This Forum...

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

Hello, fellow members of pianoforum.net -

Let me explain myself. I found this forum by being directed from another forum. I was amazed at the amount of knowledge here. The amount of things I learned about different composers and their pieces in a year, was more than I learned in 20. I had no idea who Sorabji was before I came to this forum. Anyway, I had lurked around here for quite awhile before I decided to become a registered member. And trust me, I knew who many of you were before you knew me.

Anyway, it has only been recently that I have found that many of my fellow pianists on this forum have been arguing, often in immature, adolescent ways. I'm sure that many of you know who I mean, and I am sure that those of you participating in these ridiculous arguments know who you are.

Problems with members like this in this forum, as far as I know, have never been this bad. Sure, there were many posts of "Should I learn the Rach 3", or "Am I ready for the O.C.", but really, things have gone too far. Not only are there posts like this, but when anybody questions the thread-starter's level of experience, they are thrown in to a rage, and things often turn ugly (the "Take this, SteinwayTony" thread comes to mind).

Also, has anybody else gotten the feeling that Lenny and Skeptopotamus are the same person with two accounts? Was Lenny's feelings hurt, so he created a new account to agree with/praise him? I do not know for sure, of course, but it seems like a possibility.

Anyway, is anybody as worried about what is happening to this forum as I am? Please post. I want to see what everybody's feelings are on this situation, and what steps should be taken to correct it.

[fred smalls]

I am a bit worried, i feel people should be modest instead of bragging, is it true that Lenny and Skepto were banned?

[lenny]

sorry for my recent posts, i just really really hate steinwaytony

he brings out the worst in me, can we just learn to not critique eachother and avoid all conflict from now?

thats what i want

(skepto isnt me)

(and the reason ive been posting more than im 'allowed' today is because of this very situation)

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

sorry for my recent posts, i just really really hate steinwaytony

he brings out the worst in me, can we just learn to not critique eachother and avoid all conflict from now?

thats what i want

(skepto isnt me)

(and the reason ive been posting more than im 'allowed' today is because of this very situation)

Well Lenny, I do not wish you to leave, because I wouldn't wish that on anyone, but I think it might be better if you take a break from this forum for a while. It's nothing personal, but it's either that, or ignore SteinwayTony.

I tend to agree with a lot of what SteinwayTony has to say, however, I can't agree with everyone 100% of the time. Sure, I disagree with him sometimes, as with others on this forum, but never, once, has an argument I've had gotten out of control. I have never turned to name calling or profanity to prove my point, and there is no reason for you to do so either.

I hope that I have never truly offended anybody on this forum, and if so, I apologize. Lenny, I think it may improve your status on this forum if you write a formal apology to everyone who you have offended. It is just a suggestion, so don't feel obligated to listen to anything I have to say.

However, judging by the amount of people who "hate" you, I feel that it may be in your best interest.

[willcowskitz]

A discussion has failed when insults start appearing. If we all acknowledged this, there might be less conflicts.


The extreme situations put aside, I see it like this:

lenny signed up for the board, started posting enthusiastically, very eager to make new friends by being himself and acting on impulse rather than thought. Some people, including myself, were a bit annoyed by this seemingly loud-mouthed character when it seemed like he  was roaming around the forum making it his home rather than finding a place to sit in among others. When somebody criticizes this character - lenny - the naturally positive and open-minded person, with rather harsh words, it can be a bit puzzling for lenny if he's not accepted as he is. Its like someone saying "Be yourself, stop pretending" when you're being yourself - rather confusing. While lenny was being sincere, the grumpier people around him saw him as an annoying red siren that is continually announcing it's presence.

I do think that lenny is sometimes a little too eager to post for the sake of it, but personally I don't see him as a nuisance. His conflict with SteinwayTony and others will stop when either of the sides decides to pull back to make more room for themselves, or adapt to ways of the others. Either way, the moderator really has the final word in this matter, and because something personally annoys you is not enough of a reason to ban somebody - you really must act like an ass to get banned. So don't take it to personal level, stay on the subject. You'll be untouchable!

[SteinwayTony]

Lenny, don't be foolish.  People cannot "bring out the worst in people," especially when you and I are merely talking through computers and we're also separated by a little thing I like to call the Atlantic Ocean.  You always have control of your actions.  Neither I nor anyone else can force you to do or say something. 

[SteinwayTony]

A discussion has failed when insults start appearing. If we all acknowledged this, there might be less conflicts.


The extreme situations put aside, I see it like this:

lenny signed up for the board, started posting enthusiastically, very eager to make new friends by being himself and acting on impulse rather than thought. Some people, including myself, were a bit annoyed by this seemingly loud-mouthed character when it seemed like he  was roaming around the forum making it his home rather than finding a place to sit in among others. When somebody criticizes this character - lenny - the naturally positive and open-minded person, with rather harsh words, it can be a bit puzzling for lenny if he's not accepted as he is. Its like someone saying "Be yourself, stop pretending" when you're being yourself - rather confusing. While lenny was being sincere, the grumpier people around him saw him as an annoying red siren that is continually announcing it's presence.

I do think that lenny is sometimes a little too eager to post for the sake of it, but personally I don't see him as a nuisance. His conflict with SteinwayTony and others will stop when either of the sides decides to pull back to make more room for themselves, or adapt to ways of the others. Either way, the moderator really has the final word in this matter, and because something personally annoys you is not enough of a reason to ban somebody - you really must act like an ass to get banned. So don't take it to personal level, stay on the subject. You'll be untouchable!

You ought to pay a visit to a fascinating thread affectionately named "Take this, SteinwayTony!"

The conflicts that are present, I will admit, arose from the fact that I value modesty and loathe bragging.  However, I expressed my opinion (I do have that right on this forum last I checked) in a strictly professional manner and it is no fault of mine that Lenny and company could not contain themselves.

[willcowskitz]

You ought to pay a visit to a fascinating thread affectionately named "Take this, SteinwayTony!"

Oh yeah... That one was pretty funny... nearly all comments were too absurd to be taken seriously, so I just assumed everyone was jesting. 

Obviously the name calling etc. started before, though, and the problem was expanded to irrational scales. Is the original problem even present anymore?

To me it looks like lenny was so surprised by his rejection that he launched an active counter-offensive to rebuild his cyber-identity. I agree he has posted a lot of meaningless drivel, but on the other hand also contributed to the discussions.

[fred smalls]

I have a question: I recently posted on a topic, "lenny", started by skeptoblahblahblah and my total posts were 22, now, i look at my profile, it says I have only posted 20 times(before this post).    Is that because the topic was lifted and all posts on it were taken away?? I cannot find it anymore. Also, Stienway Tony, I support you 100% in everything you say about modesty and bragging.