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For the second time will you edit your own profile accordingly!
Regards,
d-Community
**************
First off, I didn't receive their first e-mail and that's not all that's wrong with it either.
Can ex members edit their profiles and also, how come it's my job to change my profile when it's their database? [img]confused.gif[/img]
*wonders if I'm seeing this all wrong and they are in fact in the right on this one*
Michelle
xx
I hope this isn't a silly question, but are you sure it's from the fanclub? they don't normally sign off as D community do they? Also was that the whole email because it doesn't make sense.
Also what info do they want you to alter? - if you are no longer a member your profile should be erased shouldn't it? Thats what I would be wondering anyway!
Jan xx [img]confused.gif[/img]
^yes, I am and no, they don't [img]smile.gif[/img]
Maybe they were just being extra abrupt cos they didn't like me asking them to stop spamming me.
That's what I thought too about member profiles, but Donna told me I'm still listed as a member, even though I can't access any of the 'members only' parts of the site anymore.
Michelle
xx
Sounds like they need to get their database up to date.It's probably an automatic mailing that needs updating and has been delayed due to all the switching about going on over there. If it wasn't going to lead to more emails I would send one back asking them to be more polite in their correspondence [img]wink.gif[/img] Maybe you should return the spam to them with a note reminding them you are not a member. Annoying though, there is enough spam coming through as it is ! [img]smile.gif[/img]
You and Terry are both still on the members list Michelle.
And even if they do say that you should edit your profile, why the hell should you still have a profile on there if you are no longer a member. Yet another case of things being totally arse about face IMO.
I wonder if there's a bit on your profile where you have to unsubscribe to receiving mail from them? *trots off to look*
Edit as I've just had a look at my own member profile and here's what's listed
Membership Management
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Membership Number *********
Membership Expiry Date ********
Subscription Status Current Member
Forum User-Name BeenieBabeDonna
Old Password ********
New Password
Confirm New Password
Title Mr.Mrs.Miss.Ms.Dr.Prof.None
First Name
Last Name
Gender Female
Male
e-Mail Address
<u>Receive Mail-Shots? Yes </u>
Date of Birth [Set Date]
Telephone Number
Mobile Number
Fax Number
Default Address
There is a bit that says recieve mail shots and I have yes ticked so perhaps you still have that ticked on your profile Michelle
However......
I had to sign into the members area in order to acess this info so god knows wtf you are supposed to do Michelle where you are no longer a member, are you still able to acess that part using your old membership number and anyway why should you have the hassle of doing it yourself when they should remove non-members?
<font color="#9966FF" size="1">[ November 07, 2004 12:04 PM: Message edited by: Donna32 ]</font>
Wow Michelle, that was an extremely rude response from them. I don't see how you can edit your profile if you have no access to it since you are not a member anymore. There has got to be a better way of dealing with things like this. [img]frown.gif[/img]
Exactly Donna and I asked them how I go about doing that since I'm not a member anymore.
Gracie, to be fair they did respond in kind to me asking them 'to bloody well stop spamming me', but I only spoke in that tone when I had asked them twice before to do so.
Michelle
xx
FFS. I've seen it all now.
It's like been in between a rock and a hard place. If you are a member they treat you like crap (flock excluded of course) and even when you can't take it anymore and leave they still treat you like shit. That is the second nasty email I've seen from them this week. I'm amazed but sadly not surprised.
They have dug themselves a huge hole and someone forgot to bring a ladder. It's their problem, their end, full stop. When/where will the unprofessionalism end??
Michelle you and me, like thousands, do for that list what padding does for a wonderbra, ie puff it up but there is nothing much really inside.
Looks like you can get in to change your details if you want to (altho I didn't have an email address it liked to check). I guess they will tell you that keeping you on their list as an expired or even "non" member will make it more convenient for you when you decide to renew or perchance wish to shop. Lucky eh! [img]smile.gif[/img]
*drips with venomous sarcasm toward the FC*
I guess they will tell you that keeping you on their list as an expired or even "non" member will make it more convenient for you when you decide to renew or perchance wish to shop. Lucky eh! [img]smile.gif[/img]
******************
I think I'd rather have all my teeth pulled out than re-join their ever so friendly site again [img]smile.gif[/img]
Michelle
xx
Perhaps you should email them back and inform that it's now <u>their</u> profile seeing as you aren't a member anymore so <u>they</u> should alter it accordingly [img]tongue.gif[/img]
^ I already did Donna [img]smile.gif[/img]
Michelle
xx
There is no excuse for this type of behavior on their part. Any one of use could run things in a more professional manner. If someone writes, you answer and you answer in a polite and courteous manner. If a member leaves, you modify the database to remove them within a reasonable time. It is, frankly, not that hard and there aren't that many dh fan club members.
<font color="#9966FF" size="1">[ November 07, 2004 07:34 PM: Message edited by: Dyan ]</font>
Well that was rude! [img]graemlins/thumbs_down.gif[/img] and yes they're signing emails now as 'd-community'. It is perfectly reasonable for an expired/cancelled or non member to expect their profile to be as gone as they are, but alas it doesn't happen!
That said I went and checked my expired Barb_T account. So I went to the main site and logged in, luckily I did remember my password [img]wink.gif[/img]
Word of warning if it tells you to login above, look towards the bottom of the page, that's where the login section is [img]rolleyes.gif[/img] Did I mention how irritating that new site is?
anyway I finally managed to access my details under the 'member' heading and for that you need the email address you have registered and the membership number you were allocated. Then finally you can stop mailshots and can stop being spammed...well hopefully anyway [img]wink.gif[/img]
So from what I see ANYONE can register to be a member via the main site and you're allocated a membership number, however, only when paying the subscription can you access the forum (separate login required) and paying member pages. So in hindsight they must consider everyone who registers (no matter what their current status is) as 'members' thus explaining their hugely inflated registered users number. Would be very interesting to see a breakdown of how many of the 9473 are current paying members, expired members, non paying members.
Well I can think of a few words to describe all that but it's not repeatable here!
[img]confused.gif[/img]
p.s. if you've read this to the end then thank you for letting me think out loud [img]tongue.gif[/img]
p.s.s. LOL at the wonderbra analogy
<font color="#9966FF" size="1">[ November 07, 2004 10:44 PM: Message edited by: BarbT ]</font>
Yeah Barb, that is where the mystery members come from, or one of the backdoor ways they have of "joining". Good on you for remembering your email address! I still can't think of what mine was! [img]smile.gif[/img]
So I see the numbers are still growing over there at the FC but how many are actually taking that leap of faith and "joining"?
Oh yeah and Barb I have to agree with you finding that damn login link near drove me blind. I was looking upper half of screen too.
<font color="#9966FF" size="1">[ November 07, 2004 11:26 PM: Message edited by: Zimsky ]</font>
what is wrong with your profile that you need to edit it Michelle? @_@
accordingly to what??
SO CONFUSED! X_X
LOL gawwd they better watch out they will have to moderate themselves soon for stepping out of the positive light.
They are units for sure.
Can you edit your own profile still???
Kat
[img]graemlins/sure.gif[/img] That's bloody typical of the f/c! They're the rudest bunch of bitches on the 'net imho!
psst - does anyone else think that that reply smacks of the posting style of someone who's close to all of our hearts. [img]wink.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/devil.gif[/img]
Kat, I went over there and I couldn't find where to log in.
Terry, it could well be said person [img]wink.gif[/img]
Michelle
xx
Kat I can still edit my profile
Wondered the same thing Terry, especially after a recent post on Sony using an identical description to one I had in an email [img]confused.gif[/img]
Michelle the login bit is now under his picture on the left hand side of the main page.
I can still edit my profile too (not that I actually need to cos I never signed up for those stupid 'mail shots' in the first place). Saying that, WTF should YOU have to do their work for them Michelle? You're an <u>ex</u>-member and therefore, the onus is on them to update their wanky database! FFS, we shouldn't even be listed there now!!! [img]graemlins/grrr.gif[/img]
Still, that's the f/c for you - unprofessional, useless and bloody incompetent! They couldn't run a bath! [img]graemlins/thumbs_down.gif[/img]
<font color="#9966FF" size="1">[ November 08, 2004 07:47 AM: Message edited by: Twizzle ]</font>
Well, I did it even though I resent having to do the bloody work for them [img]mad.gif[/img]
Gawd, that site is hard to navigate [img]frown.gif[/img] I suppose they think making it that way will make people more interested in looking at other parts of the site or something.
Michelle
xx
<font size="3" face="Tempus sans ITC, Papyrus,Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Still Michelle, it's still not the way for them to respond. They could have just pointed out that they have sent out previous emails politely.Quote:
Originally posted by Juliet10:
Gracie, to be fair they did respond in kind to me asking them 'to bloody well stop spamming me', but I only spoke in that tone when I had asked them twice before to do so.
Michelle
xx
<font size="3" face="Tempus sans ITC, Papyrus,Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I'd be more interested to know how many people will not be renewing next year because of the way everything has changed. I know at this moment I'm waiting to see if things change by next June...otherwise I won't be. I'm a sad cow, I even got excited over my flipping pen and keyring! Having a 'virtual' fan club sounds terrific, but I didn't realise that meant you get 'virtually' nothing for your money. Don't get me wrong, last year's membership I don't begrudge, but I'm still 1 D-Zine behind and counting. This year's money would have been better put towards my ticket to the concert. I almost let all of this spoil my enjoyment of the music, but now it's the most important thing to me. I got too involved...but letting go is harder than I thought!Quote:
Originally posted by Zimsky:
Yeah Barb, that is where the mystery members come from, or one of the backdoor ways they have of "joining". Good on you for remembering your email address! I still can't think of what mine was! [img]smile.gif[/img]
So I see the numbers are still growing over there at the FC but how many are actually taking that leap of faith and "joining"?
Oh yeah and Barb I have to agree with you finding that damn login link near drove me blind. I was looking upper half of screen too.
<font color="#9966FF"><font size="1">[ November 07, 2004 11:26 PM: Message edited by: Zimsky ]</font></font>
Sharon
<font size="3" face="Tempus sans ITC, Papyrus,Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I don't hardly go to the web site anymore because it's hard to navagate. I just go to the direct link for the f/c forum and even that is not the best. Everything is all squished because of the picture of Darren on the side. Now as much as I love looking at pics of Darren, that pic isn't needed on the side. *sighs*Quote:
Originally posted by Juliet10:
Well, I did it even though I resent having to do the bloody work for them [img]mad.gif[/img]
Gawd, that site is hard to navigate [img]frown.gif[/img] I suppose they think making it that way will make people more interested in looking at other parts of the site or something.
Michelle
xx
^^ It sounds like a right mess over there Mona! I think I'll stick to the Sony bbs. It's just as good, if not better, for info etc. and it sounds like it's a lot easier on the eye (and the stomach). [img]tongue.gif[/img] lol
Firstly, you shouldn't feel disloyal for airing your views hun. They might not be what the PTB wants to hear but they're honest and they're what <u>you</u> believe! [img]graemlins/girl_hug.gif[/img]
Secondly, I agree with what you've said re Savagefan - it <u>was</u> different back then and it was so much better. That's not just a reflection on how the SG f/c itself was run (although God knows it was run 1000 times better than the current DH one) but more a comment on the overall online feeling of kinship and comararderie (spl?). Now, I don't know if that's disappeared just b/c of the SG split or if it's b/c of certain factions within the fanbase assuming power but I do know that it did happen and we're all the worse off for it. [img]frown.gif[/img]
<font size="3" face="Tempus sans ITC, Papyrus,Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yep, that's correct. At least there was no division of fans back then. You paid for merchandise etc but the bbs was free for all to use.Quote:
I think it would be far better if the whole f/c was run along the lines of Savagefan where the forum I believe was accessible to all and you simply paid for any merchandise or offers you wished to purchase which I think included the Fanzine. Correct me if I'm wrong on any of this because it was just before my time on the boards and I was never actually a member of Savagefan although in hindsight I wished that I had been.
<font size="3" face="Tempus sans ITC, Papyrus,Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I absolutely agree with that ^^ and what really used to aggravate me (and still does) was if you posted with a genuine concern or grievance, you were/are immediately labelled as being 'negative'. [img]confused.gif[/img] I'll never understand or agree with that way of thinking!Quote:
It's one thing to want somewhere special for paying fans to belong and post but quite another for individualism not to be tolerated. I suppose I can sort of understand both sides of this argument in that some people want to be left to post in peace as an escape, a sanctuary if you like and don't want to have to deal with the 'negativity' especially if they are having a bad day or a rough time, but at the same time this sort of attitude breeds an artificial climate of positivity where independence of thought is somewhat frowned upon especially if it deviates from the received status quo as expected of us from the PTB.
I wasn't an online fan in the Savage days either, I joined the Darren fanclub on June 02, and have never been a member of a fanclub before so really have nothing to compare it to.
But what I do know is that this whole change has left a very bitter taste in my mouth and like Janie, a few months ago I would have felt disloyal posting something negative but I feel that they have been disloyal to the fanclub members in these half arsed promises that never materialise.
For me it's not just the changes within the fanclub that's changed, it's the whole feeling of the forum. I love nothing better than a juicy discussion and debate, but it's not something that's feesible there.Just because you don't agree with someone's POV, it's NOT disrespectful,it's simply a difference of opinion but over there you are made to feel like shit for posting something contrary to love, light and happiness and all things smiley . The phrase" let's agree to disagree" isn't acceptable there and it make me wonder how many other members feel this way but daren't speak up.
I for one will not be joining again next year as I feel that I now have a years membership for sweet FA. Yes we get the little bits they do rarely put up but like Janie says, they are open to everyone, and no disrespect to non members and not wishing to discriminate against them, but us members aren't actually getting anything in the way of members perks.
A while ago I would have recommended the fanclub to others, but wouldn't do now.
<font size="3" face="Tempus sans ITC, Papyrus,Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Thank you Janie. I know I always come off as complaining about the fan club now, but what you have said is what I feel about it.Quote:
Originally posted by DarrensPassion:
Argh some days I feel sooo torn over this whole f/c issue! My natural inclination as a fan is to want to join and be a member which I currently am but I am getting so fed up with the lack of decent discussions, actual tenable things offered and just generally being made to feel like we are almost paying for something for nothing!
If that on-line D-Zine mag doesn't materialise soon, there'll be even more dissatisfaction brewing. It's like the Emperor's new clothes over there! [img]wink.gif[/img]
Yes I could argue that the sense of community is more important than anything else but you can create that on other forums if the will is there to do so. Yes they offer things like competitions and VIP packages but those are usually also open to non-members too. There soon won't be any advantages left to being a member the way things are going, if indeed there are any at all now! This merger hasn't improved things one iota, if anything it's made them worse!
*feels disloyal for saying that ^^^*
I missed out on Savage Fan, but from what I've read about it, I think I would be complaining even more about how things are done right now. [img]rolleyes.gif[/img]
Janie mentioned on how much more simpler it was back in the Savage Fan days and if it was, why is it so difficult now to run the f/c etc. And also bringing in another company to boot. Maybe looking back at the old days for ideas and incorporating them might be a solution.
<font color="#9966FF" size="1">[ November 08, 2004 01:54 PM: Message edited by: gracie32 ]</font>
I absolutely agree with that ^^ and what really used to aggravate me (and still does) was if you posted with a genuine concern or grievance, you were/are immediately labelled as being 'negative'. [img]confused.gif[/img] I'll never understand or agree with that way of thinking!
***************
Neither will I.
I also disliked the way they jumped all over someone for being 'negative' no matter how politely a person said what they were unhappy with.
Michelle
xx
<font size="3" face="Tempus sans ITC, Papyrus,Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well we at the Darren Hayes FC Membership Statistics Institute have come up with a rough but early estimate of "paid member" loss for the 2004-2005 membership year. We believe with current trends that if you suddenly get a feeling of being all alone at the FC then you probably are. [img]wink.gif[/img]Quote:
Originally posted by sharonlk:
I'd be more interested to know how many people will not be renewing next year because of the way everything has changed.
<font size="3" face="Tempus sans ITC, Papyrus,Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well we at the Darren Hayes FC Membership Statistics Institute have come up with a rough but early estimate of "paid member" loss for the 2004-2005 membership year. We believe with current trends that if you suddenly get a feeling of being all alone at the FC then you probably are. [img]wink.gif[/img] </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="3" face="Tempus sans ITC, Papyrus,Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">LOL! I guess I'd better turn the light out when I leave then! I'm joking, but like Janie I'm really gutted it's come to this. I would like to say in defence of the whole forum positivity thing, that there were a hell of a lot of people who spoke up about the online D-Zine and said they were disatisfied, people who usually do post as a means of having a giggle. I think this feeling is widespread.Quote:
Originally posted by Zimsky:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Tempus sans ITC, Papyrus,Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="3" face="Tempus sans ITC, Papyrus,Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by sharonlk:
I'd be more interested to know how many people will not be renewing next year because of the way everything has changed.
For the first time tonight I looked at this as an outsider would. I do hate being negative, I think there's so much in the real world, but I do feel that we are receiving little or no service currently. I'm not going to begrudge last years membership, because it brought me closer to the man himself than I ever thought possible, and I loved the opportunity to hear TTATS at the LP. But here I am 5 months into my second subscription, and I feel no benefit at all in paying that money. I'm still owed one of last year's D-Zines, so what have I got to show for the money. Call me a sad cow if you like, I liked having the stupid pen when I started! Any person joining now doesn't even have anything material to show for their money.
Somebody mentioned on the Sony Board that they were disillusioned with the f/c and said that Laurie's advice was not to let that spoil their enjoyment of the music. She was quite right. I'm going to enjoy the concert (always afraid it might be the last) and the album and keep in touch with my friends, because that is what is really important to me.
Sharon
<font size="3" face="Tempus sans ITC, Papyrus,Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Terry, that site is a real mess right now. [img]frown.gif[/img] Just not fun going there anymore.Quote:
Originally posted by Twizzle:
^^ It sounds like a right mess over there Mona! I think I'll stick to the Sony bbs. It's just as good, if not better, for info etc. and it sounds like it's a lot easier on the eye (and the stomach). [img]tongue.gif[/img] lol
It's his official site, and so much more could be done to make it a great site. Maybe they will relaunch a new site in the new year for the release of TTATS in the States.
Argh some days I feel sooo torn over this whole f/c issue! My natural inclination as a fan is to want to join and be a member which I currently am but I am getting so fed up with the lack of decent discussions, actual tenable things offered and just generally being made to feel like we are almost paying for something for nothing!
If that on-line D-Zine mag doesn't materialise soon, there'll be even more dissatisfaction brewing. It's like the Emperor's new clothes over there! [img]wink.gif[/img]
Yes I could argue that the sense of community is more important than anything else but you can create that on other forums if the will is there to do so. Yes they offer things like competitions and VIP packages but those are usually also open to non-members too. There soon won't be any advantages left to being a member the way things are going, if indeed there are any at all now! This merger hasn't improved things one iota, if anything it's made them worse!
*feels disloyal for saying that ^^^*
I think it would be far better if the whole f/c was run along the lines of Savagefan where the forum I believe was accessible to all and you simply paid for any merchandise or offers you wished to purchase which I think included the Fanzine. Correct me if I'm wrong on any of this because it was just before my time on the boards and I was never actually a member of Savagefan although in hindsight I wished that I had been.
It all seemed so much simpler in those days [img]tongue.gif[/img] I guess that's being extremely naive and idealistic of me to think that it could be done like that, but the way things are now, it's like some sort of closed society where outsiders are simply not welcome and rules must be abided by at all times!
It's one thing to want somewhere special for paying fans to belong and post but quite another for individualism not to be tolerated. I suppose I can sort of understand both sides of this argument in that some people want to be left to post in peace as an escape, a sanctuary if you like and don't want to have to deal with the 'negativity' especially if they are having a bad day or a rough time, but at the same time this sort of attitude breeds an artificial climate of positivity where independence of thought is somewhat frowned upon especially if it deviates from the received status quo as expected of us from the PTB.
Some days I really don't know what to think about this whole issue anymore [img]confused.gif[/img]
Janie xx
Okay well when I found the online SG community my first stop was Savage Fan and from my reading and research lol (Dyan is prolly more clear on all the hows and whys) Savage Fan was set up by the guys themselves well mainly Darren I think and he got Carla to look after it for him. It was suppose to be a place for the fans that belonged to the fans to speak about what they want without the PTB looking over shoulders.. I think thats right. Though there was a bit of controversy over division .. ie was it better to be a sony person or a savage fan person?? Darren posted how everyone could be both but Savage Fan was without the record label (anyone see irony in this?? LOL) Savage Fan did have fan club elements in that we thought it contained all the boppers and Sony was the cool place to hang LOL. But in hindsight with FC shmoooozle it looks like a freakin fan paradise.
Of course back in those days there were fights and divisions and board wars etc. But I think as Terry stated in general there was this sense of sharing and camaradarie that just isnt their these days. I myself wasnt a member of the FC but you know I cant remember hearing one complaint about the whole operation.
I definately think the overall vibe of being a fan related to DH has changed. I think the FC thing just has failed miserably for this fanbase in uniting it.
Kat
Savage Fan did have fan club elements in that we thought it contained all the boppers and Sony was the cool place to hang LOL.
*****************
Erm, I started off at Savagefan [img]tongue.gif[/img]
Michelle
xx
LOL Kat's right in that the people on the SF bbs used to drive the Sony regs crazy, especially when the board would crash (every time Darren posted :X) and they'd flood back to the Sony board to complain twenty times LOL I myself didn't like posting there because i wasn't used to such a freeforall which is now the norm for the DH bbs LOL It was too cluttered for me at the time, though i did meet some completely lovely people from that board LOL
But Kat's right, at least back then it was just fans creating divisions, we didn't have an official source encouraging us to be elitist LOL
Well I am another one who wont be renewing my membership for the third time next June as I'm sick of getting nothing for my money. We are now three DZines behind (will be 4 at the beginning of December)and there is no sign of this fantastic online version. (I'm beginning to think its going the same way as the non-existent TCFC DVD!) I won't post on the forum as I find it very cliquey and insincere (since that is encouraged), with no interesting discussions about anything.
With reference to the original post on this thread, I find it amazing that ex-members should still have to edit their own profile to stop receiving emails from the fanclub and, regardless of how the email to them was worded, they should remain professional at all times - which clearly they didn't. However, I'm not surprised as my own experience will show.
Before Popular was released there was a post on the fanclub forum with a link to a clip (albeit a fairly long one) and, as no one had said this was illegal or wrong, I hosted the clip on my site. With hindsight I should have realised that the clip was too long to be legal, but at the time I thought none of the moderators, or Tracey herself, had said anything in the thread so it must be OK. I then had a phone call at midnight (to the UK) from Tracey demanding that I remove the clip from my site and threatening me with legal action if I didnt. Luckily it didnt wake anyone in the house: it went through to answerphone. There was also an email waiting for me worded in a similar manner.
I was devastated when I heard her message the following morning and my hands were shaking as I removed the clip from my website before I left for work. It upset me for days (as I'm a very law-abiding person) that she would think that I would do anything to purposely hurt Darren. She only had to ask and I would have removed it immediately - I didnt have to be threatened.
I think that was really the beginning of the end for me with the fanclub and the things that have happened recently have only strengthened my thoughts on the matter. They treat the fanbase very badly, as if we are children, and I suspect they are going to lose members in droves come renewal time next year (unless Darren pops up to write one of his 'love you all' messages just at the right time! *me being cynical again*)
Sorry to go on for so long, but I havent told many ppl about this and it just seemed to fit the original topic of this thread.
Caryn x
Hi Caryn
What a shitty thing to happen [img]frown.gif[/img] You're not the only one I'm aware of who received that kind of treatment. Why the f/c took it upon themselves to be the 'police' I'll never know, it was very unprofessional imo for them even to be involved. I have clear expectations of what I believe the f/c should do and they're not anywhere close these days.
Well I can't complain too much atm they refunded the full amount paid by the girls and I this week, so lucky us got a pen, keyring and another d-zine 6 for nothing! I'm sure they're glad to be rid of us terrible 'negative' influences.
The advice given on the Sony board about not letting other things spoil the music etc for you, well you know it's damn hard with the history ppl here have. Personally I still find it hard to separate the 2 atm. I can't believe DH is oblivious to everything going on and that even affects how I think about him these days.
<font size="3" face="Tempus sans ITC, Papyrus,Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Just when I think I've heard it all..... Oh Lord. That is ........ words can't express what that is.Quote:
Originally posted by Darrens Princess:
Before Popular was released there was a post on the fanclub forum with a link to a clip (albeit a fairly long one) and, as no one had said this was illegal or wrong, I hosted the clip on my site. With hindsight I should have realised that the clip was too long to be legal, but at the time I thought none of the moderators, or Tracey herself, had said anything in the thread so it must be OK. I then had a phone call at midnight (to the UK) from Tracey demanding that I remove the clip from my site and threatening me with legal action if I didnt. Luckily it didnt wake anyone in the house: it went through to answerphone. There was also an email waiting for me worded in a similar manner.
I was devastated when I heard her message the following morning and my hands were shaking as I removed the clip from my website before I left for work. It upset me for days (as I'm a very law-abiding person) that she would think that I would do anything to purposely hurt Darren. She only had to ask and I would have removed it immediately - I didnt have to be threatened.
I think that Savagefan was different for a couple of reasons. Though perhaps those reasons are related. I think there was a different attitude from up high (ie the celebrity and his staff), and I think Carla deserves a healthy dose of credit.
Carla spent literally hours, almost every day, striving to hit the right balance between her desire to only want positive things said about Darren because he was a real life friend and the desire to let each person be themselves and to give each fan as much freedom as possible. I also suspect, although I don't *know* this, that she often went to bat for fans and for our right to simply be ourselves to the Powers That Be.
The thing is that I can't imagine things like Caryn's story having happened back then. And that leads me to something that is sad to say ......... but I suspect there has been a shift in attitude up high. I don't know what might have caused it. In fact, I'll readily admit that maybe it's my own perceptions that are faulty. But even before the fan club opened and my own fall from grace, things felt different.
Carla was always very very careful about keeping Darren's private side private and she never talked to me about what they discussed. And yet, I always had the sense from her that he was also struggling to find the balance between letting fans be ourselves even if that was "negative" and wanting only nice things on the board when he dropped in. I always respected that about Darren, too.
BUT threatening fans???? Calling them in the middle of the night? (and come on, we're all able to check time zones to ensure that we DON'T call someone in the middle of the night) And esp from his sister! *shakes head in disbelief*
I do know where I noticed a huge change. During Affirmation, some fans had a chance to talk to Leonie online. And one of the questions was whether we could use pictures that were being posted in the diary enteries. Without a moment's hesitation or any hedging, Leonie answered a firm "Yes!" BUT when dh.com opened (this was before the fan club, btw), I noticed that all the pictures on the site had a copyright notice on them. It was small and off to the lower corner of the picture, and I'll admit that no one ever told us that we couldn't use them. But it was different........ where pictures were once posted and free to use, they were still free to use but now they included a "sonymusic.com" mark on them.
It probably meant nothing and it probably was from Sony rather than from DH's staff, but that is one of the things that come to mind when I think back to the changes.
I dunno, but a part of me would like to have a conversation with Darren. You know? One of those raw and honest, 2am thingys? Not to change anything, but to understand. What changed. SOMEthing certainly changed......... does he think it's us? Something in him? His staff? Was it all my own fantasy from day one and maybe things never were as I thought? I think that with the passage of time and cooling of emotions, now I'd just like to have a better understanding of what happened.
<font size="3" face="Tempus sans ITC, Papyrus,Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wow Caryn. She seriously called you in the UK about it. [img]frown.gif[/img] I have to wonder what her tone would have been like if she had gotten you on the phone instead of getting an answering machine. I think in my opinion it might have been a bit different because she would have gotten a reaction from a real person. Maybe she would not have been as harsh. But then maybe not.Quote:
Before Popular was released there was a post on the fanclub forum with a link to a clip (albeit a fairly long one) and, as no one had said this was illegal or wrong, I hosted the clip on my site. With hindsight I should have realised that the clip was too long to be legal, but at the time I thought none of the moderators, or Tracey herself, had said anything in the thread so it must be OK. I then had a phone call at midnight (to the UK) from Tracey demanding that I remove the clip from my site and threatening me with legal action if I didnt. Luckily it didnt wake anyone in the house: it went through to answerphone. There was also an email waiting for me worded in a similar manner.
I was devastated when I heard her message the following morning and my hands were shaking as I removed the clip from my website before I left for work. It upset me for days (as I'm a very law-abiding person) that she would think that I would do anything to purposely hurt Darren. She only had to ask and I would have removed it immediately - I didnt have to be threatened.
I don't know, but when I hear stories like this, it makes me wonder about things. I love Darren's music. I love the fact that I've met a great bunch of people in London, San Fran and Toronto with his fan base, but I don't like seeing the things that I'm seeing at the moment. I don't like the fact that I seem to be complaining more and more about the fan club and yet I can't help it. [img]frown.gif[/img]