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Old 02-27-2010, 08:20 AM   #1 (permalink)
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I have no problem with people wanting a blog.

I just think there are things that would make a bigger impact on the place that should be done first.

Like a chat room & extra PM space.
Things that people would actually use.
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Old 02-27-2010, 10:34 AM   #2 (permalink)
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I've already sent a PM to Yac asking if it might be possible to host such a blog. I wrote perhaps we can first make a sort of draft-blog and host it on blog.musicbanter.com so that admin and others can see what it would look like/be like before it's actually implemented in the site in a proper way. I'm guessing it won't happen, but asking doesn't hurt
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Old 02-27-2010, 11:09 AM   #3 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tore View Post
I've already sent a PM to Yac asking if it might be possible to host such a blog. I wrote perhaps we can first make a sort of draft-blog and host it on blog.musicbanter.com so that admin and others can see what it would look like/be like before it's actually implemented in the site in a proper way. I'm guessing it won't happen, but asking doesn't hurt
^ You probably guessed right, though it won't hurt to ask.

Speaking generally. So we can remove any negativity here, this should be a positive thread about where MB is going and not one about it's misconceived demise.
Just to echo Big3's opening post. He's not actually saying anything is wrong with MB as it is, but he does raise the question that this place is in danger of losing it's appeal after a while.
That certainly seems to be the case with some of the longer standing members who have left over the years. And it always seems the case that those older members that do leave, do so feeling a little disillusioned.
And it needn't be like that.
Not when you can get those members actively helping the site move forward in order to keep their interest.
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Old 02-28-2010, 06:53 AM   #4 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by right-track View Post
That certainly seems to be the case with some of the longer standing members who have left over the years. And it always seems the case that those older members that do leave, do so feeling a little disillusioned.
I've felt like this occasionally myself, but most of the things I get particularly familiar with, be they message boards or, I dunno, eating tuna and pasta for dinner, start to lose their shine eventually, so it's certainly not something I blame this place for. For me it's just a question of doing enough here to keep myself interested - if this place is boring, I try my best to make it un-boring again. A kind of facelift that's already been mentioned numerous times for this place would make that a whole lot easier for all concerned.
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Old 02-27-2010, 08:46 PM   #5 (permalink)
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I may have jumped the gun, but it was a little hard to read your Vegangelica-esque disertation there. My bad. Not trying hard to be right- would rather be wrong, as I enjoy frequenting here. I just think that without admin support, places tend to fall off... Carry on like it never happened.
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Old 02-28-2010, 10:34 AM   #6 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by pourmeanother View Post
I may have jumped the gun, but it was a little hard to read your Vegangelica-esque disertation there. My bad. Not trying hard to be right- would rather be wrong, as I enjoy frequenting here. I just think that without admin support, places tend to fall off... Carry on like it never happened.
Hey, I read that! And "dissertation" has two s's, by the way.

I'm very sorry to hear Jackhammer left...hopefully not for good...though I agree with Urban that people will come and go as suits them, and this doesn't mean the site is diminished as a whole. I continue to meet new members each month with whom I enjoy interacting and whom a genuinely like, even as I miss some of the members who never return. (AwwSugar, you better not leave!!!)

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Originally Posted by TheBig3KilledMyRainDog View Post
In an ever-evolving world like music, how could discussion ever become boring?
This is my viewpoint exactly, Big3. I have only skimmed the surface of the music information and opinions on MB, and so can't imagine ever running out of new music to listen to or think about here.

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Originally Posted by TheBig3KilledMyRainDog View Post
Still, because there is no right or wrong answer, arguments are reduced to horrible posturing and medals are often given to the loudest, with the snarkiest lines. This atmosphere of bullying lends itself to the solidification of opinion.

These ideas are only challenged when some doe-eyed newbie shows up, who only wants to come to a place to talk about music and is quickly questioned on his intellectual abilities by a group of hatemongers (sorry Urban) who were too weak-minded to defend themselves at the gates opening.
I agree that cruelty toward others based on their preferences or because of their attempts to contribute to MB is something I wish MB would discourage even more than it does.

During the last 8 months, there have been several cases where new or older members end up discussing their musical questions or lyrics with me in PMs partly because, I think, they feared their contributions would not receive helpful information or constructive feedback on the Boards.

In one situation, the person was a young musician whose music was a delight for me to listen to and discuss with him by PM after his thread got closed when a mod felt it was pure self-promotion. So, I felt sorry for MB because here was someone who had a great love of music and yet was not welcomed as openly as he might have been.

In another situation, someone who asked a legitimate question on the Boards, but was pounced on and accused of being The Unfan, ended up discussing music with me back and forth in PMs. That was one of the best music discussions I've had here...I learned about "counterpoint" and compared and contrasted modern and classical songs by following up his questions.

Similarly, several people who write lyrics have sent me the songs they are working on in PMs for feedback (which, if you are familiar with me on MB, you'll know I love to give!)..and I think it is sad that perhaps the Boards don't make them feel welcome to share their ideas in public, since that is what MB is for (I feel).

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Originally Posted by duga View Post
I guess the hope I had coming here was that I would meet people who have a passion for music like I do, and that I would be able to find some great new music I would have otherwise never found. MB has definitely done this.

I'm sure if we all restricted our discussion to "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" we would actually get a bit more activity.
I agree with your first paragraph very much, duga. As for the second, I feel that saying negative things is fine, but saying them in ways that aren't insulting is important.

One of the things I like best about MB is that the mods let people pretty much express what they really feel in the way they want to. Free speech (even with limitations) is rare in the world, and it is nice to find a place where you can just be who you are, or let different sides of yourself show.

The negative side of free speech is that fear of being pounced on harshly can make it harder for some people to feel like opening up about their feelings about music, which is often very personal to people. I don't think people are pounced on often here, but it does happen occasionally.

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Originally Posted by right-track View Post
Even band member interviews wouldn't be out of the question if the place was handled correctly.
That would be cool, right-track!

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Originally Posted by Phoenix View Post
I'm a newbie here, so my opinion may not be as valid as the veterans here.
I certainly feel your opinion counts just as much as anyone else's, Phoenix!

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Originally Posted by noise View Post
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.
Your post shows, noise, how hopefully MB can provide something for everyone: banter for people who don't like verbose reviews; verbose reviews (my favorite!) for people who like them; casual interactions for those who don't wish to make friends; friendships and a feeling of connection for those who came here open to that (such as myself).

Though I joined MB for the music and I stay for the music, the connections I've made with some people here are what really make me want to return with semi-addicted frequency. I feel anything that helps people feel part of a friendly community would help MB become even stronger.

This concludes my dissertation on improving message boards.
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Old 02-28-2010, 09:30 PM   #7 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by AwwSugar View Post
I think people have a lot of expectations for message boards.
People don't have as much to say as they think they do, and they say it all, and they get board.
They argue about the same things over and over again, and bash others for the same things over and over again.
And then the boards become something else entirely.
That's what I think for now.
I feel like that sometimes, when I get writers block I think maybe I really didn't have much to say after all. Sometimes thinking 'who cares about the bands I like,' gives me writers block. Though I don't think could ever say it all about what I know about music. I always tell myslef they is so much music out there that no one could know it all, if they say they do then their lying.

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Originally Posted by Phoenix View Post
I'm a newbie here, so my opinion may not be as valid as the veterans here.
It doesn't matter how long you've been at MB or your post count, all that matters is posting highly well polished material in your posts. So quit worrying about being "newbie" or an invalid, you'll get better.

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Originally Posted by Alfred View Post
I can't think of many in the past year who have abandoned the place.
I can: Fal, ToeAndNo, Veridical Fiction, and CoreyAllen2, have all left. And I seen a lot of new members who gave up the fight and thrown in the towel after a few posts.
I go back and read the old threads (not to sound corny or sentimental or anything) but the one guy I miss is SleepyJack.
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Old 02-28-2010, 09:37 PM   #8 (permalink)
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I can: Fal, ToeAndNo, Veridical Fiction, and CoreyAllen2, have all left. And I seen a lot of new members who gave up the fight and thrown in the towel after a few posts.
I go back and read the old threads (not to sound corny or sentimental or anything) but the one guy I miss is SleepyJack.
is this a serious comment?
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Old 02-28-2010, 09:43 PM   #9 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by Neapolitan View Post
I can: Fal, ToeAndNo, Veridical Fiction, and CoreyAllen2, have all left. And I seen a lot of new members who gave up the fight and thrown in the towel after a few posts.
I go back and read the old threads (not to sound corny or sentimental or anything) but the one guy I miss is SleepyJack.
Fal hasn't made a substantial contribution to the music forums.
ToeAndNo changed his name to Akira and took a leave of absence.
Veridical Fiction changed his name to Freebase Dali, he's still very much active.
coryallen2 pissed off every member of this forum until we couldn't take it anymore and put him down as a courtesy to the other members. Something you might want to consider not emulating from time to time.
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Old 02-28-2010, 10:31 PM   #10 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA View Post

Though I joined MB for the music and I stay for the music, the connections I've made with some people here are what really make me want to return with semi-addicted frequency. I feel anything that helps people feel part of a friendly community would help MB become even stronger.

This concludes my dissertation on improving message boards.
I agree, a lot of times I would like to talk about music with as much specificity as I can here. Sadly, not many are able to do that...but most people here can so this is my outlet. I have a feeling I would get on quite well with many of you if we were to meet in person.
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