Mid week on the playing fields

The world can be a pretty depressing place, and one of the biggest sources of depression for me has always been observing how utterly stupid people can be. And unfortunately, social media platforms provide a prime example of this.

I have for some time been reflecting on how the treatment of Morrissey by the press, and its woolly, unquestioning followers, is very much akin to playground bullying. Anyone who dares to be different, singular, to do anything out of the ordinary, who people don’t really understand and find perhaps a little odd, becomes a target. And once a target, anything that person does is potentially used against them. Whatever they do is jeered at.

This type of online playground bullying has been rife this week since Morrissey had the audacity to do something that apparently hasn’t been done before. Shock, horror, he signed copies of other artists’ material and put them for sale on his merchandise stand at the Hollywood Bowl. I’m a little puzzled as to why this is even newsworthy, but in any case, the reaction has been quite illuminating.

Unlike many, it seems, I don’t like to presume to know the reasons why Morrissey does everything he does, or what he is thinking, but in this case I hope Morrissey won’t mind if I make so very bold as to speculate. Actually, Rebecca White of Letters to Morrissey has already pointed out that perhaps Morrissey just wants to share some of his most loved albums, some of the music that influenced him and has meant a great deal to him, with his fans.

“Morrissey is clearly passionate about passing on to younger generations an understanding and love of the music that influenced him. What better way to tempt a younger generation of his fans than to sell those albums with his autograph?” she writes, whilst also reminding us that just last June, Morrissey posted a list of what he considers “the ten most important recordings” on his website.

This seems to me a likely interpretation. It is not the first time Morrissey has shared with fans something he has enjoyed, and wants them to enjoy too, and at the same time, the level of admiration and interest he inspires in his audience goes beyond that of most artists.

It is this special relationship that outsiders simply don’t understand or appreciate. Instead, the bandwagon jumpers on social media all point and laugh and jeer, and put forward their notion that this is a desperate attempt to make money by a man whose career is over, and who is unable to sell his own records. It seems therefore, that they also fail to understand or appreciate the fact that this is a man who has just sung to a crowd of over 17,000 at the Hollywood Bowl, at the end of a highly successful North American tour promoting his latest album that topped the UK vinyl charts. This seems unlikely to leave him strapped for cash, and that’s without even mentioning his successes as an artist prior to this point in time. But that’s their chosen illusion. Worst of all, they apparently wish to rejoice in this supposed demise. Hateful indeed.

Whatever the reasons for the move, what does it matter? Is it hurting anyone? Is there anything to offend anyone? The playground bullies can’t even hide behind their claim of moral high ground and the need to ‘speak out against fascism’ here. (because apparently, leaving childish, witless and unoriginal comments on the Morrissey Official Facebook page is a really effective way to fight fascism. Who knew?). No, there really is no excuse for it. This time we can call it for what it simply is; grown adults who know nothing about Morrissey, behaving like children, because that’s the current trend. Truly, truly pathetic, and fucking depressing.

Is it really surprising then that I choose to console myself with the songs of an honest, intelligent, bold and free-thinking individual whose words continue, after many years, to bring meaning and comfort into my life? The kindness and appreciation he shows his audience, very much apparent to anyone who bothers to look further than a headline, restores faith in humanity in a world that at times I find so deplorable.