Shafted by the Rainbow

I've questioned for a long while why in the name of all that is rollicking good fun in the world of music, art, film and celebrity, why so many times there seems to be a gaping chasm regarding a sense of humor among those who follow certain artists? You know, "fans".

I've always felt, even as a kid growing up, now transferred into my adulthood, such as it is that there are basically three types of people. There are those who are 'normal', those who are just 'not normal', and then the criminal element. I'm not going into the third type; not in the mood for them right now. I've gotten to the point in my personal evolution or perhaps it's actually a social degeneration, I can spot 'normals' almost with something akin to a sense of smell. (Obviously I'm not fooling myself here.)

'Normals' - a few examples as defined by Sunny (let me walk in the third person a moment to just see how it feels):

They normally attend regular activities, have a set routine and often are avid believers in a set 'God' and attend churches with others who think as they do. I fly by the seat of my pants on a good day. I'm afraid if I step into a church, a plane will fall out of the sky killing masses amount of people. It would be all my fault. I attended this church wedding a while back and I'm not going to begin to recount the disastrous situations that just kept happening. Naturally it was hilarious - just not to the bride. Sadly, we're not friends anymore.

Often are organized beyond belief in home, cars, work, garages. My garage is like one of those puzzles, you have to move things around to create different pathways but never remove a square to complete some sort of picture. The car is not allowed inside, although the motorcycles have their own shrine.

They feel a seriousness and intensity about things that often make folks not so 'normal' as myself, laugh out loud. You know, like a whack straight-line wind that completely collapses the backyard fence of the neighbor leaving their dogs standing in amazement. While you're watching out of your upper balcony doorway. Laughed until I almost threw up.

I love to play in the internets as a means to entertain myself while doing other things. Last night I came across a site that inspired my thoughts for this post. Topic circled around inspirational thoughts on Taylor Hicks. One sweet poster, very serious in her intents and emotions wrote, "...we should all be rejoicing for Taylor, as he “dances at the end of his rainbow." That had me think of Dorothy and her house spiraling in that twister. (Wiz of Oz) Further down, someone agreeing with her wrote, "As I rejoice in my own “pots of gold” ; I get pleasure out of seeing others travel the myriad of colors on their journey to their “pots of gold”. I thank Taylor for sharing his musical bounty with us." Sounds like it should be on a Personal Expressions from Hallmark Card, right?

Then there was, "I too am guilty of letting the naysayers and pseudo-fans get to me but all it takes is watching Taylor at work to refill my cup with joy." Made me want to refill my coffee cup - with coffee - it was bone dry.

Then this poster, speaking admirably of Hicks not being confused as to his identity wrote, "He is so into being himself and brings it for all to share." He may be in a travelling Broadway show but he's certainly not ready for a role in The United States of Tara.

Reading that material last night; while one part of me understands their intensity, I'm just not a 'normal' and I wound up laughing until I almost threw up.

I know this sounds like I'm raining on their parade or in this case, poking holes in their rainbow. Yes, everyone needs travel their own path, chase their own bliss, you know, all that, but sometimes the vehemency, the seriousness and the extremism regarding intensity folks attribute to an artist blows my mind. I know sometimes I am guilty of getting carried away with the moment; perhaps there's a full moon out, or my feminine hormonal swings are on high alert, but man, comparative reading on various fan sites on various artists opens me up to opposing ways fans of different artists handle their 'fan-hood'.

I've considered age difference, upbringing, the 'normals' vs the 'not so normals' - but is there something else to explain why some in the Taylor Hicks fan base behave so differently from most other celeb fan bases? Maybe it's similar to being a case of internet geography; or a taste in humor; the American sense of humor vs the British sense of humor as example. Don't get me started on the Australians.

As some of you know, I have been visiting some of the Robert Pattinson sites. And yes, I feel almost 'common' for doing so afterall he is a big deal right now and I hate following a herd or pack, but there I am. Anyway, what is refreshing, the vibes throughout the majority of his sites run along what most fans in the Taylor Hicks' world would find offensive or pseudo-fan/bad fan behaviour. People actually say humorous things including snarky innuendos (imagine a comical video like that featuring Hicks... oh wait that would not happen) and are not bitch slapped into next week for doing it.

Snark, joke or question anything about Taylor Hicks and you will find yourself in the position of immediately pissing people off. I read in that one particular Taylor related site last night, the dreaded tag of "pseudo-fans", which is often accompanied by 'why don't you just move on' regarding the frustrations regarding perceptions read on other sites.

It's like a punishment. So, you dare question? You dare make a joke? Then get the hell off and 'move on' you pseudo-fan! Don't let that rainbow hit you in your ass on the way out!
Velvet Revolver "Get Out the Door"