NME is playing it safe with TAS Management

[Whispering 18,865]

I think you've completely gotten the wrong end of the stick here and misinterpreted everything. My entire rant has been about what would happen if the media and everyone involved in music respected Taylor's wish of not having her music being out there for free. If they took her wish completely literally. What would happen is that there would be no way of putting her music in the public eye and journalists wouldn't even write about her, because that involves using pictures of her, which she doesn't seem to like either. My point is the concept is ridiculous and takes away the whole point of being an artist for the people. Defeats the purpose if the people cannot see or hear you because you forbid any use of your music or image that isn't paid for by the listener/viewer. They're shooting themselves in the foot by not letting the public discover their music through word of mouth, hearing in passing and try-before-you-buy methods. It isn't that hard to understand. Are you just deliberately trying to argue with me for argument's sake and are determined to dislike me? Because I haven't met one, not ONE person who disagrees with the views I have just expressed. Does all your reasoning and common sense just switch off as soon as it involves Taylor being criticised?

The argument about the Grammys is completely non relevant to this discussion but for the record, I never claimed that Beyonce and Taylor bought their Grammys, I just offered up the possibility. And you really let yourself down massively with that final paragraph, which just made you look like a crazy fangirl. Trust me, this level of cockiness from her fans and herself only ensures that Taylor will indeed crash and burn one day, Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday. Cocky celebrities only last so long before the public wake up. Karma will one day show up Taylor for who she really is. Maybe you'll find out before everyone else, considering you have so many connections and all. I may be rubbish at predicting who will be successful and who will fail but if there's one thing I'm good at, it's predicting character. Someone who was bullied as much as I was knows bad types a mile off. Most celebrities who have a big scandal or are exposed for something, I am rarely surprised at. I called it from the second they entered the business. I can spot cheaters, fakers, bigots, you name it. And Taylor has one of the biggest alarm bells over her name that I've ever seen. She has "toxic" written all over her, from her songs to her dating history to her business decisions to her rumored (and heavily supported theories) of what she gets up to behind the scenes. The demonstration of the level of power that she has actually scares me. Call it a crazy conspiracy all you want. I'm not the only one that believes. Maybe she'll stay America's sweetheart forever but I never have and never will buy it. Word to the wise: people who have an image of perfection, like Taylor, are NEVER perfect.

There are several people here who disagree with you and millions outside of this forum, plus the media sync music industry that disagrees with you. 

For the record, I'm not anywhere close to a "fangirl" for Taylor Swift, so that just goes to show you don't know ****. 

Lol, now you are someone who can always call what strangers are? You really have an inflated sense of your opinions. You just go on believing that you know everything about complete strangers that you have never had a conversation with in real life and believing all these paranoid delusions you make up in your own head....just to try to discredit some random pop star on some random fanforum, that doesn't make a bit of difference in the real world. 

[Redstreak 6,653]

I just want to keep believing it's her management that's pushing this trademark thing but it gets harder every day. I really want to keep adoring Taylor like I always have but this really has to stop.

I don't think Taylor or her team made them do this, I think they did it on their own to poke fun at the situation.

[StrawberryBlond 14,087]

There are several people here who disagree with you and millions outside of this forum, plus the media sync music industry that disagrees with you. 

For the record, I'm not anywhere close to a "fangirl" for Taylor Swift, so that just goes to show you don't know ****. 

Lol, now you are someone who can always call what strangers are? You really have an inflated sense of your opinions. You just go on believing that you know everything about complete strangers that you have never had a conversation with in real life and believing all these paranoid delusions you make up in your own head....just to try to discredit some random pop star on some random fanforum, that doesn't make a bit of difference in the real world. 

Actually, I think you'll find it's millions who share my view and just a few delusional people on forums who would discredit it. Who's being delusional now?

I didn't say you were a fangirl, just that you sound like one. Your reasoning skills really do go out the window as soon as Taylor gets criticised. You can like her music all you want but trying to deny it when she makes a bad business decision that reflects badly on her as a person? What, do you support her sueing her own fans and anyone who innocently copies and pastes a photo of her online? What kind of stifling freedom of speech is that?

I mean that I judge strangers from what they say and what they do. Judgement keeps us safe from bad people that might hurt us or let us down. Ever read a story about someone who got conned or something? You think: "All the clues were there that this person shouldn't be touched with a ten foot pole - why did they fall for such a transparent character?" I get that all the time. And it's especially easy to read most celebrities like a book. I've seen right through Taylor pretty early. After the whole Kanye thing, I was sad for her and wanted to learn more about this girl who I really didn't know anything about. Well, that image of a sweet girl disappeared the instant I listened to Fearless. Speak Now intensified my suspicions about her and the rest is history. It blows me away how people don't see her for who she truly is. I'm not paranoid, I'm just highly interested in how people think and their true selves. It's partly why I considered studying psychology. And I also considered detective work because I'm very perceptive of when people are lying and acting suspicious. I've thought the phrase "I told you so" more times than i can count.

[Whispering 18,865]

Actually, I think you'll find it's millions who share my view and just a few delusional people on forums who would discredit it. Who's being delusional now?

I didn't say you were a fangirl, just that you sound like one. Your reasoning skills really do go out the window as soon as Taylor gets criticised. 

I'm absolutely sure we could find millions that share some of your views, but we could also find millions who think your accusations and predictions based on nothing are delusional and completely ridiculous. What is delusional? Believing that artists are paying thousands of Grammy voters. Believing that one person can persuade 5,000 voters to vote for a certain artist for AOTY. Believing that one artist...and only one...has figured out some way to pay off proffesional reviewers in multiple countries, and has been doing so for a decade...since they were a teenager with one country hit...and thinking you know this because you write music reviews for fun. Believing that you can predict the outcome of any artist ten years from now...because you wanted to major in psychology. Believing that you really know what a complete stranger is like in their real life because you wanted to be a detective when you grew up. Come on, now!  

My reasoning skills? I'm not the one making up wild stories to discount some pop girl that I will never have a conversation with in my life, who will never even be an aquintance of mine. I'm using common sense and facts in the music industry, and you are making statements that don't remotely make sense or aren't backed up by actual facts known in the music industry. 

[StrawberryBlond 14,087]

I'm absolutely sure we could find millions that share some of your views, but we could also find millions who think your accusations and predictions based on nothing are delusional and completely ridiculous. What is delusional? Believing that artists are paying thousands of Grammy voters. Believing that one person can persuade 5,000 voters to vote for a certain artist for AOTY. Believing that one artist...and only one...has figured out some way to pay off proffesional reviewers in multiple countries, and has been doing so for a decade...since they were a teenager with one country hit...and thinking you know this because you write music reviews for fun. Believing that you can predict the outcome of any artist ten years from now...because you wanted to major in psychology. Believing that you really know what a complete stranger is like in their real life because you wanted to be a detective when you grew up. Come on, now!  

My reasoning skills? I'm not the one making up wild stories to discount some pop girl that I will never have a conversation with in my life, who will never even be an aquintance of mine. I'm using common sense and facts in the music industry, and you are making statements that don't remotely make sense or aren't backed up by actual facts known in the music industry. 

For the last time, I didn't say that everyone pays Grammy voters, just that a little bit of it could happen from time to time (hence the Chris Brown article I posted that you've not acknowledged). And I also didn't say that Taylor definitively pays for reviews, just that it's a suspicion I have. And it is a fact that paid for reviews still happen - there's exposes on it. I didn't say all py predictions come true, just that they're theories. You are the one who is being shown up as being delusional about me, but instead of admitting it, you just keep fighting back.

These theories are not "wild," they are based on extensive character research and I'm not the only one who believes in them. And I am using common sense and facts. You seem alright with my theories when they don't apply to Taylor, then it's all "you're not making sense," "you're making it up," "you're being delusional." Is it really delusional of me to think that a girl who got her career handed to her on a silver platter doesn't really know what being a struggling artist is all about? Or a girl who writes songs about all her exes where she is always in the right is a bit of a narcissist? Or a girl who writes a song about anyone who ever did her wrong, no matter how insignificant, is a bit over-sensitive? Or a girl who is against any way of listening to her music for free is a bit greedy? Or a girl who sues people for posting pictures of her online unless it benefits her is a spoilt control freak? Or that a girl who supports feminism and claims to support other women...but makes a firey take-down of another woman in a single for something insignificant is a massive hypocrite?

Think carefully about this girl who you are such a fan of. Would you support someone like this if they weren't famous? Put all the "facts" we know about Taylor aside for a moment and think logically about what her words and actions say about her.

[Whispering 18,865]

Think carefully about this girl who you are such a fan of. Would you support someone like this if they weren't famous? Put all the "facts" we know about Taylor aside for a moment and think logically about what her words and actions say about her.

Would I be a friend to someone like Taylor, if she wasn't famous? Well...I don't know, since I've never had extended conversations with her and she is extremely famous, so it's hard to say. Let me see, she likes cats, New York, music, boys, and Fashion...so maybe. Her words and actions say that she is a girl who loves her friends and family, works hard at her job, but still is finding her way through adulthood and like most girls I know, has trouble finding the right guy. That pretty much describes most of the women I know. Her words and actions say that she is appreciative of her success and knows that it could all change on a dime. She's a girl who is trying to live in the moment, but at the same time is feeling the pressure. She is extremely confident, but is also insecure. Sounds like most of the young adults out in the real world I know right now. 

I'm not really sure what this has to do with anything anyway. Are we looking at artists as people we would want to be friends with? I'm not really sure what that has to do with liking someone's music and appreciating their artistry. I couldn't stan someone who was homophobic, racist, an abuser, or something of that nature...but that only applies to a few artists. 

[StrawberryBlond 14,087]

Would I be a friend to someone like Taylor, if she wasn't famous? Well...I don't know, since I've never had extended conversations with her and she is extremely famous, so it's hard to say. Let me see, she likes cats, New York, music, boys, and Fashion...so maybe. Her words and actions say that she is a girl who loves her friends and family, works hard at her job, but still is finding her way through adulthood and like most girls I know, has trouble finding the right guy. That pretty much describes most of the women I know. Her words and actions say that she is appreciative of her success and knows that it could all change on a dime. She's a girl who is trying to live in the moment, but at the same time is feeling the pressure. She is extremely confident, but is also insecure. Sounds like most of the young adults out in the real world I know right now. 

I'm not really sure what this has to do with anything anyway. Are we looking at artists as people we would want to be friends with? I'm not really sure what that has to do with liking someone's music and appreciating their artistry. I couldn't stan someone who was homophobic, racist, an abuser, or something of that nature...but that only applies to a few artists. 

I didn't say "be friends with," I merely said "support." That also translates as "Would you like her?" "Would she make a good impression on you?" And I notice you're just listing all the sweet, rose-tinted stuff about her. There's no mention of all the bad things she's done. You really think the things I listed are indicative of someone who is grateful for their success? Because she sure sounds like someone who takes it for granted, thinks she is the best and assumes she'll be around forever. She sues her own fans for goodness sake! How can you support someone like this? How can you not see that they have an inflated sense of importance and ego?

Oh, it has a lot to do with things. My point is that you seem to support Taylor whatever she does, even when it's something blatantly mean and ridiculous like disallowing her photos to be posted online (she's famous, that's what happens when you're famous) and removing all the audio from a couple's wedding video because they danced to Shake It Off (like she couldn't just omit the audio of the song) or suing her fans for making fan-made products on Etsy and trademarking phrases that have been famous for years before she sang them. Do you seriously find this behaviour acceptable? Are you excusing it from Taylor because you like her? Because I've seen a lot of people excusing the behaviour of their faves for this very reason when you know that if a regular civilain behaved like this, they'd be shunned.

Now, I like the music of some artists who've got...attitude issues (Eminem, Kanye, Taylor Momsen, etc) but the difference is, I recognise that their personalities could be better. I have no interest in meeting them because they probably wouldn't be very nice. I probably wouldn't approach someone like them if they were a regular person. I like their music, not necessarily them as a person. But from what I've seen, you, and plenty of other Taylor fans, are completely blind to her very obvious attitude problems (which the non fans and the public can see clear as day). Go on to any article about her taking on Apple Music or suing her fans and you will see an outpouring of criticism from the public in the comments section. Stuff like "this greediness is such a turn-off," "I never had much of an opinion on her before but now I'm leaning towards dislike," "this attitude won't win her fans," etc. And before you say "So a few members of the public don't like her, the millions who bought her music out-number them," remember that an artist like Taylor is all about image. Her good girl image is what helps sell her music. Every time she does something that loses confidence in the public surrounding this good girl image is going to lead to loss of fans over time. A fan lost is a fan lost. She's a great businesswoman when it comes to marketing her music but marketing her personality is another. She doesn't seem to realise what actions reflect badly on her. She was shocked out her mind when people attacked her over her fight with Nicki on Twitter because she always thinks whatever she does will be praised. You can tell no one around her says "no" to her. A true spoilt child. Only a spoilt child could have convinced her parents to move state and allow her to sign up to a record label at 14 years old (I wanted to be a singer but even I wouldn't have asked something so audicious to my parents seeing as they kept me grounded in the real world). Her parents clearly raised her to believe that she has incredible abilities for her to have that confidence so young. And you can see the effect its had on her as a grown adult.

Trust me, if she didn't have the PR to convince us that she's a sweet girl, she'd have been out on her arrogant behind a long time ago.

[Chic 20,830]

I didn't say "be friends with," I merely said "support." That also translates as "Would you like her?" "Would she make a good impression on you?" And I notice you're just listing all the sweet, rose-tinted stuff about her. There's no mention of all the bad things she's done. You really think the things I listed are indicative of someone who is grateful for their success? Because she sure sounds like someone who takes it for granted, thinks she is the best and assumes she'll be around forever. She sues her own fans for goodness sake! How can you support someone like this? How can you not see that they have an inflated sense of importance and ego?

I totally agree with you, but the part I bolded in your post is something Taylor discussed just a day or two ago:

http://gagadaily.com/topic/165905-taylor-for-vogue-australia-im-not-stupid/

[Whispering 18,865]

Not going to quote all that. So, the question is would I support her? Well, obviously yes, since I buy her music and would attend her latest tour. (If it would have worked out with my schedule) I bought her first CD way back when she had one hit country song and was opening for other artists. I went to see her as a solo act at a small venue on a college campus. This was before she was famous. So, there you go...that's my answer. 

Blah...blah...comments on articles...

If I went by comments on articles, I would think that Gaga is one of the most vile human beings to ever exist on this planet...but obviously I don't believe all that **** from miserable people on the Internet. Same way that I feel about comments on other artists on these unmoderated sites. Who cares?! People on the Internet drag everyone. 

You really do have a rather unhealthy obsession with this girl you will never meet or know. It's like you really want me to hate her, because you hate her. I just don't get that. 

[StrawberryBlond 14,087]

I totally agree with you, but the part I bolded in your post is something Taylor discussed just a day or two ago:

http://gagadaily.com/topic/165905-taylor-for-vogue-australia-im-not-stupid/

I know it sounds really cynical of me to say it, but it all seems too good to be true that she's saying such a thing. It's the one self aware thing that she's said and that's suspicious. I wouldn't be surprised if she got advised by her PR team to say this to counteract the backlash that's started brewing against her. Inevitably, the idea of "Will she be making hits forever?" be considered after she's re-peaked after all this time, so she had to be prepared for questions like this. What was she supposed to say? "Oh, yes, I already know my next album will be massive and I'm already a solidified legend"? No, of course, she gave the textbook humble answer, as anyone else would. Point is, this kind of response isn't worth judging a person's genuine personality on as everyone gives the answer that's expected of them. It's like asking someone if they do d--gs - you'll never get the truth. You may say this sounds like I'm being unfair to Taylor but I'd say the same thing about Gaga or Lana or any of my faves who gave the same interview. Taylor may be humble here, but her general personality, on the other hand, suggests to me that she really does think she's something special.

Not going to quote all that. So, the question is would I support her? Well, obviously yes, since I buy her music and would attend her latest tour. (If it would have worked out with my schedule) I bought her first CD way back when she had one hit country song and was opening for other artists. I went to see her as a solo act at a small venue on a college campus. This was before she was famous. So, there you go...that's my answer. 

Blah...blah...comments on articles...

If I went by comments on articles, I would think that Gaga is one of the most vile human beings to ever exist on this planet...but obviously I don't believe all that **** from miserable people on the Internet. Same way that I feel about comments on other artists on these unmoderated sites. Who cares?! People on the Internet drag everyone. 

You really do have a rather unhealthy obsession with this girl you will never meet or know. It's like you really want me to hate her, because you hate her. I just don't get that. 

It's not a question of if you believe the comments on these articles, it's a question of if you think enough of the public is being turned off by her. These comments has hundreds of thumbs up, by the way. It's not foolproof, but it is a good reflection of how the public feel about an artist in general. An artist's success isn't determined by the fans, but by the public. The public only make up about 5% of artist's sales, a quarter tops. So it matters hugely what the public think and I never underestimate how the public alone can turn the tide. Whether they're miserable or not isn't the issue, the issue is whether these miserable people like an artist or not.

It is a pretty extreme obsession, I'll admit, but it's only this way for a reason - because I don't like to see bad people succeed and convince the world that they're good people in the process. And I think Taylor has the world fooled. I don't need to meet her to see right through her because her true colours are so obvious. You can like her music but I'm trying to make you see the person she really is. Like I said, I like the music of artists I don't actually like as people, so all I'm asking for is a bit of acknowledgement on the fans part. Honestly, I've never heard anyone say "I like Taylor's music but she's a horrible person." And I'm surprised I don't hear it more, to be honest. Considering her management threatened GGD because someone had posted a photo of Taylor on the site, I thought more members would start waking up to the reality. Sorry, but anyone who threatens one of my happy places over something stupid and irrelevant is no friend of mine.

[Whispering 18,865]

It's not a question of if you believe the comments on these articles, it's a question of if you think enough of the public is being turned off by her. These comments has hundreds of thumbs up, by the way. It's not foolproof, but it is a good reflection of how the public feel about an artist in general. An artist's success isn't determined by the fans, but by the public. The public only make up about 5% of artist's sales, a quarter tops. So it matters hugely what the public think and I never underestimate how the public alone can turn the tide. Whether they're miserable or not isn't the issue, the issue is whether these miserable people like an artist or not.

It is a pretty extreme obsession, I'll admit, but it's only this way for a reason - because I don't like to see bad people succeed and convince the world that they're good people in the process. And I think Taylor has the world fooled. I don't need to meet her to see right through her because her true colours are so obvious. You can like her music but I'm trying to make you see the person she really is. Like I said, I like the music of artists I don't actually like as people, so all I'm asking for is a bit of acknowledgement on the fans part. Honestly, I've never heard anyone say "I like Taylor's music but she's a horrible person." And I'm surprised I don't hear it more, to be honest. Considering her management threatened GGD because someone had posted a photo of Taylor on the site, I thought more members would start waking up to the reality. Sorry, but anyone who threatens one of my happy places over something stupid and irrelevant is no friend of mine.

The album is still selling 40K per week and her latest single is staying in the top five on iTunes despite selling millions of albums...so no, I don't believe the GP is sick of her, like you want them to be. 

You aren't going to make me "see" anything. These are your opinions based on some notion that you know better than others because you believe you can read strangers better than anyone else. I don't believe that you can, or anyone else can for that matter. I'm not going to agree with you on your hate for Taylor, Lorde, Beyoncé, Adele, Bruno and a whole list of other artists

that for some reason you believe that you have figured out what they are like in real life. You really need to understand the reality of the situation here. Many people don't agree with you on these speculations you have come up with about all of these artists. Sure, you will have some people agreeing with you here....we've got a thread right now about how Gaga is a murderer. That doesn't mean that the majority of the GP agree with you or with those conspiracy nuts. I don't believe that you have some gift of reading artists you don't know, I don't believe in your spidey senses...You aren't going to make me agree with you on your ever growing list of artists that you despise. 

[Redstreak 6,653]

The album is still selling 40K per week and her latest single is staying in the top five on iTunes despite selling millions of albums...so no, I don't believe the GP is sick of her, like you want them to be. 

You aren't going to make me "see" anything. These are your opinions based on some notion that you know better than others because you believe you can read strangers better than anyone else. I don't believe that you can, or anyone else can for that matter. I'm not going to agree with you on your hate for Taylor, Lorde, Beyoncé, Adele, Bruno and a whole list of other artists

that for some reason you believe that you have figured out what they are like in real life. You really need to understand the reality of the situation here. Many people don't agree with you on these speculations you have come up with about all of these artists. Sure, you will have some people agreeing with you here....we've got a thread right now about how Gaga is a murderer. That doesn't mean that the majority of the GP agree with you or with those conspiracy nuts. I don't believe that you have some gift of reading artists you don't know, I don't believe in your spidey senses...You aren't going to make me agree with you on your ever growing list of artists that you despise. 

You are slaying me today, king

 

 

 

[StrawberryBlond 14,087]

The album is still selling 40K per week and her latest single is staying in the top five on iTunes despite selling millions of albums...so no, I don't believe the GP is sick of her, like you want them to be. 

You aren't going to make me "see" anything. These are your opinions based on some notion that you know better than others because you believe you can read strangers better than anyone else. I don't believe that you can, or anyone else can for that matter. I'm not going to agree with you on your hate for Taylor, Lorde, Beyoncé, Adele, Bruno and a whole list of other artists

that for some reason you believe that you have figured out what they are like in real life. You really need to understand the reality of the situation here. Many people don't agree with you on these speculations you have come up with about all of these artists. Sure, you will have some people agreeing with you here....we've got a thread right now about how Gaga is a murderer. That doesn't mean that the majority of the GP agree with you or with those conspiracy nuts. I don't believe that you have some gift of reading artists you don't know, I don't believe in your spidey senses...You aren't going to make me agree with you on your ever growing list of artists that you despise. 

We don't know how many bought it months back and have now changed their mind about her, though. I wonder how many copies she would've sold if she had kept to her old country sound which isn't as big anymore. Let's face it, it's the public that really brought up those sales - probably around 3-4 million or more is down to them. She did lose some long time fans by going pop and seeing as she had been on a steady downfall since Fearless, her change to pop helped hold back the tide. She's in a precarious position right now and her new fans could easily turn their back on her if she changes again or simply isn't successful anymore. It's easy to praise an artist's sales during their selling out era, not so much in their artistic experimental era.

Listing the suing of her fans, making diss tracks and suchlike is not an opinion, it's fact. What I think of these facts is the opinion. Most of it actually isn't based on reading a person, it's just judging their personality based on the facts. The facts are there for all to see and I was sure these actions constituted a bad person in most people's minds. Or are we just a lot more forgiving when it comes to celebrities? I think celebrities are just like us, it's just that more people know their names. So, I don't let them get away with behaviours that wouldn't be tolerated among the rest of us. I've never understood why we give celebrities such a pass but then ironically complain about their big egos. Who would have thought that praising everything they do and giving them a pass for bad behaviour was going to result in someone having an inflated sense of self importance, eh?

Most of the time, I list facts, not speculations. I list the things these artists have proven to have done and then weigh up what I think about them. And I just so happen to have a list as long as my arm concerning the negative things Taylor has done (all of them factual), so I'm choosing to believe, based on the evidence, that she's not that nice. And I don't think my belief is harsh either. I just hope that one day, more people can see it too.

By the way, I gave you a mention in that thread about the worst thing we've ever done on GGD - I think you should check it out to show there's no ill will.

[Whispering 18,865]

@StrawberryBlond

lol....yes, we don't know how many people that buy ANY album in ANY genre, for the past fifty years, has regretted their purchase. We could say this about every single album that has ever been sold, so this is one of the sillier excuses I've seen you come up with.

What we do know is that 1989 is still selling over 40K in the US every week and has remained in the top 10 on Billboard for coming up on a year now. You can spin away and make up all kinds of silly excuses in your head, but the truth is this album and the singles off of this album have been consistent sellers with the public for a solid year now. The stans and fans bought this album a long time ago, so what we are seeing, and have been seeing for months now, is the general public buying 1989 and the singles that are being released this era. 

Fun FACT: Since 1963, when Billboard started its Top 200 chart, there have been only seven albums to make it to fifty weeks in the top ten on that chart. 1989 is one of those seven albums. If the album stays in the top 10 for 52 weeks, it will make it to the top five albums of all time to have stayed in the top 10. 

And by the way, country music is one of the few genres where overall sales have increased or held steady over the past few years, while pop sales have crashed. Crossover country would have been a very good space to stay in, if you look at the actual facts on the music industry over the past few years. This is another example of things that you make up and try to state as some kind of fact, that simply isn't true. 

[Kacey Elizabeth 900]

We don't know how many bought it months back and have now changed their mind about her, though. I wonder how many copies she would've sold if she had kept to her old country sound which isn't as big anymore. Let's face it, it's the public that really brought up those sales - probably around 3-4 million or more is down to them. She did lose some long time fans by going pop and seeing as she had been on a steady downfall since Fearless, her change to pop helped hold back the tide. She's in a precarious position right now and her new fans could easily turn their back on her if she changes again or simply isn't successful anymore. It's easy to praise an artist's sales during their selling out era, not so much in their artistic experimental era.

Listing the suing of her fans, making diss tracks and suchlike is not an opinion, it's fact. What I think of these facts is the opinion. Most of it actually isn't based on reading a person, it's just judging their personality based on the facts. The facts are there for all to see and I was sure these actions constituted a bad person in most people's minds. Or are we just a lot more forgiving when it comes to celebrities? I think celebrities are just like us, it's just that more people know their names. So, I don't let them get away with behaviours that wouldn't be tolerated among the rest of us. I've never understood why we give celebrities such a pass but then ironically complain about their big egos. Who would have thought that praising everything they do and giving them a pass for bad behaviour was going to result in someone having an inflated sense of self importance, eh?

Most of the time, I list facts, not speculations. I list the things these artists have proven to have done and then weigh up what I think about them. And I just so happen to have a list as long as my arm concerning the negative things Taylor has done (all of them factual), so I'm choosing to believe, based on the evidence, that she's not that nice. And I don't think my belief is harsh either. I just hope that one day, more people can see it too.

By the way, I gave you a mention in that thread about the worst thing we've ever done on GGD - I think you should check it out to show there's no ill will.

Whispering acts as if an opinion cannot be true. What makes it an opinion and not a fact is that it hasn't been tested and proven yet.