HANSON FANS HAVE THEIR SAY





Whenever I see an example of "Hanson bashing", I try to remember a quote I saw once many years ago. I can't recall the exact words, but it went something like this: " ... we had to learn that whenever there is a lot of love directed at someone, there is going to be a lot of hatred directed at them as well." I'm not sure at this point who exactly said that, but I can narrow it down to one of four men. It was either John, Paul, George, or Ringo.
In the 1990's the Beatles are generally revered as if they were gods, but years ago, they were just the latest pop sensation. Very few people now remember that on February 10, 1964, after their first U.S. appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, the New York Herald-Tribune called the Beatles "seventy-five percent publicity, twenty percent haircut and five percent lilting lament", or that the Washington Post called them "asexual and homely." The prevailing notion at that time was that their music career would not last through the year, and they made a handy target for any comedian with a "Beatle" wig and a guitar who could moan, "Yeah, yeah, yeah."
Almost 30 years later, the hatred is almost completely forgotten. Only the love remains. That is the situation that we fans would like for Hanson, too. And if Hanson can withstand the test of time, if they are still loved a year or so from now, that is how it will be. Personally, I have great faith that this will be the case.
For now, though, we will have to deal with the "Hanson haters." Those that I have spoken with have claimed many different reasons for actually hating three kids who have done them no personal harm, but all of them seem to mention one thing. They all have a feeling that Hanson is just too popular; that they are, in fact, more popular than they have any right to be. In other words, they have inspired too much love. I think this is what the Beatles were talking about in the quote I mentioned above.
So, how should we react to the "Hanson haters?" Well, we can argue with them, or we can ignore them. In a lot of ways, it won't matter. We probably won't personally persuade any of them of anything, but in time, they'll be convinced. And then, they'll insist that they knew it all the time. After all, how many people today would admit to having laughed at the Beatles in 1964?
In the meantime, Hanson seems to be winning all of the popularity contests. Their fan base seems to be growing in numbers, and also growing more diverse; I see a lot more male fans and grown-up fans than before. And on a recent segment of Total Request, MTV was broadcasting some of the comments they had received along with votes for Weird. One message stated, "These kids have taken so much flack, you gotta love them." So now we've come full circle: this is love, born out of the hatred, that was born out of love.

I understand people are entitled to their own opinion, but, the way Hanson Haters have games where you shoot Hanson, and mean pictures, it isn't fair, and it isn't nice. As how people say (Abraham Lincoln) "all men are created equal." Aren't the Hanson brothers human-beings? As I said before, people are entitled to their own opinion, but I think it is unfair to some people. I just wish that if someone liked Hanson (me!) they can have pictures, you know things like that; and someone who hated Hanson would just get off their backs. They should give all the shooting, blowing up heads, nasty remarks, stuff like that a rest. Wouldn't you agree? That's all.

My name is Jennifer but people call me Jay. I think this is a very good site and it could use more support. I personally dislike it when people dis me because I like Hanson. I don't think they have even ever listened to their music. They also make fun of me because of Hanson's looks and say I'm in love with a bunch of girls. That's not the case at all, not saying there's anything wrong with Hanson's looks, but I love them for their music, and if people can't learn to respect our opinions about liking this talented music group, then I personally think they should keep their mouths shut and just leave us alone and keep their opinions to themselves.

Hate . . . Such a strong word. Whenever someone uses it they normally don't realize that they don't really mean it. Just like if someone was doodling "I love Hanson" all over their binder. Hanson hasn't killed, raped, or beat anyone up. There for they don't deserve to be hated. Especially when they had the guts to come into the media with long blond hair and sing happy music which is a big change. So they dared to be different. That's brave to me. They aren't followers. Those who are, are weak because they are afraid to be themselves. Hanson in other words are leaders.
Believe it or not they've got tons of little kids looking up to them and learning from them. They have taken adults by storm and left them in shock with their great talent at their ages. We (the girls in between 13 and 17) are inspired by them to follow your dreams and you can make anything happen. Personally they've taught me to have dignity and keep my pride. As many other girls (and maybe even some boys) I am picked on for liking them and their music but it honestly makes me like them more. Because I stand up for them and that taught me to stand up for myself. I walk with my head high and I'm proud to be a Hanson lover. I won't let anyone or their stupid OPINIONS tear my confidence down. Also their music makes me feel better when I'm down instead of provoking me to kill myself because of it.
I just think if "Hanson haters" want us to respect their opinions, they should respect ours. And that's it. Oh yeah wait . . . To all those Hanson haters out there here's my opinion to you: Get a life instead of picking on people who deserve respect for their talent and people who like actual REAL talent. That means actual singing and performing. Not growling into a microphone or yelling in a deep voice. Get it. Got it. Good.

I guess I didn't mean to drop into this webpage but to whoever wrote that last post. You can ignore us, argue with us, we don't care we are NEVER gonna change our minds about Hanson. I don't know what you call talent but anybody can stand up to a microphone and try to sing words like neato, super, and cool and make a record deal, especially if your parents are rich, but you don't seem to understand. I a Hanson hater have a webpage, and many Hanson fans email me too with their opinion about OUR thoughts and many of us respect your opinion, but when many people, swear, and TRY to curse us out in an email, you think we're gonna change our minds??NO! If you read most webpages, you'll see that it says, This webpage was made by Our opinion and that all remarks are nothing against Hanson. Of course many of you Hanson fans try and talk **** to us but it's OUR opinion. So YOU get a life!!!

I suppose what irks me most is that 9 times out of 10, a hater dislikes Hanson for an uneducated reason, such as "They look like girls", "Their hair is too long", or simply "Because they're Hanson". Excuse me if I get a bit ticked off when people don't take the time to make an educated critique before they go and spout off rude things about three innocent people! It's one thing to have honestly given their music a chance, as that is what they are-MUSICIANS- and then decide that the sound just doesn't appeal to you. But, honestly, how is it fair to judge them based on appearance alone? Are we forgetting the age old saying "Don't judge a book by its cover."? Marilyn Manson is not a particular favorite of mine. However, before I decided that I didn't like his music and/or image, I took the time to do a bit of research. Although somewhat disturbed by his image at first glance, I did not make nasty remarks about him or what he was trying to do. For all I knew, he may have had some awesome music! The point is, I made sure I KNEW that what Marilyn Manson was doing just didn't appeal to me before I decided that I didn't like him. I tried very hard to be mature about it. And I remain that way now. If I come upon a fan, I may discuss why they like him, but I will not make rude comments about him, or the fan! That just isn't fair. It's unjust.
The whole situation with Hanson Haters is rapidly approaching inhumane if you ask me. Just the other night I was sent a link to a private chat room (on AOL) called "Hanson Lovers". I thought, what the heck, I'll check it out! It turned out that there were two or three haters who were rounding up Hanson fans, luring them into the room, and then continuing to say rude, vulgar, DISGUSTING things about the Hansons and the fans in the room. I found it so sick that people actually take the time to do something so awful to people they don't even know. Last time I checked, I had done those people no wrong. So, why did I deserve to be treated that way? And, moreover, why do the Hansons deserve to be spoken about that way? They don't. They just don't.

This is an issue that comes about every music group. Whether it be the Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys or Hanson. The way I see it, is that the "haters" have nothing better to do, than to joke people because they are doing something good. Something positive. Something that they have always dreamed of. I always try to get this point across everytime I write about the "Hanson hater" issue. Put them in your shoes, or your brothers, sisters, nieces or nephews. Think of you or someone else having a dream and it finally coming true. You have worked long and hard and then "bam!" You get what you have longed for. Millions of people love you! But then there are the people that hate you. Why? Because you are doing something that is positive. You make people happy. You become popular. You have attention now. The haters can't stand it. They are missing something in their lives, therefore, they feel that it will make them feel better if they joke someone who has what they have always dreamed for. Make them feel bad. Joke them for no reason at all. That's what the haters do. They don't look beyond the fact that it's Hanson. They don't look at their past, the hard work or even all the stuff that they have been through in order to get to where they are today. All they see are "Three clean cut, blonde boys who play instruments. They even look like girls!" That's what they see. It's like not buying a book because the cover is not pretty. You don't see what's on the inside. A great example of this would have to be Harry Chapin's song, "Mr. Tanner". Mr. Tanner was a singer. He sang and sang and everyone loved his voice. They all told him to sing his heart out. Make music. So, he took his life savings and went to become a singer. He got a gig and everything. When Mr. Tanner arrived to sing, the agent had changed his mind. He said, "Your voice is not original. It won't appeal to people. Forget about this. You will NEVER sing." Mr. Tanner, took these words to his heart. He never sang again. He didn't believe in himself. This song (all his songs) make me cry because he is telling a story through his lyrics. He expressed the "Hanson haters" to a tee there. Hanson got rejected 14 times and they never gave up. All the haters out there need to think before they speak. I know they are hoping that Hanson will one day just vanish. What happens if they do? No more jokes to be made. So, do the haters really want that? Or are they just secretly hiding some inner fear? I think the haters need to think about the image that they have made. Why hate someone because people love them? That's a question only they can answer.

I too have noticed the lack of respect Hanson get. Everyone seems to be out to get them. It is believed that Hanson fans are a bunch of ten year old girls that stand around screaming how great Hanson is (not that there is anything wrong with this) but that isn't true. It is almost cool to hate Hanson, but how can you hate someone that you don't know? Most anti-Hanson people dislike them for very stupid reasons. A lot of boys use the "They look like girls" comment a lot. But is that a reason to hate them? Hanson are about music not looks. To the girls who also say that Hanson look like girls is that actually a bad thing? I mean girls look like girls and its not a problem so if a boy looks slightly femine whats the big deal? Also when people say Hanson are gay, what is all that about? Are they (the anti-hansons) homophobic?? Hanson's sexual preferences are no-one else's business but there own. They have said a thousand times that they are not gay, so why don't people believe them? Do these people think they know Hanson better then they know themselves? I will never understand that. Anyway, always remember that to love something is better then to hate it.

Hi Everyone, I just want to say I think your site is WONDERFUL and so refreshingly mature. Anyway I may as well get to my point, I want to send a message to the "Hanson haters". I just wanted to tell all of you that I have visited some of your sites and I'm a little bit confused. I noticed that in alot of them you said us fans should respect your opinions, but what you must understand is that you have to earn peoples respect, people look for certain qualities in people they respect such as pride, dignity, courage and tolerance. I believe Hanson have all these qualities and so I have alot of respect for them and their music. Now I didn't write this to change your opinions on Hanson because clearly that isn't going to happen but what I'm hoping to do is to show you that if you don't like Hanson that's fine nobody expects you to, but you don't have to shove it in all their fans faces, that isn't fair to us. I mean making websites just to say you hate Hanson is silly and it's cruel to Hanson and their fans. Have you ever bothered to think about the fact that Hanson are Teenagers JUST LIKE YOU they have feelings and these feelings are hurt in the same way as if you were hanging out with your friends and they all started dissing you, I don't think you would appreciate it , WOULD YOU?? or if someone who didn't know you just took one look at you and said you are gay!!!. And you know what if you are gay that's fine, but Hanson aren't, so please stop saying that. Why don't you make a website about a band you do like? that makes so much more sense. Just be positive for once instead of sending out all this negativity. Anyway as I said before the last thing I want to do is to tell you what music to listen to or to force you to like Hanson, but please for my sake, Hansons sake and all their fans sake, IF YOU DON'T LIKE HANSON THEN PLEASE JUST IGNORE THEM AND FOCUS ON THE BANDS YOU DO LIKE.

I'm e-mailing you though to tell you how much I totally agree with your comments on the "Hanson Closet Fans" page. I too cannot understand why people continue to hate Hanson. Everyone is always complaining about the negativity in our world yet when they see something that stands for the positive, something good they find it repulsive. I'm been a huge Hanson fan for a year now and I've never been shy to tell people that. You know why? Because there is nothing wrong with it. Why would I want to hide that I totally respect three young, hardworking, talented boys who aren't afraid to show the world who they are? What amazes me is there is more backlash against Hanson than there is for bands like Marilyn Manson who continue to promote violence, drugs, and murder. I was really lucky because I actually met Hanson! I won a radio contest for backstage passes and front row tickets to their Toronto concert on June 23rd, and they were everything I ever thought they were. They were totally sweet and completely normal!

I am a Hanson Fan And I can guarantee that I will not freak out when seeing them. I went to their concert on 9-30-98 in Dallas and sat and listened the whole time, I did not scream once. It just upsets me when anti-Hanson's come on and say that they get mad when Hanson lovers come on their sites to change their minds about hating Hanson yet that is exactly what they are doing. To all the Hanson haters who see this if you don't like Hanson go to anti-Hanson sites or go listen to something you do like, who cares Hanson are just normal people making a living the best way they know how, through music. It also makes me mad when Hanson lovers (Not all just a few I've seen) say how stupid it is for Hanson haters to come on here and yell at them but they do the same thing on anti sites. If you like Hanson stay on Hanson sites where everyone is talking about the same thing or go listen to them. I think it is just stupid for Hanson lovers and haters to get into huge fights over something as small as a band. If you don't like it don't listen to it noone is making you, and if you do mmmbop your brains out. I think they are very talented guys who do what they do because they like it. Hanson is a great band, but let's not go overboard on this hate love thing.

I am a Hanson hater. I have read lots of the messages and they are mostly from fans. They say that all haters can say is they are ugly or that they look like girls, this is not true. I have lots of reasons to dislike hanson. I have heard their music. My first thoughts were, eww who are these untalented spicegirl wannabe's. I hated the songs and the lyrics and I thought they were untalented. I admit I thought they were girls but that isn't the main reason I don't like them. Not to mention how they got their record deal. I know there are many things between fans and haters. It just doesn't happen with Hanson either. I am a really big Backstreet Boys fan and I know what it's like to be on the fans side also. What really gets me is how most fans always counter what a hater says with something like they are so hot. Most fans are teenage girls who have crushes on Hanson. Only 3 percent of Hanson fans are guys and adults. Also this is the most common thing a hater says, "You are jealous". I am not jealous at all. Not to mention most fans assume haters are guys, well I'm a teenage girl! I know most haters don't respect what fans say, but fans don't respect us. All I have to say is that haters and fans should both just forget trying to prove they are right to each other. No matter what happens there will always be someone who is a hater or someone who is a fan. They are always going to disagree, so get over it.

I am a Hanson fan and I am personally sick of all this anti-Hanson stuff. I mean everybody has their own opinion, but I think some people are going totally overboard. First of all, how many Hansonhaters actually give you a reasonable explanation of why they don't like Hanson? I mean most of them say something along the lines of hanson sucks or hanson look like girls. In my opinion, that is not a reasonable answer. And I, as a Hanson fan, made the mistake of looking at an anti-hanson site, and the things those people put in there are positively vulgar and disgusting. I do not go around and tell Marilyn Manson fans or Korn fans that the person or group sucks, and it would be nice if hansonhaters would just have a little respect for Hanson and their fans. Like I've said, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but the whole world does not need to know that you hate Hanson. I find it downright rude and disgusting to take time even to make anti-hanson sites. Why don't you make or go to a site about a music group that you do like instead of wasting your time dissing Hanson and their fans? Hanson doesn't deserve this kind of treatment and neither do their fans.

Personaly I think that this war is very immature and stupid. If you don't like Hanson then you should dislike them for their music, not for their looks or anything else. Now I'm not going to go on and on about how Hanson isn't doing anything wrong to you (Hanson haters) and you have no reason to hate them because either way, I know that you won't change your opinion on them. I am a Hanson fan and I know that when anti-Hanson people start bashing US and saying how we are dumb and gay whatever, it hurts. We like Hanson for their music, and we have our own opinion on them, like you guys do, and I know that you guys do get letters from Hanson fans swearing at you and everything, but that's not all of us. So please all the Anti-hanson people, I am not saying all of you, but the ones who do bash us, their fans stop because you don't know us, and all the Hanson fans, I am not saying all of you but the ones who start bashing the Anti-Hanson people, don't because no matter what you do, everyone is going to have thier own opinion whether or not you like it. This war doesn't have to go on. Just let people be with their own FREE opinions. Thank you

Hi. I'm a boy who likes Hanson and I think this sight is great. I am really tired of hearing the lame reasons people sathe hate Hanson. The one that bothers me the most is the thing about their hair. Come on people... there is more to a person then a head of hair. Besides some of the greatest rock and roll bands have or have had members with long hair. Aerosmith, Kiss, Van Halen, Matalica, Motly Crue, even the beatles had long hair for their time. Also to those people who say all Hanson sings is bubble gum pop have obviously never really listened to their music. The fact of the matter is hanson has a quite unique style which blend Rock and blues music. Also to all those haters who say they are gay(even though they have said they are not are dead wrong. They have never heard the songs like Madeline which are about girls. This showes that they have feelings for the opposite sex. Not that it would really matter anyway. Being a sraight guy you can't say I have some stupid crush on them thats clouding my judgement about their music. The truth is( and this comes from a person who is very selective about the music he listens to only settleing for great Rock and Roll bands) that the Hanson Brothers are some of the greatest singers/songwriters of all time. Not to mention that they are just plane nice people who care about their fans unlike many of the egotistical bands I see today. I really don't care if you hate hanson. We are all intitled to our own opinions and our write to voice them. I just hope that you have really given them a chance. From one music lover to another just listen to them for a while ( especially their live record which has more of a rock vibe then some of the others. If you still don't like them maybee you could at least learn to respect them. It scares me to think how some people can be so cruel to some young talented musicians who are just following their dream.