donnaplease wrote:Saint John wrote:I don't think the thread should be deleted, but the way it was originally worded sure seemed to try and take the focus off of where Arnel is now and digress to where he was then. It seemed like neither a celebration of his years-long triumph over past vices nor something that was being posted as stumbled upon news. To me, it had the tone of "Ha ha, Arnel used to be a fuckin' druggie." And that's what I think has people a little unnerved. But having met Michael this seems very out of character. Perhaps I'm simply misinterpreting his intentions.
Michael is a SUPER nice guy and doesn't go out of his way to hurt anyone. We've had threads discussing SP's past issues, Neal's wives, etc. Arnel is part of Journey now, and as such, his past
is a topic of discussion. The fact that he has overcome sooo much to get where he is is a testament to his resolve, and as such should be commended. But it also shows he's not the innocent golden boy that the Jrny media machine has tried to make him seem. Those of you that are his fans feel protective of him, just as us loons cringe every time someone (read: YOU, SJ!
) trashes him. There's nothing wrong with that. But deleting the thread wasn't the answer. JMHO.
HOLY CRAP!! I never knew that titling a thread would cause such a sh*t storm.
I personally found nothing wrong with the title of thread.Otherwise, I wouldn't have titled it what I did.
Even the title of the thread at the original site is " JOURNEY Singer Says He Lost Nearly Everything To Drugs"
There was no slander in the title of the thread.The guy himself said he
WAS addicted to drugs,therefore making it
FACT.He said so himself.
It all boils down to what Donna said.It's really up to how someone interprets it.
It is those that hold these people in such high regard,almost making it
"hero worship", which at this point in my life, I find unhealthy.
I admit, that I have been guilty of the same,when I was a kid.This is what's wrong with people that hold those in the public eye in such high regard.
They are people. They are no better then you or me.They merely have a gift that many of us don't have, that we all respect.
I don't know Arnel Pineda,I have never meet the guy,I only know about him from what I read in the media (including here at MR).
As Donna said,I find it interesting that the Journey PR machine has made all of these guys, look like choir boys, and anyone not "in the know" would think that Mr Pineda (who's story is quite inspiring),is an innocent cherub faced vocalist that got a lucky break (which for the most part is also fact).
Would it have been any different if the title of the thread was"Arnel Admits Drug Addiction ?"
I don't regret titling the thread what I did.It is fact, and it is what it is.The title has been changed,and anyone that wants to view it, can do so.
It wasn't intended to be some kind of "Ha-ha,Arnel is a drugie" as SJ pointed out.It was what it was.
A statement that the guy himself admitted too.
Easy up,folks it's no big deal.
I have been around since this site was the "AOR/Hard Rock Hotspot, and I lurk more then I participate ( as you can see by my post count), and this is exactly the reason why I do so.You become subject to misinterpretation,and flaming that frankly, I'd prefer to not be subject to. Participating in some of these forums will drive you nuts.I chime in on threads, or post a thread that I find interesting.I have become friends in "real life", with many that participate here, and those that no longer participate here as well,and I don't involve myself in the personal issues that are between some of them.
I sort of "fly under the radar" when it comes to that stuff, and I think I'll continue to do so.
Oh and BTW~thanks Donna and SJ both for the really nice words.
I can say personally that both of these folks have never been anything but nice to me, especially Donna, who has supported me in my various musical endeavours in the Mid Atlantic area.
I got, and that's fine 
.
