# Michael Jackson fans?! WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 17, 2002, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-fans-who-are-these-people/137181 "2002-11-17T17:53:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-fans-who-are-these-people/137181/21 "2002-11-18T10:54:51Z")
I have a kind of freak-show morbid curiosity about him. that ‘face’ I know it’s horrible. But I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen, It was like staring into hell. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-fans-who-are-these-people/137181/22 "2002-11-18T11:45:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by djf750 \* > **Those were not shills, they were people who wanted to see a great entertainer. In fact, one of my teenage daughter’s friends got his autograph. Say what you will about this very very strange man, he is one of the greatest entertainers of all time. His dancing is amazing.** If they wanted to see a great entertainer, the question remains: Why him? He hasn’t “entertained” in a long time. And dancing? Yep, 10-15 years ago. When’s the last time he did any dancing in public, other than dancing away from the media’s question about why he’s so wacko now? ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-fans-who-are-these-people/137181/23 "2002-11-18T14:39:47Z")
I’m quite the MJ fan. No, his recent offerings haven’t done it for me but his older releases more than make up for them. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-fans-who-are-these-people/137181/24 "2002-11-18T14:51:19Z")
[The evolution of MJ’s face](http://anomalies-unlimited.com/Jackson.html) ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-fans-who-are-these-people/137181/25 "2002-11-18T15:01:33Z")
Plenty of people are still fanatical about Michael. He will always have those type of people surrounding him. sadly. ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-fans-who-are-these-people/137181/26 "2002-11-18T15:03:50Z")
Isn’t the bulk of his fanbase overseas these days? Just who his American fans are now, I can only guess they are the devoted core that think he can do no wrong for reasons only they know. He’s truly an example of a celebrity still living on his fans’ fond memories of his past glories. Didn’t his last album sell about 2 million copies? That’s a major career disappointment for him, but that’s still a lot of albums. They can’t all have been bought strictly out of curiousity. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-fans-who-are-these-people/137181/27 "2002-11-18T18:10:44Z")
Well, there was the HIStory video, which showed thousands going hysterical over a massive statue of Michael (about the size of Lady Liberty). I wonder if some of those who turn out just do so out of curiosity. ---
**Author:** ![EchoKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@EchoKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EchoKitty)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-fans-who-are-these-people/137181/28 "2002-11-18T21:45:56Z")
I feel sorry for him. He’s obviously “off the beam” and incapable of loving himself. He was a great talent. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he killed himself one day. He’s just such a sad guy. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-fans-who-are-these-people/137181/29 "2002-11-18T23:15:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*Well, there was the HIStory video, which showed thousands going hysterical over a massive statue of Michael (about the size of Lady Liberty). > > I wonder if some of those who turn out just do so out of curiosity. \*\* Which, IIRC got him kicked out of the country (Hungary?) they started shooting it in because the officials felt that it was too close to Nazi imagery. (You know Hitler had to be spinning in his grave over _that_!) ---
**Author:** ![djf750](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@djf750](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djf750)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-fans-who-are-these-people/137181/30 "2002-11-19T01:07:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TwistofFate \* > \*\*Plenty of people are still fanatical about Michael. He will always have those type of people surrounding him. > sadly. \*\* Just like Elvis. When he performed near the end of his life, he would forget the words to the songs. And he weighed about 300 lbs. At least Jackson can still perform when he has to. Elvis was pathetic ON and OFF stage. ---
**Author:** ![80sHairMetalMaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/ed655f/32.png) [@80sHairMetalMaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/80sHairMetalMaven)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-fans-who-are-these-people/137181/31 "2002-11-19T16:38:23Z")
_ducks to avoid the rocks she knows are coming and raises one hand over the wall,waving_ I’m still an MJ fan,even though most people would never know or guess because I’m a closet fan. IDBB ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Righteous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Dr.Righteous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Righteous)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-fans-who-are-these-people/137181/32 "2002-11-19T19:11:47Z")
And just when you thought he could get no weirder: [http://www.itv.com/news/Front1819690.html](http://www.itv.com/news/Front1819690.html) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Righteous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Dr.Righteous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Righteous)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-fans-who-are-these-people/137181/33 "2002-11-19T19:13:16Z")
I wanted to add this before I posted but was too quick to click: Even if it was a doll and not a real child, it is in no way a humorous thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-fans-who-are-these-people/137181/34 "2002-11-19T19:48:52Z")
That’s a really strange article. They said they didn’t know if it was Prince or Paris, even if it was one of his kids. Isn’t Prince 5 or 6?? Anyway, I used to love MJ, even though I thought “Thriller” was scary. But by the time I turned eight the love had faded 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![80sHairMetalMaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/ed655f/32.png) [@80sHairMetalMaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/80sHairMetalMaven)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-fans-who-are-these-people/137181/35 "2002-11-20T14:25:41Z")
I was genuinely shocked and horrified while watching the video on the news last night. I don’t see how he could really do such a thing,considering how much he loves children(and not in THAT way,get yo’ minds outta da guttah!)._shakes head_I just can’t believe he would do that.It’s outrageous and so against character for him.I hope Uri sets him straight. IDBB _ducking and hiding_ ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-fans-who-are-these-people/137181/36 "2002-11-20T15:48:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by widdershins \* > \*\*Isn’t the bulk of his fanbase overseas these days? Just who his American fans are now, I can only guess they are the devoted core that think he can do no wrong for reasons only they know. > \*\* When I was on my honeymoon in Jamaica last year, the resort staff had one of his albums playing on the PA NON-STOP! I finally begged one of the activities directors to play something else. She seem stunned. She said they LOVE Michael Jackson!! ---
**Author:** ![jeevmon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@jeevmon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeevmon)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-fans-who-are-these-people/137181/37 "2002-11-20T15:51:47Z")
There’s a cynical part of me that says that he’s going to try the Eric Clapton route to a Grammy. ---
**Author:** ![80sHairMetalMaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/ed655f/32.png) [@80sHairMetalMaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/80sHairMetalMaven)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-fans-who-are-these-people/137181/38 "2002-11-21T15:21:26Z")
Please,jeevmon,enlighten me.I’ve never really liked Eric Clapton and don’t know much about him.What way would that be? IDBB ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-fans-who-are-these-people/137181/39 "2002-11-21T15:22:42Z")
IDBB, Eric Clapton’s son Conor died when he fell out of a window in a high-rise. The incident is remembered in Clapton’s Grammy-winning song, “Tears in heaven”. ---
**Author:** ![jeevmon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@jeevmon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeevmon)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-fans-who-are-these-people/137181/40 "2002-11-21T15:38:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\*IDBB, Eric Clapton’s son Conor died when he fell out of a window in a high-rise. The incident is remembered in Clapton’s Grammy-winning song, “Tears in heaven”. \*\* And there is a perception on the part of some people (myself included) that “Tears In Heaven” and the album on which it appears (which also won lots of Grammys) were not the highlights of Clapton’s prolific career and that Clapton won the awards over arguably more deserving candidates out of sympathy for his loss rather than the actual musical merit of the album. I remember a cartoon in my campus newspaper at the time that showed a character dropping a baby out of a building and asking “can I have my Grammy now?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-fans-who-are-these-people/137181.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-fans-who-are-these-people/137181.md?page=3)