MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and
chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.
28 June 2006
Neutral Milk Hotel Fans Rejoice Rumors of new material, purportedly from the keyboard of Mangum himself.→[More:]Please do not post in this thread if you hate (a) Pitchfork, (b) NMH, (c) indie rock hipsters.
I don't give two shakes about any of the three, but trying to control who posts in your thread is uncool, much as I understand the sentiment. Folks here are civil; trust them to continue being so.
I don't hate anyone. I can't say I like Neutral Milk Hotel, or Pitchfork, and as far as indie rock hipsters, I like or dislike them on a case-by-case basis. The less someone tells me what to do or say (or not do or not say), though, the more I like them, generally.
But hey, we're living in an age of pre-emptive war. Too bad that mindset trickles down to conversations about musical tastes.
For the record, I like you and your posts here a lot, matildaben. Just not the "please do not post in this thread" tactic. It feels like being told to shut up because I have something else to say than just "I love it" or "this is exciting."
For example, I'm afraid of being labeled a hater if I ask something like, "I don't know NMH well, but I've heard some other bands that are often uttered in the same breath as NMH, and while I like some of the music, I find most of the bands NMH is compared with to be boring. What makes you like NMH so much, and what NMH would you recommend my hearing in order to get a sense of what NMH is all about? Pitchfork's reviews aren't much of a help to me, and I generally don't share the same tastes as the indie rock hipsters I know."
I just wanted to post a news item that would be of interest to people here who I know are fans of the band. I didn't want it to turn into the inevitable tedious war with the usual suspects. I guess I can't win either way. Next time I'll just email people directly.
Please feel free to turn this thread into a discussion of what bar you're going to meet at next. Peace out.
That's cool, matildaben. Thanks for letting me know how you feel. I didn't realize this was just an announcement, and I should have. I'm sure I can stop by a record store and ask about NMH, and they'll probably let me listen and make up my own mind.
I didn't know you disliked folks using Metachat to make meetup announcements so much. I'll avoid doing it on threads you post in.
I'm sorry; my comment and question came from an honest place; the criticism in it was meant to be soft, and aimed at a posting convention that I honestly dislike. But not enough to make a big stink about, and definitely not enough to try to hurt your feelings over. I tried very hard not to hurt your feelings, and I obviously failed. I'm sorry for that. I'll be more careful of your intentions in the future.
Every thing I've said here could be taken as sarcasm or tongue-in-cheekiness, I realize (and probably is: my own legacy is my own fault). That's not my intention. Everything I've said here is meant honestly, and none of it insultingly. I'm trying to get along.
And I really hate bumming out jonmc, or anyone, for that matter. Particularly, in this case, matildaben; my apology is serious and I'd like to avoid conflict in the future.
Look, until very recently, I had Neutral Milk Hotel confused with a Wilco album title. I wanted to know what the fuss was all about. I got hung up on my typical hangup, and for that I'm sorry.
In hellbient's thread, you wrote about wondering what would make someone like the Garfield movie. I wondered what would make you like NMH. I'm sorry I criticized your post. I feel pretty bad about it (as well as the other things you pointed out about my posting habits).
Anyway, it doesn't matter. I'll sleep in the bed I made. Thanks for your response.