Accountability in Music • Page 190

I don’t think the other members really wanted to pursue musical ventures post-Brand New. From what I gathered, it was a struggle even keeping the four of them together before Science Fiction came out. I think they all just wanted to be done with it already.

 

I still think they should have said something and drawn a line under it themselves. Even if they didn't want to move forward into new musical ventures they more or less can't do that now because they had nothing to say about what happened with Jesse. Some sort of closure for them was the least they deserved after having the band implode because of their predatory frontman's actions, y'know?

 

It says a lot about the kind of people they are that they were ok with not saying anything and having everyone thinking the worst about them. If that’s how they want to be remembered, more power to them I guess.

 

Awesome thank you!

 

Exactly. Didn't even have to end it on that note if they wanted to but they fucked up.

 

Why do people feel they have an inherent right to be protected from things they don’t like? Someone posted a song from a band you rightfully don’t like in a thread you legitimately don’t need to visit, what’s upsetting about this?

I get called an asshole for my opinions all the time, and sometimes I stay away from those threads. I don’t like it, but it doesn’t negate people’s right to think I’m an asshole. I don’t have an inherent right not to be hurt. Where does this idea spring from?

 

Are you talking about the “thread ignore” feature? If so, I’m excited for it because then I can just hide the threads I’m not interested in, rather than scroll past them again and again and again. I think it will be a really nice feature. If that’s not what you’re talking about though, ignore this.

 

I think there’s a big valley between “inherent right not to see anything that offends you” and tools or ways to mitigate triggering imagery and topics. Having the tools, technologically, or even asking people to be respectful and courteous, I think stops well short of demanding an “inherent right to be protected from things they don’t like.”

 

I just think this site should be blocking content from known predators, especially ones that in the past have had a large fan base here. That's my personal take and I don't think there's a set rule regarding that.

 

Yeah i agree. And in a similar vein I think giving JL apologists a place to congregate is a mistake. If and when that thread gets unlocked, for example, I think it should be renamed “Brand New Allegations Discussion” or something like that so there’s a clear message about what the purpose of the thread is. It isn’t to stan an admitted predator and his three enablers or gush over their music, it’s to discuss feelings and other related topics in an appropriate and dedicated thread. Like I said earlier, anyone that wants to live in the sewer should go to the subreddit, they’ll be welcomed with open arms.

 

what are you taking about

 

After the hide thread feature is done, can we get one to change avatars so I don’t have to see baby James Taylor spew nonsense?

 

Lol or maybe a filter that separates well thought out and informative responses from ones that just deflect and quip for likes

 

theres literally no "well thought out" response to be made, you made no sense??

 

Going through all the TCGS eps and pwr bttm was on it and just wanted to say I'm glad they haven't done a set at the comedy cellar yet

 

That band still makes me sad every time I remember them. Such an utter waste and disappointment.

 

really like the “brand new allegations discussion” idea. I think it’s important to let people continue to air their thoughts about stuff like this, especially navigating the process of working through their own investment in artists responsible for abuse, and not shut things down so that everything gets divided into “too stigmatized to discuss openly” and “contrarian reactionary stanning.” a lot of the reason artists like this get popular among sensitive and compassionate people in the first place is that a lot of us have issues with trauma bonding that attract us to predatory types and the kind of music that reflects their experiences, and that’s what they feed off of - ignoring that problem, or ignoring the drive people might have to continue to listen to abusive artists, doesn’t help us deal with it, I think.

I was a fan of brand new for a long time and frankly suspected that this would come out way before it did, not from hearing about it from anyone even so much as just paying attention to his lyrics and recognizing that the kind of themes he worked with sounded like someone working through the compulsion to abuse and prey on people. I’ve been around a lot of people like that before and I’ve suffered through the receiving end of that compulsion, and I think that it’s precisely those experiences that led me to find comfort in brand new’s music, feeling like I could hear the inside of those people’s heads, be reassured that they could be self-conscious of the violent patterns that they were trapped in and trying to fight them off themselves, even if the manner in which jesse specifically approached it ultimately didn’t seem to deliver any results (and there’s a whole other discussion to be had about that issue).

 

This is a well written response I feel. I think that these boards however can't serve as a place for any sort of positive praise for bands with any allegations as it just leads to continuous posts of immature arguments and at times name calling. Whether anyone agrees with it or not, there are plenty of message boards, twitter accounts, facebook pages, and other social media spots to discuss Brand New and Pinegrove in a positive manner. But I don't think this message board just is the place for it.

 

I disagree. There are plenty of positive discussions that can be had around bands/art and allegations, including discussing memories and working through those memories/feelings/songs, and around personal reclamation of the art. I've had them.

 

Maybe they exist but it seems like any time I see Brand New or Pinegrove mentioned it's followed by a slew of negative commentary towards the posters

 

Without citing any specific incidents, this is what I've observed: A lot of that has to do with the tone of the original post. The "positive" conversations require context and acknowledgment of reality via tone because of how painful in nature they can be for so many people. I'm not going to say it's an easy line to tread or that folks aren't reactive towards the subject because of course they are - just that it's possible. I've also successfully had those conversations, although granted it's easier in person because there's a lot of nuance and tone that gets lost through text.

It's of course subjective but I continue to maintain that speaking positively about bands like BN means accepting and acknowledging the pain that doing so can cause. It's not about can or can't. It's just about humanity and empathy. Folks don't have to agree with me, but that's how I see it.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that's what the new 'thread blocker' tool will help with? To prevent those who would be pained by positive discussion of troublesome bands from viewing the material.

 

Yes, I don't doubt that it will. That said, I would still expect folks to push back against certain approaches and tones simply because they feel it's the right thing to do.

 

Second tweet is deleted