NOT ONE JOKE ABOUT STDs

How quickly we move from love to hate. Only yesterday we were lying in the summer's grass, rolling around, sniffing, and today we're shivering in the cold of winter inches away from stabbing unknown people through the neck for the simple crime of clapping. Is there anything in this world that inspires such justified hatred as someone clapping? I submit that there is not. This cruel slapping sound with which rhythmless freaks attempt to join in. 'Tis a crying shame that people such as yourself see fit to add to whatever attempt at genius is up on the stage. Let's all clap along. Show them how much we like it. Yeah that's a great fucking plan. Are you a drummer? No? Then don't fucking clap along you cocksucking whore. You are a drummer? Well play your fucking drum kit and don't fucking clap along you cocksucking whore. Welcome to a world where all are cocksucking whores, and no-one claps along. Welcome to a world where if you unexpectedly win a CD through the post, it's not some awful British Bands CD with no thumping bass, and only twinkly ditties lacking any attempt at soul. Welcome to Utopia. (Welcome to Cardiff. City of dreams).

I'm no power-crazed dictator; in Utopia, I will allow people to applaud to show their appreciation, despite the unpleasant taste it leaves. Clapping along, just out of time every fucking time, will be punishable by a Big Band CD that makes your head bob around like Garth when he sucks on his big red thing. Or, all music will be purposely out of time to stop people clapping along. Changing time signatures. Anyone who puts seven beats in a bar just to piss people off is ok by me. Come the revolution, the following people will not be shot: Al Jourgensen, Al Jolson, Trent Reznor and the Reznors from Super Mario World. Everyone else will be shot, including dead people, who will be shot twice, just to be on the safe side. In music classes at school did you ever have to clap with just two fingers so you wouldn't make too much noise, but the teacher could say you were doing music, when in fact they were just playing the piano, or tapes, or whatever? I think I'd allow that. It pulls on the space between the swearing/pussy/middle finger and the unused ring/(ring) finger; it's not painful, but it's noticeable. If you want to clap, be aware of what you're doing, feel a twinge and don't make too much fucking noise. Clicking your fingers will also be allowed. It has beat connotations daddiolion; I think we can allow that as long as people say one hepcat for every eight clicks. All the final details I'll have to run past my Minister Of Clicky Noises, but she's a little scared of me, so I can push through whatever legislation I like.

Step back from oppression.

Don't you think that if the band, orchestra, whatever, had wanted clapping noises on their little ditty they would have put it on? They're sitting there in a studio with thousands of pounds of equipment, that could make a better clapping noise than you ever could, and for some reason, they choose not to put it on their magnum o'pus. Why do you think that is? Is it a) forgetfulness? b) they want you to do the clapping for them, cos you're the fifth, and more important, member of the band? c) clapping along with their song fucks it up and makes it sound wanky? (If you answered a or b, 0 points and a slap; if you answered c, 10 points and half a pint of chicken karma). Singing along is ok. None of those famous fucks can sing anyway. Singing sucks. Drown those fuckers out. Sing it loud, sing it proud, don't fucking clap. If the band is the kind that draws screams then scream away; it'll stop you from having to listen. Just don't fucking clap. Your natural sense of rhythm is calling you too strongly? You wanna be a drummer? Go and buy a pair of drumsticks and hit stuff. If you can't afford drumsticks, use a pair of knives and hit a sofa arm. Pots and pans don't give you sufficient bounceback. Don't fucking clap. It's not acceptable behaviour in current society. Don't fucking clap.