Younger VS Older Fans

eh sucka

I meant spoiling the kids, not Bon Jovi

I do agree with you there. I am a 'younger' fan, even though I have loved bj all 16 years of my life. It does seem like a lot of the younger fans do most of the complaining. And I think I might know why... its just a theory, but a lot of the 'bands' that come out these days are all hype and very little talent. You get a group like bj who has been good for so long... everyones just looking for the 'catch.' Just a theory

well, i'm only 17 and have only been a fan since 2001 (went to own tour and fell in love with the music!) but i don't think I complain about them. The only thing i'd complain about is that i can't find the bootlegs of my concerts!!

There's no doubt that I am one of the um "older" fans. I don't complain much for many reasons.
1. I have been a fan since Slippery and have had years of pleasure from listening to the band and their solo projects.
2. I have many other interests and other music that I listen to.
3. Until I found this board about 6 months ago I didn't have many people to discuss Bon Jovi with. I lurked at Backstage but did not feel comfortable posting there. The tone may be overly critical here at times but it feels much more open to me than Backstage did. I'm more comfortable with people having a go at each other and the band than uncritical adoration.
4. I posted (and still do) on a Springsteen board where most people were somewhat older and did not spend too much time complaining about Bruce. We took what we got - especially in the 90's - and were happy with it. Or - we listened to someone else.

Kathleen

I complain about people complaining, lol.

I understand what some of you mean though, a lot of complaints do come from younger fans.

how does one distinguish wot a younger fan is? i got hooked on crossroads, so i guess that makes me a middle man :P i agree with some of becky's points, about reference to an era which long passed them when they were sitll in nappies...and its why im perhaps more drawn to crossroad-onwards BJ...then the SWW/NJ stuff...

Being one of the newest fans (hasn't even been a year since I got my first BJ album) I have to disprove the theory on younger fans being more dissatasfied than older fans. Bon Jovi have never let me down once. Then again, I haven't stuck around long enough to be let down. After reading some of the coments of those close in age to me, I learned that I have an unconditional love for the band. I may not aprove of everything they do (they're human, after all), but I still love them. I try to look past the band's faults and enjoy the things I like about them.

I've been a fan for almost 3 years now, since I first bought Crush, but I don't see why I should be considered less of a fan than someone who has followed them from the begining.

It's not like I could have followed their entire career....they've been together longer than I've been alive.


For me it's not about how many shows someone has been to, or how many copies of each album or single they have...it's all about the music. I like listening to the music, and that is why I come here, to talk to others who appreciate the band, and for the great downloads people provide.

I don't think anyone is saying that you're more of a fan or less of a fan based on how long you're been a fan. You can't define the depths of someone else's fandom. And you don't have to answer to anyone else who challenges 'how much of a fan you are.'
I think the observation (which I tend to agree with, at least on this site to an extent) that was discussed was that there is a great amount of negative posts that express disappointment in almost every aspect of things the band doees, be it live shows, albums, etc. So much so that it was noticeable that many of these posts come from fans that are skewed younger - which is interested when you factor in the truth that many of them were even using toilets when the band was first coming out.
You can't blame someone for when they're born or when/how they discovered Bon Jovi - age doesn't make you any more or less of a fan, nor does the amount of time you've followed the band, nor does how many shows you've gone to, how many bootlegs you have or how many times you've sat in front of a band members driveway hoping for a glimpse.

But, there seem to be alot of news fans that post very negative things referring to the good old days, when the band really rawked and when Jon could really sing, as so much better... they never experience it firsthand and are pining for days long gone which is pointless. Bon Jovi is what Bon Jovi is - today, in 2003.

Taken somewhat out of context:

It should be

Kathleen