Is the Quality of MusicBanter Decreasing?

VEGANGELICA · 10-26-2009, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conan

The lounge covers a wide variety of topics and mostly appeals to something everybody enjoys: humor.

I agree, Conan. I also like the humor in the music section, too (such as in "Good Covers of Bad Songs"). I think the joking around by members, regardless of the topic, is what I like best about MB! Looking back through old posts (2003), I see the humor throughout the site. Like music, MB makes life more fun (at least, that's how *I* feel) because MB helps me realize that all our individual threads (of life) are linked together by playful fondness. And then we die. But it is fun while it lasts! --Veg

storymilo · 10-26-2009, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toretorden

What I absolutely hate is people namedropping lists of artists and albums everyone should check out without writing up or giving any kind of reasons as to why we should. Especially when new guys do it, I just wanna swing the banhammer.

Something tells me I cause this comment

Anyways I usually try to put some time in to my posts, and if I'm making a point about a specific band I won't just say "omg listen to these guys they are the best". Also I try to make sure that I'm not inflicting my tastes on others if they don't agree with me.

adidasss · 10-26-2009, 03:23 PM

I didn't read most of your bitching because frankly, this thread has too steady a recurrence for me to pay it much attention. Musicbanter is the best it's ever been. And this is coming from a person who has been here 4 and a half years and STILL comes here several times a day. So shut up and pick up a book if you're bored.

Also, I'd like to suck vegangelica's brain through a straw. Thank you... :|

Guybrush · 10-26-2009, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by storymilo

Something tells me I cause this comment

No, it's not any one post. It's something I see a lot of. I think some people think namedropping long lists of artists adds inches to their e-peens. If there was one post today (now deleted of course) which made me think of how much I hate it, it was this one :

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coreopsis

Corrupted (Everything)
Grief (Everything)
Ocean-Here Where Nothing Grows
Noothgrush-Erode the Person
Cobalt-Gin
Cobalt-Eater of Birds
Wolves in the Throne Room-Two Hunters
Negura Bunget-Om
Aluk Todolo-Decension
Senthil-Septemisis
Sleep-Dopesmoker/Jerusalem
Graves at Sea-Documents of Grief
Nachtmystium-Assassins:Black Meddle 1
Warhorse-As Heaven Turns to Ash
Church of Misery-Master of Brutality
Esoteric-The Maniacal Vale
Eyehategod-Take as Needed for Pain
Drudkh-Blood in Our Wells
Mournful Congregation-The Monad of Creation
Sunn0)))-Monoliths and Dimensions
Frostmoon Eclipse-I am Providence
Deathspell Omega-Kenose
Deathspell Omega-Inquisitors of Satan
Burzum-Filosefem
Earth-Earth 2
Earth-Pentastar(In the Style of Demons)
Earth-The Bees Made Honey In the Skull of the Lion
Hypothermia-Gratoner
My Bloody Valentine-Loveless
Melvins-Lysol
Melvins-Houdini
Gallhammer-Ill Innocence
Napalm Death-Scum
Agoraphobic Nosebleed-Frozen Corpse Stuffed With Dope
Pig Destroyer-Natasha
Asunder (All)
Dystopia-Human=Garbage
Mutillation-Black Millenium
Crom-Hot Sumerian Nights
Crom-The Cocaine Wars
Weedeater-And Justice For Y'all
Bongzilla-Nuggets
Caina-Temporary Antennae
Ocean-Pantheon of the Lesser
Om-Pilgrimage
Om-Conference of the Birds
Om-Variations on a Theme
Moss-Tomb of the Blind Drugged
Moss-Chthonic Rites
Monno-Candlelight Technology
Monno-Error
Bunkur-Bludgeon
Varathron-His Majesty at the Swamp

.. These kind of posts make me want to swing the banhammer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

As a new member, I'll give my perspective: I haven't seen any decrease in quality at MB over the last 5 months and, in fact, the longer I stay the more interesting I find the site, especially because through it I've met quite a few people whom I care about (such as AwwSugar, VeggieLover, kayleigh, Schizotypic and others). I admire the oldtimers, too, because I see how their friendships must have built up over the years. I hadn't expected to have meaningful personal connections via MB, and so that was a pleasant surprise.

I feel the lounge discussions add to the site because I view music as being, fundamentally, people's expressions of their reactions to life...and so the issues discussed in the lounge section are usually reflected somehow in music. I don't see a dichotomy there. I also like trying to get a broader picture of people by seeing their opinions both on music and anything else under the sun as we lounge in the lounge.

If I had more time, I would definitely dive into the music journals more often than I do, because they are a great way to learn about music and get ideas about songs to listen to...especially ones in genres that are new to me. I agree with those who recommend visiting the journals if ever they feel there is a lack of substantive commentary on music in the regular music board.

Now, I have never been accused of writing short posts (heh heh!), and I do try to put effort into them. I enjoy the debates, including and especially religious ones. In non-computer life, how often does one get to discuss religion in depth with those who have a very different perspective? Not often, in my case. I think the debates in an online community are an especially good way to learn about the opinions of (relatively well-off, English-speaking, computer-owning) people all over the world!

If I'm ever feeling that things look dull at MB, then I just go check out what boo boo, Tore, addidass, FD, Neapolitan, the vegetarians, and other favorites have last posted...and, of course, I comment on the writings of people in the songwriting section, my MB home.

I suppose the one part of MB that could be troubling to me is the occasional antagonism or maliciousness people show...but I understand people have their moments (days, months) of ill-humor, and sometimes people vent life frustrations here. I haven't noticed any increase in antagonism. There have only been 2 people whose posts during the last 5 months made me fear they might be psycho-murderers.

Also, to be honest, I miss the Unfan. His perma-banning, for me, was one change over the last 5 months that I view as a loss. I am sad that he can never visit my thread again and blast my vegan songs, then finally discuss with me exactly where he and I differed in our opinions, as we were doing shortly before his perma-banning. I wish he were allowed to come back. I wish there were a democratic, member-based way to veto a perma-banning, such as by posting a thread on behalf of a member whom moderators want to ban, and if enough people (a critical mass) say to keep the person in the community, then the permanent ban gets reduced to a temporary ban. I suppose it is a challenge when one individual is hurtful to some but not others, because of course one wants to respect and protect those who have been hurt (called mean names, etc.).

Hey, what's with ruining the begative and cynical vibe we got going with your pleasant, positive perspective? I thought we had some good complaining going on! Jokes aside, though, I really appreciate your positive attitude and your contributions to the site. You're a ray of light on these boards

When are you gonna write a journal by the way?

I'll chip in and say that I too appreciate the non-music discussions on the site. As RT mentioned, I think they help make this a proper community and I too feel more interested in other people and what they listen to when I also get to know them through discussions on other topics.

Also to counter Big3's post a bit, I don't think musicbanter is going down the hill - absolutely not, it's just many of the music discussions which are lacking a bit in quality I think. It's perhaps a problem that we moderators can help with through stricter moderation and so on, but another thing could also be to just encourage people to participate more. I'll give it a shot and try to engage more in discussions on the music forums.

As for the Unfan and turning permbans into tempbans, I think that discussion would be more appropriate in the Announcements, Suggestions, & Feedback forum.

storymilo · 10-26-2009, 03:36 PM

Wow Tore that list is.... ridiculous

And I'll just add that I too enjoy musicbanter and in the time I've been here it's just gotten more and more enjoyable for me. There really isn't a member here that I would take away (a well-established member, that is). I also like the journals and reading what people post, because that is undoubtedly the place where people spend the most time on their posts and definitely try to talk about music.

TheBig3 · 10-26-2009, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3KilledMyRainDog

This is why I advocated for the journals in the first place. Through regulation we can ensure a safe haven for quality. The masses wax and wane with thought and intrigue, but the readers section should serve as a bulwark against the crap of the unwashed spammers.

If you think the forums are going down hill, put some thought into why that might be. The new regulars we've been picking up have been high powered trolls.

Quote:

Originally Posted by toretorden

Also to counter Big3's post a bit, I don't think musicbanter is going down the hill - absolutely not, it's just many of the music discussions which are lacking a bit in quality I think.

How dare you?

FaSho · 10-26-2009, 04:21 PM

When I joined this forum it was thriving with discussion about every think music-related, and since the beginning of 2009, I feel as though it's gotten consistently worse. Why? You may ask. Well...

1.In the past 8 months or so there has been constant influx of flakey n00bs with big egos and no knowledge of music. This is how I was when I joined MB, I was willing to stay and mature though, not start stupid arguements and get myself banned, or leave the first time I disagreed with one of the members. there have been exceptions to this, I'm glad members like Antonio, LoathsomePete and BTown787 have all been great additions to this forum's regulars...but...

2.It seems like most of my favorite posters in my first six months here, have become less and less active. Jackhammer, lucifer_sam, sweet nothing, just to name a few, were all people I loved to discuss music with that aren't nearly as 'regular' as the one were, I think that's because post quality has gone seriously downhill. One reason could be...

3.The f*cking lounge. Yes, I enjoy some of the threads in it, and admittedly, regularly post in 'rate the person above you' threads. The problem? It's probably about tripled in size I joined. I think alienates some of the more frequent members(such as I0, because it gives them the feeling that no one wants to talk about music anymore...or at least that's the impresion I get.

Solutions?

Quote:

Originally Posted by right-track

I think the answer is to delete more members.

Just generally be stricter about what gets posted. I'm not saying everything needs to be a serious discussion, I love the hilarious banter that occurs here, what I'm saying is there needs to be a lot more on-topic posting, and a lot less lounge bullsh*tting, especially when it spills out into the music forum.

Guybrush · 10-26-2009, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3KilledMyRainDog

How dare you?

I think perhaps counter wasn't the right word. Feel free to mentally replace it with "reply to"

~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ · 10-26-2009, 04:35 PM

The negetivity of this website always dissapoints me.

storymilo · 10-26-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FaSho

1.In the past 8 months or so there has been constant influx of flakey n00bs with big egos and no knowledge of music. This is how I was when I joined MB, I was willing to stay and mature though, not start stupid arguements and get myself banned, or leave the first time I disagreed with one of the members. there have been exceptions to this, I'm glad members like Antonio, LoathsomePete and BTown787 have all been great additions to this forum's regulars...but...

Am.... am I a good noob?

I know we haven't really spoken over the forum at all.

10-26-2009, 03:23 PM	#33 (permalink)
adidasss Slavic gay sauce Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Abu Dhabi Posts: 7,993	I didn't read most of your bitching because frankly, this thread has too steady a recurrence for me to pay it much attention. Musicbanter is the best it's ever been. And this is coming from a person who has been here 4 and a half years and STILL comes here several times a day. So shut up and pick up a book if you're bored. Also, I'd like to suck vegangelica's brain through a straw. Thank you... :\| __________________ “Think of what a paradise this world would be if men were kind and wise.” - Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle. Last.fm

10-26-2009, 03:36 PM	#35 (permalink)
storymilo Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,845	Wow Tore that list is.... ridiculous And I'll just add that I too enjoy musicbanter and in the time I've been here it's just gotten more and more enjoyable for me. There really isn't a member here that I would take away (a well-established member, that is). I also like the journals and reading what people post, because that is undoubtedly the place where people spend the most time on their posts and definitely try to talk about music.

10-26-2009, 04:35 PM	#39 (permalink)
~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,538	The negetivity of this website always dissapoints me.