Posting habits versus reviewing

[bruno]

Okay - need to get this off my chest, and is triggered by another thread, but think its best to get this aired as a separate thread.

Recently the site reviews/comments has fallen of a cliff, with only a few people regularly commenting - that clearly can't be sustainable. I (like many on this site) don't mind if people don't comment on my efforts, not everything is to everyones taste - but I firmly believe that as a general rule of thumb, folks should comment/contribute to the community if they like to receive comments themselves. I know that folks are time restrained, however contribution can take place over a long period, and really doesn't take a lot of time - and is very enjoyable as well.

This is a very unique site, and I must admit it took me quite some while to 'get it'. It is free from ads, so no agendas - which is a rarity these days, and a nice place to 'play' as well. This site only exists through good will and people giving time and effort.

So where has this come from??? Well of late I have been wondering if this is the place for me, due to games with self bumping along with posting but little or no contribution. This drives me mad, but I guess that is my problem. Is this just me - will i get flamed for raising this??? If I'm wrong - tell me, I'm not easily offended - however if I'm feeling like this, then others must be too. And if so, this site will diminish because without reviews and comments, this place will be not the same place.

I'm not a moderator - so I don't speak for the site, and if this is out of turn - slap me down :-) But I believe if you post a tune, try and review 3 others. That way the site will grow.

Right - I feel better now!
B

[fenderbender]

Guilty?
yes I am.
 I Love this site -From the day I found it.
I had a small 4 track Zoom and thought I was unique.
Then I found this new world.
Through good times and bad every morning and last thing at night I check in and listen
I really should have about 5000 posts 
Life got in the way over 4 years ago- so I now am climbing back up the ladder slowly
At times it can be hard to comment -not because of the music
the music is top notch here
but at times how to comment can be a problem
Saying 10 out of 10 every so often etc can maybe sound ......
I hope you guys know what I mean
I still remember my first post on here way way back
I thought I was the bees knees -I think it was 64 who said -great stuff but I think your G string is slightly out of tune
I think from that first post on I was totally hooked
I still am.
This is a very unique site may it prosper and grow.
I for one need it and love it,and if no one comments on a posting of mine-
it  makes me knuckle down and try harder.
I will try harder to be -what I should be- a part of the site in every way.
So thank you all for being a BIG part of my life

Tommy

[kenny mac]

I agree,the site has changed and recently I asked the question just how many people are still active as we have loads on the list A to Z but only the same people surface.
There are ones who only come in to drop a new track in then disappear without commenting on others.
for me the thing I like is collaboration on the site and the friends I've made through this from different country's .
I think there's a change happening and we need to respect the site more and what it stands for.
I loved it when tribute fest was on as it really kick started the community spirit for a while.
I hope the spirit doesn't fade but we do need some new people on here to inject something back into it.
Also lets not forget how people have became a part of our life's through the site ,how we felt emotionally when They have passed and how much this site meant to them and how much through this site they meant to us.
It's always been a special place and it's amazing to look back at how people have improved and collaborated through the years.
Kenny

[Hilary]

Well I was very restrained and didn't comment on the previous thread. This topic rears it's ugly head every so often and it's usually you Bruno that raises it. It's meant to be a hobby for fun. If you want to adhere to self imposed quotas for commenting then that's completely up to you but to expect others to do it and to keep on nagging about it, I don't feel is particularly encouraging (but then I hate being told what to do).

You get out of life what you put in and the site will find it's own equilibrium. My posts have dropped dramatically recently because I haven't particularly enjoyed the Fests (excluding the current ones) but I probably look in every day and listen to at least a couple of songs. I haven't posted anything lately because I've been extremely ill and haven't been able to sing but I'm well on the mend now - not that it's anybody's business on here and that I have to justify what I do, or don't do.

Having said all that, you've posted this because you care and I respect that.

Life's too short to feel guilty about not doing something. Do what you want to do and enjoy it!

[bruno]

Tommy - You are a great songcrafter, you play music that before this site I wouldn't listen to, so this has made me appreciate the blood, sweat and tears that goes into making all kinds of music - expanding my horizons with a smile :-) Keep doing what you are doing. 

Kenny - you are a super at collaborating, a fine musician, and a magic Songcrafter.  Collaborating is something I also love more than anything else. I have a picture in my head of what all SC's are like - you get to know people over a long period of time, what they believe in, what drives them etc. Sharing a beer with you and Tommy would be a hoot, a great evening. One day maybe .....

Hillary - you are a comedy superstar - I've seen you destroy a large room of people, with folks sweating with laugher - I watch your progress with interest. And yeah I agree with what you are saying - however I am concerned that the equilibrium getting very low. I do really care about this site (that is the only thing that has driven this), mainly because I've got so much out of it (and continue to do so). I am on the cusp of another MET, which I didn't think I would get to earlier in the year as I was so ill (there's lots of it about). We need new folks on this site, new blood is always good - and I understand that my approach may annoy some - thats not my intent, however I know of no other way. I think discussing it in the open is better than people getting annoyed and then drifting off.

I am concerned that a lot of the old guard appear to have drifted away, that may just be perception and I may be completely incorrect - so the general health of the site appears to be down from where it once was. The question is, what can we do about it? I really don't have the answers here - hence the discussion. If I'm bad for raising it, then I apologise - ignore my rant and continue doing what you are doing. I'm big and hairy (although my meds are making me smaller but more hairy funnily enough) enough to take it on the chin, so be it.

B

[kenny mac]

Bruno,please do not feel bad in any way for raising this,I'm getting where you are coming from .
There have been so many people that have got really upset about comments or the direction the site has went and then just left and it feels pretty bad when they do this.
You collaborate with these people,listen to their stuff regularly and then  Suddenly they are away.
I have an iPod full of music from this site that I listen to more than what's out there on the radio.
It's good to vent your frustration out and this sometimes make people think and perhaps sometimes people read too much into what people are saying.
I'm talking about past comments when people have left because of them
I have had times on this site when people have taken remarks totally out of context and this unfortunately is the nature of online forums etc.
But people have really took issues with some and left.
I understand people have life issues and are busy with jobs etc you and I both have had pretty bad health issues lately,but I know this is not what your talking about.
If you look at the stats we have lost an awfull lot of people and there's only a small handful that come on and contribute now.
I don't know the answer ,you can't drag people in,but we need new people to broaden the community.
I look forward to hearing new stuff from everyone here every week and yeh I have my favourites like we all have when listening to any artist.
But I always try and encourage people and give them respect  as to the time and effort they have put in.
But my main concern is people that I've really got to know on this site start leaving and go to another site.
Enjoy your Met and keep the songcrafter flag flying mate your an essential cog in the machine.

[alfstone]

My opinion.

There are dozens of reasons for "less comments"...healthy problems, lack of free time, working problems, language barriers...too much hot to stay in front of a PC (it's actually my case...), and so on.

The problem is different. The problem is that there are some who, from the beginning, come here ONLY to post their music. This way they are not *really* part of the community, probably they are not interested in collaborations, sharing their musical and recording opinions and so on.

Alfredo

P.S. anyway, it happens in various forms, and not only here. For instance, on Soundcloud  a couple of weeks ago a (very good anyway) guitar player "followed" me. I followed back him in change, and since then EVERY DAY there is a new (I think imaginary) WONDERFUL NAKED GIRL   who follows me on Soundcloud, but looking at her profile, she has no tracks to share APART THE ONES REPOSTED FROM THAT GUITAR PLAYER'S SOUNCLOUD.

 

[Hilary]

Why don't you ask to be on the Admin Bruno - then you can try to affect change from within.

BTW if everyone commented 3 times a day, the boards would be in chaos and I actually think that by setting yourself an arbitrary target it actually devalues the comments you do make (people might think you are just commenting to get your quota up).

People drift off, that's life. People are out enjoying the summer, that's life. People come back if they want to, that's life too.

[kenny mac]

My opinion

The problem is different. The problem is that there are some who, from the beginning, come here ONLY to post their music. This way they are not *really* part of the community, probably they are not interested in collaborations, sharing their musical and recording opinions and so on.

Alfredo

you hit the nail the head Alfredo. This is exactly the point.

Like Bruno said, posting but little or no contribution

[Hilary]

The problem is different. The problem is that there are some who, from the beginning, come here ONLY to post their music. This way they are not *really* part of the community, probably they are not interested in collaborations, sharing their musical and recording opinions and so on.

Alfredo
 

If you don't like people posting their own songs and not commenting on others, don't listen to them - problem sorted. If they don't get any listens/comments chances are they won't post again.

Alfredo - I get the naked women on Soundcloud too, spamming is a huge problem on Soundcloud - only I report mine!