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RE: How online forums created a new ... (in reply to Escribano)
Interesting article. I haven't been around here long enough to have experienced the "good old days" but I can tell, reading through the archives, that there has been a shift over the years. Most of the discussions about this here seem to correlate that with the waning interest in flamenco in general. This article would suggest that it is more about the format and people moving over to other platforms like Facebook or Twitter.
A lot of it rang true. The idea of coming for the music and staying for the friendship/conviviality is spot-on, at least for me. Though I have to say that I haven't noticed all that much of the negatives he described (trolling, stalking, etc.). That's either a testimony to how well you've moderated this place or just a recognition that we don't attract that many trolls (apparently we do better at attracting hackers :-) ). I mean, unless I've missed out on something, there doesn't seem to have been much of this going on: " find threads on pop bands flooded overnight with Japanese enema pics, or wearily deal with a new troll whose gimmick was pretending to be a werewolf".
"But perhaps their time will come again". Here's to hoping that he's right about that!
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Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ
RE: How online forums created a new ... (in reply to Escribano)
This place was a godsend to me in the early and mid-2000s--gracias, Simon! I was wild about flamenco guitar, and our local scene was poor. Being able to hang out with other aficionados from all across the world led me to explore artists I'd never have heard about, and push myself as a player to try to keep up. I even got to go to private peña with Kate in Granada. Being able to rub elbows with advanced players like Ricardo and Grisha and Todd was a lot of fun, too. There was a good feeling, hanging out with Simon and Ron and Jon and gerundino, etc. It was only partly about the music. That being said, when I started to get more into other styles, and my interest in flamenco waned (but never completely!), I guess it was only natural to feel less in common with the newer breed of foro-ites and spend less time here. However, compared to the social media style of discussion, I think I'll always prefer forums. The ephemerality of social media, how the posts disappear into the air like small talk in a coffee shop, does not appeal to me.
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