I am not a custy. What has really detracted from my show experiences of late is this dreadier-than-thou attitude that so many fans seem to hold. When one fan judges another on their dress or lack of dreadlocks, they are committing an injustice that is just as ignorant, narrow-minded and judgmental as some yuppie saying "There's a dreadie, he must be a burn out."  When one 'fan' says to another. "You must not like Phish as much as me because you brush your hair," what sort of prejudice are they perpetuating?

When I look at the stage during a show, I don't see four dreadies decked out in patchwork, I see four guys in jeans and button-down T-shirts. I don't see four guys competing over how many shows they've seen and how much of a SuperFan they are, I just see four incredibly generous and talented musicians.

This story might be under "What is Phish," but it really belongs in "Who are Phish Fans?" and I am sad to say that, of late, many fans are just as snobby, judgmental and narrow-minded as the mainstream culture they so loudly despise. This is not to say that all fans are snobs, and all dreadies look at a person like me and think "custy". But I think that, for the little time we have left, we should stop looking at each other and start looking at the stage.

- Nora M.