The Smiley Smile Message Board

This is not one of those, "I'm never going to post again, goodbye all," posts.

But after seeing the eruptions over at the blue board, and after watching the way things seem to be moving in the world of Mr. Wilson (TLOS = great, everything else = dubious without further info), I am henceforth retiring as an armchair psychiatrist or defender of Brian the man.

He's a 65-year-old adult and can surely handle himself fine, whatever the situation. If not, there will be many others to do the job. He has had a difficult life, and I sympathize, but his issues, past and present, can't be solved by exhaustive message board posts. I'm sure he'll be fine.

How much psychic energy have so many of us expended on this man? Whew.

I will, however, continue to listen to and enjoy, and comment on the music. That's what I have liked, that's what I continue to like, and that's hopefully what I'll like in the future. I will still defend that.

I know where you're coming from; I've been there myself - many times. And I've tried to quietly excuse myself. But, then somebody will post something that I HAVE to respond to. Argh! Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in... :police:   

Things have just been a bit too dramatic lately.  :P

Not wanting to blame Brian, but some folks do nurture psychodrama around themselves, as a way of getting folks to pay attention to them, give them what they want. (I should know -- I've done it myself.) And I think Brian does that sometimes, but I don't have to be party to it if I don't want to be.

The stuff over at the blueboard seems to be drama compounding itself. It's like a thread wears itself out, so someone posts a new thread with "To all the people who have been making a big deal about ______, well, here's MY opinion." And then it starts over again, when it probably would have died otherwise. There was a Mike Love defense post, followed by a Mike Love attack post, followed by a Mike Love defense post.

This too shall pass. It always does, doesn't it?

I've always considered the  blueboard  to be nothing more than a shitload of f*** and I don't really go there anymore, so I've missed what's going on. What IS going on there?

claymcc, don't blame ya buddy. What's killing my enthusiasm are the reports of Brian's condition/ behavior. It's getting rather sad lately. Hell, just reading some of the things at the bottom of the page at this site is enough to make a man want to cut his own throat...with a butter knife. A rusty one.

There's some nastiness going on about AGD, which is ridiculous, and mumblings about another board, which I had never heard of until this evening. And then you go over there, and there is talk of unpleasant personal business -- I mean, it's fun in a Britney Spears kind of way, but not in a 'I enjoy symphonic pop music' way.

Billy -- The thing is, you can spin Brian's behavior in so many ways it's not even funny. Is he just shy? Is he tired? Is he having a bad day? Is he being manipulated? Is that just a guy who looks like him who wandered in off the street? I happen to think that too much is made of too little observable data -- I saw him mere days ago and thought he did a fine job -- but maybe he didn't. That's just what I thought.

What I come down to is the music. TLOS sounds good, the demos sound good, so at least he has something worthwhile coming down the pipeline. And that's my focus.

You know I get frustrated about what people post too. I've disagreed with AGD's posts a number of times, but he's still a great source of information and a nice man (at least from the posts). People need to cool down sometimes. At least I think that's what Brian would say if he saw all of these disagreements on his board in his name.

Wow. I've never really been to that board before.

I hate the layout - read post, go back, click on the next, go back - but I'd never realised that that's such an odd board. I definitely made the right decision coming here and not there.

Yeah I really hated the layout too.  Drove me nuts.  I started on that board when I first got into Brian/BB (naturally I figured Brian's website was a good place to start) but it didn't take me long to gravitate towards this board (the old Smile Shop at the time).  You certainly made the right choice!

I think most of the people that consider the Blueboard their second home are genuinely disturbed and needy people, who's fervour and passion touches the Fundamental and is as much about some dangerous kind of fixation as it is about the music.

On the other hand, I've been popping by here since about a year before BWPS was released, and while this community has been subject to change, and the board has been through a number of incarnations, the vast majority of folk here are normal, genuine, intelligent and appreciative of BW's work, which suits me fine.

I've been to the Blueboard a few times in the distant past, but basically I NEVER go there because it scares me.

If Brian's organisation wants to know what the community of BW/BB fans are thinking, then I sure hope they look-in here and a few of the other good places and don't just assume that the Big Guy's fan base is comprised of the nutters over at the Blueboard.

BJ

Concisely, Brian's English and early American dates weren't too good, some posted so and the POB (Protectors Of Brian) went into full-on high moral gear. One in particular posted some arrogant nonsense (the dire Kenwood show as, according to him, 'superb'), and there's a new POB who seems to have it in for me: it's generally thought that this is either the original poster or wife. Actually, I'm enjoying it - reminds me of the late, lamented and wholly loopy Bobby California.

Every so often I will pop on over to the Blueboard and check out the posts there, mainly to just see if there are any new announcements as well as checking out any interesting posts which there usually aren't many but did anyone see that poster saying "America rules, Britain sucks" etc..? Man that guy annoyed the heck out of me!!

the vast majority of folk here are normal, genuine, intelligent  


Dang....Where have we gone wrong? ;D

I don't share the Brian is God view. I think he has a good heart and has a one of a kind talent, but he doesn't need to be made a martyr. He made some mistakes and paid for them, and to be fair he has also had some unfortunate circumstances. Yet how many people get a fan base who genuinely loves them? Not too many, heck some creative   people don't even find a decent band. As insensitive as his "people" might be, at least he lives with the knowledge that he has made many people's life better. I haven't gone on that board for years, because no man should be deified.

Respect. I have no particular religious leanings beyond 'spiritual', but even so, when someone posts as "brian-is-god" and refers to him as "our saviour", my skin crawls just a little.

And anyway, he's not the messiah - he's a very naughty boy.

Used to go to the Blue Board too when I was starting with the BBs/BW. But if you're somewhat of a logical thinking person, you won't hold out there very long. Of course, there are some nice people there but all this "Brian-is-God"-stuff, as MBE called it, really makes you wonder what these people are really like. Again, I don't think every member of that board is like that, but unfortunately enough people so that I really don't go there more often than once a year, because I always hope something will change...

Bottom line

Brian is a 64+ year old man with a history of mental problems....
Musically he is one of a kind...
he has good days and bad days..
The POB ( I'll use Andrews term here...) have the difficult job of keeping things somewhat real...
they also have good days and bad days...


I'm thankful for anything  I hear from Brian and the other BB,   for in a few years that is likely
to end...
but that"s life


So I,  am happy to await TLOS and be thankful  for what we get and have gotten..

cheers

Doc Smiley

I've been personally taken to task (through PMs) when I've defended the blueboard here in the past, but... well, who cares?   ;D

My feeling is (and maybe you all consider me to be one of the "disturbed" ones) that it's just a message board. In fact, it's not even a message board. It's a fan board, and it's different than a board like this. Any board that is set up in the name of the artist and run by the artist's people is going to have a different vibe. The blueboard gets a much largeer cross-section of people than this board does. There are casual fans, not so casual fans, critical fans, and not so critical fans. A lot of people who post here post there too (myself included), and a lot of blueboarders post on several other boards and are treated as perfectly normal fans. People who know little of Brian and view him in the more simplistic way you're describing are more likely to go there first, because they've found the board by Googling Brian Wilson. There are new names there all the time, and a lot of times, the trouble comes from new people, not the old fans.

I don't think it's fair to throw these words around about the blueboard (like "disturbed"). It's judgmental and ultimately unfair to the majority of people who post there, who are just perfectly nice people. But then, most people there are very aware of what people on other boards think of them and don't care, so I suppose it doesn't really matter. I will say the negative stuff about AGD is completely out of line, but I think that's just one single person.

Interesting that no one here has mentioned that along with the Protectors of Brian and the attackers on Mike, there are also people there who are looking at these two guys, as well as recent concerts and everything else, with a more critical and nuanced perspective. Anyway, the board must have something to offer, because a lot of people who post here and complain about it still post there. I'll tell you what the board does offer-- very occasionally, band members will post there. I think that's pretty nice.

I'll say it again:  It's just an online board. It's not really worth getting upset about.

Brian can't be God; Clapton is God!   :afro

Anyway, some of those blueboarders are simply a bunch of nutjobs who are too coked up on anti-depressants to have a meaningful conversation with.  I rarely visit there anymore except to get a laugh.

[applause]  It's so unbelievably important, I am repeatedly amazed that anyone cares. Like Blueboard? Read it and post there. Don't? OK: don't read it or post there.

Don't ever post on the blueboard, but do view it every now and then cause I hear Melinda, band members and once in a full moon Brian posts there.

But I view them (the regulars that is) as a bunch of happy go lucky Brian obsessers , while over here we are the more laid back fans who don't go to every single Brian show and plan Pre concert parties.

Or maybe were just jealous.  ::)

Brian Wilson's music is addictive. It hooks you, you embrace it, and it changes your thinking. It's that powerful. So I can understand why some fans (short for "fanatic") go to certain extremes in praising, defending, and rationalizing Brian. We've all been there at one time or another haven't we?

What I struggle with is the hypocrisy involved. It's one thing to support a Beach Boy, even unconditionally. But when that "analysis" starts to obscure the facts, re-write the history, and detracts from others' contributions, well, that's when I feel the need to react, or, sometimes, overreact.

I have been accused of defending Mike Love, being in his "fan club", and being too harsh on Brian. But, I have no allegiance to Mike Love. I don't know him, don't have much in common with him, and, he's not even my "favorite Beach Boy". I do appreciate him, or, more specifically, his work. I enjoy his vocals, his lyrics, his stage personality, his consistency, etc. And, I take a stand when posters take shots at Mike, especially when Brian (or other Beach Boys) are guilty, or more guity of the same thing(s).


People take shots at Mike's live vocals. And they're a fan of Brian Wilson? Somebody will take a shot at "Kokomo" as being too "fun", then praise "Desert Drive" and "PT Cruiser". Hypocrites. Some will say that Mike and Bruce are only interested in the past, then go ahead and sing the merits of IJWMFTT, Live At The Roxy, Pet Sounds Live, and BWPS. What? Posters say they are tired of the nostalgia, then praise Al's recent shows. I have read numerous people hammer Mike for too much fluff, not enough depth, and not having anything new to offer, And those same people will say they're looking forward to Postcards From California. Why? And then there's the setlists issue, the epitome of hyocrisy. You tell me that Melinda is no more interested in the money, or selling tickets, than Mike or Bruce? We just had a lively discussion on the low points in Beach Boys history. Many people listed the more recent years, because of Mike's contributions. Honestly, when I hear the music from the "later era", I don't think about Mike, or his contribuitions, but WHERE WERE THE OTHER GUYS? And on and on...

Again, it has nothing to do with Mike Love (which some people still don't get, and never will), but being fair and looking at both sides. I'm not one for cliches, but two that I like, and find them relevant to The Beach Boys saga are, "that's calling the kettle black" and "people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones". Some people have problems with that. If there is one thing I wish I had, it would be the record of how each individual Beach Boy voted on the major issues through the years. I think that would be very enlightening. Of course, that would just lead to more rationalizing....

Wow.

I like this board because I don't particularly see it as partisan. This is the board that's about the only thing we're really qualified to judge - the music. We've hashed out the vocal credits, and with guys like C-Man and co. here, we're hashing out who played what. And with that, we're turning over canards that the Boys didn't contribute musically to their records. And to me, that's more important and "helpful" than blindly praising Brian or condemning Mike.

Thank you, Amy.  Thank you, Luther.  I really can't understand the ire that the blueboard inspires among non-blueboarders.  I never understood how worked up people could get over how BriMel choose to operate the message board.  While it's true that it is a public forum, it is on their website.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but I would have to assume that BriMel pays for the domain name and therefore reserve any right to operate it as they choose, just the same as Chuck can run this site however the way he chooses.  I always found it funny that people were "shocked, shocked I tell ya" that POB (whether they be hired protectors of Brian or volunteer POB) would take offense when something close to unsavory would be posted.  It's a board read by people in the inner circle including Melinda and on very rare occasions Brian himself.  Except for the personal attacks (which I think was unnecessary and maybe detrimental to their argument) I can't really find fault with what the infamous poster says.  I think it's wrong to post regularly on the blueboard and then come here or Susan's board or wherever and run it and some of the people on it down.  I've met several blueboarders over the years and although a few of them are a bit on the loopy side, for the most part my encounters have been rather pleasant and friendly.  Privately you can do whatever the hell you want, but on other public forums that's not cool, in my book.   

At the end of the day it's just a message board.  Nobody's getting killed (maybe I should reword that).  No one is getting killed.  No one lost loved ones.  While the diversion might be entertaining, in the grand scheme of things it's just not that important.

I've rather enjoyed the pre-concert parties that I've been to, most notably the blueboarder before the Hollywood Bowl SMiLE show where Probyn and Julia (who had just arrived from Germany) showed up and played BB Jeopardy with us.  The willingness of blueboarders to make the shows social events is something that I found lacking in other communities. 

When the blue board 1st went up.. I posted a couple of comments about boots..Asking BW what he thought of them..One comment that was misguided was..I thought BW was letting the SMILE tapes out little by little so people could hear  it.. Or someone close to him on purpose...I know now that isnt true....The message that came back was nasty + embarrassing.. I wanted to crawl away + HIDE..I was attacked + accused  of being a professional bootlegger...this message  came from..BW..(.Melinda..??}...My post was misinterpreted + i thought the FBI was gonna come to my door...LOL..!!! .. I never posted there again..BTW..I now know from what ive read is the smile boots came from  a compilation Mark + capitol put together for possible release in 1988....SO.. its not just the fans over there that are LOOPY...!!

Wait... Brian (or Melinda pretending to be Brian) was nasty to you?

YEP...Scared me to death..!! Never posted again = rarely go there..!!.It was the 1st week the board went up..!!

Would it be wrong if I said amen?

:lol

Slightly off topic... Any soccer fans here that are familiar with Marco van Basten? Marco van Basten used to be one of the world's best soccer players in the late 80s and early 90s. In 1993 he injured his ankle so badly that he never played again. Yet in 1994, he began thinking of joining the Dutch national squad for the World Cup tournament because he thought that maybe his ankle could hold out for 15-20 minutes per match. I think every Dutch soccer fan had mixed emotions about this. On one hand, everyone wanted so see him shine for one last time, recapture his old glory. But on the other hand, everyone knew it would definately not be a smart thing to do and that he would be better off just staying home.

I think it's now the same thing with Brian.

This should be all in fun.  Discussion of  pop musicians is not not really that important in the grand scheme of things.  On the other hand, discussion of personal passions with like minded people can be endlessly rewarding.
That is  why I continue to be a part of this particular corner of cyberspace. 

I agree that it is definitely crazy over there-too many pseudo-psychiatrists jumping on too many issues. If I were Brian, I'd need to take more meds after reading the posts. These well meaning folks just "pick" too much on every little thing. Complaining about his concerts doesn't help matters if they want him to continue touring. We all know that he is very sensitive and that is the way it is. Why they are constantly mentioning little things is beyond me. I admit, I do read the posts and have posted there myself a bit.

I do enjoy this board much more as there is so much information by seemingly more educated (musically) people and really die hard lovers of the actual music made by the group and indivdual members. The blueboard is like the grammar school of fans, while this is graduate school, if you get my drift!

With the various "issues" that Brian and Melinda have, you almost have to wonder why they even have a message board. For the kind of website that you would think Brian (and Melinda) would want to have - meaning mostly promotional - a message board isn't necessary.

Exactly. Excellent call.

I made the "awful" mistake of visiting the Blueboard, right after Mike & Bruce played their gigs over here in England, during April. I was so keen to show my enthusiasm and genuine enjoyment of the shows (London and Birmingham, for me).

Apparently, I had the audacity to say how much I really enjoyed the shows (and I don't telll lies; I DID) and that I thought Scott Totten had pulled the band together wonderfully well, for which I was BLASTED and told that  if it was not a Brian Wilson show then it was no good, at all, etc.  etc. ad nauseum.

Having a very hard time understanding the mindset there (and a few poeple who post there fairly regularly are friends of mine - but not quite a fanactical as the rest!) and no have no desire to look at, let alone post there, any more.

Can you explain to me WHY there are such very different mindsets on each BB/BW related Boards, when surely we are  all (supposed to be) fans of the same group of people?

Confused in the South Midlands of England

I dont dislike the blueboard cause of the people, I dislike it cause its a crappy board. Threads are easily lost, arguments branch out to the point it screws up my browser...what a crappy web-surfing experience!

Agree, that board's formatting sucks big ole donkey nuts.

It's crap. There's no sense of continuity with any of the threads, I don't know why they just don't make it a bit more standard.
I can't ever be bothered to read anything on there as it's too irritating the way its set out, you would have to be a crazyman to persevere with it........perhaps that explains it!

It's because Leaf, Landy, and Melinda have spoon fed them garbage.

I totally agree.  I've only really read stuff over there twice because it just is too much of a pain to try to get through.  The other thing I don't really like about it is that it isn't informative, you can't learn or discover anything from it, so for me there is really no point in reading it.

http://www.cinemablend.com/music/Brian-Wilson-s-Live-Show-Gives-Bad-Vibrations-11379.html


Brian Wilson's Live Show Gives Bad Vibrations


By Tim Peterson: 2008-07-19 21:46:52
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 “Brian Wilson is mindless junkie, trying to bank on his former success to sell tickets. His live shows are an insult to my musical palette. I would rather lodge a Q-Tip in my ear and spoon out my eyes than see him in concert again. The visibility sucked, he didn’t play with a full band, and his set list was hardly better than Paris Hilton’s album. Oh, and leukemia is just a form of natural selection. Get over it.” Bile bubbling just under your uvula? Fist clenched? Nearly gnawing your molars raw?

So did I when I heard the complaints of Wilson’s concert at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom this past week. The concert was a benefit for the non-profit Stand Up For A Cure charity, but apparently not even a humanitarian cause will stop spoiled concertgoers from complaining. The introductory quote is entirely fabricated, exposing the root of the blackened souls, ken8052, who have posted complaints of the concert on Wilson’s website. But, it gets worse than the obvious moral obligation: All those who paid double the normal amount to see Brian Wilson and contribute to charity have the option of reimbursement.

According to NME.com, “Melinda Wilson announced on brianwilson.com that fans who were unhappy could send their ticket stubs to the Wilson’s publicist who would reimburse them.” Meaning the spoiled brats, who would be ungrateful should John Lennon return from the grave for a single concert after an eternal, nearly 30 years, not play “Imagine” nor be accompanied by an ethereal George Harrison, won. They have put their own, selfish is not the word, inhumane, disgruntled is not the word, sinful complaints on a higher pedestal than charity. Here’s to hoping these miscreants do, in fact, lodge a Q-Tip in their ears and spoon out their eyes, should they be so lucky. Free speech is a fine enough argument, but take it in context.

to put a bit more oil on the fire... ::)

http://www.brianwilson.com/cgi-bin/webforum/viewmessage.cgi?r=121693080224449868&l=level2

any suggestions?  ;D

Can't wait! That's great 'news' (I guess for SmileySmile Standards) for passionate Blueboarders and positive thinking pro Brian persons like me.

That is good news, I would visit that board more often if it was more user-friendly. I dont care if a lot of people are lame there, it still has some good stuff on it now and again.