I am writing this blog from a place of immense sadness.

To me it feels like all day long, I have been bombarded by signs of David Cook fans' intolerance toward one another. And at this moment, I can't take anymore. I am just filled with sadness.

I wish I could articulate better what had saddened me and why it makes me sad, but the sadness right now is so crushing that I don't know if I could begin. I'll try though.

* Fans yelling at other fans who have been attending a lot of shows.
* Fans yelling back that they have the right to attend as many shows as they want.
* Fans yelling about signs, flat [x]s, and gifts.
* Fans yelling back that no one has the right to tell anyone else how to behave at a concert, as long as they aren't hurting anyone.
* Fans complaining about [x] group of fans, for a variety of reasons, and that anyone who associates with [x] group must be _____. (Mean-spirited, crazy, not true fans of David, overly obsessed, etc.).
* Fans yelling back that complainer group is _______. (elitist, rude, not true fans of David, etc.)
* Fans complaining that if these fans like [x] (member of the band, another musician), they must not be true fans of David.

I'm sure there's more, but you get the idea.

When did we fans of David become so hateful toward each other? When did we get a picture in our heads of what a "true and proper" David Cook fan looks like, and when did we decide that anyone who doesn't match that picture in our head is somehow lacking or going about this whole fandom thing all wrong?

I will admit right up front that I have complained about at least one of the groups I just listed before. And right now I've decided, enough is enough. I'm not going to complain about the way any fan of David Cook chooses to carry out his/her fandom. So long as that person isn't doing anything illegal or dangerous (like out-and-out stalking or actually physically hurting other fans), I'm done with the condemnation.

I don't expect many people to agree with me. I'm sure there are many who thinks that one of the above groups are worthy of condemnation. And that is your choice, too, I suppose--if I'm going to be as tolerant toward the fandom as I would like to be, I suppose I should embrace folks' right to do so.

I guess I still remember when a young man, on the cusp of the release of his first major-record-label single, told us all, "No more fan cliques--we're about love," and sincerely meant it. I wonder what happened to those days, when we all looked up to a remarkably talented young man and wanted to behave in ways that would make him proud.

Personally, all this fanwarring has made me want to take a few steps back from the fandom for a while, and just immerse myself in the music of David Cook and all the other musicians that he has introduced me to. Maybe it will help me to remember why I'm here in the first place.

The music.