[quote=Geki]I wish I could delete this topic. I feel embarrassed to have written the stuff that I did. I love LP. LP will always be my favorite band and in my heart. I have had some GREAT experiences because of the LPU and also because of the band. The band is the reason I am even still alive today (long story).
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I’m guessing you’ve changed your mind!
I wasn’t at the US Summits, but I went to South Africa and New Zealand’s Summits from Los Angeles. And, it’s not only about the band. You go to Summits to meet other fans in person, outside of an online communication. Some of my closest friends today, I barely met last November in Cape Town. I’m going back TWO times this year to visit them. They’re my new family and it’s because Linkin created an event for us to bond. The trip became more about meeting these amazing people I met online, than about the band.
Then, you can too, initiate a conversation with them! I’ve been able to have great talks with them cause I said hi and asked how their flight was or what their favorite dog was. I didn’t always get every band member in a good chat, but you also can’t blame them especially at Summits. The schedules are tight and they can’t realistically have a decent chat with every fan when there is close to 200 every time.
I think, the smaller M&Gs are better for the band. The Summits are more about your fellow Soldiers.
As for the chats, I don’t think you can blame them. People don’t respect the chat rules and blow it up with the usual “When are you coming to (insert country)?!” and “(insert country) says hi!” To be honest, I enjoy crew member chats more because people tend to not freak out over them. So, it’s more about trying to bring change to the fans, too.
But in SA and NZ, I talked to a lot of people about the same question you first had about the price to be in the LPU. They, miles and miles away from the band’s core city, and SA with only one visit in 12 years, are well aware they might not have the Summit chance they are paying for, chats are at horrid hours for them, and they have to pay import taxes for the package, but they’re proud to be LPU nonetheless. I had complained back in LPUX too about the prices, but we DO have another option to not pay so much. We pay for the chances, which not many other countries have at all, and for the shared passion with so many others.
Still, you have reasons to feel as you do and no one can really blame you. Like Derek said, it won’t make you any less of a fan.
I -do- hope you changed your mind though (: Linkin do care about us and it’s great loving them with others…