ldyjocelyn

Heh, I was just getting ready to ask where CG was too, but then saw in preview that she posted. And her post makes sense to me, even if I don't really agree with it (except for her last paragraph). I guess I'm really like couchie in that I don't "get" hair. I just don't. It's still Clay, no matter what he looks like. Now his clothes -- for the most part I love his stuff. Every once in a while, though...man, there is an outfit or two that I'd love to burn. (And there would be people that would burn ME because they LOVED the outfit....) But, as CG says, what he looks like doesn't define my fandom. I can imagine not going to a show just because I hated his hair, or his outfits. Can we say OTT?

I think one of the things that just hit me this past week is this: some people are just extremely visual. They react to the first thing they see. I'm not that much of a visual person, IMO -- more of an audio person. I also don't tend to go with my immediate gut reaction on many things -- but some do. Clay's hair seems to be as much of a "signature" for him as his voice. He realizes that, I believe -- and thus likes to play around with it to get reactions.

Question 5: 5) Why are people so fascinated with Clay's hair?

Oh God, I used to buy each and every freakin' magazine, even if it just mentioned Clay in one paragraph. No more....although I still buy and keep a LOT of magazines. Just not in multiples. I'm even weening myself from clack too -- I don't need to keep all those Insider text message poll results that mention Clay, do I? 3 more minutes.... Nelle, isn't this wonderful? There are people in my life who are my friends. THey are not just my Clay friends. I am so fortunate in this regard. Tomorrow I'll go see Muski's daughter pitch. I have another friend near me who I love dearly and her wonderful husband. I would never have met them if not for Clay. ALso Nelle, we are so lucky to live in CA with so much Clay happenings and people to hang out with and enjoy!! I'm so jellus in that regard. Which reminds me -- I need to find another time to go visit atinal.... jmh, I understand what you mean. The overriding worry about Clay on some boards overtook the fun, didn't it? Fortunately, other boards sprang up, ones that still knew how to have a bit of fun.

Yes, that is me too -- although I know realisitically, no more than 2 or 3 a tour is for me, just from the financial standpoint. Yes, that's it! I'd also add to that if I don't find out about something Clay did until, say, the next morning, I'm not totally upset. I don't have to know everything IMMEDIATELY. My "short attention span theater" has been tempered. I can deal with not knowing stuff right away. If nothing else, there's usually clack. CG, loved your entire post. And yes, I've likened my "relationship" with Clay like a marriage -- IMO we're now in the "after the honeymoon" stage, and things just aren't as passionate. Again, I feel like some people are thinking that things should be hot and heavy forever. Sorry, it just doesn't happen that way!

Great point about the internet, Nelle.... My fandom, and how it's involved? Well, shoot -- I'm an admin at a Clay board. Never thought that would happen. *g* Seriously, I think my fandom has settled down to an acceptably intense level. There's a clear boundary between me and Clay -- I don't mess in his business, he don't mess in mine. I just buy stuff with him on it, and talk about him a lot with my friends. I think the biggest change for me though is from this past year -- from considering one board the only place I would EVER post into a place where, while I still liked many of the people there, the attitude just dragged me down and I had to pretty much give it up. Bummed me out for a few weeks. As I said, I still like many, many people in the fandom -- but I just needed to step away for a while and find something that was less stressful. And isn't fandom supposed to be fun instead of stressful?

OK, I'm calling it. Question 4: 4) How has your fandom evolved in the past 3 years?

3 more minutes.... I think, many of these topics boil down to some fans thinking that Clay needs protection -- big bad AI, the pesky gnats. I'll say it along with couchie -- Clay is a man, and he'll be fine, no matter what is said or done to him.

That Kelly was still involved with AI this year just proves to me that Clay will never be able to shed the label. I think it will be on his tombstone. I'll have to work on that wording, though. *g* Incredibly good point. And I think his connection with AI will also influence a lot of his future marketing. (ACK!!! I said the "m" word!!!)

I believe that he will ALWAYS be connected with AI, whether he likes it or not. Does he like it? I actually think he does. I think he knows full well that if he hadn't gone on the show, he'd be a teacher at this point. Therefore, I think he'll be forever grateful to the show. It felt weird, to me, that Clay wasn't on the show this year. That's another thing -- he seems to genuinely like the people there. Now, he's said some things this past season that could be considered him eschewing the show. I don't think so. I think he just didn't have a lot of time to focus on the show, and just decided not to get sucked in this year.

Love these discussions again! Question 3: 3) Clay and the American Idol franchise -- how much of an influence does it still have on his career?

Same reason they think they have to handle his PR, the distribution of his album in stores, his track list, his producers, his song choices, his wardrobe, his love life? I think we'll be getting into that a little more later...*g* How much more on this topic?

I somehow get the feeling, though, that several of Clay's fans were ingrained with the fighting aspect -- because of voting like fiends for him on AI. Therefore, some never got out of that fight mode, and this is one of those instances where they feel like they are doing him some good....when, IMO, they are doing much more harm.

OK, then -- ignore it is. But then, let's get to this question (unofficial, not on the list) -- why do fans feel they need to fight the good fight?

Gay = "not cool" = unhappy ldyjocelyn. But that's the previous topic. As far as the gnats go...how many times can I say "ignore" here? Because as much as curiosity can get the best of me, I refuse to click on the links for the gnat blogs. To me, it's a simple as that. They want hits. They don't get them, they should go away. Oh sure, they may try more and more outrageous things to get me to click -- but then they sound so damn silly that people just laugh instead.

I see some people still posting on the previous topic, but I'm going to move on... Question 2: 2) What's the best way to deal with "gnats?"

OK, another 3 minutes, and then on to the next topic..... *waves at atinal*

This attitude floors me. It's as if I can't be attracted to a guy who might possibly be gay -- as if his attractiveness is gone. Nope -- cute guys can be straight, gay, bi, whatever. And couchie is right -- like I'll EVER have a chance with Clay....so what does it matter that I just think he's damn adorable? Again, another annoying thing to me -- I know there are many churches who totally condemn homosexuality. And yet, there are gay Christians everywhere. I realize I'm talking as if Clay is gay. He's said he's not....and I believe him. Sheesh. Stereotypes are so damn hard to break.

Exactly! IMO, human sexuality in general results in so many tittering laughs in American society. Why is that? Europeans, from what I've read, don't have that attitude. I have to say that I totally admire Clay's stance on all this -- none of your business, next question please. Oh, and don't forget that "people will believe what they want to believe." Why are the fans so interested? Partially, as play says, it fuels fantasies. It also fuels political agendas too.

To me -- this is as much a "society problem" as it is a "Clay problem." IMO, people are fascinated by the sex lives of all sorts of people...straight, gay, whatever. And I'll be honest here in that I cannot claim innocence in this regard. For some reason it is an interesting topic to me, even though I know full well it's none of my damn business. I honestly think, to pull history into this, that it is part of America's Puritanical roots. Hee, in preview I see couchie and I think alike. As far as Clay goes -- for some reason people cannot understand a man who seems to be as in touch with his feminine side as much as his masculine side. A lot of men think that weird -- and so the assumptions come in to play. But I think a lot of women LOVE that trait.

The chat party is here!

Greetings everyone! Question 1: 1) Why do you think people (both fans and non-fans) find Clay's sexuality such a fascinating topic?

Part two of chat will start in 10 minutes....

Heh...I noticed the spikes too, and wonder if this show was the reason Clay cut his hair. Maybe he'll make a surprise appearance? Nah.... I also noticed that the head looks awfully small. Take that as you want.

For couchie: The Bobbsey Twins I remember them as a book series that my Mom loved as a kid -- similar to the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew series. I agree with this. I am sure there is more to DF than the Josh or Celine sound, but since I don't know of any (and am too lazy to look up what else he has done lately) and I don't like either Josh or Celine, then I have never been too excited about too much of a professional relationship between the two. That said, I think Clay can learn a lot about the business and music from DF and I think if DF can somehow nurture his songwriting ability, then that would be a good thing. I'm honestly very torn about DF and his involvement with Clay. I don't like Groban (find him and his voice boring); Celine is someone I can like or not, depending on the song (and one I DID like was BYLM), but I do like Buble and his style of singing and music. I honestly think that DF is a producer that can bring out Clay's best qualities, but could also over-bury him in sound. It's hard to tell at this point which way it could go -- it will probably depend on the songs. Also, we don't know how much of an influence Jaymes might have on the whole proceedings. I think for some fans Joe Blow from the corner diner would be better than Clive Davis. *shrug* "Idol: the Musical" sounds like a blast. Would love to attend that show. Maybe in 20 years it will be one of those touring company shows. Heh. Chat tonight is still on! But I'm hearing rumblings that we might be getting reports from Canada this evening too, if Clay appears. That may interrupt things a bit...heh. Cute new pictures. Talk about a throwback look though -- just when we were so used to the long hair, he goes back to short. It will be interesting to see the length in another month. Time for a nap. Shopping for a new dishwasher today wore me out!