The Decline in the Quality of this Forum

[steveie986]

I've been reading some older posts on this forum (from more than a year ago), and I think the quality of discussion appeared to be much higher. The older discussions seemed more intelligent and erudite. I tend to question the intelligence and subtlety of many of the posters active today.

Anyone else feel this way?

[thalbergmad]

I have noticed no decline in my time here.

[pianistimo]

maybe it depends on what you are looking for.  sometimes i look for answers, sometimes i hope i can answer someone's question.  there are always a plethora of questions, but sometimes not all the answers match up.  this gives food for thought - which, imo, is always good -even if you think you have the answer figured out.

what i find encouraging is that many of the forumers are young people and are very quick learners.  and, often times, because they are currently in uni - have up-to-date answers to questions.  studying music isn't a static thing - and answers we once had 20 years ago may have changed.  also, research, methodology, pedagogy, piano techniques - have changed according to the times and according to universal knowledge (internet).  if you have a specific question and want it researched in the country of origin of the composer, you have a quick way to find out and ask (esp. if you don't speak or read the language).  if you find something that you want translated - you can get it - and you can get correct meanings.  somehow, i find printing out sheet music much lower on the list than being able to find certain people to ask certain questions.  but, i also LOVe the sheet music list of this forum and find it is well worth the money to join.

nils is a very unassuming and polite mediator, too.  he appreciates all opinions as long as you express them appropriately.  if something is inappropriate he moves the thread or writes something.  i've learned that there are many ways to express yourself and some of the better writers write many less lines than i do.  perhaps the reason some of us write more is that we learn as we forumulate questions in our heads.  it's part of creative thinking.  and, if we were all as talented - we'd not even be ON the forum.  we'd be practicing.  i asked my teacher if he ever went on this forum - and he said he didn't have time.   guess that's the response of people who mostly have a career in teaching and performing and little time for this 'fun' stuff.  but, i've learned a lot myself.  he probably has teachers to call and refer questions to.

[henrah]

I wouldn't say there's been a decline in quality (though I haven't been here long enough to notice such a thing), but rather a decline in the 'intellectual answer' and 'debate' posters and an increase in younger 'question' and 'strongly opinionated' posters.

As I said I haven't been here long enough to really justify a decline or increase of any kind; but what matters is that there are still many open and intellectual debates and discussions happening here, with the occasional 'flame war' from overly opinionated persons who feel that only their opinion is right.


What is bad does not deter from what is good.
Henrah

[ted]

I can't say I've noticed much change. I'm starting to post a lot less often than I used to because I've already said most of what I am capable of saying, which isn't very much. I'm really neither pianist nor musician, and can therefore only help people within a pretty limited range of topic.

I agree with Pianistimo that the young should always be listened to because their opinions, even if vociferous, might provide a fresh slant and liven up stale material. It seems to me that most of the tiresome,  argumentative know-alls on other forums are mostly older "experts" who are set like cement in their ways. There's one right way to do something - their way. Thank goodness that species is reasonably rare here.

I think the general tone of the forum is pleasantly varied and constructive.

[JCarey]

I've been here since August 22, 2004. I first joined just so I could tell someone that their post was ridiculous. Several idiots have come and gone since then, and after every major crisis I'd tell everyone that I was through posting here. I would stop for a week or so and then see something else that made me mad and post again.

The forum's quality has declined since then. It seems that every few months there is a new generation of members. Sometimes it makes it a bit difficult for us veterans, because they have so much to learn about what flies here and what will infuriate most of us (Fantasie Impromptu threads, etc.).

I've learned to just ignore the threads/posts that annoy me, but I find myself lurking here a lot more than posting anyway. Probably because none of the posts of late interest me that much. I'm always thankful to see just ONE highly informative, interesting thread, something we really need more of lately.

But this is certainly not the worst it's been here. Trust me... there was once a time when  Comme (with whatever name he was using at the time), Skeptopotamus, Mikeyg, and SteinwayGuy were all causing havok throughout the forum at once. Be thankful if you weren't there!

[nanabush]

What I think is declining the quality of this forum are the people that get PO'd when a 'new' guy posts something that was posted 4 months ago.  He'll post something concerning FI and 8 people will flame him.  If it enfuriates you, just dont post.  Now, people are scared of getting yelled at, that now, there's an abundance of rediculous posts.

[henrah]

It's like you hate them when they're here but miss them when they're gone

[Ruro]

What I think is declining the quality of this forum are the people that get PO'd when a 'new' guy posts something that was posted 4 months ago. He'll post something concerning FI and 8 people will flame him. If it enfuriates you, just dont post. Now, people are scared of getting yelled at, that now, there's an abundance of rediculous posts.

Despite I do agree with you, I swear there is something pyschological about this. If in the real, someone says something that annoys you, you will either be outraged/polite in response to what has bothered you, or anything in between. Point is, it's something you feel you have to debate because it offends you in some way. I think this sincerely applies to forum's, and for me... depending on how angry I get, I very rarely post a pure flame reply, and I try to be reasonably logical throughout (so I don't look like an idiot).

So... ultimately, this "If you don't like what you read, ignore it" sentiment is to put it bluntly: BS, lol.
Still - I sincerely do agree, it should be left alone *logically*, but when human emotion swings in to sway this logic... nothing can be done sometimes... besides atleast apply self restraint by not making a Flame, but Constructive Critisism or whatever ya wanna call it! Btw, I think the Tim Hoffman thread is a good example, lol.

Anyways... compared to when I first showed up here, the quality of information being thrown around was significantly more... oh... thinking of some names... well, Xvimbi comes to mind, he oh so often posted some great material! Indeed, NOW it seems like Reruns, and more Comedic/Entertainment focused then previously when I first showed up... but... well, that's my opinion.
It's alright... just, the atmosphere of the forum has changed, almost like it's not so... sorry... but Mature :/ This is not intended for anyone specific, I guess it is just the young generations personalities coming to this forum.

And to be honest, I don't mind either atmosphere, the old one had a sense of... Dining with Queen Elizabeth II, where everything was formal, yet also you could be amusing. Now it's like hanging out at a Piano Club based in a Pub or something, hehe, I can live with either

EDIT: Lol, can't say I been here that long anyway, now that I think about it, I only started piano early last year O_o

[rob47]

I would stop for a week or so and then see something else that made me mad and post again.

hahah the classic rob47 syndrome