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Why So Nasty? — TB Etiquette
- Thread starter Bassnkeys
- Start date
Mine is people that have been here 12 years and still can't add a profile picture. ;-)
I have had two head on collisions with drunks on Harley Davidsons. Not a fan of motorcycles. Lived a large part of my younger life in NYC with no problems. Within 1 year of living in the bucolic Litchfield Hills of CT and a guy on a full dress '79 FLH nails me with a BAC of .262 and minimal experience on a bike! He lost his leg from below the knee down and had the nerve to sue me! Three years later, less than 1/4mile from the first accident a guy on a '78 lowrider plowed into me and lost his leg in the same way. His BAC was over .30.
I flinch at the sound of motorcycles.
I'm not a big contributor here but compared to the boards I still have to frequent because of what I do for a living, man this one is a pleasure.
Some guy seemingly disparaged pick playing and things became a little brittle bit overall, this is a civil place.
There are some posters i can reliably count on to be snarky or openly rude, thats what the Ignore button is for, works wonders. Im probably on somebody's Ignore list too. I generally hang out on Luthiers Corner, which is about 98% positive. Your knowledge is demonstrated by the quality of your builds, not hot air and hyperbole. We have some pro Luthiers who offer free advice, cant say enough good things about the LC forum.
I recognize you when I see you at the mall from your avatar picture!
Nah, that's the cop from Terminator 2.
just added a profile pic. also I played most of that gig with those claws on.
I help to moderate a music discussion forum elsewhere. It's a lot smaller than this place, so I'd imagine it's much easier to contain things. We still have problems. Ideally we'd like to be an "open forum", but it's been years since any discussion on Those Topics Which Shall Not Be Named failed to go sideways (along with plenty of other apparently innocuous topics, like 80s band comeback albums), and the other staff and I have begun to err more and more on the side of shutting things down before they do so.
It's a little weird to me because as a musician and visual artist I value freedom of expression, but I suppose in the context of our forum I'd rather turn some people off by insisting on a respectful space than deal with constant vitriol as the "price of freedom". It's easy to say that everyone should grow up and have a thick skin and ignore things they disagree with, but that's just not how it works for everyone, especially when it comes to personal attacks, belief systems, etc. There are plenty of other places for people to go if that's what they want out of the internet. Seems fine here so far.
It's a little weird to me because as a musician and visual artist I value freedom of expression, but I suppose in the context of our forum I'd rather turn some people off by insisting on a respectful space than deal with constant vitriol as the "price of freedom". It's easy to say that everyone should grow up and have a thick skin and ignore things they disagree with, but that's just not how it works for everyone, especially when it comes to personal attacks, belief systems, etc. There are plenty of other places for people to go if that's what they want out of the internet. Seems fine here so far.
Eh? What's it to ya, you dumb $%# $# % $#(*&!!!
Just kidding!
Seriously, This forum is pretty much locked down when it comes to language. I don't know if you are even allowed to say the word "poop" here.
I have seen my share of smartypantses (I am watching my language!) on this forum, but generally people are very helpful and friendly. However, keep in mind though.... you are on the InterWeb.....
Just kidding!
Seriously, This forum is pretty much locked down when it comes to language. I don't know if you are even allowed to say the word "poop" here.
I have seen my share of smartypantses (I am watching my language!) on this forum, but generally people are very helpful and friendly. However, keep in mind though.... you are on the InterWeb.....
Eh? What's it to ya, you dumb $%# $# % $#(*&!!!
Just kidding!
Seriously, This forum is pretty much locked down when it comes to language. I don't know if you are even allowed to say the word "poop" here.
I have seen my share of smartypantses (I am watching my language!) on this forum, but generally people are very helpful and friendly. However, keep in mind though.... you are on the InterWeb.....
Umm.... poop
As I have been employed as a "businessman" for most of my career, I find this forum much more congenial than real business life. I am here every day and I think what gets most peoples ire is when the "newby" asks a question without doing a search for a subject that has been beat to death. Do the search and you can remain anonomous for most of your time here. Most questions have been answered, except which fanatic fan will pose with @BassCliff this week.
Member since Feb 2004 here, overall Talkbass is still an awesome place to buy, trade, sell, discuss, and gain a wealth of valuable information, (and differences in opinions, which are necessary at times)- the majority of my major bass acquisitions have been here on Talkbass, & I've made several cool friends along the way.. One great feature however, is also the ignore button! 
FAQ you. Read the FAQs.
Sorry if I startled anyone. I didn't mean to. You think this forum is nasty? Some of the nastiest exchanges you'll ever read in your life occur in car forums. The ones here pale in comparison. I'm thinking of this one particular forum I belong to that I won't name although in recent years it's become a kinder gentler forum. The above message is what you could get as a response if you were to post a question in which an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) already addresses.
FAQs were created because the regulars got tired of answering the same old questions asked by newcomers over and over again. Even though it's posted to read the FAQs first and even if you tell people to read the FAQs, some still won't read them. And that's when the altercations happen. People who read the FAQs and then post questions receive polite responses.
Sorry if I startled anyone. I didn't mean to. You think this forum is nasty? Some of the nastiest exchanges you'll ever read in your life occur in car forums. The ones here pale in comparison. I'm thinking of this one particular forum I belong to that I won't name although in recent years it's become a kinder gentler forum. The above message is what you could get as a response if you were to post a question in which an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) already addresses.
FAQs were created because the regulars got tired of answering the same old questions asked by newcomers over and over again. Even though it's posted to read the FAQs first and even if you tell people to read the FAQs, some still won't read them. And that's when the altercations happen. People who read the FAQs and then post questions receive polite responses.
I find it less hostile
Especially since I no longer take the bait; refuse to argue any longer; my point or opinion isn't worth standing on nor arguing against when my opponents seemed to be supported by moderators
I'm not gonna change my opinions nor change others regardless !
Haven't been scolded slapped or suspended in years and so much more enjoyable !
Relax...Just have to let it go sometimes !
I get that it can sometimes get annoying when we hear "what's the best bass/amp/piece of gear for X/Y/Z genre of music?" for the umpteenth time. So we respond snarkily because we know the inside joke, but may forget that the OP may not be in on the joke and think we're jerks. It's like with gigging. Just because you've played that song hundreds of times and don't want to do it, it may be someone in the crowd's first time hearing it, so you put in the effort for that person.
Also, I see the community like any other community/neighborhood. We have a very eclectic mix of people, and in a community this large, personality clashes are inevitable. In the halls of your high school, you had the kids who'd tease you and shove you into lockers and others who really helped you out.
I love the TalkBass community, warts and all. I do my best to be helpful, respectful, and all that, but I'm prone to slip up sometimes. I probably have drunk-posted in the past and said something really dumb.
Also, I think that sometimes the heat of summer and factors like kids being off from school add to stress, give us more idle time online, or both. And you know what they say about idle hands/idle time.
Oh, and to contribute to the discussion on nastiest forums? You have no idea how vile people can get on "geek culture" forums, especially for anime, video games, comic books, etc.
Also, I see the community like any other community/neighborhood. We have a very eclectic mix of people, and in a community this large, personality clashes are inevitable. In the halls of your high school, you had the kids who'd tease you and shove you into lockers and others who really helped you out.
I love the TalkBass community, warts and all. I do my best to be helpful, respectful, and all that, but I'm prone to slip up sometimes. I probably have drunk-posted in the past and said something really dumb.
Also, I think that sometimes the heat of summer and factors like kids being off from school add to stress, give us more idle time online, or both. And you know what they say about idle hands/idle time.
Oh, and to contribute to the discussion on nastiest forums? You have no idea how vile people can get on "geek culture" forums, especially for anime, video games, comic books, etc.
I guess I hang out in the wrong subforums nowadays - I've actually noticed the opposite over the years. Arguments and name calling seem to have decreased on average over the years, in my experience. I can't remember the last time I've seen a genuine troll around here. Compare that to 2010 when people were being banned left and right, and general assery was celebrated (for the lulz), this place has toned down a bunch.
Part of the reason for that, IMO, is that the median age of users here has grown higher. When I was a teen here, there was a large and active population of other teens and young adults. We could get quite rambunctious at times.
As the internet grew though, forums were no longer a place where kids naturally went. Social media sites blew up and became the default for younger people. The kids of yesteryear grew up, and most of the veterans nowadays are at least 40.
That said, I generally have no reason to visit the two largest subforums much (basses and amps), so maybe there's still some unpleasantness around that I simply don't see. Strings, Luthiers Corner, Off Topic, Recording Gear, and Bass Humor are all exceedingly polite.
Part of the reason for that, IMO, is that the median age of users here has grown higher. When I was a teen here, there was a large and active population of other teens and young adults. We could get quite rambunctious at times.
As the internet grew though, forums were no longer a place where kids naturally went. Social media sites blew up and became the default for younger people. The kids of yesteryear grew up, and most of the veterans nowadays are at least 40.
That said, I generally have no reason to visit the two largest subforums much (basses and amps), so maybe there's still some unpleasantness around that I simply don't see. Strings, Luthiers Corner, Off Topic, Recording Gear, and Bass Humor are all exceedingly polite.
Tone doesn't come through over the internet. Also one man's friendly banter is another man's irritating nonsense.
There's all sorts of room for misunderstandings. That coupled with a large amount of people's desire to be offended or be a victim these days and you have a recipe for internet drama.
It can't all be chalked up to tough guy's hiding behind their screen being ego trolls, but there's plenty of that too.
I guess my point is be thankful for the mods and bringing plenty of popcorn is probably a more feasible solution than saying "can't we all just get along?"
There's all sorts of room for misunderstandings. That coupled with a large amount of people's desire to be offended or be a victim these days and you have a recipe for internet drama.
It can't all be chalked up to tough guy's hiding behind their screen being ego trolls, but there's plenty of that too.
I guess my point is be thankful for the mods and bringing plenty of popcorn is probably a more feasible solution than saying "can't we all just get along?"
