the concerts and the lifestyle..... You, my friend, ARE A PARROTHEAD!!

[LIPH]

Nothing like being told that an alternative viewpoint is "whining and bitching" to make you feel really cooperative.

But aren't we all supppsed to be good little Stepford Parrotheads?

[surfpirate]

We need another thread?

Your message is fine ..... its been communicated in a dozen similar threads already of course in various ways. I have a problem with generalizations such as

(Casual that have the yellow album, which is probably about 25% of the audience. Those that think he is perfect, probably about 10%. Those that think everything he has done since CILCIA is greedy crap, probably about 5%. And the rest are those that dont take it too seriously, it is just music.)

Once again ...... There is NO ONE that thinks Jimmy is "perfect".

[palmettopirate]

"Those that think he is perfect, probably about 10%. Those that think everything he has done since CILCIA is greedy crap, probably about 5%. And the rest are those that dont take it too seriously, it is just music.
The 5%ers have come out if full force on here, just like previous site. Maybe I am 'F'in stupid' or just a 'kool aid drinker' or just need to be told again 'no, you are only disagreeing because you dont get it'."

Nobody would accuse you of falling in line for Koolaid. And you aren't stupid. I do think 10% thinking he is perfect is understated though.

"Spend some time in a childrens hospital, visit terminal kids who are alone there because the parents cant take any more time off work or be fired and not pay for treatment."

Funny you mentioned that and I tend to not mention my charitable activities but I do spend quite a bit of time tending to sick folks. No I don't want praise. It's personal to me. But they count on me. And when something gets in the way of those plans I "quickly" offer an explanation and apology. Am I equating a concert with this kind of stuff? Certainly not, but manners are manners. And yes, I feel I "owe" them and explanation.

Have a great day.

[nutmeg]

I like kool-aid!

IJM, in order to enjoy BN and all the fun "Buffetty" things here you need to find a way to skip threads that contain negativism and find threads that you can enjoy.

I've been here since 2001 and have learned that I can always find good things to keep me occupied here, and I try my best to avoid negative/political/devisive threads.

Whenever I read something that upsets me, I try to go read the "dating a shirt" thread for a while and it always makes me laugh. Occasionally I get drawn into a serious discussion, but I try not to take what is said personally...some people just enjoy a good argument.

I wonder if there are any new postings in the dating a shirt thread to catch up on???

[Calypso Poet 99]

This reminds me of Jerry Mcguire.

[C-Dawg]

IJM, I agree with a lot that you posted, and hope you reconsider leaving.
On one hand I do believe all views should be heard on a subject and we don't need "thought police" moderating the board but, on the other hand I believe the West Coast show cancellation threads are bringing the positive vibe of the board down. I think the threads were warranted, but 2 weeks of it is enough for everyone to get their views and frustrations out. I've posted this in those threads and asked that they let the threads die. I also think the recent "blow off" on M'ville has caused a rebirth of these threads and hope they'll fade away in the next week and things will get back to normal.
I know of a couple of people that have already left....people that used to post a lot, and I miss their contributions to the board. I also considered leaving last week, til a PM caused me to reconsider. The PM told me I couldn't leave because "if all the cool people leave, all that will be left are the $h*t stirrers, and we can't let that happen."
I hope you stick around and let your voice be heard. Be cool, rise above the negativity, and have a great weekend.
C

[RinglingRingling]

IJM, I agree with a lot that you posted, and hope you reconsider leaving.
On one hand I do believe all views should be heard on a subject and we don't need "thought police" moderating the board but, on the other hand I believe the West Coast show cancellation threads are bringing the positive vibe of the board down. I think the threads were warranted, but 2 weeks of it is enough for everyone to get their views and frustrations out. I've posted this in those threads and asked that they let the threads die. I also think the recent "blow off" on M'ville has caused a rebirth of these threads and hope they'll fade away in the next week and things will get back to normal.
I know of a couple of people that have already left....people that used to post a lot, and I miss their contributions to the board. I also considered leaving last week, til a PM caused me to reconsider. The PM told me I couldn't leave because "if all the cool people leave, all that will be left are the $h*t stirrers, and we can't let that happen." I hope you stick around and let your voice be heard. Be cool, rise above the negativity, and have a great weekend.
C

and that is a positive way to recognize alternative viewpoints too..

[wanderingtoes]

It is hard to know where I fit into this thought line, but I know I get it, get everything Buffett. But...........always a but, I am one of those people that don't mind the yellow record, but hate the Math Sucks, Hokey Pokey, and I have heard both in a concert. It makes me long for Brown Eyed or Cheeseburger. Now if I were in a social setting where he was being put down, I would become JB's best defender. With that being said, I feel there is a place for everyone in those circles mentioned, it is up to each of us to allow space for other views. JB's music makes people happy, couldn't we just all be happy in that one agreeing factor.

[Dutch Harbor PH]

......Sometimes ya just need a little vacation from the boards.......gain a little perspective and get back to "I don't know and I don't care".....

On the other hand, Koolaid is great.....there is such a variety of it......I used to love the cherry, then it was grape but then I really liked the tropical punch.....and of course the lemon flavor.....with all those choices, who doesn't like koolaid????

[dean_siu]

......Sometimes ya just need a little vacation from the boards.......gain a little perspective and get back to "I don't know and I don't care".....

On the other hand, Koolaid is great.....there is such a variety of it......I used to love the cherry, then it was grape but then I really liked the tropical punch.....and of course the lemon flavor.....with all those choices, who doesn't like koolaid????

I like koolaid.....as long as its mixed with vodka

[pema]

On the other hand, Koolaid is great.....there is such a variety of it......I used to love the cherry, then it was grape but then I really liked the tropical punch.....and of course the lemon flavor.....with all those choices, who doesn't like koolaid????

i always liked the blue, tho my grandmother always said it looked like windex to her

[oceanstate]

Kool-aid is good. Roy's Famous Martinis are much, much better.

My mom keeps telling me she's going to steal all of my Buffett and margaritaville T's and make a quilt out of them for Christmas. I'm thinking she thinks I won't realize they're gone for a couple of months. Maybe if she just took 1/2 of them....

[VanillaGrl]

Kool-aid is good. Roy's Famous Martinis are much, much better.

My mom keeps telling me she's going to steal all of my Buffett and margaritaville T's and make a quilt out of them for Christmas. I'm thinking she thinks I won't realize they're gone for a couple of months. Maybe if she just took 1/2 of them....

What a great idea!

[dean_siu]

Kool-aid is good. Roy's Famous Martinis are much, much better.

My mom keeps telling me she's going to steal all of my Buffett and margaritaville T's and make a quilt out of them for Christmas. I'm thinking she thinks I won't realize they're gone for a couple of months. Maybe if she just took 1/2 of them....

What a great idea!

I'd have to run around half naked if my mom did that....I'd have no shirts left to wear!

[pair8head]

Kool-aid is good. Roy's Famous Martinis are much, much better.

My mom keeps telling me she's going to steal all of my Buffett and margaritaville T's and make a quilt out of them for Christmas. I'm thinking she thinks I won't realize they're gone for a couple of months. Maybe if she just took 1/2 of them....

I had a quilt made of my favorite University of Washington Football T-Shirts.
Thought about doing the same thing for my Buffett shirts but I wore most of em out.

[oceanstate]

Kool-aid is good. Roy's Famous Martinis are much, much better.

My mom keeps telling me she's going to steal all of my Buffett and margaritaville T's and make a quilt out of them for Christmas. I'm thinking she thinks I won't realize they're gone for a couple of months. Maybe if she just took 1/2 of them....

I had a quilt made of my favorite University of Washington Football T-Shirts.
Thought about doing the same thing for my Buffett shirts but I wore most of em out.

I have this really dorky habit of going into Margaritaville after visiting the restuarant (and drinking). They'll have a buy 3, get 1 free sale, so I'll get 2 for friends, 2 for me, and those 2 will sit on the shelf while I wear the 4 or 5 I always wear. I get 3 at the concert, and end up wearing 1 over and over (hopefully washing it between wearings). You think i'd stop that after a bunch of years, but nooooooo.