NESP Forum

Dang, I'm never in the right place at the right time.

Taylor has said many times that he's learned, in over ten years of performing, that he knows how to play to all kinds of people of all ages, preferences and backgrounds. He knows how to read his fanbase, and give them what they want. He's a smart and creative talent, and just like any creative artist, he can turn his actions and reactions on and off like a faucet.
As evidenced (by me and others) at Staten Island. Yes, that was crazy-horny-playful-overworked real-guy Taylor at the bus window, playing with the small crowd. He looked us over, saw some young pretty girls (not including myself here) having fun with him, so he had fun with them back! Give the people what they want.
Then a few minutes later he has a backstage moment with two fans, middle-aged mom types. (We all read his message to us.) So now he suddenly becomes the needy little boy looking for love, because he can sense that's what some types of fans can relate to, so his behavior changes.
It's all good, and it's all Taylor. Why can't people understand the many sides of creative artists, especially performers. The good ones know how to give us what we want. Let's just let Taylor be Taylor.
Personally  I loved crazy Taylor that night most of all!

elkay,
I'm a little confused by your post - - no one in this thread has criticized Taylor or suggested he should be anything other than himself - -

would agree there are rumblings in other places and on a few public non-fan sites and if it continues to get attention because people feel the need to keep it going then there is a good chance it will do a little short term damage to his image - doesn't take much for the pop media to trash him as the AI goof as opposed to the talented musician his fans and other musicians know him to be - -  
but on here it has received about what it deserves for attention  - - i.e. not much - -

BTW I believe your time line is inverted.  Taylor's conversation with Gypsee [who has run a Taylor fansite for a long time and is now a mod on THHQ] and Diane took place before the show - they are both known to Taylor and I suspect he thinks of them as reliable friends who have good reputations with the online communities they post in and who would relay exactly what he wanted to share - I doubt he has age issues when deciding who to trust - besides those with protective "mom" tendancies exist in all age groups - - and Taylor has done this before - for example in Hyannis he told EJ he was going to be disappearing for a while to write and that she could share that information

I certainly don't see Taylor's message as delivered by Diane to be that of a "needy little boy" - - to me it is a typically honest communication with his fans - - - much as he used to do fairly regularly through Gray on his blog - - - to explain to us what is going on in his life and to share some wonderful news that he must surely hope we find as exciting as he undoubtedly does - - he's writing again ! ! ! ! !
as Diane said - -  Yes ! ! !   

and it may also have been an attempt to deflect speculation and the inevitable criticism from some that he doesn't tell us what he is doing 24 / 7 / 365 - - and also to give people plenty of notice and a chance to adjust to the idea of him disappearing for a while - - is he concerned about doing that ? - of course he is -
and it's up to us to assure him we' ll be here for him when he returns - - maybe even with paid off credit cards so we can repeat this past 8 months all over again  

what I find the most fascinating about this incident is not whether it was Taylor, Bill or the freaking Cat in the Hat  - -  but rather it is the seemingly overwhelming need some have to persuade people one way or another - -  
I like a couple of opinions I've seen posted
a)  let it go and let people believe whatever works for them
b)  why the (*) does it matter ?

it's all vaguely reminiscient of the old "gel " conversations    - - - and just about as important

See now that's why I should never post my observations/thoughts/opinions on these forums. There's always room for misinterpretation.
I know what the time frame was, I was there. He drops trow on the bus, we enter the theatre, there I speak briefly to Diane & Gypsee as they await the call for their clandestine meeting, (neither of us mentioning to the other what just occured or was about to occur), they go backstage, they go to their seats, then the performance begins.
I was merely making a point about the creative spirit. Taylor does know how to read his fans and give them what they want from him. It's as unlikely that he would drop his pants (buzz phrase for behaving sexy and flirty) for DianeGypseeEJ as it would be for him to give that little speech to the young pretty fans he finds attractive. It's not an age issue, nor a
whom-to-trust issue, it's just a guy thing. Notice the many and quick behavior changes he goes through in a matter of minutes, from goofy to serious to performer, all part of an intuitive artist's makeup, and that's all I was pointing out.
And if I sense an insecurity coming from his message to us, it comes from our having similiar upbringings, my having too much therapy, and perhaps having known too many similiar men.
And some of us still get a kick out of laughing about and reliving the incident. Just not here.
Think I'll go back to my no posting rule. It's safer.

There are always going to be different interpretations about the same
action. LOL we have such fun discussing everything the man does. Please don't feel like you can't post your opinions here! Everyone is
welcome to say what they feel. People may respond in a way you don't like on some of the stuff, or may completely agree with you-it's
all in fun and if everyone agreed all the time it would be boring!!

For what it's worth I do agree that Taylor knows how to read people and give us what we want, although I wouldn't say it's in a fake way,
more like a sensitive way. I enjoy the crazy Taylor too

elkay,
I sat next to you in Concord. Please don't feel like you can't post here.
I agree with your comments on how Taylor behaves with and responds to his fans. He has fans from all walks of life and all ages (I have seen this first hand at 6 shows and I know you have been to more than 20!). We all act differently with different people....I don't behave or speak the same way in front of a teacher or a child or a priest as I would in front of a college friend or my brother.
We have all seen Taylor's playful & mischevious side and I have no doubt he has a tender childlike side that needs nurturing.....he touches on something in his book about seeking "mothering" in past relationships. He is complex and a deep thinker....most artists are, don't you agree?
I don't pretend to know him personally but after all I've learned about Taylor, we have much in common....the lightest being pre-mature gray and the heaviest being an alcoholic parent/divorced parents.

Again, please come back and post sometime....your comments are welcome here....you are a big Taylor supporter!!
Andrea/SegerHicks

elkay,
the time line was what I had seen - will obviously accept your word for what happened with regard to that - but stand by the rest of my post - I expressed an opinion just as you did which is what 99% of posting and discussion is - there was no suggestion in there that you should stop posting a free exchange of opinion and ideas - I always expect someone to challenge my posts with their own point of view - -and  believe my final point was that people should be free to deal with this - or any other issue -  in their own way - believe it - don't believe it -  - why does it matter ? - - everyone should go with what makes them comfortable

have got to ask Gray for that dead horse image -

Cool post Elkay! I agree with you. I don't see why people were offended by this silly prank of his. I just wish we had a pic of his naked tush.