Thanks for your time and advice. Hope you reconsider.
205 responses Add your response
The phenomenon of making a thoughtful and time consuming post and not getting any feedback is discouraging. There are just so many posts, however, and while I tend to read most of them I don’t have time to respond to all. One useful feature of a site like Facebook is the like button, which at least tells the post writer that someone may have read and appreciated the effort. |
Your observations about how folks tend to communicate apply beyond AgoN. Online conversation in general often isn't and hasn't been for a decade or longer. I've often thought that I should start sending thank-you notes to people I admire or who have influenced me positively, simply because it is a kind thing to let people know they are appreciated. All our lives, others make extraordinary efforts to diminish us or make us feel "less than" simply as self-validation. For my part, I thank you for your anti-misanthropic approach. Bravo! Eliot Fischer |
@elliottbnewcombjr can’t agree more. I have felt the same many times. I spent time like you to help others. I’ve posted absolute facts to only be challenged... The good news is, you just found out that you do matter and that you are often appreciated. |
Bummer. I devote to large chunk of my retired to life to supporting groups (including my own) involved in "uniting" individuals with different viewpoints. My emphasis is on common links and connections. In our particular case: "Shared indulgences". Don’t underestimate the value of your links to groups. Your contributions are worthwhile. Even if they go unacknowledged. John |
say what you will about the steve hoffman or asr forums, which can be insufferably rigid and intolerant, but folks there do actually stay on point and interact with each other, as opposed to the agon standard of bloviating and talking past each other. i've been tempted to quit posting here myself (which may or may not be a loss to the community), though there's still good smart folks to be found here and i particularly like the "what's on your turntable" and other music threads. in any event, @elliottbnewcombjr registers as a good guy and i'm sure he'll be missed. |
You're a good man....Steve Hoffman and Andrew Robinson are also good men.....Anyone who makes a hobby out of listening to MUSIC , has Good in them.....Everyone here has an amount of Good in them just for the fact that you're here. God Bless you all and God Bless MUSIC ! What would we ever do without it. Music is Life. |
I am also a rare poster, but I read the forum emails everyday in quest of useful or interesting info. Elliott has often posted such info and I will miss his presence, too. In my opinion, the design of the forum inhibits interaction needlessly. A simple toolbar enabling a standard “like” or “funny” reply (as on Facebook for instance) would allow anyone to voice appreciation for the poster without having to compose a response. Also, the censoring that goes on when trying to offer assistance to others is off-putting. A number of times I have offered my personal contact or a vendor contact to someone needing help, only to have it “rejected” by the moderator(s). |
Well, so far no one has said ’Good Riddance!) I appreciate these many encouraging thoughts, and also see many names I don’t recognize, part of my suspected OTHERS I suppose. Alright, based on the love, I’ll stick around! ................................................ I will tell another story. DPReview, Olympus Site. As I said, the Sony forum was a big happy family, so active that if you post something on the top of page 1, it’s on page 2 in a week or less. https://www.dpreview.com/forums/1009 Oly Forum, bought my first and only Oly, Stylus 1. Post something, it may stay on page one for 4 months (17 to 1 ratio of involvement). https://www.dpreview.com/forums/1008
I decided I would make an effort to ’lively up’ the place. Sony has weekly ’mini-challenges’. A host picks a theme, members post both exhibitions and up to 3 entries. Any cameras, any time, not just Sony cameras. Tell stories, a big part of it. End of week, host picks honorable mentions, and 3 ’winners’: his choice, no criteria, the purpose is to get a host for the next ’mini challenge. New host picks a theme, off we go for another week. Thus a family spirit is created/maintained (week #703: 13-1/2 years continuous at this time.). So, I propose something similar for the Oly site. OMG was I attacked, they couldn’t get past the idea of ’winners’. So, I try again, Weekly ’Share Photos’. Now many people write me private messages of support for the idea. (note private messages, they would not put it in writing for others to see). So, I start the 1st one: ’BIRDS’. Eh, decent response, selected new host didn’t start a new weekly theme. They don’t get it? I may have started #2, new theme. Eh, I realized, there was not a single post entered by any of the people who had encouraged/asked me to get it going. WTF? Birth Control to that Idea. ................................................... Next: I learned my camera inside out, I need written notes for myself and my lousy memory, so I post my notes as ’set-up suggestions’. Very well received, most bookmarked post, requests for copies .... I become ’the guy’ for that model, for years. Family no, Tech Site yes. Based on that, friendships in writing develop, but nothing like Sony. I’m also ’the guy’ for a few Sony models, set-up/features/methods, among many far more experienced than I. Point is: encouragement was given (privately), and no support of the idea followed. I’m still disappointed I couldn’t Lively Up the place. |
I think it's a unique and not always harmless skill to know how to work people. I can see how it's frustrating to not able to Lively Up the place. You can't blame yourself. (I have 0 of these skills. It reminds me of Planes, Trains and Automobiles, e.g. the bus scene, where Neal couldn't sing anything to be followed and Del hit it off instantly with anyone) |
My take- don't worry about the "likes" or positive feedback from your posts. (It's a dopamine hit, I know). Instead, just contribute where you can here, there and elsewhere. I got frustrated back in 2014 that none of the sites were addressing my particular interests so I started my own. (It's not a high traffic, forum type place, more for my own musings, and a fair amount about records, not gear). I take breaks from this place and others. There are still some good contributors here. Sometimes the s/n ratio isn't good but I just ignore it or don't visit for a while. If your health is still decent and you enjoy the hobby/music/whatever your angle is, that's really all that counts. Bill |
@elliottbnewcombjr I also have enjoyed and learned from your postings. Still somewhat of a newbie, I have often referred to your postings for quite a few topics. Hopefully you will check in from time to time. All the best to you! |
grislybutter1,195 posts ok, now that I see things clearly.... This was a retirement party scam! ..................................... I retired 12 years ago, no party then or since. We had an elderly stock broker and his son-in-law in our car pool to/fm NYC. Every single morning: "I'm gonna tell them I'm retiring TODAY. Every evening, "I'm gonna tell them tomorrow". Went on for years, until one day he didn't come out with his son-in-law. Sadly had passed away.
|
| Post removed |
Photo forums can be as touchy as hi-fi forums. I have pretty much stuck with film as I have the skills and like to keep them alive. While I have sold all my Leicas, I do still visit a film thread on a big Leica forum, where any kind of film photo from any kind of camera can be posted. Funny thing is, it remains one of the most active and longest lasting threads in the whole site - 4,000 pages over ten years. Film cameras, vinyl records, tube amps, steam locos, and black powder muzzleloaders all get me going. I seem to have been born in the wrong era! Glad to hear you'll be staying around. |
dogberry241 posts "I have pretty much stuck with film. Film cameras, vinyl records, tube amps, steam locos, and black powder muzzleloaders all get me going. I seem to have been born in the wrong era!" ................................... r2r tapes; vinyl (recently inherited 4000 lps had 2500); lot o cds; tt with 3 tonearms; vintage: tube tuner/preamp/amp vintage speakers https://www.audiogon.com/systems/9511 Not the wrong era, just old enough to know how good the vintage equip/technologies were in those eras. |
@smerk It is male posturing. Even us old guy still stand up the fur on occasion. It is also a sign that we are passionate about this subject. Arguing about it is fine, attacking others is not. I have a tendency to strike back when I am attacked but I am getting better at controlling it. @elliottbnewcombjr I am sure many view me as a stuck record, some think I preach. So, I decided to wear a black robe when online. Might as well play the part. As a voice of sanity, sorry to see you dismiss yourself. |
The seed for the demise of forums like this one, and for ultimate frustration of the participants, is enshrined in the core beliefs of audiophiles. Everything contributes to the sound of a system We can hear all these contributions Every component has it's own distinct sound We can hear all these distinctions If it cost more, it's better Specs don't matter. (unless the more costly item has better specs than a cheaper item, then they do.) LP sounds better than CD. The most expensive solution to any problem, is the best solution. Some brands are no good. (These are usually the best selling brands.) If I say I can hear it, you must accept that as fact Wire is sentient No picking and choosing. In for a penny, in for a pound. EVERYONE's opinion is equally valid. and we have not even mentioned tweaks
Cheers
|
@rok2id You have to appreciate the humor in that. We are all head cases. I have not started drooling yet. My positive thought of the day. Darn, Veronica Swift can sing! |
@dogberry , No. it is just an echo. Elliott needs to dampen that late reflection in there. As Kurt Vonnegut reflected, "The problem with humans is their heads are too big." |
Yes; sadely the internet allows faceless bullying. Worse yet it allows anyone and everyone equal voices whether or not the poster knows “their stuff.” I get why you have had enough. ( I’m a mostly retired photographer, FYI, and was shocked at Dpreview shuttering it’s cyber doors) Here on Agon if I had to share I’m Joe Blow from Anytown USA ( home of the worlds best burger) that might/might not make for less inflammatory posts. Hard to know but mostly’round these parts are mostly menfolk. There’s that too. Rather than post the proverbial Gone Fishing sign why not unretire like Tom Bradey or Michael Jordan? When MC regurgitated on me I felt like I had arrived. Imagine a know it all (he might) telling me to get stuffed. That’s the internet.
|
samureyex OP63 posts I can say since you worked your butt off, ............................ No joke, I arrived 165 lbs of twisting steel and sex appeal. Made a big deal of a project, stayed up 7 nights/8 days; result MONO. went down to 125 lbs. Called myself a Buttless Wonder, wallet just flapping around in the back pocket (no money in it a factor). Took many years to put the weight back on, then went up to 244 lbs taking clients to fancy NYC restaurants. Back down to 214, then past 5 months health issues, lost 34 lbs, put 20 back on, sitting at 200 lbs. |
jjss495,999 posts is this like the doggie that barks to get some attention? .................................. didn't start that way, but this AM I saw the advantages, though I have told many a mutt to 'shut the ____ up' and the wifey has told me something similar. |
