Precisely Corsair. That is precisely what is happening. I too like to hear lots of new people coming, the more the better. I don't want this forums to become static either, just
as anyone esle. But there are enough new members joining all the time, who actually do contribute and do play fair to keep it from ever getting static.
I'm happy to embrace all newcomers who bahave sociably.
I know there are a lot of X factors. Some new members feel shy about reviewing, bit of caution in case you sound silly or people think you are not qualified to critique or whatever. I know that because I went through the same when I first happened upon these forums. I also know that when you first find a place like this, you are so eager to post everything you have because finally there are some people who will listen. I get it. I didn't because I studied the forum for half an hour before I posted to be sure I was doing what everyone else was doing. I was eager to fit into a place in which I was the newcomer. It's called manners.
That's why none of that is what I am talking about.
I am talking about members of this forum who have been here on multiple occassions, have been informed about the forum etiquette, have been spoken to about being more giving instead of only taking and STILL only come for reviews and support. Like Sjoerd.
There is another member who seeing as this is a no holes barred conversation I will name. Mark Longworth. I used to really like Mark a loooong time ago. I enjoyed his energy and he contributed.
For a long time now he only ever comes here to post his own work which from the tone of his posts we should all be so greatful for.
These are the people who abuse these forums and they should be stopped from getting reviews as far as I am concerned.
Yes, the way this forum has policed itself so far has been great but now we have many members. But only a percentage are constantly, day after day, giving their support and help and reviewing.
That number is growing too. So when there is so much, so many people who want to be reviewed, surely people who contribute nothing and yet return time after time for OUR support should not get it.
I like to give my time. I like to support people who deserve it. It's a big thing to enter a forum and aks people to dedicate thier time and thoughts to something you have created. To ask them for an opinion about it and maybe even help and support. That is no small thing! And we are giving it away for free. And that's great but it is being abused.
The newer members are not learning the lesson because we have so many members now that people are posting on them anyway.
I would say it is definately time to evolve, but not in a drastic way. The last thing that anyone would want is the atmosphere that has been dented lately changing. There are some great idea's being thrown out. The welcome email. Maybe some help for Tone with forum mods who can be trusted to gently and politely deal with various forms of forum abuse.
I just don't see how at this moment, with things progressing as they are, how we can continue to let the blatant freeloaders get away with it anymore when there is so many new and sociable members to review and support.
Corsair mentioned the word cohesive, when refering to the other forum he is a member of. By that I take it to mean team work, all being on the same side, solidarity.
If it is the forums desire to promote active membership. If it is the forums desire to promote community and fairness, to encourage people to join in. The surely we should all be singing from the same hymn sheet. Instead some are trying to push people towards to guidlines in the hope they'll work it out. Some people are getting so fed up with it that it's coming to a boiling point. Some people decide the best approach is to go in... give a review and then make a flippant remark about people complaining about the poster beaing a selfish person.
If we want to promote an INTERACTIVE forum, rather than a free song critiqueing service, then we ALL need to show people gently towards the guidlines and we all need to ignore selfish abusers.
Those that don't are undermining all the good efforts the great members of this forum make to integrate people into the place in a less selfish manner.
Oh and Kaf. I love you mate but I dont see how Alzheimers has got anything to do with anything. My dad had to have his leg amputated twice and almost died recently frm septicemia.
He has lots of trouble now walking and suffers a lot of pain. It is so sad to see.
Right from now on I'm only posting on my own songs.
hmmm
