new forum?

[holdempok]

that is understood nigel.  but for those who would like to be involved I think it's a great idea.

[64Guitars]

I guess it depends on how you use the forums. For me, the forum categories make no difference because I always go to the forum home page and click on the Show unread posts since last visit link. This lists all of the messages that have been posted since my last visit which I have not yet read, from all forum categories. No matter how the forum categories are divided, this unread message view will remain the same. So, the only time the forum categories matter for me is when I post a new topic. Then I must decide which forum category is most appropriate for my post. But, for reading messages, the categories make no difference to me because I will see messages from all categories when I click on Show unread posts since last visit.

I'm curious. In what way are others using the forums that you think the categories will make a difference?

[Glenn Mitchell]

Agreed finished - covers and originals
and collab- covers and original

I'd be happy with this. It seems simple enough.
I also agree there can be too many categories.
Most other forums like this separate the originals from covers at least.
They often ask for finished products only.
I think this helps the quality.
Several only allow originals and collabs.

[Ferryman_1957]

I guess it depends on how you use the forums. For me, the forum categories make no difference because I always go to the forum home page and click on the Show unread posts since last visit link.

I'm not sure, but I don't think that will work for me. I tend to dip in out out of the forum many times a day for short times while I'm at work, which means I couldn't read all the unread posts in any one session. Yet when I sign back on, I won't see the unread posts from my previous visit that I didn't have time to read. So I always use the categories to access the posts, and "Post Your Work" is where I go first (and spend most of my time). I realise that I am not spending any time in the "Other Recorders" area, because I only use the BR yet I'm sure I would be interested in other examples of work provided they were on Boss recorders that are similar to the MBR.

So categories is the way to go for me, unless I'm misunderstanding how the unread posts since last visit works.

Cheers,

Nigel

[mr2kewl]

my micro grammy suggestion was really just tounge and cheek...

humor... however slight.   

[beleg]

Agreed finished covers and ortiginals
and collab- covers and original

I think this would be perfect. (maybe a separate section for people to post lyrics)

[64Guitars]

Monthly Micro Br awards for:
best single original
best single cover
best original collaboration
best collaboration cover.

Votes from the forum members.

How do you define "best" when it comes to music (or any art form, for that matter)? Voting means that "best" equals most popular which, of course, is nonsense. I'm sure that Britney Spears has more fans and has sold way more records than Charlotte Church, for example. Does that mean that Britney Spears is a better singer than Charlotte Church? Of course not!

Music affects different people differently, but all music brings joy to someone somewhere, so it's all good. Comparative evaluations of music are meaningless. Even if you look at it from a technical point of view - a musician's training, knowledge of music theory, vocal range and dynamics, etc. - the more skilled musician is not necessarily "better". For example, opera singers have incredible vocal range and dynamics, and great knowledge of music, but I can't bear to listen to them for very long. It's just not my cup of tea. Likewise, some metal guitarists have great speed and dexterity, and I know I'll never be able to play like them, yet their playing really doesn't appeal to me at all. I respect their skill but I don't like their music. So, clearly, technical prowess does not make one musician better than another, just as popularity does not make one musician better than another.

So, let's not start any kind of voting or other comparative evaluations of each other's music. It would serve no purpose and it might discourage those members who get the least votes, or who are compared unfavourably to other members. And that would not be in keeping with the mutually supportive spirit of this community.

[FuzzFace]

As long as you have a category for "post-progressive quasi-ambient pop-hybrid".

[64Guitars]

I'm not sure, but I don't think that will work for me. I tend to dip in out out of the forum many times a day for short times while I'm at work, which means I couldn't read all the unread posts in any one session. Yet when I sign back on, I won't see the unread posts from my previous visit that I didn't have time to read.

It doesn't work that way. Messages will remain "unread" until you click on them to read them. So, if you click on Show unread posts since last visit and it lists 25 unread messages, for example, and you read 5 of those messages then click on Show unread posts since last visit again, it will list the remaining 20 messages (plus any new ones that might have come in). Try it!

In fact, you can read a message, then mark it as "unread" so that it will appear in the list of unread messages the next time you click on Show unread posts since last visit. I sometimes do that when I read an interesting message but don't have time to reply just then. I'll mark the message "unread" so that I'll be sure to see it again the next time I click on Show unread posts since last visit and can reply to it then.

[Greeny]

I already 'opted out' of head to head competitions. It's not what the forum (or music in general) is about for me. I just want to share, interract and learn. And have some relaxed fun, of course