Re: [ASTRO] Re: e: ASTRO-Men habits

[kepler@astroman (Michael Kepler)]

> From pas32387@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu Fri May  1 16:13:40 1998
> Date: 	Fri, 1 May 1998 19:09:31 -0400 (EDT)
> From: "Paul S." <pas32387@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu>
> X-Sender: pas32387@pegasus
> To: Michael Kepler <kepler@metro1.com>
> cc: Multiple recipients of <astro-list@astroman.com>
> Subject: Re: [ASTRO]  Re: e: ASTRO-Men habits
> MIME-Version: 1.0
> 
> > 
> > Does it matter and is it any of our business?  Well... yes and no.
> > The private behavior of band members is none of our business.
> > It is, however, reasonable for us to modify our opinion of band members
> > for their public behavior when in the presence of their fans.  This is
> > especially true in the case of bands that are popular with impressionable
> > young people.
> > 
> 
> 
> i dunno about that one. i think people should be allowed to do whatever
> they wish. 

I never made any suggestion about what anybody should be "allowed" to do.
I only exercised my personal perogative to modify my opinion of others
based on their behavior.  Who doesn't?

> just because they are in a band that young people might see
> doesn't mean they have to put on an act and not do what they normally do..

No.  They don't "have to".  That is exactly why I admire them. The fact that 
they _choose_ to present themselves as good examples is something that 
I appreciate.

> i think that teen agers by this age are going to know whther they are
> going to smoke or not. 

I have known adults to start smoking due to peer pressure and relationships.

> i personally have never seen MoA? smoke, or even
> mention smoking, but for them to even acknowledge the audience politically
> doesn't seem like any part of their agenda. clubs where the band is
> playing are going to be filled with smoke regardless... let people make up
> their own minds based on facts and logic.

I'm not stopping anybody from making up their own minds about anything.
I'm just expressing how I've made up my own mind about something.

I'm annoyed at how often people who express their own personal opinions are
accused of telling other people how to think or behave.

> and don't worry about children's  
> impressionibility, as those kinds of studies are suspect anyway.

What "studies"?   I didn't quote any "studies".  I don't make up
my own mind or make parenting decisions based on "studies".  I think
_all_ "studies" are highly suspect, as they are usually sponsored by
somebody with something they want to "prove".

> 
> > Would I like them less if they were smoking and drinking when hanging
> > around with under-age fans before and after shows?  Yes.  Does that mean
> > they "owe" me or anyone else conformance to any particular standard
> > of behavior? _NO_.
> > 
> > My perspective on this may be slightly unique among listees as I am
> > a parent of two teenage children who are also fans of MOA? and SRA,
> > and the elder of these two has gone to shows with me.  I also have
> > to work extra hard to be fair on this subject because I have an
> > admittedly irrational aversion to smoking.  It is a testament to my
> > love of these bands that I am willing to endure the smoke-filled
> > clubs to see and hear them play.
> > 
> 
> hopefully you would be teaching these children the truth about drinking
> and smoking so they could make up their own minds, and not leaving it up
> to rock and roll bands, which by their very nature, are never role models
> of perfect living. 

Geez.  Listen, I'm not "leaving it up to rock and roll bands".  I'm just
practicing my best judgement as a parent by avoiding placing my kids
in situations where smoking is glamorized.  Sure, I can and do explain
to them that smoking isn't healthy even if the person they admire on stage
is smoking.  But I appreciate the fact that MOA? and Servotron have thus
far been admirable both on stage and off without creating any association
between "cool" and smoking.  Maybe this is just happenchance that I
haven't "caught" them yet.  It really isn't that big of a deal.

> 
> paul
> 
> 

Mookie