More Responses, More Thoughts

["Schrade, Scott" <sschrade@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Keets, thank you again.  How we have missed you.

Yes, welcome back, keets.  (You should've heard all the stuff Kevin
was saying about you while you were gone.)

> But at this point, Pete's reputation and level of respect in the 
> world is buying him time and the benefit of doubt.

We'll see what happens when I go out to have a drink tonight.  I'm
sure I'll get the business.  I was thinking of just passing out a
flyer with my views & the facts printed on it.

"Hey, Schrade!  Your boy Townshend likes kiddie-porn!!"  I quietly
hand them my flyer & walk away.  How's that sound?

Nah, I enjoy verbal warfare too much.  I'll just have to go in with a
game plan.  Statements at the ready.  I won't back down.  Come fuck
with me.  Anyone.

> Scott I know that you are tired and upset.

I'm OK.  Really.  I rant & rail but it's how I deal with my conflict-
ing emotions.  I'm not gonna have a nervous breakdown or anything.
And actually, I'm looking forward to having a few beers tonight & en-
gaging the subject with friends.

> I feel as though I have just been in a brawl.  Don't you all? 

"I remember throwing punches around & preaching from my chair."

> The one question I have is the one that we all have.  Why did he use 
> that damn credit card? Did he do it on purpose?  Did he just get weak?  
> Did he think it wouldn't matter? I doubt this third reason.

Frustrating, isn't it?  See, I think your third reason is the most 
plausible.  OK, he was just doing "research."  He used his credit card
thinking, "I want to see what's on one of these sites.  No one will
find out.  This isn't that serious."

So he does it.  He does his "research."  Then the worrying starts.

> Why did we send the U2 over the USSR? 

Bono wanted to do that show, I believe.  He's very international.  ;-)
(sorry)

> Wishful thinking at best.  Most people see the splashy arrest 
> headline and never notice any followup.

Sorry, Kevin, I gotta agree with Rich here.  The majority of people 
have made up their mind.  Pete's a pedophile.  

I just know tonight when I'm passionately defending Pete at my local,
people will stop listening after the third or fourth sentence.  They'll
nervously look around, thinking they've opened up a hornet's nest by
asking me my opinion.  I'll look like a hypnotized, raving, drunken
lunatic who is too immersed in Who fandom to see Pete for what he really
is.  They'll eventually walk away, their opinion of "Pete the pedophile"
unaltered.  I will have failed.

> Pete just admits who we really are.  He is struggling with the fact 
> that there is an evil thing in us that is trying to completely destroy 
> us.  

Jon, he used his credit card to gain access to a child porn site.  He's
not a saint.  He's not being persecuted.  He has stated that he agrees
with what the police are doing.  Again, he's not blameless.

> When we stand up and say things, people automatically put a label on 
> us.      

And when we use our credit cards to go onto a child porn site & are 
caught, people will surely put a label on us.

> I am so happy to read the "good" news that Brian posted lately about 
> people finally giving Pete the benefit of the doubt,

Yes, that made me feel good to.  I sincerely hope that kind of thinking
catches on.

> The ones that seem to be the "judges" are cold hearted people who 
> (think they) have never failed in life before or people with radio 
> and TV shows that need ratings boosts.  Both are not even real to me.

Head in the sand alert!  Head in the sand alert!

> However, *I* base *my* opinion on listening and talking with a whole 
> bunch of people from all walks of life, and also from reading every 
> damn article that's been posted.

Kevin, I think what Rich is trying to say is that most of the masses
*aren't* like you....or us.  They *don't* listen to differing views.
They *don't* talk with many people.  They *don't* read every article.

They *enjoy* seeing someone humiliated (like reality T.V.).  They get
to make jokes.  Celebrity downfalls make them feel better about them-
selves.  And they nurture that feeling.  

They don't want to admit they might've been wrong.  They don't want to
admit they might've jumped to conclusions.  That's not fun.  Let's 
crack jokes, instead.  Let's all just have a good laugh.

> I tend not to look at the world from such a depressed and defeated 
> vantage point.

I'm afraid Rich is just being a realist.

> I can do without all of this personal and petty arguing over who is 
> better than who and who is right.  Take that off line.

I don't think we've sunk to that level yet, Neil.  And besides, it's
healthy to work out our feelings on all of this.  Let's remember:  We 
all have one great thing in common - we love The Who.  We're Who Freaks.
We're on the same team.

> For two days now, no significant coverage. It's over, Johnny.

Ha!  Mark's funny.  I think he's the most optimistic of the bunch!

> I think that it really SUCKS that Pete has to hire protection for 
> counter crimes that result from harassment and thuggery.  He has to 
> spend money that we gave him as repayment for the great work.   It 
> steams me!

How about this for a comforting thought, Joe:  One of those pound notes
that Pete, via his credit card, gave to the child porn distributors 
might've been yours.  One of your hard-fought-for American dollars
might've gone to "those people."  Or one of mine.  Or, Jon, one of yours.
We gave money to a child porn ring.  Chew on *that* for a little bit.


- SCHRADE in Akron