| Sherwood Forest 14.02.2006 14:39 |
ok, im trying my absolute best to keep understanding what BRian says about the politics crap lately on his soapbox but i really wanna see if anyone else is getting sick of it??? i just dont see why he is being so single minded with this war thing- like he's saying "The worst sins I believe we are all guilty of are two: crimes to our own race, committed in the name of Patriotism or "Defence" against other countries, and crimes against other species on our once-green planet - the massive and wanton degradation by all of us of the beautiful animals which once shared our world equally." if hes talking about the war in Iraq like he thing he is, then why doesnt think there is a war because these people are so dangerous and could kill us all, and would if they got the chance. They already showed that numerous times. Why are people bitching and moaning if the US IS IS IS trying to control these people. Yes its sad that people from both sides are dying, i dont like that at all, at all, but they did know what they were getting into when they signed up so i dont know. Could someone just clear this up for me? is Brian a hippy (meaning he wants peace- even though its impossible and id like it too but its not going to happen- no one to get hurt including the animals and what not) actualy i want all those things so i may be a "hippy" too. idk why im getting so pissed off with these posts coming from Brian but im losing respect for him really fast |
| Lord Fickle 14.02.2006 15:04 |
I'm not going to get into a debate about the war in Iraq, but the definition of a soapbox (apart from being a container in which soap is packed), is a platform for public speaking, and voicing of opinions, often, as in Brian's case, quite passionately. I certainly don't lose any respect for him as a musician, as a result of him posting these messages. If I start to read them, I just think "Oh, there's goes Brian, off on another rant!", and then my choice is whether to read it or not. If I choose not to, it's forgotten. I don't let it ruin my day. Let's face it, it's his website, he can post what he likes on it, and if any of it alienates fans, that's his problem! |
| Sherwood Forest 14.02.2006 15:13 |
yea ur right with the soapbox thing- i think ill get over it. the thing is that is different from you and me is that Brian is like my hero so i really care and take in what he says and thinks ALL THE TIME and now im starting to get a little ticked but yea idk, i guess i should give it a little time and think about it. I dont think my thoughts will change much but whatever. Oh and thank you very much for not going into the Iraq subject otherwise everyone on this board would really hate me |
| -luke_taylor- 28432 14.02.2006 15:14 |
i dont look on his site anymore, his rants are worser than watching home and away |
| Sherwood Forest 14.02.2006 15:23 |
worser??? lol |
| Lord Fickle 14.02.2006 15:26 |
-Luke_Taylor- wrote: i dont look on his site anymore, his rants are worser than watching home and awayDon't be ridiculous! There's NOTHING worse than watching Home and Away! Lol! :) :) |
| Lord Fickle 14.02.2006 15:36 |
JamieSureWould<br><font size=1>QOQOW wrote: yea ur right with the soapbox thing- i think ill get over it. the thing is that is different from you and me is that Brian is like my hero so i really care and take in what he says and thinks ALL THE TIME and now im starting to get a little ticked but yea idk, i guess i should give it a little time and think about it. I dont think my thoughts will change much but whatever. Oh and thank you very much for not going into the Iraq subject otherwise everyone on this board would really hate meWith no disrespect whatsoever, I would guess that I am probably a little older then you. Brian was my hero through my teenage years, and I still have the ultimate respect for him, as a person and as a musician, but as I have grown older, I tend to take what other people say (particularly about matters such as these) less personally. I would love to meet Brian in a country pub, and wallow in nostalgia with him about the old Queen days (and I'm not referring to Freddie - lol!), and talk techie stuff about guitars, recording, astronomy, etc, but if he started on about politics, I'd be out the door! What I'm saying is, Brain's opinions on 'other matters', don't affect his abilities as a songwriter / musician, so if you are put off by what you read on the soapbox, go and play a classic Queen album, to renew your faith! |
| YourValentine 14.02.2006 15:44 |
You know, JamieSureWould: if you start reading books and if you start learning to spell - maybe some day you will be able to understand what an educated man has to say about issues like war and peace. Maybe you will be even able to read the lecture by Noam Chomsky Brian recommended. |
| -luke_taylor- 28432 14.02.2006 15:44 |
JamieSureWould<br><font size=1>QOQOW wrote: worser??? lolyou know what i meant lol |
| Sherwood Forest 14.02.2006 15:55 |
Lord Fickle wrote:i believe that first bit totally, ill get better in time when i get older. After all kids need someone to look up to and i have one, and ill grow out of it more too, so itll get better. Thank you :) you made me realize thisJamieSureWould<br><font size=1>QOQOW wrote: yea ur right with the soapbox thing- i think ill get over it. the thing is that is different from you and me is that Brian is like my hero so i really care and take in what he says and thinks ALL THE TIME and now im starting to get a little ticked but yea idk, i guess i should give it a little time and think about it. I dont think my thoughts will change much but whatever. Oh and thank you very much for not going into the Iraq subject otherwise everyone on this board would really hate meWith no disrespect whatsoever, I would guess that I am probably a little older then you. Brian was my hero through my teenage years, and I still have the ultimate respect for him, as a person and as a musician, but as I have grown older, I tend to take what other people say (particularly about matters such as these) less personally. I would love to meet Brian in a country pub, and wallow in nostalgia with him about the old Queen days (and I'm not referring to Freddie - lol!), and talk techie stuff about guitars, recording, astronomy, etc, but if he started on about politics, I'd be out the door! What I'm saying is, Brain's opinions on 'other matters', don't affect his abilities as a songwriter / musician, so if you are put off by what you read on the soapbox, go and play a classic Queen album, to renew your faith! |
| Sherwood Forest 14.02.2006 15:59 |
YourValentine wrote: You know, JamieSureWould: if you start reading books and if you start learning to spell - maybe some day you will be able to understand what an educated man has to say about issues like war and peace. Maybe you will be even able to read the lecture by Noam Chomsky Brian recommended.r u implying i dont know how to spell? cuz if u r u must keep in mind that i could care less about how i spell on the internet, i sit through school get amazing grades and when i wanna take a break from spelling perfectly and write the way i want i come here. So please, i say this trying to be nice lay off me, im not a good speller when im on the computer. If you saw my report card oh boy would u take back what u said. And I do understand what an educated man has to say about issues on war and peace- i get lectured from my Dad- the firefighter of NYC on war and peace and unlike a lot of people these days he sees both sides and knows whats fair and teaches me right. but yes i think i will read Noam Chomsky :) please excuse any spelling errors- but im not reading it over...sorry :S |
| Haystacks Calhoun 14.02.2006 16:01 |
Brian would be a GREAT guy to sit in a pub and drinkn too much Heineken with, without a doubt. His politics leave a great deal to be desired, but I find it refreshing that he has the courage to post his beliefs on all the different topics that he does on his own site for the world to see. For the most part, his soapbox entries are well informed, and I learn something from them. I may not agree, but I learn something nonetheless.... |
| Sherwood Forest 14.02.2006 16:03 |
Haystacks Calhoun wrote: His politics leave a great deal to be desired, but I find it refreshing that he has the courage to post his beliefs on all the different topics that he does on his own site for the world to see.that builds respect in the people reading kind of like u now, u have a new respeect for him now that u see that he does that right? |
| YourValentine 14.02.2006 16:18 |
"r u implying i dont know how to spell?" Why would I think that? :) |
| latina 14.02.2006 16:20 |
Hello, I believe that Brian is right with his opinion. Didn't expect him to be that clever. The problem is the dishonesty of the western world. Mainly it IS the US. Yes, some of the arabic people would like to kill us. Because they hate us. They hate us because we (mainly US) rape them permanently. I do understand them. |
| Sherwood Forest 14.02.2006 16:31 |
i want the people who are terrorists dead no one else, no one else at all |
| Haystacks Calhoun 14.02.2006 17:00 |
fantasma wrote: Hello, I believe that Brian is right with his opinion. Didn't expect him to be that clever. The problem is the dishonesty of the western world. Mainly it IS the US. Yes, some of the arabic people would like to kill us. Because they hate us. They hate us because we (mainly US) rape them permanently. I do understand them.So the Arabic world gets a free pass to do what they want to kill us, to try to ruin our economy, because a few are DISHONEST?? The Arabic world gets a free pass to kill innocents, to burn buildings because of a few cartoons?? Have you lost your mind? Al-Qaeda and it's followers DO NOT WANT PEACE! They want the Infidels dead, perion. WE are the ones who want peace. The argument comes, politically, on how we best achieve that peace. I wish I had the answer. |
| jcrawford79 14.02.2006 17:49 |
fantasma wrote: Hello, I believe that Brian is right with his opinion. Didn't expect him to be that clever. The problem is the dishonesty of the western world. Mainly it IS the US. Yes, some of the arabic people would like to kill us. Because they hate us. They hate us because we (mainly US) rape them permanently. I do understand them.How did this thread get turned into this?? |
| Sherwood Forest 14.02.2006 19:25 |
Osama has a bunch of followers who pretty much simply all must die and dont say ur dads been bealing with this shit all his life, as if mine hasnt and hasnt lectured me up the ass about whats going on. im quiet aware. once again uve done nothing thomas, thank you :D |
| Lord Fickle 14.02.2006 19:28 |
jcrawford79 wrote: How did this thread get turned into this??Well said! But we knew it would. I'll get me coat... |
| Sherwood Forest 14.02.2006 21:11 |
yea i wanna leave myself cuz like i said in one of the posts, to you i didnt want to get into this. |
| tenchijin2 14.02.2006 21:33 |
You'll get used to one thing in this life: most artists and entertainers are of a very similar mind politically. If you want to be mentally healthy you pretty much have to set that aside in your mind and just enjoy them for what you enjoy them for: their creativity in their chosen professions. There are A LOT of us who roll our eyes when we read prominent entertainers' views. Fear not, they have little influence over the real world!:) |
| The Real Wizard 14.02.2006 22:30 |
JamieSureWould<br><font size=1>QOQOW wrote: please excuse any spelling errors- but im not reading it over...sorry :SHonestly, if you really took the time to spell properly, use correct grammar, and proof-read what you write, then you would be taken much more seriously here. |
| 7Innuendo7 14.02.2006 23:16 |
if only our political leaders would show a little creativity in their professions, like certain musicians, perhaps we wouldn't have admissions of "complete and total failure of military intelligence" |
| Togg 15.02.2006 04:02 |
YourValentine wrote: You know, JamieSureWould: if you start reading books and if you start learning to spell - maybe some day you will be able to understand what an educated man has to say about issues like war and peace. Maybe you will be even able to read the lecture by Noam Chomsky Brian recommended.Amen to that, oh and don't forget your cure for Bird Flu, we are still waiting to see you knighted! |
| Fenderek 15.02.2006 05:49 |
MAN- just don't fucking read it...! He is entitled to have his opinion and put it out the same way as you. No matter how stupid the opinion is. If you can't grasp it- it's your problem, not his. It's HIS fucking soapbox, his blog... He can (and do) write there whatever the hell he wants. People around the world write crap in their blogs. So does he... Yes, of course, he's Brian May... So? Because of that he can't write stupid things? Because of that he can't have an opinion and write it down on HIS blog? Gimme a break... |
| KillerQueen_1991 15.02.2006 06:54 |
usa or uk or who ever out there in iraq should come home they dont deserve to die out there it will never work just bodies 1 by 1 coming home in a box iraq people calling us for help we go out there we get blown up nice isnt it better come home soilders peace |
| YourValentine 15.02.2006 07:07 |
Brian has strong opinions and I do not agree all the time. Sometimes he has - in my opinion - strange topics like the orbs, for example. But one thing is sure: Brian May is a person who is interested. He is not one of these newly rich rock and pop stars who do nothing but drugs. Brian is someone who wants to make a difference and he sure does make a difference. He is helpful and compassionate, he donates his time and his effort for worthy causes. He has multiple interests and he is intelligent and well educated. So what if he is moody sometimes and what if he has strong opinions about issues that do not matter to other people? It makes me angry that a girl who is too lazy to spell her own language correctly and who brags on this board that she thinks reading is a waste of time thinks she knows anything about this world better than a man who has achieved as much as Brian May. Maybe it's time her dad lectures her "up the ass" to have some respect for the opinions of other people. |
| Togg 15.02.2006 07:32 |
YourValentine wrote: Brian has strong opinions and I do not agree all the time. Sometimes he has - in my opinion - strange topics like the orbs, for example. But one thing is sure: Brian May is a person who is interested. He is not one of these newly rich rock and pop stars who do nothing but drugs. Brian is someone who wants to make a difference and he sure does make a difference. He is helpful and compassionate, he donates his time and his effort for worthy causes. He has multiple interests and he is intelligent and well educated. So what if he is moody sometimes and what if he has strong opinions about issues that do not matter to other people? It makes me angry that a girl who is too lazy to spell her own language correctly and who brags on this board that she thinks reading is a waste of time thinks she knows anything about this world better than a man who has achieved as much as Brian May. Maybe it's time her dad lectures her "up the ass" to have some respect for the opinions of other people.Amen again! |
| coops 15.02.2006 08:17 |
Brian, god love him, is a liberal who,I think, is lost in a world of idealism. The contempt he has for western leaders blinds him and the liberal mentality prevents him from being able to make hard decisions. If liberals ran the world in 1939, Hitler would have been invited into England as a misunderstood person who acted the way he did because of the way the west treated him. Brian asks why can Iran not have nukes? He needs to ask? He still holds that worn idea of our leaders sitting in a room with fingers on buttons ready to destroy the world. Well, in 50 or so years we have not done it yet. His contempt is so deep, only he can find a way to link Smarties (m and m's)wrapping to the Bush administration policies. You cannot appease radicals. Arab countries are poor because of the way their governments rule. I think a lot of the hate is jelousy driven, and that is not our fault. I don't feel guilty, but I am sad that others do not have the same opportunity. But my professional success was not accomplished on the backs of impoverished nations. Still, he is one hell of a guitar player and I will be in Jax next month at the show. See you there. |
| zaiga 15.02.2006 08:51 |
JamieSureWould<br><font size=1>QOQOW wrote: Osama has a bunch of followers who pretty much simply all must die and dont say ur dads been bealing with this shit all his life, as if mine hasnt and hasnt lectured me up the ass about whats going on. im quiet aware. once again uve done nothing thomas, thank you :DDon't confuse the hunt on Osama with the war in Iraq. The war in Iraq was waged for all the wrong reasons. There were no terrorist training camps in Iraq. Iraq had no WMD and was not a threat to the US. None of the terrorists involved in the 9/11 attacks came from Iraq. If anything Saddam kept radical Islam under control in his country. The Bush administration started the war in Iraq to get a stronger grip on Middle East oil and to keep the war industry happy. Now Iraq has collapsed into chaos. It has become a great country to recruit and train terrorists. It's a great excuse for terrorists to ignite the flame of radical Islam a bit higher. Read Noam Chomsky's speech. It really is enlightening. Of course, you perceive the US as "good" and the "terrorists" as evil, because you are born there and all you have heard in your life is pro-US propaganda. But just imagine you grew up on a desolated island and you only just came into contact with the civilized world today: who would you perceive as "evil" then? Try to see things from different perspectives. It really can open your eyes. |
| YourValentine 15.02.2006 08:54 |
Brian is not a liberal at all. That just shows how narrow minded people are. Put a label on him and patronise his point of view. I totally disagree with your one sided and ill informed statement. But then - in "Cuba" you surely have not many opportunities to hear various opinions. edit: this is for coops, not zaiga who posted in the mean time:) |
| scaramouch2000 15.02.2006 10:06 |
I always admired Brian and after reading his opinions in his soapbox i admire him more because i understood that he isn't just hte best guitarist in the world but he is also very open minded.The war in Iraq was a huge mistake although mr Bush achieved what he wanted:Making money for oil and weapons companys(afterall these companys pay the money for his election campaigns)and finding an enemy so that the americans will focus on the iraqis or terrorists and not in other issues like economy,pollution etc.The arabs don't hate the Western people they just have a different colture abd we just seem not to understand it and do whatever we can to make them angry(publish offending comics,fight against them,abuse them).The terror attacks are organised by some very religious almost blind people and they are the only ones who think they are right.There are people like them in the usa or uk too, who think that muslims are evil and we should kill them.So don't judge all the muslims by them.The opinions of that little girl just made me understand why bush has been elected again,which was unbelievable for me.And yes you should try to read some nice political books.If i have spell errors it's just because english it's not my native languge(i'm greek) |
| Erin 15.02.2006 10:10 |
zaiga wrote: Now Iraq has collapsed into chaos. It has become a great country to recruit and train terrorists. It's a great excuse for terrorists to ignite the flame of radical Islam a bit higher.My thoughts exactly... |
| Sherwood Forest 15.02.2006 10:37 |
Sir GH<br><h6>ah yeah</h6> wrote:im sorry you guys will have to understand that i dont care enough to reread it most of the time. some of the time i will but otherwise fuck it its QZ its not THAT important to me after a 6 and half hour day of school.JamieSureWould<br><font size=1>QOQOW wrote: please excuse any spelling errors- but im not reading it over...sorry :SHonestly, if you really took the time to spell properly, use correct grammar, and proof-read what you write, then you would be taken much more seriously here. and usually when im on a rant about something ill look it over a few times but otherwise im just saying f it, theyll understand me |
| Sherwood Forest 15.02.2006 10:41 |
YourValentine wrote: Brian has strong opinions and I do not agree all the time. Sometimes he has - in my opinion - strange topics like the orbs, for example. But one thing is sure: Brian May is a person who is interested. He is not one of these newly rich rock and pop stars who do nothing but drugs. Brian is someone who wants to make a difference and he sure does make a difference. He is helpful and compassionate, he donates his time and his effort for worthy causes. He has multiple interests and he is intelligent and well educated. So what if he is moody sometimes and what if he has strong opinions about issues that do not matter to other people? It makes me angry that a girl who is too lazy to spell her own language correctly and who brags on this board that she thinks reading is a waste of time thinks she knows anything about this world better than a man who has achieved as much as Brian May. Maybe it's time her dad lectures her "up the ass" to have some respect for the opinions of other people.i dont think u understand that i have HUGE amounts of respect for Brian, but i was just seeing if anyone could kind of ease me pain with the politics stuff he has been writing lately. and the first person who answered here did, and its great you all love to criticize me because i am 15 i am still learning and QZ helps me learn so im sorry if my grammer isnt perfect or anything (on the internet) but i really just dont care. i come to QZ to learn more about my favorite band |
| Sherwood Forest 15.02.2006 10:43 |
personally, im done with this topic since my thoughts were answered. I do appreciate all of your input but i have a feeling this topic is really going where i didnt want it to go. So thank you all, and ill see you around :) |
| coops 15.02.2006 11:13 |
Hey Valentine, if you don't think Brian is a Liberal then you have no clue what one is. I don't live in Cuba and I do read other peoples opinion. That's how I got to read Brians. And yours. Hello. Lastly my statement is not ill-informed. I got the info straight from Brians website. |
| Benn 15.02.2006 12:30 |
The problem is that Jen (or anyone else) doesn't question Brian's opinions or his motives for publishing this shit. She's sitting there as his webmaster just blindly saying "Yes, Brian - you're the best and my hero". As soon as any negative feedback comes into their mailbox, it's quickly being deleted. I've challenged Brian by e-mail a number of times through different e-mail addresses of mine (all with serious nd valid arguements against whatever it might have been that he was saying) with absolutely no response. Sadly, if Brian isn't exposed to criticism of his views, he has nothing to sit there and think about and then possibly form a different opinion over. He's inherently wrong regarding the motivations behind the war on terror and WHY our leaders had to show that they would not sit still. Also, this smoking thing - does he not realise that by having a total ban (regardless of the health reasons), it's taking away people's right to be able to choose if they want to allow people to smoke in their public places? It's against human rights to have a blanket decision made against a minority. Still, if Brian doesn't see these opinions from people that respect his art, then how can he know whether he is being fair in his opinion? |
| john bodega 15.02.2006 12:54 |
The war in Iraq is a joke. Amendment; it was a joke, until it actually happened and then people started getting blown up. Now it's just sad! Look, I don't get why people take so much issue with his soapbox. It won't help that I agree with him on a lot of things (like the moronic trend of demolishing perfectly good public buildings, and smoking, and blah blah blah...) but really, isn't this like walking into a Church and saying "GOD IS A WASTE OF TIME". I don't know how this thread got started into a bashBrian/defendBrian/crap on about the war/ fest, but I'm not going to bother reading it because I've probably heard it all before! (goes to read the Soapbox instead). |
| Brian_Mays_Wig 15.02.2006 13:30 |
I read the soap box most days, but the last few weeks have been mental! I think now hes on a break from the tour that he's got too much time on his hands. Im a smoker, I sometimes think he'd rather have me hung drawn and quartered than enjoy a smoke. Yes, Im not a fan of smoking in restaurants, but he thinks that you shouldnt smoke anywhere, at anytime! I bet he'd rather watch me snort a line of coke than light up! Pisses me right off, its the individuals choice, its not as though Brian has to pay my medical bills. |
| deleted user 15.02.2006 13:41 |
JamieSureWould<br><font size=1>QOQOW wrote: i want the people who are terrorists dead no one else, no one else at all'Osama's followers' aren't the only ones who are known terrorists link |
| coops 15.02.2006 13:45 |
Benn- I said in my post that Liberals think they are tolerant people but are not really, and you emphasized that point well. Taking away the right to smoke does infringe on someones rights. I don't smoke but understand the dilemma. |
| john bodega 15.02.2006 22:58 |
The smokers' right to smoke has nothing to do with the hypocritical approach of the government to sanction crap like that, at the same time as putting on advertisements to try and cut down on it! It's insane. To be realistic, alcohol and tobacco shouldn't be advertised at all (positively or negatively) because they're both so harmful. The idea that the government will happily tax something that kills people by the truckload is ridiculous. And I really do think they should just ban the fucking things anyway. The 'right-to-smoke' won't suffer much if they're not "officially available". People who really really want to smoke will figure out something. |
| zaiga 16.02.2006 03:01 |
coops wrote: Benn- I said in my post that Liberals think they are tolerant people but are not really, and you emphasized that point well. Taking away the right to smoke does infringe on someones rights. I don't smoke but understand the dilemma.You can still smoke if you want, just not in public places. Smoking is different from, say, drinking alcohol, because when you are drinking alcohol, it does not affect others directly, but when you are smoking others may unwantingly inhale smoke, which is toxic. Besides, it stinks. The worst thing after going out on a Saturday night and coming home is the stench of smoke on my clothing. A night in a smokey club kills my voice too. So, yay, for smoking bans. I can't wait until they are in effect here as well! |
| gnomo 16.02.2006 07:47 |
Benn wrote: The problem is that Jen (or anyone else) doesn't question Brian's opinions or his motives for publishing this shit.... and why should she, pray? From his point of view, the soapbox is exactly the place where Brian Harold May, an aged British gentleman (forget BSc. (Hons), ARCS, Hon DSc., CBE; forget professional musician, forget world-wide guitar legend etc.), can freely say what he can not say anywhere else, in a form he can not use anywhere else. As it his his right. To him, it's not a place for publicly discussing his opinions. It's his own problem, not ours, if half the times he makes a fool of himself, and half the world's gonna get it wrong anyway. We have to keep that in mind, if we want to read what he writes the way he meant it. IMHO and FWIW, as always. Peace |
| Benn 16.02.2006 08:30 |
Zaiga, re: >You can still smoke if you want, just not in >public places. Smoking is different from, say, >drinking alcohol, because when you are drinking >alcohol, it does not affect others directly, >but when you are smoking others may unwantingly >inhale smoke, which is toxic. That's the biggest load of bullshit I've ever read. It's only different because of the way the drug is ingested. You drink enough alcohol my friend and you will soon see that it has in fact MORE affect on "others" than smoking does - I'm sure you've been apalled at someone's drunken behavious at some stage or know of someone that has died at the hands of a drunk-driver........ I am not a smoker and, actually, hate the smell of it, but, what gives anyone the right to take away the choice of people that DO smoke? |
| Benn 16.02.2006 08:37 |
Zebonka, re: >To be realistic, alcohol and tobacco shouldn't >be advertised at all (positively or negatively) >because they're both so harmful. So, by extension then, they should stop advertising that bloody terrible McDonalds stuff (which is unbelieveably unhealthy for you to eat) and also ANYTHING which has the remotest chance of doing you any harm, like cars (you could get hit by one), cleaning products (could blind you if you get it in your eyes) etc. >The idea that the government will happily tax >something that kills people by the truckload is >ridiculous. Why ridiculous? They make a bloody fortune out of it every day. The reason smoking will never be benned is because the manufacturing of cigarettes brings in a huge amount of corporation tax and VAT (certainly in the UK) and gives thousands of people jobs. Doing anything against the BUSINESS of smoking is just not a viable option for any government - targetting the people that do smoke under the guise of "health" is the easy way to make non-smokers believe that the government is trying to protect THEM against thenasty smoke. Brian May is gullible enough to have been sucked in to it. |
| Benn 16.02.2006 08:45 |
Gnomo, re: >... and why should she, pray? Let's see...... >From his point of view, the soapbox is exactly >the place where Brian Harold May, an aged >British gentleman (forget BSc. (Hons), ARCS, >Hon DSc., CBE; forget professional musician, >forget world-wide guitar legend etc.), can >freely say what he can not say anywhere else, >in a form he can not use anywhere else. Why does Brian May, being all of these things you state above, have any more freedom of expression (through his website) than someone who smokes? Just because Brian is able to run a wensite through an "employee", doesn't give him carte blanche to tell everyone that reads his musings that he is ABSOLUTELY right, does it? And, just because he has been given an "honourary" Doctorate (and remember, that's what it is, an honourary award as opposed to something that he earned through university studies) and an MBE for his services to music, DOES NOT make him any more of an authority on the subject of the war on terror or smoking than you or I who are just ordinary old joes. >As it his his right. As it is our right to expect him to listen and respond to OTHER opinions, which, in the years he's been committing his thought to the web, he has consistently failed to do. >To him, it's not a place for publicly >discussing his opinions. At what cost? Brian's a good guitarist and songwriter, but as an artist in the face of criticism, he's fucking awful. |
| gnomo 16.02.2006 09:13 |
Benn wrote: >Brian Harold May, an aged >British gentleman (forget BSc. (Hons), ARCS, >Hon DSc., CBE; forget professional musician, >forget world-wide guitar legend etc.) Why does Brian May, being all of these things you state above, have any more freedom of expression (...)?I wrote "forget" meaning "IGNORE" all those things. But English is not my native language, and your reply makes me suspect that "forget" might actually be perceived as "to say nothing of" in such a context. If so, my mistake and another lesson learned: I actually meant "ignore all that, as it is irrelevant". Let me explain in plainer words. He is a man named Brian. Just like you are a man named Benn (I suppose). Just like I am not a man named Gnomo. On your own web page you can publish whatever you want and vent your own opinions, no matter how well-informed or ill-informed or mis-informed, on anything, and choose not to take criticism into account. As it is your own right. On my own web page I can publish whatever I want and vent my own opinions, no matter how well-informed or ill-informed or mis-informed, on anything, and choose not to take criticism into account. As it is my own right. On his own web page he can publish whatever he wants and vent his own opinions, no matter how well-informed or ill-informed or mis-informed, on anything, and choose not to take criticism into account. As it is his own right. Benn wrote: (that) DOES NOT make him any more of an authority on the subject of the war on terror or smoking than you or I who are just ordinary old joes.Exactly my point: he is just like you and me, no more and no less of an authority on politics or society or anything outside his profession or hobbies. But, just like you and me, he still has got AS MUCH right to publicly say his opinion about any other subject, AS those who are authorities about such subjects have. That's called freedom of speech. It is his problem if he makes a fool of himself, like virtually anyone who steps onto a soapbox in any street or rants over a pint in a pub. Like I think he is doing lately. Honestly, Benn: I'm not being deliberately thick and I'm not willing to argue at all. It's just that I don't see the scandal. Peace. |
| Boy Thomas Raker 16.02.2006 09:22 |
Benn, as I'm a non-smoker, I find your position admirable, but mistaken. As Zaiga said, drinking alcohol does not affect others directly, but smoking does. To say "that's the biggest load of bullshit I've ever read", means you mustn't read much. Witnessing stupid drunken behaviour, which I've seen many times, is not going to affect my long-term health. Of course people can get drunk and drive and injure people. Irresponsible drinking isn't the same as being in the presence of second-hand smoke, which leaves a terrible stench on clothes, and if not hazardous to your health, certainly is of no benefit to your health if you inhale it second-hand. |
| radio_what's_new 16.02.2006 10:50 |
So what that your own opinion isn't the same as Brians? What are we talking about??? When you don't wanne hear it, don't read it... I think it is a very kind gesture of a famous rock star like Brian to share his thoughts with his fans... By the way 90% of all the opinions on here are stupid anyway...(but that's of course my own opinion) |
| zaiga 16.02.2006 11:08 |
Benn wrote: Zaiga, re: That's the biggest load of bullshit I've ever read. It's only different because of the way the drug is ingested. You drink enough alcohol my friend and you will soon see that it has in fact MORE affect on "others" than smoking does - I'm sure you've been apalled at someone's drunken behavious at some stage or know of someone that has died at the hands of a drunk-driver........I said that when someone else drinks it does not affect me *directly*. I can certainly see how someone else drinking alcohol does affect me *indirectly*. When someone next to me smokes, it affects me *directly*. It's also forbidden to be drunk in public, by the way, at least here it is. I am not a smoker and, actually, hate the smell of it, but, what gives anyone the right to take away the choice of people that DO smoke?People can still smoke all they want, just not in public places. Think of it whis way: what gives smokers the right to blow toxic fumes into my lungs? |
| MercurialMayniac 17.02.2006 06:32 |
I guess I'm weird then. One of the things I admire the most in a person is if he sticks to his principles, no matter what. It takes a strong person to know what he believes in, and I admire Brian for being so passionate about it. I know if I believed in something, I'd say so, with all the indignation I can muster. In a world where drugs and crime run rampant, where a lot of our 'rock and roll icons' spend more and more time getting high and drunk, Brian chooses to post his opinion on politics and smoking. And you complain? Chill. It's an OPINION. An opinion is defined as what YOU think should be done/is the right thing to do. Brian thinks that's what should be done. That doesn't mean Parliament takes him up on it. I never realized expressing your own opinion on your own website makes him a bad person. Because if it does, then everyone with blogs should be deemed the same way. |
| Togg 17.02.2006 06:48 |
Sadly this whole topic just points to how we as humans are being reduced to communicating in text speak instead of learning how to write, spell and read. To not wish to understand more about the world around you by reading is very sad, fortunately there are enough bright kids out there still that can debate and do understand how to communicate. Pity there aren't more in here... |
| john bodega 17.02.2006 11:32 |
"So, by extension then, they should stop advertising that bloody terrible McDonalds stuff (which is unbelieveably unhealthy for you to eat) and also ANYTHING which has the remotest chance of doing you any harm, like cars (you could get hit by one), cleaning products (could blind you if you get it in your eyes) etc." Well if you get down to it, sure! Advertising is inherently stupid and only exists to give people like *you* jobs. You know damned right your reasoning is flawed. It takes one freakin' pack of cigarettes to (if you're incredibly unlucky) do some pretty bad damage. Cars, and cleaning products, are both quite managable in the hands of sensible folk (ie. not you). "Why ridiculous? They make a bloody fortune out of it every day." It's ridiculous for moral reasons; ignore the fact that it's blood money and of COURSE it's not ridiculous, I wish *I'd* thought of it first. They must be raking it in. :The reason smoking will never be banned is because the manufacturing of cigarettes brings in a huge amount of corporation tax and VAT (certainly in the UK) and gives thousands of people jobs." Oh whoopee. In discussions of whats good for humanity, leave the economy out of it. Murder is good for the economy (keeps funeral parlours in business). Don't bother bringing it up. "Doing anything against the BUSINESS of smoking is just not a viable option for any government - targeting the people that do smoke under the guise of "health" is the easy way to make non-smokers believe that the government is trying to protect THEM against thenasty smoke." Aye but anyone with brains sees through that crap. I know damned well the government doesn't actually care in this matter. If they did, they'd withdraw cigarettes immediately. "Brian May is gullible enough to have been sucked in to it." I don't actually see what you mean here... he never said that the government was looking out for anyone, so how was he sucked in? |
| Haystacks Calhoun 17.02.2006 11:43 |
The government takes in a ton of cash from the sale of cigarettes. It is not is their best interest to do a complete ban. I am an ex-smoker, and I have no problem with a ban of smoking in Restaurants, Public Places, etc. That said, there should be something done in the pubs and bars where no food is served to have a place for smokers to do their thing. |
| Benn 17.02.2006 12:53 |
Gnomo, re: >>But, just like you and me, he still has got AS MUCH right to publicly say his opinion about any other subject, AS those who are authorities about such subjects have. That's called freedom of speech. And that freedom of speech (choice in this case) is exactly what Brian is saying should be taken away from people in terms of the smoking ban....... >>It is his problem if he makes a fool of himself, like virtually anyone who steps onto a soapbox in any street or rants over a pint in a pub. Like I think he is doing lately. And, to anyone that even has the remotest amount of respect for him as "an artist", what he's doing and writing is a COMPLETE embarassment. >>Honestly, Benn: I'm not being deliberately thick and I'm not willing to argue at all. It's just that I don't see the scandal. I know and understand that - you articulate yourself extremely well - were that I could converse in another language!!!!!! But all of this COULD be undertaken by Brian if he entered intot he spirit of what he's doing, by publishing responses to his opinions and showing that he might just be open to having his opinion changed through constructive argument. As it is, he appears as bullish and self-opinionated, which isn't the best image I'd have thought he would be after....... >>Peace. Rock on! |
| Benn 17.02.2006 12:56 |
BHM, re: >>Of course people can get drunk and drive and injure people. Irresponsible drinking isn't the same as being in the presence of second-hand smoke, which leaves a terrible stench on clothes, and if not hazardous to your health, certainly is of no benefit to your health if you inhale it second-hand. I read ever such a lot actually. The action isn't the same, but the end result is. You CAN die at the hands of someone that smokes (through passive smoking) just as you CAN die at the hands of someone that drinks (driving whilst drunk). |
| Benn 17.02.2006 13:02 |
Haystacks (thank you for this!), re: >>That said, there should be something done in the pubs and bars where no food is served to have a place for smokers to do their thing. Now, THIS is the whole crux of the issue. Why should there not be some scope for someone that owns a licenced premises to MAKE THE CHOICE as to whether he / she will allow smoking on their premises? That way, people that don't want to go to a place that allows it can stay well clear and be happy that they have the freedom to make that choice. Those that do, can. Same thing with private members clubs - shouldn't the membership be allowed to decide what happens in a place that they pay to be in? The whole thing revolves around taking away the freedom to choose, which, I believe is inherantly wrong, but which Brian seems to think is inherantly right. |
| Boy Thomas Raker 17.02.2006 13:11 |
Benn, can't agree with you here. "The action isn't the same, but the end result is. You CAN die at the hands of someone that smokes (through passive smoking) just as you CAN die at the hands of someone that drinks (driving whilst drunk.)" The actions are different and can't be tied together. If they are, you have to take arson and people falling asleep as hazards of cigarette smoking. I don't want to change your psotion, but if you and I were in the same room at this moment having a beer together, there'd be no harm to either of us. If you were smoking a cigarette, the second hand smoke would be damaging me. Isn't that what Brian's argument is about? BTW, Toronto is a smoke-free city in all public buildings, and restaurants are being forced to switch to entirely non-smoking in the next few years. At the Air Canada Centre where Queen + PR are playing they have separate enclosed rooms for smokers, bizarre to watch people in the haze apart from the world. |
| gnomo 17.02.2006 14:41 |
Benn wrote: As it is, he appears as bullish and self-opinionated, which isn't the best image I'd have thought he would be after.......Problem is, from what little (or nothing) I know of him, I think THAT is exactly what he's REALLY like, in terms of his "gut reaction" to things. Sometimes we saw him change his mind and apologise, AFTER his brain kicked in and someone else patiently brought him back to reason, but I really believe that his true self is more or less like what we see through his soapbox rants. I don't mean I like it at all, but in the end I do appreciate his honesty in not trying to appear different from what he is, though it drives me mad most times. Thank you for your understanding. |
| The Real Wizard 18.02.2006 00:00 |
YourValentine wrote: Brian has strong opinions and I do not agree all the time. Sometimes he has - in my opinion - strange topics like the orbs, for example. But one thing is sure: Brian May is a person who is interested. He is not one of these newly rich rock and pop stars who do nothing but drugs. Brian is someone who wants to make a difference and he sure does make a difference. He is helpful and compassionate, he donates his time and his effort for worthy causes. He has multiple interests and he is intelligent and well educated. So what if he is moody sometimes and what if he has strong opinions about issues that do not matter to other people? It makes me angry that a girl who is too lazy to spell her own language correctly and who brags on this board that she thinks reading is a waste of time thinks she knows anything about this world better than a man who has achieved as much as Brian May. Maybe it's time her dad lectures her "up the ass" to have some respect for the opinions of other people.Keep this post in mind for January 2007 when we have the topic for nominations of "post of the year" and "topic of the year". |
| April Lady05 18.02.2006 14:49 |
JamieSureWould<br><font size=1>QOQOW wrote: Could someone just clear this up for me? is Brian a hippy (meaning he wants peace- even though its impossible and id like it too but its not going to happen- no one to get hurt including the animals and what not) actualy i want all those things so i may be a "hippy" too.Controversial! |
| April Lady05 18.02.2006 15:22 |
I read through the posts and I have some questions now: - You, who don't like (agree with) Brian's "rants", how old are you? Are you young? (Or are you over 60 and you say "it all doesn't matter to me, come what may"?) - If the answer to the first question is "yes" why do you think that the best way of living is sitting on your ass, eating McDonald's food, partying, always searching for the easy way out -but never thinking of "serious" issues (perhaps to avoid headache), escaping from responsibility? - Why don't you/we want to save our silly little world(s)? Or why don't you/we just want to live in societies that have other (different) set of values than today's? - Hippies are good example! They were dissatisfied with something, actually, with many things! And they "fought" against them somehow... Music was a way of expression, ya know... Why do you/we think living today - on "Planet Mall" - is sooo convenient? - Why do you laugh at a "renessaince man", a chap in Don Quijote's role? Are today's Don(na) Quijotes just silly assholes? Of course, you don't have to share Brian's point of view. Just think! Are you sure we and our yet unborn children can be happy in this "modern" (globalised) world? |