Could we cool it with the bass jargon?

[Michedelic]

I’m beginning to wonder if some, or all, of this consternation concerning the use of ‘secret language’ is rooted in the event, a long time ago, of access being denied to a certain lunch table or club house.

 

[gregbackstrom]

It's an unrealistic and unmanageable request in an age of internet-speak.

Or, as a friendly alternative answer to a reasonable, well-intended request, “I’ll try.” See - that didn’t hurt a bit!

 

[alexander_gbass]

Nope. Sorry... not happening

In the interest of efficient communication, would it be possible to use standard language rather than bass jargon in posts?

I can understand "pups" as shorthand for pickups, but I also see some newer members thinking they've stumbled into a dog owners' group. "Tort" means one thing to us, but something completely different to lawyers.

I bring this up because of two recent experiences.

One poster referred to something like his "Fender L." I know Ps and Js and PJs, but couldn't recollect any Fender model that started with an L. Another TB-er thought that it was a reference to Fender's early numbering system, where an L serial number would have indicated a pre-1965 vintage. But even today, neither of us knows for sure.

And just today, a TB-er posted something about his "Sting." Some responders to the post thought he was talking about the P-bass model that Sting uses. As it turns out (I think, anyway), he was referring to a MusicMan StingRay.

Since we're all in this together, and we do really want to understand and help each other, do you think it might be possible to take a look at your post before sending, just to make sure you're saying what you mean and making your point clearly to a general audience? Assuming that everyone you want to communicate with is familiar with all the bass jargon is usually a mistake.

Thanks.

 

[Kro]

*You Can’t Do Business Sitting On Your Ass

Given the times, WATCH ME!

 

[mikewalker]

Just thinking out loud here... I thought the recent exchange involving "kiss" and "make-up" was actually an oblique reference to "kiss and make up". Where's that confounded decoder ring got to??

 

[equill]

“Knights In Satan’s Service”, or at least that’s what I heard some guy yelling about on television once, a long time ago.

Oh wow, I'd forgotten about that one.

But not about the stories of them going into a cave in a mountainside, performing devil-worship rituals to get the lyrics for their songs. 'Cause that's totally how you wind up with diabolical masterpieces such as "I was made for loving you baby, you were made for loving me."

 

[equill]

Just thinking out loud here... I thought the recent exchange involving "kiss" and "make-up" was actually an oblique reference to "kiss and make up". Where's that confounded decoder ring got to??

It was that, too. Glad somebody caught it

[Edit] Now I see a parallel between my idea of a great joke, and my idea of great network security - they're both like onions:
- network security: lots of layers and they all make you cry
- jokes: the more layers the better, and somebody usually winds up in tears.

Alternatively, you could make Socrates cry post-humously, and infer logicall that I think network security is a joke. But, um, I'd never make such a sweeping generalisation...

 

[Warpeg]

Or, as a friendly alternative answer to a reasonable, well-intended request, “I’ll try.” See - that didn’t hurt a bit!

But....I will not try. That's the point.

 

[gregbackstrom]

But....I will not try. That's the point.

Well, given the tenor of your original response, I guess I’m not surprised.

 

[Warpeg]

Well, given the tenor of your original response, I guess I’m not surprised.

I'm sure everyone is happy for you and your revelation.

 

[micguy]

I'm a Physicist. When I come here, I use Bass player jargon to describe things to folks here. But when I went to University, I had to learn the language that Physicists use. I don't think the prof's would have taken kindly to my suggesting they need to simplify their language. It was my job to keep up, but if I had a specific question about a specific terminology the first time it was used, yeah, they'd explain it to me - that was part of their job. If I missed a class, and missed a term, well, then it was my job to go find out what I'd missed

So, we have a thread that educates folks about such things. Read it and come back. Otherwise, either keep up, or ask if a new term baffles you. We won't bite.

OK, we won't bite much.

 

[Paul New]

Honestly, as much laughter as TWWWV and The Dancing Outlaw provided almost everyone I know.. their story is one of hardship and loss as well as painting some light on what happens in areas where big money moves out and/or resources dry out. To me that story isn't just about the Whites but the conditions of poverty stricken families across the USA.

Your initial response was a hoot, feller.

Not specifically to Thegrandwazoo, but to the thread I'll bow out with an "I respectfully disagree." The internet is younger than abbreviations. The concept is to save time. As someone who has dealt with anxiety that was never present before the almighty text message... I totally appreciate a quick lol to my humor, or an eyeroll emoji can say a thousand words.. and who wants to type a thousand words? I do it all the time but it's not because I really want to spend that much time typing and proof-reading.

Using context to make an educated guess about the meaning of a word within a sentence or paragraph was an English lesson in grade school for me.

A lack of education, or "general instruction" as I've experienced in public school, doesn't mean people can't surprise you. We can talk about a bomber pilot and a fighter pilot from opposing armies, the fighter escorting the enemy bomber back to home territory and the communication using only hand signals.. their native languages being different.

And who wants to type out "Ernie Ball Music Man" everytime they talk about a EBMM bass? If that was legit a rule I'd develop my first sense of brand loyalty to companies like "Sire", or "Fender" or "G&L" etc.etc.

Guy called his Stingray a "Sting." HEAVEN FORBID. lol.

The world is kind of panicking a little bit at the moment. But linguistics.. that's a big deal. Love and peace e'rbody.

And anyway, WV is a long way from the bottom of the backward scale.

 

[Matty Koff]

And anyway, WV is a long way from the bottom of the backward scale.

In my travels, pretty much any state I've been too has its areas that are a little further behind the more developed and modern areas of the country. Even most cities have a "poor" area of town.

er.. I mean.. look here you crimson loving son of a gun.. just kidding. I stopped caring about Tennessee football when Clausen fumbled the ball at the goal line for a Gator touchdown return.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Sorry 'bout that, chief.
It'll probably upset you to know that I usually refer to my motorbikes as "she" as well. Except the Monster, half the time; that one's a little more neutral, but I generally just figure she's more butch than an actual "he."

It's ok, no need to apologize there champ. I used to have a motorcycle too. She didn't really run so great.

 

[Cliff Colton]

An Official Talkbass Glossary of Terms with hyperlink capability might solve the problem.

It would be especially useful in Hardware and Setup, where one man’s “clink” is another man’s “clunk”.

 

[Ross W. Lovell]

Don't know those; when I read E series, the first thing to pop in my head were the old (1980s) economy E series Nikon lenses.

I think E-Types, Jaguar, series I.

 

[Tom Bomb]

I say it's fair enough, when you're paying-by-the-character (or you're push pontificating, tweeting up a storm from the couch) — sheesh. After all, we're talking about critical communications here — understand now, there would be at least a trippling of road fatalities, if we had to spell everything out, holus bolus. YMMV. HUIYASNOBBYSOB.

 

[MonsterRain]

This is a decidedly niche site so why would anyone on the forums cater to a "general audience"?

Serious question.

I do not play the flute. As a result those on say TalkFlute or the Jethro Tull/Lizzo subreddit devoted to flutists should not be concerned that their slang or abbreviations will be confused with puppies and litigation by someone who has stumbled by.

If you attempt to appeal to everyone you will effectively serve no one. This is TalkBass and while I wish jocularity were more the norm the facts are it is a place for people who want very specific information as it relates to bass gear and it sort of does what it says on the tin.

Again, I wish people would have more a sense of humor and not have to turn every single thread into a combination of masters thesis or debate competition BUT largely we bass players do have more Jeff Berlin types among us who don't wish to suffer any silliness whatsoever and heaven forbid anyone have any fun beyond sharing Thiele Small parameters.

I know some folks tried to adopt slang in the form of calling them Thilly Smalls as in, "Can I get the Thilly Smalls Params on this particular Faital driver?

Like "Fetch" in 'Mean Girls'; it just wasn't gonna happen.

Heck abbreviations may be silly so perhaps they should go away and we can all sort of never smile, speak like Siri robots seeking schematics and just tell everyone that whatever they are thinking of shouldn't be done and they should just get a Bergentino.

Wait.

A "Berg" if we are going to abbreviate and now someone from the general public could be unsure if I meant Bergentino cabs or Berger Cookies from Baltimore but at least the slang will make me sound more like I am an "insider" even though sometimes I do pet my pups and tell them that they are indeed good boys.

If I would request anything on this forum it would largely be a lighter mood which given the current Covid-19 dynamic can sort of make us reevaluate that everything which got everyone so worked up on here likely pales in comparison to whatever so many are facing now.

This stuff is fun and so too is the learning and along the way picking up some shorthand and being able to now effectively communicate on a subject once thought incapable can be pretty damned cool too.

One thing everyone will agree on is this post should have been abbreviated!

Stay safe everyone and when everything feels a little too real and raw it isn't so bad to maybe make some music right now, catch a smile and remember this place doesn't need to be so cold and to read like a legal team drew up terms and conditions to best serve the community.

In smile news I recently picked up a SVT410HLF Heritage because I have read so much of @JimmyM praising them that it sold me on a blind buy and I am absolutely pleased as a result. Now this is not relevant per se but it is proof of how this forum can indeed be a GREAT thing and how this cab made me smile and man do I love bass guitar.

Don't you? I will agree Pups is stupid versus pickups but ehhh, there is too much good and too much bass to smile about to always just be negative and the constant negative sort of sniping on here was why I became an absolute lurker.

This stuff is fun and in a world that has locked down and showed us how not fun it can be?

Yeah, I don't think I really need to sweat someone who feels they need to get into petty arguments over something that we all got into because it brought us and still brings us joy.

 

[dougjwray]

I know that there's enjoyment to be had in belonging to a little tribe which speaks its own little language... but, as Kro said, "Know your audience." Why make a newbie jump through hoops when you can be clear and helpful the first time? (Unless part of the enjoyment is hiding the secret passwords until the new person begs for them.)

 

[equill]

I know that there's enjoyment to be had in belonging to a little tribe which speaks its own little language... but, as Kro said, "Know your audience." Why make a newbie jump through hoops when you can be clear and helpful the first time? (Unless part of the enjoyment is hiding the secret passwords until the new person begs for them.)

Because newbies aren't the main audience, nobody stays a newbie, and the purpose of all this "jargon" is not to manufacture some artificial exclusivity, but for more comfortably concise communication among the members.

I pose the counter-question: why restrict ourselves to only what an "average" newbie would understand?
We don't do that in any of the IT fields I've worked in, except when newbies/non-IT folk are the audience, i.e. we translate stuff for end-users. I wouldn't expect it if I joined a hotrod-enthusiast forum. Why would it be a reasonable expectation here?