Blaming the media and the end of all that is good, George Michael decided this week to shut down the chat section of his website. Nasty comments about Michael looking tubby, old and tired also played a role in the decision, but Michael stressed that it was the media and the end of all that is good that were mostly to blame for the decision.

"I'm afraid that, having visited the forums on a regular basis over the past few months, simply to see how you guys thought the album/ interviews/promotion were going, I have decided to close them down," Michael or a bot purporting to be he of Wham! fame writes. "As many of you will know, much of my reasoning for the future is to stay away from the negativity of the media."

That's a good idea, George.

"I think that it is bad for me and for music in general, so I find it really sad to see the forums so packed full of negative comment, and that so many genuinely positive fans find themselves defending me(or themselves) constantly against attack."

Yep, absolutely shocking chat room behavior.

"How pointless."

Indeed.

"There are plenty of places to read people slagging each other off (Here's one - Ed), but I wasn't trying to create one in opening the Forum. Those of you that want to carry on the media's work will have to do it somewhere else I suppose...."

But what are we going to do without your website? Where else can we share in our love of banal but poppy tunes that never really lived up to similar banal but poppy Wham! tunes?

"Things will stay the same for the next two weeks, so that those of you who have made friendships can decide which other sites to meet at, and then the rooms will close. I feel bad for those of you who have always been supportive, but I'm afraid I want nothing to do with the bitching that has evolved between some members, (many members), and perhaps unofficial sites will be a calmer affair."

Is it really that bad, George?

"Sorry guys, but that's the way it goes... Peace and Love...or nothing at all."

How did Michael's immense fan base react to the news?

High Times writes, "i dont know what exactly bitching there was but we have moderators to watch the situation! REALIZE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF US QUITE NORMAL FANS AND SOME 5 OR 6 OR HOW MUCH OF THEM IDIOTS MAKE GEORGE BELIEVE WE ALL ARE SO NEGATIVE!!!!!!!!!!!WE ARE THE SAME FANS THAT WE WERE BEFORE !!!!!"

Yeah, cull the negative idiots.

But, that must be better than previous put-downs like this from Braiz_DPR.

"Message for George Michael

"Hey man, how are you? I'm a 21 years old, simple, miserable, unknown gay guy that lives down way here in Brazil (South America) and only now I'm getting to know your music... It started when I borrowed a DVD from a friend (Ladies and Gentlemen - The best of) and saw the videos and the interview. I found it amazing... and it's just the begining for sure.

"You have the sexiest man voice in the world... I just love to hear you singing... I wish you could sing to me right into my ears. I would shiver!!! And above all, you are soooo sexy!!! I would do anything to make love to you!!! You're soooo HOT! I'm sorry for beeing so horny here...

"Easy, George."

So while Michael is called "fat, tired and old" in some places, there is not a lot of negativity. Sadly, we checked. There really isn't much negativity at all. The chat forums are mostly loaded with poems and sex proposals for Michael.

But, as Michael says, it's peace and love or nothing at all. ®

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