Thanks for being a stand-up guy and not letting these retards (and, let's get it out of the way, crazy fat bitches) completely fuck it up and ruin it for everyone, even though they try their damnedest.

Thanks Trent...

I have to say, as a fan since the Pretty Hate days, your engagement both on this site (this is my first post, I'm ashamed to say) and on Twitter (I've replied a few times -- most recently with photos of the Jones Beach show that I'm quite proud of) has really made you, and NIN, more real to me than ever before.

And I think that's a problem for a lot of "fans." Nine Inch Nails and the "Trent Reznor Persona" are a very real and tangible thing that some people have taken as a mantle with which to identify themselves. It's another form of geekery. Think Star Wars Fans, or Trekkies, or CosPlayers. They've found something, have latched onto it with such ferocity that they've incorporated it into "who they are."

I'll admit that, as an angsty teen in high school, your music and lyrics synced up really with with my life. As you are no doubt well aware, there are plenty of goths (for lack of a better term) who embrace that angst. They REVEL in it. They never realized that, while your lyrics and music were very angry, very hurt, very damaged -- that you didn't WANT to be angry, hurt or damaged! You were EXPRESSING it -- and maybe even moreso, you were using it as a way to heal from it.

Some of us grew up. I don't dress like a "NIN Fan" anymore -- whatever that means. I'm a working professional, still quite creative, and while I don't feel the same way I felt as a kid, I can still identify, appreciate and love your music. I ROCKED THE FUCK OUT Saturday and Sunday. I'm still feeling it.

Some of us didn't grow up. They've projected a persona upon you and they're unwilling to let it go. Maybe it's that they never got rid of those posters they put up in high school. Hell, some are angry that you've been working out and are jacked up. Some now LOVE it.

They've taken you and made you theirs... and that's not fair when you think about it... but it's all they know. Change is hard, especially for damaged people. They felt like they had a leader, someone who understood them, and now they feel abandoned.

This isn't your fault (which you know) and they need to realize that, too.

I'm glad you're happy. I'd love to hear what happy Trent Reznor music sounds like. I wouldn't even care if it sounded like NIN. Your talents certainly extend far beyond the limitations of what NIN might be "allowed" to sound like.

Some will recoil. Let them.

Others will embrace.

Maybe you'll make some new fans along the way.

---

As for the haters, like FredDoucheCanoe, well... I'm sure you'd had enough and had to say something but I was surprised you gave the kid any credit by acknowledging him at all. You gave him the satisfaction of your response, and further fueled his fire.

My opinion is this... I know it's not a publicity stunt. It's not your style. But shit, even if it were, and you still saved a kid's life... well fuck it. You've got publicity, a kid's got his life. WIN-WIN.

Life is what's most important. You've saved someone's life. You really have. You've used your celebrity in the best possible way and I applaud you for it. It makes me proud to be a fan.

Enjoy life, Trent.

@LittleBill (on Twitter) - photos of the Jones Beach show here: [www.flickr.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/10/2009 11:43AM by LittleBill.

It's been great following you on Twitter, Trent, mostly because it's just nice to see a guy who has been such a huge influence on me, creatively and personally, be happy. I'm glad to see you all lovey dovey (I followed Mariqueen, just to see her be all lovey dovey to you too). As far as I'm concerned, you deserve it.

But, if leaving sites like Twitter will keep your mood up, then I'll be just as glad to see updates from you stop. It's your personal life. You already know that you have no obligation to keep us in the loop on stuff like that--but thank you for doing so anyway. It's not just grand gestures like giving us an entire album for free that we appreciate (thanks for that, by the way!); it's simple things like this.

Looking forward to seeing you in Singapore in August, Trent. You've probably had shitloads of fans tell you this already, but what the hell: I'm happy for you and Mariqueen.

from my experience, the best thing to do is to be involved with any social networking sites in moderation. getting too deep into it is really pointless, frustrating, infuriating, and ultimately not very rewarding.

i hope trent continues to twitter and post in this forum. i've really enjoyed his comments and insights on what he's been up to. beyond that, i can totally understand his disappointment. but, i think that's because he just got too deeply involved in the whole thing. but, of course, that's just MY opinion :-)

don't let the assholes get you down, trent. just ignore them. no matter what you do, there will ALWAYS be someone trying to bring you down because of their insecurities and jealousies.

Enlightening. Don't let the assholes bum you down.

Trent,

I'm 33 and you were one of the musicians that helped me to form my personality as a teenager. Since you have become more visible on Twitter I have been surprised by some of the things you've said regarding love, and other cuddly subjects.

I'm not sure why that should surprise me. I am an intelligent person and know there is a real person behind the music. Nevertheless, getting to know a more human side of you has been unexpected and great.

I'm glad you are growing as a person and an artist. I really hope being in love shows up in your newest music because hearing that side of you expressed artistically would be super.

Fuck the haters, brother. Keep growing and being great.

The best thing to do with morons who are harassing you is to just leave 'em alone. Who cares if they don't like you? It's not like they're people that you respect, or anyone who means anything. Like the old phrase goes - it's like yelling at a donkey. The only thing it'll accomplish is it'll annoy the donkey, and frustrate the hell out of you. I will miss you on Twitter, as you are one of the reasons I joined.

I was lucky enough to be in the front row last night (never done that before!), and it was one of the best shows I've ever seen. Had I known there were jerks who didn't appreciate it, I would have happily punched them in the throat for you.

Personally I really like your idea of a verified forum where you can see who everyone is. I'd totally be up for that.

Just ignore all the trolls online.

I'm very happy that you have changed since 1994. You are a lot happier now, your music is better than it ever was, and you are much more connected with the outside world.
I wasn't surprised by your Twitter posts at all, I knew you were a human being and I knew you had changed.

You have a woman that loves you for who you are, and you love her, I think that's really special.

I wish you two the best of luck.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/10/2009 11:47AM by HPDarkness.

Then again you can "enlist" your fans to bring down the offending server!

from forums.metalsludge.tv -


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I am not a fan! Let me explain: I'm not a fan of anyone, except to myself and those in my heart. I'm very happy that you are in love, as I am too and it's a great feeling and well worth the trial and tribulations.
With this power comes great responsibility if to anyone else, then yourself. It's a sad thing the desperation of people and hard to understand at times. Good Luck with all that, as you are in the guilded cage.
Good luck and good on ya, for bringing to the people, for the people! Hell, run for president why don't ya!
Keep the faith and keep to those great words you put to music!

Anyone else notice that Metal Sludge is offline at the moment? Hahah! Did Trent kill their bandwidth?

It's been nice seeing you break down your walls and give us a glimpse of who you are behind the personae(do some people really think there isn't a real person back there??).
It's sad that so many idiots can't live with that and need to make everything a nightmare for you, and for all of us who actually really give a shit from a more human perspective.

Be well, Sir. It's been a great ride.

Loved you then (90's), Love you now! If anyone is still the same person after 15 years that would just be sad. Plus on a completely shallow level (but I also think it represents how much you have evolved), I think you are way hotter now - with the grown up hot man look instead of the troubled youth artist look of years past. Not that it wasn't "cute", but I just think you grew up nicely, that's all. Anyway, now that we have thouroughly examined the dregs (metal sludge) that have stirred up so much trouble for you, can we go back to simply ignoring them? Guess that's hard for you when they are in the front row, spooky... Sorry, that your true (non-crazy) supporters are too busy with their sane lives to drop in and give you as many props as the crazy people give you trouble, but we are here, even if not as often. It's just that the crazies really don't have anything else to do. It always make me wonder, how do they pay their bills, doesn't seem like they would have enough time to have a job. Ah well, Whatever! The important thing is that the music has ALWAYS soothed me (yes, soothed) and also rocked me - so, please, keep up the good work I finally saw you guys in concert in Chula Vista this year and it was absolutely fantasticness. Thanks for ongoing Top Quality Artistry & Congrats on the new chapter with your new love, Mariqueen!!! Stay awesome and stay focused on stuff that inspires you and not stuff (people) that are going to try to strip parts of you away. I don't mind losing you to your love, but I would mind losing you to metal sludge. Hugs

i KNEW they'd eventually ruin your internet presence for everybody.
fuckwads.

bottom line is we want you around interacting with us and you do have a forum - this one. please stay around.

Not all of us plump, unattractive females on the front row are like that though, Trent. No, honestly, I swear we aren't.

Anyway, I agree with what you've said. I think the anonymity of the internet allows people to be more vicious than they'd have the bollocks to be in real life, and it really brings out the worst in a lot of people. (Though it also brings out the best too, as evident by the turn out for the charities and whatnot.) I think it's been interesting seeing the more human side of you, and honestly if I ever got weirded out by it then I could just, oh I don't know... Not follow you on Twitter or something. There's that weird little button that says "unfollow" that's just as easy to click as "follow". But I guess a lot of people don't notice that sort of thing. Shocker.