Plea For More People To Post

[gingerjazz]

Come on guys i notice that there are always a lot of guests on this forum reading but not posting.Its not hard to join in so lets help this forum thrive by posting more and not just sitting back and reading other peoples posts.

[fep]

I'm often one of those guests.

I don't log in until I post and after a few minutes the site logs me off automatically.

So most of the time I'm here I'm a guest.

[ECross]

We need more of the people who are already members to contribute. There are thousands of members of this forum, yet I only see a handful actually using it.

[cutnstuf]

Unfortunately, not unlike a lot of forums, or at least some that I participate in. Usually just a small percentage of reg'd mems make there presence known.

Cut

[4thstuning]

Most of the time I peruse the latest posts and follow a decision sequence:
1. is the topic or a post interesting to me?
2. if 1. is true, then do I have anything to add or rebut?
3. if 1. and 2. are true then I'll chime in.

Maybe participation is a symptom and the real problem is having more interesting topics or comments to engage the passing reader.

[ECross]

Its a vicious cycle. Maybe the regulars here have done most of the interesting topics, so no new members get engaged. But without new members, there may not be new ideas coming in. That is why I get annoyed when people tell someone who is asking a question that has already been asked to do a search for an old thread. Won't everything eventually be talked about and we are all just surfing old threads instead of starting conversations about something that perhaps someone may have a new insight or idea about?

I know for sure that when a friend of mine brings up a topic I love (aka hockey) I am always willing to talk about it, regardless if we had the same conversation before. Why can't it be the same with jazz music on this forum? People must be too lazy to type or get their brains involved.

[GodinFan]

If a topic has been thoroughly discussed, or a question frequently asked, it's perfectly valid to suggest searching previous posts on a forum.

Repetitive questions and circuitous discussions tend to drive away the experienced members. That's not good, since quite often the very people you want to hear from.

I have to admit that there are many times I don't post on certain topics. There are times that I just don't feel like getting into prolonged debates regarding theory or nomenclature. I'm an experienced performer and arranger; I've had enough arguments with posters on other boards who don't bother to educate themselves before getting into discussions.

[ECross]

I see where you are coming from, makes sense. Do you think anything can be done about the lack of participation on a forum such as this?

[4thstuning]

Originally Posted by ECross

I see where you are coming from, makes sense. Do you think anything can be done about the lack of participation on a forum such as this?

Is this really a problem? I don't think so myself. The more time I check in here the less time I spend playing, working, or being with my family. A little forum time goes a long way.

[patskywriter]

i agree with 4thstuning. i like to just check in, see what's new, and then get back to the activities of the day.

i guess i've been dropping in here on a semiregular basis for the past few months. i really feel that i don't have much in common with most of the posters here and thus don't have all that much to talk about, even though music is my life. so i still peek in every now and then on the off chance that someone will write something that interests me. (and of course i add my 2¢ when i can.)

[ECross]

I think that because I am completely new to jazz I like to spend more time here than someone who has been a jazz musician for years, with the hope of learning something from someone.

[Dark Star]

I try to check in at least once a day. I'm pretty new to jazz & its concepts also, so at this point I'm not interacting too much; I mostly read. I'm getting new ideas just about every time I come here, so rest assured the forum is having an effect. Thank you to all those members that are so generous about sharing what they know-

[lindydanny]

Honestly, it's nice to come back to the forum after a weekend an only have a few dozen threads to sort through. I hang out at Ukulele Underground - Free online video ukulele lessons, tabs, chords, and the largest ukulele forum on the internet! a lot and there are so many annoyingly similar posts and crap that I am not interested in that coming hear and getting meat and potatoes feels good. More posts doesn't really mean better content.

~DB

[The Poppster]

Originally Posted by ECross

I think that because I am completely new to jazz I like to spend more time here than someone who has been a jazz musician for years, with the hope of learning something from someone.

That's certainly true for me.

[The Poppster]

Originally Posted by Dark Star

I try to check in at least once a day. I'm pretty new to jazz & its concepts also, so at this point I'm not interacting too much; I mostly read. I'm getting new ideas just about every time I come here, so rest assured the forum is having an effect. Thank you to all those members that are so generous about sharing what they know-

Ditto!

[ingreen]

ECross:
"Its a vicious cycle. Maybe the regulars here have done most of the interesting topics, so no new members get engaged. But without new members, there may not be new ideas coming in. That is why I get annoyed when people tell someone who is asking a question that has already been asked to do a search for an old thread."

I just tried to post a reply and was asked, for the second time, to log in - that post did'nt seem to be accepted. I apologize if this is a duplicate.
==
I agree with ECross. I don't mind nubes asking questions I've seen before. I enjoy their enthusiasm, and it's great to hear some new voices.

And, really, for those bothered by repeat questions, isn't it just as easy to pass over newbie threads containing repeat questions as it is to pass over threads by "regulars" that are not particularly interesting?

[ECross]

Amen.

[randalljazz]

Originally Posted by ECross

I see where you are coming from, makes sense. Do you think anything can be done about the lack of participation on a forum such as this?

respect and courtesy might help...nah--

[musicalbodger]

Originally Posted by lindydanny

More posts doesn't really mean better content.

~DB

I'll drink to that.

[ECross]

Originally Posted by musicalbodger

I'll drink to that.

Isn't that hypocrisy? Or does this post have some hidden "better content" I missed?

[musicalbodger]

Originally Posted by ECross

Isn't that hypocrisy? Or does this post have some hidden "better content" I missed?

Sorry ECross,. don't see any hypocricy in agreeing with the previous poster. To put it another way, quality is always better than quantity.

As for asking whether the post has a hidden content, that smacks of paranoia.

You say you spend a lot of time here "in the hope of learning something from someone". Well, look back through previous posts and absorb this fantastic resource of information. If you find something you don't understand, or you wish to comment on then just add it to that thread, no matter how old, and you can revive a topic that interests you, others will then join you.

Most of those here who have experience are busy people with day jobs, families, and their music to fit in to 24 hours, we don't have time to post just for the benefit of others. However, if a sensible quetsion is asked you will find many who are prepared to give you their time by answering. Count yourself lucky you have the internet and a forum like this. Those of us over 40 learnt it all through books and playing. We didn't have the ability to pick the brains of a world wide community of jazz guitarists.

Regarding your comment about only a few members commenting. I guess you're quite young and don't have much experience of group mentality and group behaviour, so just to help you out here, in any group/committee/band there are always those who do and there are always those who allow others to do without doing themselves. It's the way of the world and human nature.

[Dad3353]

I'll drink to that...

[cutnstuf]

Pass me that jug Daddio...

[ECross]

Alright then.

[cosmic gumbo]

But people just keep needing to know if you can get arrested for putting flatwounds on a telecaster. Who wants to end up in the pokey? And, what is the best archtop for under $25,000? What is the most important song to learn if I want to audition for the royal guitar academy? Inquiring minds want to know!

[Dad3353]

Nurse..! Gumbo is out of bed again..! Nurse..?

[musicalbodger]

Originally Posted by Dad3353

Nurse..! Gumbo is out of bed again..! Nurse..?

[The Poppster]

Originally Posted by Dad3353

Nurse..! Gumbo is out of bed again..! Nurse..?

Ha ha ha . . . LMAO !

[Hugh]

I'm having the same problem as some of you, I have tried posting three times in the last few days and by the time I write the post I'm booted out and have to start all over again.
Is there something can be done about this

[oilywrag]

If you get booted out the system should log you back i on the page you where viewing,eg you have written a post and you hit review and get booted, log back in and you should end up with the review in front of you..

Cheers tom