STEWART COPELAND

by **DirtyMartini** on 03 Jul 2007 18:40

I need to gently remind all of you gorgeous Flag-Bearers about a bit of flag-waving decorum.

So far you guys have acted wonderfully. We have had no complaints, and the flag has not been confiscated. Spec A! may have gotten a wee enthusiastic (*ahem*) in Houston, but he acted courteously and avoided blocking the view of his fellow audience members. He did a great job.

Going forward, please just keep in mind that people have been waiting a long, long time for these concerts and have spent their hard-earned dough to attend. Everyone deserves the best possible concert experience. Neither you nor I wants some disrespectful asshole blocking our view of The Police; we certainly do not want to do that to anyone else.

STEWART would not want us to do that to anyone else.

Remember that we're doing this krazy flag thing as a tribute to Stewart, to remind him that he has people in the audience who are there not just to support the band but to support him personally. That's a pretty amazing gesture by a pretty amazing bunch of people. But because we are carrying HIS colors and HIS insignia, everything that we do -- despite the fact that Stewart is not personally involved in this project -- reflects on him. We do not want to do anything that will risk killing this project; but more, we do not want to do anything that might reflect badly on Stewart. I like to think that Stewart might be pretty proud of this little flag of ours, but we need our actions to earn that pride. We need to make sure that we deserve that pride.

In the excitement of the moment, it may be difficult not to want to fish for and keep fishing for a thumb's up or a stick-point from The Man. I know that. But just when your brain has turned into goo and adrenaline is when you most need to be aware of how your actions will affect those around you -- and how they will affect Stewart by association. In that moment, you need to ask yourself, "What Would Stewart Copeland Do?"

Answer: He would tell you not to act like an asshat.

I know that every one of you is capable of acting accordingly. As a reminder and to applaud folks for exhibiting restraint, I'm going to keep bumping this thread. Retroactively, please allow me to say,

DIVEMISTRESS! Thank you for not acting like an asshat!

BELLA! Thank you for not acting like an asshat!

SPEC A! Thank you for not acting like an asshat!

GINASUPERCAT! Thank you for not acting like an asshat!

And going forward,

CPRIDDIMS! Thank you for not acting like an asshat in Miami next week!

I am touched and overwhelmed by the efforts that people have made for this project. You each have my love and gratitude for turning that silly little flag into a symbol of support, friendship, enthusiasm, generosity, and devotion. I know you will make Stewart proud. You've already made me proud.

Thank you,
DirtyMartini
Mission Control

[X-posted in main flag thread for reference.]

by **sockii** on 03 Jul 2007 21:17

Bravo, DM!

by **DirtyMartini** on 03 Jul 2007 21:34

Heh. Thanks, sockii.

by **kimmy** on 03 Jul 2007 21:45

'clap clap clap clap clap clap' (very fast!!!!)

DM Yours is not a silly little flag!!

I am so proud to be a part of this great thing!

I wonder how Stewart must feel knowing that the flag is travelling all over the place just to show him how much we care.... I wonder if he sits a little smugly knowing that the flag is out there just for him and not for Sting or Andy, knowing that we care enough to travel to these concerts and post on the flag for the next bearer.

DM we are proud to be flag bearers and proud to be part of SC.net!!

Thank you

Kim

by **bella** on 04 Jul 2007 14:14

Yes, you are right on, DM, but I just have to ask. What happened to the good ole days when people would bring in big ass lovingly homemade banners and wave them around? Or their brand spanking new tour shirts would be swung over their heads? Or even those rare cases of undergarments being flung about? I loved those days? I can remember shows where there were banners hung all around the balconies. Why, I even have pics from a U2 show in 85 where Bono took one from a fan and wrapped himself in it during a song! It's all so PC now. Kind of a shame. But, you are still correct, DM. It just isn't polite in today's day and age.

by **GinaSuperCat** on 04 Jul 2007 14:18

My answer to what's happened? $250 face value tickets, $600-1000 Water Aid auctions, and other secondary markets costing anyone's guess. At these prices some people seem to expect nothing short of the resurrection to take place on stage and the seas to part around them, and, even though I've never shelled out that big for a show, I can kinda see, just a bit, where some of the entitlement comes from at such premiums!

by **sockii** on 04 Jul 2007 14:38

To be fair, I always thought it was as obnoxious back in the $15-20 ticket days as in the $200 ticket days.

Maybe I'm just a cranky old broad, but I'm going to a concert to see a band I like, not the backside of a huge bed spread all night.

Again, nothing wrong with waving a flag or banner in between songs, while waiting for an encore, etc., but there's just something to be said about being polite to other concert goers in a lot of ways that just seem to be so lacking today (not blocking views unduly, not having loud conversations about your personal life loudly during quiet songs other concertgoers are trying to hear, etc.)

by **Hannaha** on 04 Jul 2007 14:40

I'm a cranky old broad genereally speaking.

Oh and yes, banner waving = bad for short people.
I always try to be nice to short people at gigs - let them stand in front of me etc. I know what it's like when I get stuck behind a 6'3" bloke so I can empathise.

by **DirtyMartini** on 04 Jul 2007 14:41

(Was typing while sockii and Hannah posted, so ditto to them as well.)

Regardless of ticket price, it's just plain inconsiderate. It was back in the day as well.

A banner hung in front of a balcony doesn't block anyone's view. But a banner, say, in the middle of the floor seats blocks MANY people's view. How would you like to be stuck behind that for 2+ hours while you miss everything that your favorite band does? It has nothing to do with being PC -- it has to do with not acting like a selfish jerk.

E.g., I will be really close to the stage in Cleveland. Even though the flag isn't very big, if I hold it over my head, it will block people for many many rows behind me. For people much farther back, it could block out Stewart completely. And if I do it for the whole show, it will ruin the experience of every one of those people. Why would I want to do that? I wouldn't want someone to do that to me. And I'd expect Stewart might be pretty pissed at me for doing that as well.

If people want to be asshats on their own time, that's their business. Feel free to be an asshat, and I'll feel free to tell you that you're an asshat. But when we're representing for SC.net with the flag, we just need to make sure that it remains a loving tribute, not an obnoxious nuisance.

by **Hannaha** on 04 Jul 2007 14:43

Who started the whole 'asshat' phenomenon? It's not an insult I'm familiar with. I shall be slipping it into my daily usage whenever possible from now on.

(Fuck you Weasel, you asshat)

by **sockii** on 04 Jul 2007 14:47

Here's a nifty page on the origins of the asshat...

http://www.mtannoyances.com/?p=341

by **Hannaha** on 04 Jul 2007 15:10

Thanks sockii :lol:

by **GinaSuperCat** on 04 Jul 2007 15:13

Hahaha, sockii...I know it from gamer-nerd circles but an etymology, that's just brilliant!

And, yes, I always try to be considerate of others around me...I even sat for a song or two in Houston when the whole section was seated for this reason just because I was the *only* one in the section standing for Footsteps at that point...I was entranced by Stewart at the percussion rack anyhow <grin>

So I agree it has always been rather inconsiderate to block other's views and hamper their enjoyment, being a lest-intervention-in-others-enjoyment kinda concert goer, but I was mainly trying to fathom an explanation as to why you no longer see them as much as perhaps in the past...either their has been some considerate-concert-goer consciousness shift (lol, not likely given the amount of loud talking and other nonsense I've seen that goes on <grin>) or something else has changed, namely that it's not tolerated (and perhaps even discouraged more by security) because of what I assume as concert tix are going through the roof! Along those lines, being especially careful is important since I could imagine someone getting a bit out of shape even for the in-between flag wavings given what some of the floor seats cost...people have been asked to *sit* in the floor section, for the love of freak's sake <grin>

by **jennym** on 04 Jul 2007 15:17

Who has the flag in Tampa? Would love to be in the presence of the flag preconcert! Did you all see the FanClub get together at Newks for the Tampa show? Cheers!

by **GinaSuperCat** on 04 Jul 2007 15:45

I should let the Flag Coordinator answer definitively, but I think the flag's next stop is Miami for logistical reasons...I wonder if Stewart will be able to see the flag in Miami? <cheshire grin>

I am still tormenting myself with the idea of changing my plans again at the last minute and just hopping Greyhound for Tampa but the finances are pretty smouldering and hubby is about to overtake Job in the patience department soooo...<grin>

STEWART COPELAND

YO, FLAG-BEARERS! Reminder: Don't be an asshat please

YO, FLAG-BEARERS! Reminder: Don't be an asshat please

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