June 10, 2011 - submitted by The Oracle, United Kingdom

 

Q. WHO'D LIKE TO JOIN TEAM ORACLE?

When I answer questions of a personal nature, Coldplay.com readers often get in touch with their own thoughts. So, we now have a weekly feature, Team Oracle, whereby each Friday (with the question asker's permission) we open up a question to all of you to answer too. Then, the following Friday, I'll post a selection of the best answers, alongside my own reply.

ANYONE can join in so, if you'd like to, please email your response to the following question, in no more than 200 words, to [email protected] before Thursday 16th June.

"In April, I ended things with a guy. I still liked him alot, but I just didn't want a relationship.

He took it really hard, and I'm pretty sure he hates me now.

Whenever I try to talk to him, he keeps saying how I broke his heart and everything, and I'm starting to feel really bad and guilty about what happened. I know I have no reason to, I just didn't want a relationship, it was a mistake. But I still feel terrible.

Now I can't stop saying I'm sorry, and he just won't forgive me.

At this point, he is being childish, but I can't take the guilt of knowing I've broken someones heart anymore... And I don't know what to do about it if he won't accept my sincere apologies.

Also, a lot of his friends are starting to hate me now. Some of them are also my friends, and I'm losing them.

Dear Oracle, please help me. I can't take the guilt and the hate. I don't know what to do anymore. Grace."

 

Look forward to seeing your replies.

The Oracle

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

Please email your replies to [email protected]

June 10, 2011 - submitted by Frances, Canada

 

Q. Team Oracle - #28

I am 13 years old, but my family keeps treating me like I am 5 just because I am the youngest. I've tried to tell them how I feel about being treated that way (it embarrasses me, it makes me feel stupid, and it's driving me nuts!) but they don't listen. It is keeping me from being able to communicate with them because sometimes they don't take me seriously. Any ideas that could help?

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

You're clearly acting maturely which seems to go unnoticed. I can see how frustrating that is for you Frances. I (vaguely) remember turning into a teenager and feeling that I was all grown up but soon realised I was still a child and more over, my parent's child and also their youngest. I still am in a way! Basically it's a short answer. I suggest you keep gently reminding your family each time they belittle you but try not to let it bother you as that will also be a great sign of your every increasing maturity.

Over to you...

 

Part of growing up is not harboring immature feelings towards words and actions that are emitted by the people around you (while often immature in and of themselves). The older you become the more you will realize that this type of thing is commonplace in the "real world". You will constantly be treated differently by various people in life whether it be your career or personal relationships. The difference is how you choose to react to these situations.

For years I was treated in the same fashion. I really feel as though it ultimately put me on the maturity fast track. Show them by example that you are deserving of respect. There are aplenty of things that a 13 year old can do quietly to earn the respect of his/her peers.

The respect will come, and you will see that regardless the disrespect doesn't stop. There will always be people out there that think you're too young for certain things. Once you get older there will always be the people that think you're too old for certain things. With only hearing one side of the story, I would ask that you consider your parents argument. Maybe there is some validity to their position and this could be the stepping stone to you "leading by example". Greg.

 

My suggestion for Frances - since conversation has so far gotten nowhere, how about trying a letter.

Sometimes when someone reads written words it has a different impact, plus it will make you feel better to put it all down. If however you choose to do this, try to get your feelings across w/out making anyone else wrong. I hope this is helpful. Love & Light, Lezlie.

My name is Michael and I too am the youngest of seven in my family and I understand exactly how you feel and what you are going through, My entire life when my mother would introduce me as "the baby of the family". I would want to scream at her.

In my parents eyes I was the baby and they loved me and nothing could ever change that, it wasn't them trying to embarrass me it was them trying to hold on to their last child as long as they could because they knew what I did not at the time (life is short) and you have to hold on to every precious moment and memory because they don't last forever

I am now 49 years old most of us would give any thing to just be a kid again so don't be in to much of a hurry to grow up enjoy the time you have with your parents and your family enjoy the time you have as a kid because youth will vanish before your eyes, and most important of all cherish every moment you have with your mom and dad because one day they wont be there and you will miss being called the baby of the family. Michael.

 

I feel sympathy to you becouse I'm the youngest of four, too. Please think like this, Being grown-up is YOU, not your family. Your family can't make you grown-up, and your family can't grow up instead of you. So, please try to look for your favorite or curious things, and learn many things. Maybe it's hard becouse your family too care about you. But find the way and you can grow up by your own.

Don't forget, families love you so care about you. They will help you many times in the future so sometimes listen to your family. 合月 彩 .

 

I have two son both grown up now, it is just as hard to get children to listen as it is adults. People have never learned to listen properly, because they are to easily distracted with thier own thoughts and what they want to say. The easiest way to put your point across is to write it down, people always take in what is being said when they are reading it, less distraction. You are 13 now and getting very frustrated with the situation, and these frustration will arise a lot as you grow up, so keep a journal of how you think and feel about things and let your parents read it every week, it will help them understand you better. Unfortunately a lot of people forget what it was like and how difficult it is to be your age, to old for somethings and to young for everything else. Try it you never now it might work. Good Luck, Myra.

 

If you've talked with your parents about how they treat you, and if they have ignored you, the best way to handle this is to prove how mature you've become by acting that way. Do what your parents ask you to do without complaining. Study hard and do your best. Don't do things that you think your parents would deem childish. The more you act in a responsible manner, the more your parents will realize that you're growing up and deserve to be treated less like a child and more like an adult. This way, everybody wins, and you and your family can put this behind you. Good luck, Frances! Violet.

 

If your parents treat you like a 5-year-old, act like a 5-year-old. They expect silliness from a 5-year-old, right? Eventually, they'll get sick of your actions and they'll make you act your age, which will force them to treat you your age! Alex.

 

Thank you all for your replies. There was a huge response to this and I'm sorry to omit so many of you. Hopefully you'll be able to help with this week's dilemma.

Click to read this week's Team Oracle question, and send us your answer.

I love how the comment below mine is the exact opposite of what I said. LOL

 

With that being said, I don't agree with that bit of advice at all. Acting like a 5-year-old would only cause more problems.

June 14, 2011 - submitted by Vinzenz, Germany

 

Q. Hi oracle!

I saw the Coldplay concert at Rock am Ring in Germany on TV. At the first song Hurts Like Heaven you can see Chris wearing a blue clock on his left hand.

It looks nice;-)

What clock is that and from which brand?

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

We don't call that a clock; it's a watch. The brand of band watch is G-Shock.

June 14, 2011 - submitted by Mariano, Venezuela

 

Q. Dear O, did the same person that painted the instruments during the VLV tour, painted the instruments for the festivals? Thanks!

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

No, Vicki (who painted the Viva tour instruments) didn't paint the ones for the current live shows. She's been very busy so someone else was brought in.

June 14, 2011 - submitted by Mariano, Venezuela

 

Q. Dear O, did the same person that painted the instruments during the VLV tour, painted the instruments for the festivals? Thanks!

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

No, Vicki (who painted the Viva tour instruments) didn't paint the ones for the current live shows. She's been very busy so someone else was brought in.

 

Thank you very much. That question was brought to you by yours truly.

 

I think it is the third the Oracle answers me. It is a shame she didn't say who painted the instruments.

June 15, 2011 - submitted by Lotfi, Algeria

 

Q. Why coldplay has withdrew Princess of China of the setlist... It seems to be a great song.

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

It IS a great song so don't worry, that's not the issue. Tweaking the set list always happens at the start of touring whether that be festivals or their own live shows. Violet Hill has been added for instance and the order of songs was changed too. It's all very normal to see what feels right an works well.

June 15, 2011 - submitted by Laurens, United Kingdom

 

Q. Dear Oracle,

I heard Charlie Brown on YouTube! It's awesome! But there's an Asian sounding part! It sounds real good but I cant figure what it really is...

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

In the intro to

the sound you can hear is actually Chris' vocal speeded up.

June 15, 2011 - submitted by Laurens, United Kingdom

 

Q. Dear Oracle,

I heard Charlie Brown on YouTube! It's awesome! But there's an Asian sounding part! It sounds real good but I cant figure what it really is...

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

In the intro to

the sound you can hear is actually Chris' vocal speeded up.

 

 

so that's what that creepy thing is... :lol:

Interesting answers... the oracle seems to love Princess of China... ;) Good sign?

Wow now it's been said I can totally hear it!

 

Sounds like that Babylon Zoo song from years ago :P

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeUx5sdp3qM]YouTube - ‪Babylon Zoo - Spaceman‬‏[/ame]

^Hahaha.... wow that's old now.

 

I really love that bit at the beginning of Charlie Brown :D interesting to find out what (or who :P ) it was...

Yeah by a "few years" I meant like 15 years *is old :(*

15 years ago? I feel old :(

Yeah it was out when I was still in primary school...

 

Where's my walking stick?

Yeah it was out when I was still in primary school...

 

Where's my walking stick?

 

I was 16 in 1996, lalalala

and I was older than both of you :p

it's kind of comforting to learn that I am not the only one who is an oldie here ;) It seem that I am yonger than tash but older than mimixxx...

 

when I first went on this forum, reading some post, I thought everyone was still in high school ! :stunned:

I was 16 in 1996, lalalala

 

Damn.... I had 2 kids by then:P

June 15, 2011 - submitted by Lotfi, Algeria

 

Q. Why coldplay has withdrew Princess of China of the setlist... It seems to be a great song.

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

It IS a great song so don't worry, that's not the issue. Tweaking the set list always happens at the start of touring whether that be festivals or their own live shows. Violet Hill has been added for instance and the order of songs was changed too. It's all very normal to see what feels right an works well.

 

But dear Oracle, Princess Of China felt right and worked well in Nürnberg!?!?! :bomb:

Didn't it for the guys as well??..

it's kind of comforting to learn that I am not the only one who is an oldie here ;) It seem that I am yonger than tash but older than mimixxx...

 

when I first went on this forum, reading some post, I thought everyone was still in high school ! :stunned:

 

I think I'm older than both of you :shocked2: I have 2 kids IN high school (and 1 older and 1 younger than high school age)...

I think I'm older than both of you :shocked2: I have 2 kids IN high school (and 1 older and 1 younger than high school age)...

 

Aw Dianne, we are old in alot of peoples mind here, but age is just a number:P

June 16, 2011 - submitted by Vanessa, United States of America

 

Q. Hey O!

My friend went to an Angels game a little while ago, and she said they were changing the stadium for a concert. She said that they announced it was Coldplay playing there. Now I was a bit skeptical because I have been waiting for a Socal show but I don't really believe her! I just wanna know if there is an Anaheim show or not?

 

PLEASE SAY YES OR NO!! :)

 

Love, Vane

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

Here's the long answer: A while ago you say. Well, as you probably know they have played Anaheim more than once but not recently and the festival tour is happening just now so there's no show planned there for the near future. I don't know how long you think it takes to turn a stadium/arena into a rock venue but I can tell you it's a day. They don't set up too far in advance, just the day before so I reckon that means the short answer to your question is no.

June 16, 2011 - submitted by Amio, United Kingdom

 

Q. Would you explain a little about ETIAW video?

What is the sign that Phil has uploaded about the video?

 

 

The Oracle replies:

 

I love the way fans are hungry to know every single solitary last detail about what the band are doing but all I can tell you is the video - featuring the band - was shot at Docklands on Tuesday/Wednesday this week. I promise once you've seen it, I will tell you more. The photo that appeared was taken at the shoot so gives a hint of the feel.

Haha people are SO impatient!

 

 

I love the way fans are hungry to know every single solitary last detail about what the band are doing

 

I'm gonna ask what underwear they were wearing :P