Hmm. I guess I've said everything I needed to say. Maybe some of it has changed something, just a little, just for a moment, but all in all I'm afraid that the cruel regulars are cruel for reasons that are too complicated for me or anyone else but themselves to figure out. As somebody pointed out, there apparently are things like old feuds going on, and to say something to/about the people involved is in their eyes like taking the side of the enemy. For some, the Moz Solo culture is a lot like a religion because it has been going on for so long and so intensely, and it's quite impossible to force people to lose their faith. Also, some people seem to have been here for years using this certain kind of personality, and it may be very difficult for them to change that. But generally, if you've stopped respecting Morrissey a long time ago, I do think that there's something strange about the fact that you're still spending hours on his fansite. Wouldn't it be healthier to move on, to let go of all that heavy disappointment? You can still have the songs, and you know, any cruel shit thrown at Morrissey on Morrissey Solo won't turn Morrissey into a better musician. True story. Even if he read the posts, he wouldn't listen to anyone saying mean and unreasonable things about him, even if there's rightful criticism underneath the insults. That's just basic human psychology. Be nice to someone and they'll listen to what you have to say.
I think that the whole situation with Morrissey Solo is pretty unique. I don't think there are too many fansites in the world that are this
critical towards the artist in question. At least I haven't seen them. Maybe it's about the fact that Morrissey usually attracts people that are intelligent and relatively delicate. They may respond to the world's dark sides more strongly than many others, and therefore it's easy for them to kind of
lose it. I mean, people that say that they don't care about Morrissey but still spend years and years of their life on a Morrissey fan forum are deluding themselves. They do care about Morrissey. A lot. If they didn't, they'd moved on a long, long time ago.
I don't think there's anything wrong with sincerely caring about Morrissey. In fact, I think it tells a lot of good things about a person. There are many good reasons to care about Morrissey. I personally think that he's an amazing songwriter and one of the most original people I've ever seen, even (or especially) with his flaws and oddities. To think that you either have to be a cruel jerk or a crazy fawner is silly. You can be a fan who criticizes Morrissey with compassion, sense and moderation when there's need for criticism. And if you disagree with another poster, you can express that sensibly. That's how most fan forums work.
Like some others, I've also noticed that other Morrissey fansites and the Morrissey fans on Facebook, tumblr, etc. are noticeably less negative than the tone on Morrissey Solo. Maybe it's because this place has such a long history and it's very easy to be virtually anonymous here.
So, well, I guess I've done everything I possibly can. Which is not very much. But I've spent a few days quite intensely with Morrissey Solo, and now it's starting to get pretty tiring. I don't think people should spend too long periods of time here; it can turn you into a jerk or just wear you out. So I think I'm going to do the thing that I think a lot of people should do: I'm moving on.
(At least trying to.) Thank you all for the interesting conversation.
But seriously, if somebody knows a website that is as good or almost as good as Morrissey Solo in terms of Morrissey-related news, I'd really appreciate the information. (If there isn't one, then it definitely should be created.)
Best wishes,
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