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A
QUESTION OF... TOLERANCE
[From
Bong 2, April 1988. Words: Caroline Gardiner.]
Summary:
A fan in her thirties denounces the ageist
attitude she has faced from some fellow Depeche Mode fans. [468 words]
View pages: cover page 1 page 2 page 3 page 4 page 5 page 6 page 7 page 8 page 9
Try
also: "From
'Pressed In Black'" [Bong 30]
"Let Me Show You The World In My
Eyes" [Bong 49]
There are many songs on the radio these days with the theme “Everybody’s got to live as one”. It’s usually a reference to different races, and I’m sure all readers of this magazine agree with the spirit expressed in these songs; racial discrimination is despicable. But it’s amazing how other types of discrimination go on without anyone giving a thought. I refer in particular to age discrimination.
I’m a very big Depeche Mode fan who has all the records, many TV performances on video as well as their commercial videotapes, attends their concerts etc. I also happen to be in my thirties. I started collecting records in the ’60s, and, unlike so many of my generation, I continued to have an interest in the music scene and didn’t stop collecting. I have friends of the same age who are also fans and collectors. What’s wrong with that? Surely it’s a healthy thing to be interested in music of all eras, rather than a stick-in-the-mud who only cares passionately about music that was issued during one’s teenage period. After all, football fans exist aged 7 to 77 – yet nobody thinks it funny to see Grandad shaking a rattle at his favourite team’s matches.
Yet on my way to the Wembley concerts, people walking past me were making remarks like, “There goes one of Depeche Mode’s OLDER fans” followed by hoots of derisive laughter, and “Ah well, I suppose DM appeal to people of all ages” (more laughter). But there’s no law in the statute book that says a Depeche Mode fan should look a certain way, act a certain way or be in a certain age group. They cover adult subjects in their songs, and are very interesting musically. Why should this be the sole property of the teenager of 20-year-old? I’m pretty thick-skinned, but suck comments made to someone more sensitive than myself could have put them off attending DM concerts for life, which would be a sad thing as their concerts are open for everyone to attend, not just “youngsters”. [1]
Music is a passion in my life and I can’t see it ever changing – I’ll still be rocking when I’m on my way to the Post Office to collect my pension. My hobby doesn’t hurt anyone, does it?
I’d just like to end by saying: Think twice before you sneer at people. In ten years’ time you’ll be the age I am now and then it may happen to you; how would you like it? There’s room for all of us – so come on, take heed of those “Live as one” songs on the radio and realise that tolerance extends to more categories than just race. After all, I bet you don’t laugh at John Peel – look how involved HE is… and he’s older than I am!!
[1] - It seems strange for a fan in their thirties to be considered "old", and certainly to be slightly conscious of herself as "old", as this one seems to at times. But nowadays Depeche Mode have a huge number of fans in their thirties and forties, many of whom have grown up with the band. Maybe it's healthy to be reminded that it wasn't always this way. [continue]