Mike just posted this on Facebook, saying that he is very sad

[skydivingninja]

This is kinda what I'm feeling.  What mostly bothers me about MP is the pity party he seems to be throwing for himself, while also talking about how much fun he's having with A7X.  I understand his reasons for leaving and I respect them (not the touring with A7X part, the taking a break part), but if he left, he needs to prepare for a new drummer and be ready to move on soon and not wallow in his own sadness to us.

You keep talking as if MP owes you something. As if he owes it to your delicate sensibilities to not write about his feelings on twitter or facebook. Here's an idea though - why don't you just stop reading his tweets? You've clearly moved on from MP, so that should be no problem. It's win-win.

I don't feel MP owes me anything.  The enjoyment I've gotten from DT is immeasurable.  I'm not really what one would call an "ungrateful fan," I think.  But his behavior on the internet has ranged from understandable (I'm sad I didn't want to do this but it was because I'm a bit burned out right now), to tiresome (I'm sorry you're sad MP, we know you and others feel like you were the heart of the band and stuff, please stop acting like the band betrayed you by continuing), to just wtf (I can't endorse JLB's solo tour even though I could have said nothing on the subject and no one would have thought strangely of it).  I feel this break from the internet he's (mostly) been taking will be good for him.  And I don't stop reading his tweets because I am still a fan of MP's music in DT, some TA, and LTE, and being a stupid whinging fanboy, I need every bit of information on this split.

ChrisbDTM: I believe Classic Rock and Classic Rock Presents: Prog come out in the states about a month and a half after the UK release.

[lithium112]

I don't feel MP owes me anything.  The enjoyment I've gotten from DT is immeasurable.  I'm not really what one would call an "ungrateful fan," I think.  But his behavior on the internet has ranged from understandable (I'm sad I didn't want to do this but it was because I'm a bit burned out right now), to tiresome (I'm sorry you're sad MP, we know you and others feel like you were the heart of the band and stuff, please stop acting like the band betrayed you by continuing), to just wtf (I can't endorse JLB's solo tour even though I could have said nothing on the subject and no one would have thought strangely of it).  I feel this break from the internet he's (mostly) been taking will be good for him.  And I don't stop reading his tweets because I am still a fan of MP's music in DT, some TA, and LTE, and being a stupid whinging fanboy, I need every bit of information on this split.

ChrisbDTM: I believe Classic Rock and Classic Rock Presents: Prog come out in the states about a month and a half after the UK release.

Look, I know MP has made some statements in the past month or two that have seemed a little whack. All I'm saying is that maybe we should give him a bit of slack. This wasn't really directed too much at your specific statement,  but a lot of the initial comments in this thread. It seems like people are ready to bash MP at a moment's notice nowadays and I didn't feel that his facebook announcement warranted that at all.

Basically what I'm saying is that we should remember what Mike and the other guys have been through and respect the fact that they might not be acting rationally or w/e right now or making posts that they might not have otherwise made. Especially Mike, since he's the one who's left out now. If we were in the shoes of his sister or wife then maybe we'd have a different picture of what's going on or how MP has been affected by recent events. It seems like it took some fans about a month flat to forget all that MP has brought them both musically and socially in the past.

Never enough.

[KevShmev]

Never enough.

Give me a break. 

[KevShmev]

BTW, I don't see the big deal with his tweeting about this article. 

[Perpetual Change]

Defending Mike from criticism is one thing. Citing "Never Enough" in that defense really takes things to another level.  

[tri.ad]

Defending Mike from criticism is one thing. Citing "Never Enough" in that defense really takes things to another level.  

A level that's way, way, WAY below normal defending.

[Ħ]

Never enough.

Give me a break. 

I've noticed, this is at least the second time you've disagreed with the notion of gratitude toward Mike Portnoy for what he has done for us these past twenty-five years.  Hmmm.....

[lithium112]

Never enough.

Give me a break. 

I though you guys might like that. 

[ariich]

I'm pretty appalled by some of the posts in this thread. Mike said he was going to break from certain parts of the internet, and has done so, and has said nothing about the DT situation for weeks. Now that the mag is coming out (the interviews were done weeks ago, remember), he has politely promoted it and mentioned that it made him feel sad. What the hell is wrong with that? If it didn't make him feel sad then there'd be something seriously wrong with him. You'd have to literally not have a soul to think that someone in that situation wouldn't feel sorrow.

[Bertielee]

Yeah. I've been very critical of MP in the last few weeks, but, come on, he has every right to be sad. BTW he doesn't say anything harsh about the band or so ;  for once, leave him alone.

B.Lee

[Perpetual Change]

I'm pretty appalled by some of the posts in this thread. Mike said he was going to break from certain parts of the internet, and has done so, and has said nothing about the DT situation for weeks. Now that the mag is coming out (the interviews were done weeks ago, remember), he has politely promoted it and mentioned that it made him feel sad. What the hell is wrong with that? If it didn't make him feel sad then there'd be something seriously wrong with him. You'd have to literally not have a soul to think that someone in that situation wouldn't feel sorrow.

Yeah, some of the responses here just make no sense at all... like do people just like being angry at Mike unnecessarily?

[Ħ]

I'm pretty appalled by some of the posts in this thread. Mike said he was going to break from certain parts of the internet, and has done so, and has said nothing about the DT situation for weeks. Now that the mag is coming out (the interviews were done weeks ago, remember), he has politely promoted it and mentioned that it made him feel sad. What the hell is wrong with that? If it didn't make him feel sad then there'd be something seriously wrong with him. You'd have to literally not have a soul to think that someone in that situation wouldn't feel sorrow.

Yeah, some of the responses here just make no sense at all... like do people just like being angry at Mike unnecessarily?

That's definitely been the vibe not only here, but since his departure.  Really, the only things we can be angry at him for are 1) his 500% comment, 2) his facebook link to the MP-praising article that also bashed DT, 3) his misunderstanding of JLB's Used Bin Radio interview and actions that followed on his forum, and 4) his half-hearted apology.  He has not pulled a Roger Waters in any way.  Not once has he openly bashed DT or any of its members.  I don't understand why people suddenly think MP is a big jerk.  If you check the archives for the IM topic, just months ago, this vibe didn't exist at all, and people constantly praised Mike for pulling off unexpected surprises for the fans.

[ariich]

Only number 3 from that list is one that, in my opinion, people can be justifiably annoyed about. The others are either not a big deal or require massive assumptions to be negative.

[Seventh Son]

Never enough.

Give me a break. 

I've noticed, this is at least the second time you've disagreed with the notion of gratitude toward Mike Portnoy for what he has done for us these past twenty-five years.  Hmmm.....

I don't think its disagreeing with a motion of gratitude so much as it is being realistic and not being a fanboy. There's defending Mike, and there's pulling the "Never Enough" card.

That being said, I like Mike, I like DT, but I don't think Mike owes us anything nor do we owe Mike anything at all. It was his choice to make the music and pour his soul into it, and it was our choice to listen to it and enjoy it.

[ricky]

is the mag available here in the states?

[ZKX-2099]

Am I the only reasonable person who gets both sides of the split?

[Tick]

Um, why are so many people getting upitty about Mike having to move on just because a magazine interviewed him? 

Exactly.

[Perpetual Change]

Am I the only reasonable person who gets both sides of the split?

Yes. Please bask in this thread awhile longing so that some of your reason may spill over the brim onto the rest of us poor creatures.

[moffatt]

I didn't want to buy this magazine as its like £7 but now seeing the cover I may have too...

[TheOutlawXanadu]

The peculiar thing is that Mike avoids actually saying "I LEFT DT."  He totally deflects attention to HIS CHOICE by saying that they "Forced Me" or that "I Had No Choice."  THEY, THEY, THEY!!!!

This is interesting because I am learning about this kind of thing right now in social psychology. We just finished talking about ideal and real selves, and how in order to defend ourselves we start looking at others instead of looking in the mirror.

Not trying to sound smug or anything. I just found it interesting how a lot of Portnoy's actions could be applied to the current focus of the course.

The guy just won't stop playing the victim card, which is understandable, but unrealistic.

[Perpetual Change]

Not trying to sound smug or anything. I just found it interesting how a lot of Portnoy's actions could be applied to the current focus of the course.

The guy just won't stop playing the victim card, which is understandable, but unrealistic.

What's more interesting is this seems to be a common attitude among people who've overcome addictions.

[TAC]

Am I the only reasonable person who gets both sides of the split?

No

[Vivace]

This only cements my theory on what happened even more.

[KevShmev]

Never enough.

Give me a break. 

I've noticed, this is at least the second time you've disagreed with the notion of gratitude toward Mike Portnoy for what he has done for us these past twenty-five years.  Hmmm.....

I don't think its disagreeing with a motion of gratitude so much as it is being realistic and not being a fanboy. There's defending Mike, and there's pulling the "Never Enough" card.

Exactly.

Defending Portnoy is one thing; lowering yourself to pulling the "Never Enough" card is another.

[ClairvoyantCat]

Maybe if he had left for really good reasons it would be understandable for him to act this way.. but he left just because he wasn't having fun.  It seems to me he already regrets his decision.  He's like the kid who threw a temper tantrum and broke his favorite toy, and then expects pity because he no longer has one.

[Aniland]

Am I the only reasonable person who gets both sides of the split?

Yes. Please bask in this thread awhile longing so that some of your reason may spill over the brim onto the rest of us poor creatures.

This is basically what I thought of.

[Loser1]

Not trying to sound smug or anything. I just found it interesting how a lot of Portnoy's actions could be applied to the current focus of the course.

The guy just won't stop playing the victim card, which is understandable, but unrealistic.

What's more interesting is this seems to be a common attitude among people who've overcome addictions.

Interesting you would say that. Through out the years, I've noticed a lot of behavior from MP that is typical of addicts (alcohol/drugs). I'm not implying he is not sober, just saying those behaviors often never go away, even after the addict becomes sober.

Portnoy is only human so we either have to accept him and his flaws, or not.

[glaurung]

is the mag available here in the states?

It comes out on November 3rd in the states.

[Setlist Scotty]

Maybe if he had left for really good reasons it would be understandable for him to act this way.. but he left just because he wasn't having fun.

I wouldn't say his reason for leaving wasn't a good reason. He didn't leave just because he wasn't "having fun" - I'm sure there have been plenty of times in the past where he hasn't "had fun" while in DT for any number of reasons, but he continued on in the band because his heart was still in it. The reason why he left at this point was because his heart was not into it - if he stayed in the band, he simply would have been going thru the motions, not giving his best and being unhappy at the same time. He didn't want to put himself or his bandmates thru that. Honestly (and I'm sure that many of you will disagree with me), MP's reason for leaving DT is the same as KevMo's - his heart wasn't into it and he didn't want to hold his friends/bandmates back. The only difference is, MP still enjoys playing DT's kind of music - KevMo doesn't.

[j]

But his behavior on the internet has ranged from understandable (I'm sad I didn't want to do this but it was because I'm a bit burned out right now), to tiresome (I'm sorry you're sad MP, we know you and others feel like you were the heart of the band and stuff, please stop acting like the band betrayed you by continuing), to just wtf (I can't endorse JLB's solo tour even though I could have said nothing on the subject and no one would have thought strangely of it).  I feel this break from the internet he's (mostly) been taking will be good for him.

Nothing more to say after this, really.  Pretty much covers it.

-J

[ClairvoyantCat]

Maybe if he had left for really good reasons it would be understandable for him to act this way.. but he left just because he wasn't having fun.

I wouldn't say his reason for leaving wasn't a good reason. He didn't leave just because he wasn't "having fun" - I'm sure there have been plenty of times in the past where he hasn't "had fun" while in DT for any number of reasons, but he continued on in the band because his heart was still in it. The reason why he left at this point was because his heart was not into it - if he stayed in the band, he simply would have been going thru the motions, not giving his best and being unhappy at the same time. He didn't want to put himself or his bandmates thru that. Honestly (and I'm sure that many of you will disagree with me), MP's reason for leaving DT is the same as KevMo's - his heart wasn't into it and he didn't want to hold his friends/bandmates back. The only difference is, MP still enjoys playing DT's kind of music - KevMo doesn't.

It's not an awful reason.  It would probably be worse for Dream Theater to continue to exist with a drummer whose heart was in other places and bands.  See, Kevin Moore left because he was no longer interested in playing for Dream Theater, but when he left, he LEFT and moved on.  Mike Portnoy did not want to play for Dream Theater anymore and now he is not playing for Dream Theater.  I don't understand what his problem is.  And god knows there are a thousand other bands who sound exactly like Dream Theater who would be glad to take him. 

[rumborak]

I think part of the problem really is that, other than the announcement that he would continue touring with A7X, there's been essentially radio silence as to what's happening in MP world. So, naturally, these tweets and FB updates are essentially perceived as mini-announcements. And in that light, it just looks as if he can't get over the split.

rumborak

[Vivace]

I think part of the problem really is that, other than the announcement that he would continue touring with A7X, there's been essentially radio silence as to what's happening in MP world. So, naturally, these tweets and FB updates are essentially perceived as mini-announcements. And in that light, it just looks as if he can't get over the split.

rumborak

Exactly. And I have to ask myself, why? the only thing I can come up with is that there was an argument, possibily heated but it did end well, yet it left Mike with making a choice and now I think he regrets making that choice knowing he was choosing between two things. The idea his heart wasn't in it anymore made the choice easier but if his heart wasn't in it then why is he still sad about it? One would think there would be a feeling of liberation. So again, I have a feeling he made a choice based on a temporary feeling that has now passed after the fact and now he wishes he could take it back but alas what's done is done.

[rumborak]

Well, had it gone 100% his way, he would be back in full steam with DT a year from now, after the hiatus. So, his own expectation was that a year from now everything would be hunky-dory again. From that mindset, of course he's bummed that, what could have been a temporary thing, ended up being a permanent thing.

rumborak

[Stoneyman]

IDK

It just seems like MP wanted to have his cake and eat it too.  Why doesnt he say things like "MY DECISION has been hard to deal with."  Instead of constantly hinting that THEY made him leave DT.  He deflects blame.  He cant say in one statement that it was a mutual understanding and then make it sound as if he had no choice.

I am not angry at MP in the least.  But I do get annoyed with the pity party.

I will gladly follow MP after his A7X stint is over and root for him every step of the way.