Old lady dies (see other post)

[Nick Armstrong]

So we are allowed to talk about things which are deemed to be "safe" but not things that we are really passionate about ?

Chop logic. What you're really complaining about is the suggestion of not being allowed to talk about things that YOU are really passionate about. Leave 'we' out of it.

It's perfectly possible not to be passionate about politics and religion. I've managed it for half a century.

[Richard Barrett]

Perhaps threads on someone who has just died should be banned

The moment a discussion thread gets "out of hand" there's talk of banning this subject or that (as if music, politics, religion and dead people were completely disconnected from one another). IMO that seems a lot like the kind of ill-considered and counterproductive control-freakery that led for example (if I may, under present circumstances) to Clause 28 and the banning from the airwaves of IRA members' voices.

Of course, as ahinton never tires of informing us, it's french frank's call; but I'm sure I'm not the only one whose interest would wane in inverse proportion to restrictions like that. Isn't it interesting though to take part in discussions on subjects other than the central interest that brings everyone here?

[eighthobstruction]

Well absolutely yes to your second para....I've seen some pretty nasty scurmishes on the boards over such a thing as a bit ofvibrato in the wrong place or quantity of vibrato....

The real lack of any new voices in this discussion is shame....Sir Velo was saying yesterday ref a silent majority....perhaps until a thread is created ff especially for such discussion as we are having here (i.e one with a less controversial name and aimed at a specific issue)....we will never know what the music only punters wish....

[Petrushka]

But, as in the case Petrushka mentions, the problem is when things people are 'passionate' about aren't really central to the purpose of the forum but take up a disproportionate amount of members' attention, and hence can change the apparent emphasis of the forum.

Precisely so. If people want to discuss religion and politics I'm sure that their are forums (fora?) to cater for their every need. It was highly noticeable, during this week's fracas that the number of posts on music threads plummeted and that cannot be right.

I can't see any quibble with discussing music education as this clearly comes within the remit of the forum. Even so, House Rules still prevail. If any members cannot grasp this simple fact then they shouldn't be here. I recognise that there are grey areas but, as they say, the Editor's decision is final. Might I tentatively suggest that more powers be delegated to the Hosts?

[aeolium]

It's perfectly possible not to be passionate about politics and religion. I've managed it for half a century.

That may be, and it may be true of the majority of the population, but it doesn't alter the fact that politics affects pretty well every aspect of life, including music and art. The creation of the Third Programme was part of a political vision, that art should be made available to the highest standards to the whole population. Ideas today about the direction of the BBC, and indeed R3, are arguably ideas as much about different political visions as artistic ones (especially where it relates to allocation of resources) - anyone can see this if you read articles about the BBC in broadsheets with different political affinities. Debates about politics and religion were certainly not absent from the Third Programme - one of the earliest was the famous debate between Bertrand Russell and Frederick Copleston. I think it would be a retrograde step for the forum to be a politics-free zone (if that were possible) but then it's not my forum.

[Nick Armstrong]

True aeolium, but in reply I'd adopt Petrushka's #334 and FF's quote therein.

[eighthobstruction]

The thing is Petrushka is that there ISN't other fora like Platform3....all othe Political Fora are dreadful bear-gardens full of swearing and incinuation, and also less intimate....It is because we discuss politics with civilised people who we also post and read about music that is the draw....In other Fora you get lost because so many people use them . Our problem with MT thread in the scheme of things was incredibly minor spats....It's what it looks like to the outside world that FoR3 wish to attract or influence or what ever....I think many of us who have looked around ref other fora know what an 'eccentric phenomenon' Platform 3/R3F is....it is quite unique....


....I was very disappointed when the RIP thread started up for condolence and people immediately leap across from the Ding Dong thread....there should have been more respect for fellow posters NOT MT

[eighthobstruction]

True aeolium, but in reply I'd adopt Petrushka's #334 and FF's quote therein.

Yep you've got your holiday head on....sure!

[Nick Armstrong]

Yep you've got your holiday head on....sure!

Your #337 makes a great point too. I don't know what other politics/religion fora are like and can well believe they are as you say...

[Petrushka]

...dreadful bear-gardens...

Well, I might have lived a sheltered life but the MT thread seemed something of a bear garden to me.

I take the points you mention and agree with what you say about Platform 3. However, House Rules must still prevail.

[eighthobstruction]

Far worse than I was able to say Cal....

[eighthobstruction]

Well, I might have lived a sheltered life but the MT thread seemed something of a bear garden to me.

I take the points you mention and agree with what you say about Platform 3. However, House Rules must still prevail.

Absolutely....

....I also think it has something to do with the average age of R3 listeners being 57....on other fora much wider age range and experience range....possible average age 30

[Sir Velo]

Of course, as ahinton never tires of informing us, it's french frank's call; but I'm sure I'm not the only one whose interest would wane in inverse proportion to restrictions like that. Isn't it interesting though to take part in discussions on subjects other than the central interest that brings everyone here?

Richard, good to see you and ahinton in agreement.

You obviously missed my earlier post in which I pointed out that only about 10% of members are active on this forum (in any meaningful sense). Does this not suggest that what you and others find fascinating is perhaps of lesser interest to the vast majority of members? My suggestion is that we canvass the wider "electorate" for their views, and not just the P3 regulars. You're a prominent contributor to another forum, with perhaps less of a direct connection/remit to discuss Radio 3, so there should be plenty of scope for you to discuss non-musical subjects there.

Give the forum a trial run without Platform 3, for say a month, and see what happens. If there is no significant increase in posting on the other boards, then the situation can be re-assessed.

[Julien Sorel]

... only about 10% of members are active on this forum (in any meaningful sense). Does this not suggest that what you and others find fascinating is perhaps of lesser interest to the vast majority of members?

But it's necessary to look at the Platform 3 discussions in order to erm look at them - just like it's necessary to look at the BAL discussions to read those. They aren't forced on people. It's like saying: 'There's loads stuff on the internet I don't like so I never look at the internet because whenever I do I find myself connecting to things I disapprove of' - why?

You're a prominent contributor to another forum, with perhaps less of a direct connection/remit to discuss Radio 3, so there should be plenty of scope for you to discuss non-musical subjects there.

So am I. I don't see the logic: the two memberships aren't the same, I'm interested in what people on both forums have to say. Why is that strange?

Suppose I was (a) teetotal (b) thought that alcohol wrecked thousands of lives and put a terrible strain on individuals, children, lovers, people working in health care etc. There are threads here on beer and bottles of wine. I don't need to read them. If I do read them should I complain that they are promoting a terrible drug and may well be putting people off posting about music?

[ahinton]

PS Don't think I missed the 'who cares about golf?'crack, Mr ahinton. The dossier is getting thicker.

I can't even remember it! - so your memory is evidently better than mine - but what dossier might that be, pray?...