Why message boards go down hill.

duga · 02-23-2010, 08:04 PM

The Allmusic Blog

This site kind of echoes what right-track is talking about. The site is dedicated to music both new and old, but never repetitive. They blog about an album, discuss, and move on. I find great new music here all the time and it is very newb friendly.

Alfred · 02-23-2010, 09:24 PM

The idea that "Musicbanter is going downhill" has actually never entered my mind until now. And still, I strongly disagree with this. When I joined the forum, the atmosphere was quite hostile and certainly far more elitist than it is now (or I've just become more elitist I dunno :P), but if anything, it's gone uphill. Every month we get at least few new permanent members who go on to become an important part of our community, and very few members leave. I can't think of many in the past year who have abandoned the place.

I have no complaints about MB as it is right now. Maybe I'm not looking hard enough at all the dirty little things, but I'm very happy with it.

Comus · 02-24-2010, 09:34 AM

The thing is, you're right, and you're wrong. With the evolution of the internet as a whole, message boards have become less important in part. They're also suddenly unexplored territory again. Back in the day everyone knew everything about forum politics and culture. And knew to stay back for a bit until they settle in. Now people just don't expect it on a forum. Which is strange given the standard of discussion on youtube. The forums haven't really changed (Which is partly the problem, I admit) it's the userbase. It's not really for better or for worse. It just becomes harder to intergrate.

Although tbf, it's so much more fun just to be a ****.

Phoenix · 02-24-2010, 09:41 AM

I'm a newbie here, so my opinion may not be as valid as the veterans here.

When I first came to these forums, I really wanted to talk about all of the types of music I liked. Thankfully, there was a board specific to everything I enjoyed. However, after reading some of the comments, I feel like I am a bit out of place at times. Yes, I do listen to Cunninlynguists, Inverse, and at times Immortal Technique, but I do like stuff from T.I at times and I do like some stuff from kind of mainstream rappers. That and I do like listening to Green Day and such along with stuff like the old Metallica.

However, I feel like if I were to say something like "Did you like this new Drake song," or " How good was that album by The Fray," I'd get laughed at, scoffed at, and basically be run out of the forums. Of course, I'd get recommended other music, but it would be given along the lines of "That's such a ****** band, you should listen to *insert band name*" or something.

But that's just how I see it at this point. Also, as a newbie, I don't really have much say in all of this.

Laurent Quinn Proper · 02-24-2010, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3KilledMyRainDog

Rolling Stone is bull**** because the same useless and tired old warhorses are trotted out for their annual blow job and we're all supposed to stand and applaud as these elitist journalists with $5 hair cuts tell us about authenticity and "freshness"

... The larger differece being that Minus the Bear sucks,

I stopped reading here.

Maybe my reading comprehension isn't what it use to be, but to me, it sounds like you are mimicking what you claim the Rolling Stone is doing to the world. What's the difference between you telling this message board's entire community that "Minus the Bear sucks" than the Rolling Stone telling us about "authenticity and 'freshness'"? It would appear to me like you are being that "elitist".

All in all, they are nothing more than opinions and if you are going to try and attack the Rolling Stone's in a rant, at least make sure you aren't doing what you are accusing.

Note: I don't like either (Rolling Stone nor Minus the Bear).

Comus · 02-24-2010, 10:31 AM

I'm sorry but you missed his point entirely.

TheBig3 · 02-24-2010, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laurent Quinn Proper

I stopped reading here.

Maybe my reading comprehension isn't what it use to be, but to me, it sounds like you are mimicking what you claim the Rolling Stone is doing to the world. What's the difference between you telling this message board's entire community that "Minus the Bear sucks" than the Rolling Stone telling us about "authenticity and 'freshness'"? It would appear to me like you are being that "elitist".

All in all, they are nothing more than opinions and if you are going to try and attack the Rolling Stone's in a rant, at least make sure you aren't doing what you are accusing.

Note: I don't like either (Rolling Stone nor Minus the Bear).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Comus

I'm sorry but you missed his point entirely.

And yet, he made my point amazingly well.

Forums have become Legaleese 101. Its not that I had a point. Victory comes in taking apart an argument. Showing hypocrisy is the new moral high ground. So rather than discuss my point, which may or may not be valid, we're going to discuss whether I'm an elitist or not which is irrelevant to my point.

This is likely hard for the Gen X'ers to swallow because it requires them to think, and it requires them to go against their parents cultural lessons post-Watergate: Being a Hypocrite is not a reason to dismiss a point.

Its why they don't allow you to say "well he did it too" as a legal defense. My position about conventional wisdom being lapped up by the newer posters who are tired of being abused isn't changed by me potentially being an elitist.

Comus · 02-24-2010, 10:52 AM

Ah, touché

right-track · 02-24-2010, 12:03 PM

I really think this thread should be called 'The Future of MusicBanter, Discuss...'

I believe the regular message boards are the fabric of this community, but I think the way forward has to be an extension of the MB Reader as I outlined in earlier posts.
Failing that, I believe MB is doomed to the internet equivalent of Groundhog Day.
A vicious circle of recurring regularity which completes it's cycle for individual members at slightly different times.
For the veterans, MB lost it's shine a long time ago. For the newbs it's a whole new playing field of possibilities, until eventually they in turn become veterans and want to see a little more from the old place they visit before they in turn begin to lose interest.
The trick is maintaining the interest and using the veterans and any potentially talented newb of a writer with a passion for music as a tool for taking these boards to another level.

Big3 points out that the content of the posts on these boards lies in our own hands. Which of course is entirely true, but if the status quo remains indefinitely, then it's only a matter of time before another newbie doesn't stick around and another long standing member disappears.

noise · 02-24-2010, 12:21 PM

this isn't a music blog.
it's not a reviews site.

it's musicbanter

the reason i visit this site several times a day is because i like it how it is. people are talking of musical elitism - well where else can i find other people getting excited about the obscure stuff i listen to?

i come here to talk about music i have discovered, and to find more. and i don't find music by reading verbose reviews that inevitably sound pompous and obscure. i find it by listening to a few tracks on youtube and exploring things myself.

moreover, i don't come here to make friends. i don't care about anyone on the board - i'm just around to talk about music.

maybe i'm jaded, but this forum is great just the way it is.

02-23-2010, 08:04 PM	#21 (permalink)
duga MB quadrant's JM Vincent Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 3,762	The Allmusic Blog This site kind of echoes what right-track is talking about. The site is dedicated to music both new and old, but never repetitive. They blog about an album, discuss, and move on. I find great new music here all the time and it is very newb friendly. __________________ Confusion will be my epitaph...

02-23-2010, 09:24 PM	#22 (permalink)
Alfred one big soul Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 5,096	The idea that "Musicbanter is going downhill" has actually never entered my mind until now. And still, I strongly disagree with this. When I joined the forum, the atmosphere was quite hostile and certainly far more elitist than it is now (or I've just become more elitist I dunno :P), but if anything, it's gone uphill. Every month we get at least few new permanent members who go on to become an important part of our community, and very few members leave. I can't think of many in the past year who have abandoned the place. I have no complaints about MB as it is right now. Maybe I'm not looking hard enough at all the dirty little things, but I'm very happy with it. __________________ LAST.FM / VINYL COLLECTION / RYM

02-24-2010, 12:21 PM	#30 (permalink)
noise thirsty ears Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Boulder Posts: 742	this isn't a music blog. it's not a reviews site. it's musicbanter the reason i visit this site several times a day is because i like it how it is. people are talking of musical elitism - well where else can i find other people getting excited about the obscure stuff i listen to? i come here to talk about music i have discovered, and to find more. and i don't find music by reading verbose reviews that inevitably sound pompous and obscure. i find it by listening to a few tracks on youtube and exploring things myself. moreover, i don't come here to make friends. i don't care about anyone on the board - i'm just around to talk about music. maybe i'm jaded, but this forum is great just the way it is. __________________ my flac collection

02-24-2010, 09:41 AM	#24 (permalink)
Phoenix Groupie Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 12	I'm a newbie here, so my opinion may not be as valid as the veterans here. When I first came to these forums, I really wanted to talk about all of the types of music I liked. Thankfully, there was a board specific to everything I enjoyed. However, after reading some of the comments, I feel like I am a bit out of place at times. Yes, I do listen to Cunninlynguists, Inverse, and at times Immortal Technique, but I do like stuff from T.I at times and I do like some stuff from kind of mainstream rappers. That and I do like listening to Green Day and such along with stuff like the old Metallica. However, I feel like if I were to say something like "Did you like this new Drake song," or " How good was that album by The Fray," I'd get laughed at, scoffed at, and basically be run out of the forums. Of course, I'd get recommended other music, but it would be given along the lines of "That's such a ****** band, you should listen to insert band name" or something. But that's just how I see it at this point. Also, as a newbie, I don't really have much say in all of this.

02-24-2010, 12:03 PM	#29 (permalink)
right-track Atchin' Akai Join Date: May 2005 Location: Unamerica Posts: 8,723	I really think this thread should be called 'The Future of MusicBanter, Discuss...' I believe the regular message boards are the fabric of this community, but I think the way forward has to be an extension of the MB Reader as I outlined in earlier posts. Failing that, I believe MB is doomed to the internet equivalent of Groundhog Day. A vicious circle of recurring regularity which completes it's cycle for individual members at slightly different times. For the veterans, MB lost it's shine a long time ago. For the newbs it's a whole new playing field of possibilities, until eventually they in turn become veterans and want to see a little more from the old place they visit before they in turn begin to lose interest. The trick is maintaining the interest and using the veterans and any potentially talented newb of a writer with a passion for music as a tool for taking these boards to another level. Big3 points out that the content of the posts on these boards lies in our own hands. Which of course is entirely true, but if the status quo remains indefinitely, then it's only a matter of time before another newbie doesn't stick around and another long standing member disappears.