Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.
This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.
We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.
Posts: 1956
Joined: Dec. 2 2006
From: Budapest, now in Southampton
RE: Where has everyone gone? (in reply to Dudnote)
There used to be a +2 +1 -1 -2 option here (similar to like and dislike). Unfortunately some people who received minuses ran off, so the function was removed. A like button would be nice I think (or just let's bring the +1 back).
I'm also guilty, I was never a very intense poster, and I still visit the foro daily, but I have much less time and less to say. But true, the foro was a fun place to visit when the likes of Todd, Florian, Doitsujin and especially Ron were around and more involved. There were fights all the time of course, but it has really slowed down recently. I hope it catches up, we need some new blood here!
RE: Where has everyone gone? (in reply to xirdneH_imiJ)
Likes, dislikes and thelike buttons do no good to a forum community. Such quick and opaque ratings only produce competitive atmosphere that will psycologically lead away from what ain´t human strength anyway: submitting to contents.
It is why such options once in a while get removed from intelligent boards.
Whereas, if out for marketing and opinion research, like buttons ought to support the case.
I remember coming back to the foro after a while and found myself yearning for a "like" button .....so I could just click like when someone made a decent point. (does that promote laziness? just click like, no need to actually converse with people?)
If some here think the Foro is diminished, with fewer posters and interesting comments, think how much more barren it would be if the occasional comment or upload merited simple "likes," and "dislikes," or "thumbs up" and "thumbs down." There would be little conversation and, in my opinion, it would be far less interesting. A forum, by definition, promotes conversation, debate, and different points of view, whether it's about flamenco or off-topic. Otherwise you might as well have a poll to register "like," "dislike," or "maybe."
By the way, among others mentioned as not posting on the Foro anymore, two of the most interesting old-timers whose informative and erudite posts I miss are Kate and Giacomo (GJ Michelob). They always had something interesting to add to the conversation.
Bill
_____________________________
And the end of the fight is a tombstone white, With the name of the late deceased, And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here, Who tried to hustle the East."
Posts: 2879
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England
RE: Where has everyone gone? (in reply to BarkellWH)
I agree really. I was more pointing out how places like facebook had changed the way my brain was working whilst being online. I personally think it would probably be a bit of a bad idea like you say Bill and Ruphus. what really matters is content and ideas and debate and discussion and sharing of info and knowledge.
Posts: 2879
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England
RE: Where has everyone gone? (in reply to xirdneH_imiJ)
on that point of facebook influence though... perhaps new, younger visitors to this site might be turned off by the lack of such things made popular by social media. Im not saying the foro should pander to the crushing weight of the modern internet generation but perhaps there is something to be learned by what's going on elsewhere online.
I mean this site has a bit of an old fashioned feel no? I remember a period where there was an attempt to modernise and it fell flat on its arse. around the time of Cpt Bob wasnt it? I wouldn't want that to happen again.
I don't really see your problem. Those were just my opinions, perfectly arguable. You've made no comment on them. Perhaps you feel you can behave in a certain way just because you're rather good at guitar. I'll spare you a passive aggressive smiley face, anyway.
Got to admit that I loved it when people kicked off at each other.....it felt like there was a real energy. Things change I know but that 'fire' was a real grin giver for me.
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Where has everyone gone? (in reply to Dudnote)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Dudnote
quote:
ORIGINAL: ToddK
quote:
Take this in:
I don't see how it's possible to not love that.
Complete and utter bad ass..
Personally I prefer this, there's more balls, like when you listen to La Paquera.
A solid player for sure, and sure it's aggressive as it's all pulgar work here, but sorry Rey on a totally different level, and the final rasgueado is more ballsy than any one thing in the above.
Speaking for myself, I've just been very busy. I've never been a huge contributor here compared to some, but I've gained a great deal hanging out here off and on over the years. Right now I have a 3 year old and 8 month old, help my wife run a flamenco dance school, and am in the middle of a masters in guitar performance, along with gigs etc, so I don't have heaps of spare time. Even so I should try and make more of an effort from now on given the amount I've benefited from being here
re: Google Trends... search any genre and you'll get similar results so i wouldn't rely on it
anyway, i'm surprised no one has mentioned the economy as a reason. unemployment in Spain is ridiculous. all the arts suffer during economic hardship. people have to focus their energies on making a living
RE: Where has everyone gone? (in reply to Ricardo)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Ricardo This plus not being able to embed youtube links makes posting media on foro not as convenient. Wonder if there is anything can be done to revamp things for mobile devices, or at least a tutorial of ways around problem?
OK, so you can't see what I did there, but if you edit the following (as instructed in bold) you get the embedded URL... https://www.youtube[REMOVE THIS BIT - INCLUDING THE BRACKETS].com/watch?v=AcGwD0npZ98&feature=youtu.be
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Where has everyone gone? (in reply to Dudnote)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Dudnote
quote:
ORIGINAL: Ricardo This plus not being able to embed youtube links makes posting media on foro not as convenient. Wonder if there is anything can be done to revamp things for mobile devices, or at least a tutorial of ways around problem?
OK, so you can't see what I did there, but if you edit the following (as instructed in bold) you get the embedded URL... https://www.youtube[REMOVE THIS BIT - INCLUDING THE BRACKETS].com/watch?v=AcGwD0npZ98&feature=youtu.be
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Where has everyone gone? (in reply to Dudnote)
ios 9.2 is the upgrade I will do for Ipad today. I prefer ipad for screen size plus I use a bluetooth keyboard so it functions much like my old lap top.
Posts: 1108
Joined: Sep. 29 2009
From: Back in Boston
RE: Where has everyone gone? (in reply to xirdneH_imiJ)
I suspect a lot of folks stay away or have left due to factors they do not want to address in a public post. Over the years I have read several "good bye" posts and the level of animosity got pretty extreme. Maybe a survey might help?
Over the years I have read several "good bye" posts and the level of animosity got pretty extreme. Maybe a survey might help?
I think most of those who no longer post on the Foro have moved on for all the reasons listed in the various comments in this thread: marriage and kids; day jobs that take up their time when not playing and practicing; boredom with the same questions posed regarding technique and guitars; etc. But along with the absence of old-timers who might be missed, there is a constant churning, with newer members posting and uploading.
Regarding the comment that several members left with a high level of animosity surrounding their leave-taking, I can think of only one in the last couple of years. We had an engaging conversation during the period August-September 2015 in the Off-Topic thread, "Do the Classics Suppress Contemporary, Creative Works of Music? Literature? Art?," in which one Foro member was flogging a 50-year old book that was supposed to be the key to understanding why no musical genre was dominant today or would be in the future. Several members took issue with the author's thesis and there were some rather heated exchanges. Nevertheless, as far as I know the gentleman in question is still an active member.
The one member who appears to have left in a snit was also the most vocal in his claim that the classics have suppressed the creation of modern, classical music. After much debate, he accused those who disagreed with him of "cognitive dissonance." When called out on this and asked to explain just how disagreement equaled "cognitive dissonance," he apparently stopped posting. At least I have not seen anything by him since that episode. Nevertheless, he is the only one I am aware of over the last several years who apparently left the Foro out of animosity or "hurt feelings."
I don't know what good a survey would do, other than allow members to post reasons they think members have departed the Foro that have already been posted in this thread.
Bill
_____________________________
And the end of the fight is a tombstone white, With the name of the late deceased, And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here, Who tried to hustle the East."
Posts: 1108
Joined: Sep. 29 2009
From: Back in Boston
RE: Where has everyone gone? (in reply to xirdneH_imiJ)
a survey would be a way for members to express their opinions in an anonymous manner. Leaving for developmental reasons is one thing, leaving because of other reasons is another. Just a thought.
Posts: 3497
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC
RE: Where has everyone gone? (in reply to Leñador)
quote:
Prominent critic/Ramon left under some bad circumstances, over falsetas beginning on 7 and farruca compas if I recall. It was kinda ridiculous.
That was about three years ago, wasn't it Lenny? Another one who left about the same time was GuitarBuddha. Both seemed to me to enjoy getting into contentious arguments, although GuitarBuddha had some interesting things to say when he wasn't being argumentative.
The one I was thinking of in my comment above was Miguel, who ended on the note of accusing those with whom he disagreed of suffering from "cognitive dissidence." When asked to explain, he simply ceased posting. His was more a case of being "thin skinned" in my opinion; that and a sort of congenital dislike of dead, white, European males.
Bill
_____________________________
And the end of the fight is a tombstone white, With the name of the late deceased, And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here, Who tried to hustle the East."
RE: Where has everyone gone? (in reply to BarkellWH)
I never understood why GuitarBuddha left. One of his final posts was singing happy birthday to my daughter - all seemed to be going well, and then, nothing.
I had a problem with my internet connection when i moved to another apartment . a Company called Fastweb in Italy was not able to explain why i can't have an access to the foro. access was denied. a year later i had to change my apartment again and i had the same company for internet. I opened many tickets there but was no solution. tonight i was simply able to access!! i don't play at ll cuz i work too much and i have really little time but at least i was able to follow and visit in here.. Seems that it is working now and i'm happy to be online here.
_____________________________
This is hard stuff! Don't give up... And don't make it a race. Enjoy the ray of sunshine that comes with every new step in knowledge.