Band Madness!
AFI Controversy Update
Apologies on all fronts for the AFI voting mixup on Friday. AFI made up a 130-vote deficit in less than an hour - and this surge came after Band Madness had already been linked on a half dozen AFI fansites for the entire week - so Chris and I decided to wait until we could analyze the traffic and guarantee that there had not been any unnatural voting (scripts, etc.) that skewed the results. There wasn’t, so AFI won again, plain and simple. At no point in this competition has any decision by Chris or myself been motivated by personal music taste; bands we enjoy get eliminated all the time, and if we hadn’t been interested in hearing other peoples’ opinions on music, we would have started a different website. Possibly Pitchfork.
That being said, I am sort of personally overwhelmed by the response of the AFI fans. I have no right to nor interest in passing judgment upon these comments, but regardless, I am simply baffled again and again by the specific importance with which the AFI fansites have responded to this tournament:
Please vote AFI and if you can’t cause your musical loyalties don’t allow it…then please don’t vote for the other band. I know it’s petty, but…pissed me off.
If you’re an AFI fan, you know that when AFI is in some sort of contest where the fans can vote, we always win. Well, there’s this contest over at http://bandmadness.net/ and it looks like AFI might be going down this round…
Once again, I pass no judgment on these comments, nor would I for a second claim that anyone this passionate about our website is in any way unwelcome to voice their opinions.
But still, just, wow.
23 April 2007 at 1:18 am Eastern [ quote ]
I’d kind of prefer that you not link to my livejournal without permission, thanks. =)
J
23 April 2007 at 3:12 am Eastern [ quote ]
Agreed. =) It was more-or-less a flippant comment made in a personal journal to gather interest; I should’ve realised putting it on the internet left it open for linking, however. I have no problems with the comment being left there, but have changed the privacy setting on the entry as it had other information that I’m not comfortable with this much exposure.
Anyway, on to the next round!
23 April 2007 at 3:52 am Eastern [ quote ]
geez, then why did you make the thing to begin with? I don’t get that. It’s a public site, that you make private…
23 April 2007 at 6:59 am Eastern [ quote ]
A lot of dumb things get written on this site every day. Hell, I write some of them. But you win today’s award. Unless you were kidding. In which case, that was sort of clever.
23 April 2007 at 9:58 am Eastern [ quote ]
On the one hand, I see where you’re coming from. On the other, you’re linking to their site. Why shouldn’t they link to yours?
You guys have every right to be mad at the AFI fans who are overreacting and have wreaked havoc (no pun intended) on your site.
But isn’t this little blog a bit much? We on the sane end have been sufficiently embarassed already, and those on the more fanatical end are only being fed more fuel for their fires. This seems a tad unnecessary to me.
However, I wont get mad or upset over it. You guys can do what you like, as always.
23 April 2007 at 10:32 am Eastern [ quote ]
wait, i leave the country and all of a sudden radiohead loses to queen?
23 April 2007 at 11:45 am Eastern [ quote ]
If you don’t want people linking to you, you shouldn’t write stuff online. If you’re serious, you sound a lot like FastCompany’s ridiculously clueless policy. http://boingboing.net/2004/06/26/fastcompanys_terribl.html
23 April 2007 at 2:56 pm Eastern [ quote ]
I am an AFI fan who has quietly been watching and participating in this contest up to this point. I would like to take the opportunity, to apparently be the one AFI fan and DF member who does not look like a lunatic, and just remind fellow AFI fans that this is for fun, vote for your favorites, and DO NOT TAKE THIS CONTEST SO PERSONALLY- AFI could not possibly draw their personal validation from internet polls. So, lighten up and stop making the DF look like a teeny bopper fan club. Thanks to the creators of this contest for giving music fans everywhere a place to show their allegiance to their favorite musicians.
23 April 2007 at 3:35 pm Eastern [ quote ]
wait if your “the one AFI fan and DF member who does not look like a lunatic” then that means i look like a lunatic. i’m going to cry now, thank you very much.
23 April 2007 at 3:51 pm Eastern [ quote ]
BOOOORING - position is way too reasonable.
23 April 2007 at 4:20 pm Eastern [ quote ]
No tears please, too much drama already. There’s nothing wrong with Lunatic, if it works for you. It just doesn’t work for me.
Signed,
Boooring reasonable AFI fan.
23 April 2007 at 4:49 pm Eastern [ quote ]
The point was that you are not the only reasonable fan here. There are plenty of us, and we were just as embarassed as you.
23 April 2007 at 4:55 pm Eastern [ quote ]
Don’t worry, I got the point. Thanks, though.
23 April 2007 at 5:01 pm Eastern [ quote ]
Is it wrong that I hope that AFI does draw all their personal validation from this poll, and that when they do lose, that they will simply retire?
23 April 2007 at 5:21 pm Eastern [ quote ]
AFI retire? I highly doubt it.
Anywho… you are not the only AFI fan and DF member that sees this. I mean, I am loyal to my band just as everyone else is to theirs. I don’t make a huge deal about this voting though. It actually makes me laugh how far they’ve gotten, I really didn’t think they’d make it this far.
A lot of AFI fans are really crazy about the voting… as if they needed reasurance that AFI (to them) is the most amazing band ever.
I know I do not. =]
Ahem, & let me take this chance to say… being in the DF does not make you more of a fan nor does it make you better.
23 April 2007 at 5:26 pm Eastern [ quote ]
“Ahem, & let me take this chance to say… being in the DF does not make you more of a fan nor does it make you better.”
no, it just means you have more despair than the average person. it even says so in the title.
23 April 2007 at 5:42 pm Eastern [ quote ]
This is getting ridiculously embarrassing… makes me feel bad for being an AFI fan. jeebus.
and yes my screen name has a ridiculously large quantities of x’s. they are quite awesome for filling up space.
23 April 2007 at 7:32 pm Eastern [ quote ]
& obviously, not many of them have a sense of humor.
hayley, thanks for the laugh. ^_-
23 April 2007 at 7:37 pm Eastern [ quote ]
i soo hope/wish afi wins. i have nothing against pink flloyd i just love afi…they rock…
23 April 2007 at 9:15 pm Eastern [ quote ]
Yeah, it would have been nice to post an even spectrum of AFI-related comments…it gets to be quite a nuisance when we all have to be cast in an ugly light. I’m not a fansite, I’m a fan, and I don’t think that the quote on quote “reasonable fans” should take the bashing lying down. There’s something about the whole aura of AFI that seems to either turn you off or turn you rabid, and it’s not cool.
23 April 2007 at 11:25 pm Eastern [ quote ]
Eh..and I’m embarrassed by your embarrassment.
This is getting so damn boring. Who really cares? No one can control the fanbase, so why try. The only one anyone can truly control is themself, so don’t feel so responsible for anything anyone else is posting…only your own comments. I said it before, and I’ll say it again (since many of you keep repeating how embarrassed you are I feel justified). Some fans just have an intense passion for afi (self included). Some may be young and impetuous, but hey,they are being honest. Don’t be so judgemental, we ALL do embarrassing things from time to time but really I don’t think DF’ers should be so hard on each other. That in itself is embarrassing me more then any poor spelling, bad grammar or manic comments. Talk about self-righteousness…
23 April 2007 at 11:34 pm Eastern [ quote ]
Eh..and I’m embarrassed by your embarrassment.
This is getting so damn boring. Who really cares? No one can control the fanbase, so why try. The only one anyone can truly control is themself, so don’t feel so responsible for anything anyone else is posting…only your own comments. I said it before, and I’ll say it again (since many of you keep repeating how embarrassed you are I feel justified). Some fans just have an intense passion for afi (self included). Some may be young and impetuous, but hey,they are being honest. Don’t be so judgemental, we ALL do embarrassing things from time to time but really I don’t think DF’ers should be so hard on each other. That in itself is embarrassing me more then any poor spelling, bad grammar or manic comments. Talk about self-righteousness…
–
the display on friday from the fanbase was appalling.
no one can deny that.
i don’t blame some people for being embarassed.
i have an intense passion for a lot of things. but i refrain from acting like a child on a regular basis.
23 April 2007 at 11:37 pm Eastern [ quote ]
also it’s rather ridiculous to label anyone as self righteous when the majority of everything said here is in nothing but light humour and good fun.
the only times it is not in good fun is when *surprise* some members of the AFI fanbase decide to treat this competition and everyone in it like their own private toilet.
23 April 2007 at 11:43 pm Eastern [ quote ]
My point was simply LIGHTEN UP. Thanks for the dialogue, have a good night!
24 April 2007 at 9:25 am Eastern [ quote ]
I’m am quite self-righteous. I’ve admitted to that many times.
Forgive me for having high expectations for the people I respect and a group that I consider myself a part of.
24 April 2007 at 2:10 pm Eastern [ quote ]
Can I make a confession?
Sometimes? Late at night? When it’s really really quite?
I kind of miss the Oasis fans.
24 April 2007 at 2:14 pm Eastern [ quote ]
*sigh* ME TOO!
24 April 2007 at 6:51 pm Eastern [ quote ]
you know what? I actually agree. I’ve found, in the time I’ve listened to AFI, that there’s this need to constantly be on the defensive, even with other fans who share the same interest, the same passion…
24 April 2007 at 8:02 pm Eastern [ quote ]
you know what? I actually agree. I’ve found, in the time I’ve listened to AFI, that there’s this need to constantly be on the defensive, even with other fans who share the same interest, the same passion…
—
you’ve just provided part of the defintion of “fankid”
25 April 2007 at 2:54 pm Eastern [ quote ]
“Don’t be so judgemental, we ALL do embarrassing things from time to time but really I don’t think DF’ers should be so hard on each other. That in itself is embarrassing me more then any poor spelling, bad grammar or manic comments.”
Yes, because THAT makes sense… geez, I think everyone has a right to be disgusted and embarrassed by the utter stupidity of someone else’s actions. Just because it is ‘passion’ and ‘honesty’ doesn’t mean it should be defended and excused, especially when it is done by childish means. Guess what? People learn from their mistakes. If they aren’t told they are wrong in their actions, how will they ever learn?
“This is getting so damn boring. Who really cares? No one can control the fanbase, so why try.”
If this is what you believe to be the case, then why do you make so much effort to change anyone else’s opinion (within the DF/fanbase) that you don’t agree with by making comments against them? My, hypocrisy is hilarious…
25 April 2007 at 7:59 pm Eastern [ quote ]
you cannot control afi fans, in anyting. weither it be something like voting or doing a stagedive during the mtv awards (and splitting open thier head while doing it *props to you dude*) afi fans simply cannot be stopped the more whiny fangirl type will ..well whine and be pissed off fangirls. and the more mature type, will just be all chill,vote,and come and laugh at comments.
it looks like afi will bite it this time unless the magical surge of sniper fans return. i for one am proud that they made it this far…
- keep on rockin , its waaaaaaaaaay to late for me to type anything more …except this ..only diss afi infront of a fan either online, or with a brick wall imbetween, afi fans are some crazy shizit
26 April 2007 at 9:05 pm Eastern [ quote ]
so i wasn’t here last week- let alone last year… could someone tell me if the DFer’s are doing worse than the oasis fans from last year?
i am a DFer, and i dont feel embarrassed by the others, but i would like to say that not all the AFI fans on here act childish as ive seen they have been acting.
good luck to all the bands- especially AFI!!
26 April 2007 at 9:51 pm Eastern [ quote ]
yes. they were worse.
maybe chris, dan, nate and alex think otherwise but i definitely think the afi fans were worse.