wholeheartedly. I do not normally get involved with the "flaming" posts that happen. (Maybe that's the wrong expression) Today, I am going to make an exception because of the friendship I share with a certain lady.
There has been a lot of talk recently about obsessive behaviour and it is certainly true that message boards, like chat rooms, can become very addictive. I check all the boards at least once a day though I don't get to read all the posts. By doing so, I get a very broad picture of what is going on in the fan community including rumours and gossip. (Out of interest and including Yahoo groups, there are 21 boards that I visit, relating to Neil Diamond )
Free's thread, whether posted in anger or not, raises some real issues rather than theories. Neil has security for very specific reasons and has a "stalkers" list of obsessive fans that (could) place him in danger. Unfortunately, Neil fans do not enjoy that same security. They rely heavily on the friendships formed in life and perhaps through the medium of fan boards.
I am glad and warmed by the friendships that I have made here and also by the support and friendship given by you (free) to a certain young lady with vision problems.