Last word additions to closed thread by 'The Management'

[Bryn]

When I tried to post a message on the thread in question at 23.37 last night the last message shown was yours posted at 23:36, and the thread had been closed. I was unable to post my message. When, shortly later, I checked for latest messages, I found two more messages, from Caliban, had been added, after yours had been displayed as the last message and the thread closed, hence my complaint and this thread. I note the point in your email to me re. a time lag, but the thread was closed to me, and yet two further messages appeared, as described above. However, since both you and Caliban have protested my allusion to abuse of moderator privileges re. Caliban's messages, I will edit the OP of this thread to remove that particular part of the comment.

[french frank]

I suspect the reason for the decline of R3ok has more to do with it not having the online profile that might bring in new members than with how it's moderated.

I think that's right, but my view would be that this forum is discovered by people whose interest is - Radio 3 and its related topics (classical music, jazz, Proms etc). That is our USP. In the case of r3ok, the regulars are still the 'old timers' who have been posting there for years and it has become more of a 'social grouping' - members are all well-disposed towards each other (unlike here!), so mutual 'tolerance' is rather easier, as is moderation …

[Ferretfancy]

As you know, Bryn, r3ok has been reduced from a flourishing forum to about no more than a dozen 'regulars' (most of them playing word games) including those who don't like the dictatorial powers exercised by this Forum's "management". The "management" is me and all complaints are complaints against me. Fine, people are free to express them - and discuss them, as they always have done.

But you're wrong. As I explained in reply to your formal complaint, NO ONE can add comments to a thread once it's been closed. Not even a Moderator or Administrator. It has to be reopened again to display the posting buttons. The software did not activate for a matter of seconds before you were already complaining.

And, in general (i.e. not to Bryn in particular): the raison d'être of this forum remains what it's always been. r3ok chose to go along the route of becoming a more general forum, rather than Radio 3 focused, and participation has steadily dwindled (in spite of the fact that to this day we have loyally kept a link posted on the forum homepage). When participation here dwindles to the extent that r3ok has done, this forum will close.

Every year at the Proms, and sometimes elsewhere, I meet a wide range of listeners who love to discuss music. While we are waiting to get into the hall there are livelt discussions about the works being played, plus spirited discussions on many other topics.

What marks these conversations is that they are face to face and completely without rancour or arrogance. Join this forum and you are immediately assailed by so called smart remarks, opinions touted to deliberately cause offence, and in jokes. Time after time an interesting subject degenerates into meaningless drivel, like the boys at the back of the class throwing paper darts.

I'm not suggesting that there should be no humour, we always need that, but it should be the dressing on the salad.

Can we please break away from what sometimes appears as sheer nastiness and pomposity, and get back to friendly encouragement and exchange of views?

The worst thing about all this is that so many outlets for musical opinion are rapidly disappearing.and we need the opportunity to share our enthusiasm with others, that's getting very difficult on these boards at the moment.

Thanks ff, you do a difficult job.

[french frank]

Thanks, Ferret - I recognise what you say. This is a public forum, and unfortunately online 'social' media share the same characteristics that you describe. Face to face, I'm sure most of the anonymous 'enemies' here would get on well with each other. More than that, they would actually TALK and discuss their common interests, rather than engaging in quick bursts of verbal jousting.

[Flosshilde]

Face to face, I'm sure most of the anonymous 'enemies' here would get on well with each other. More than that, they would actually TALK and discuss their common interests, rather than engaging in quick bursts of verbal jousting.

Or possibly meet each other, quickly realise that they don't have enough in common to maintain an acquaintance, & subsequently avoid each other. Or possibly never be in a situation where they would have met.

[Hornspieler]

Where are you off to?

Sorry, Flossie. I was actually saying farewell to Bryn.
(I have amended my post accordingly)

HS

[Hornspieler]

Practice his horn, presumably...

All that I have left of my horn playing days is my Aubrey Brain model mouthpiece. But I can still play tunes on that to amuse my grandchildren.

Has anyone got a spare twelve foot length of hosepipe and a cook's funnel?
I could play a lot of tunes (in F major) on that. (Who is this guy Pip?)

HS

[french frank]

Or possibly meet each other, quickly realise that they don't have enough in common to maintain an acquaintance, & subsequently avoid each other. Or possibly never be in a situation where they would have met.

All that too. Online forums provide the opportunity to collide.

[Conchis]

As you know, Bryn, r3ok has been reduced from a flourishing forum to about no more than a dozen 'regulars' (most of them playing word games) including those who don't like the dictatorial powers exercised by this Forum's "management". The "management" is me and all complaints are complaints against me. Fine, people are free to express them - and discuss them, as they always have done.

But you're wrong. As I explained in reply to your formal complaint, NO ONE can add comments to a thread once it's been closed. Not even a Moderator or Administrator. It has to be reopened again to display the posting buttons. The software did not activate for a matter of seconds before you were already complaining.

And, in general (i.e. not to Bryn in particular): the raison d'être of this forum remains what it's always been. r3ok chose to go along the route of becoming a more general forum, rather than Radio 3 focused, and participation has steadily dwindled (in spite of the fact that to this day we have loyally kept a link posted on the forum homepage). When participation here dwindles to the extent that r3ok has done, this forum will close.

I would agree. R3OK is a very good example of How Not To Run A Forum: most of the interesting members left as a result of heavy-handed modding. 'Absolute democracies' never work.

[Daniel]

For some confrontation/robust discussion is a milieu they enjoy (accompanied by bonhomie/femie, erudition etc), but for some people contention is not what they seek, and they seem to be in the majority here.

Personally I miss the dynamics of intellectual confontations that were part of the old P&CA Forum, I thought they produced some very interesting discussions (as well as the nose-thumbing, which seems to be the problem). but I sympathise with FF not wanting to furnish a platform for those interactions if, as she says, they are detrimental to the cause that she set the forum up for. Seems perfectly reasonable to me, even if not my preferred state of affairs.

[Bryn]

Sorry, Flossie. I was actually saying farewell to Bryn.
(I have amended my post accordingly)

HS

Though without changing its essence, except perhaps to bidding parting farewell to all others here. There again, you do not appear to have gone, so the mystery remains. Perhaps you misinterpreted my mention of the beckoning of r3ok.com as an indication of an intention on my part to leave this Forum, but no, that would not make sense since your "Goodbye" immediately followed my message re.Stillhomewardbound's suggestion of a holiday for moderators. All very confusing.

[Dave2002]

Sorry, Flossie. I was actually saying farewell to Bryn.
(I have amended my post accordingly)

HS

Phew HS. I thought you might be going to leave us, which would be sad, though we can't make you stay.

Re the hosepipe and funnel, we certainly have some. Have you tried 20ft or more? i used to be able to get a note out ,but not anything tuneful.

The latest "issues" seem to have emerged quite sppntaineously out of the absent/missing persons thread. Seems a bit like flapping butterfly wings causing tornadoes to me.

Bws dave

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I have mentioned before the problems inherent in written "conversations" - that of the tone of voice being left to the imagination of the reader. Ferretf complains that some posts have been "pompous" - but it would be quite easy to "hear" his post in a way that could itself be so described, no matter that his intention was completely different. Adding emoticons/smilies might help, except that some readers seem to interpret these as indicating facetiousness.

I was in the bizarre situation of having an argument with a complete stranger in the streets of Skipton yesterday afternoon. We were both very polite and considerate (and we both enjoyed the chance encounter), but I'm sure that if the dialogue had been written down, people would read it as if we were really attacking each other and snarling insults back and forth. It is often difficult, but it's a good idea to presume that the tone of voice isn't always as "negative" as it might immediately appear. That is how I would understand the "respect for others" bit in the Forum "Rules".

As for "the Management" - AFAIK, that is Frenchie, on her own (with assistance from Hosts) unpaid and in her own time. Therefore, we have to play the game by her "rules" - I suspect that those are her own conditions for continuing to provide the rest of us with her work. I accept those conditions, because the Forum offers considerably more than it niggles.

[Old Grumpy]

As for "the Management" - AFAIK, that is Frenchie, on her own (with assistance from Hosts) unpaid and in her own time. Therefore, we have to play the game by her "rules" - I suspect that those are her own conditions for continuing to provide the rest of us with her work. I accept those conditions, because the Forum offers considerably more than it niggles.

Hear! Hear! (apologies to any who consider this facetious).

OG

[eighthobstruction]

Oh Joy....