Old lady dies (see other post)

[Boilk]

Where there is discord, may we bring harmony

I take it there won't be any Schoenberg at the funeral then

[Richard Barrett]

I would see the fact that the same people can be discussing favourite recipes on one thread, & vigorously disagreeing politically on another, as a strength, not a problem.

For what it's worth I agree completely.

[Flosshilde]

Another picture of Dougal -

[Pabmusic]

Another picture of Dougal - ...

Do you remember when 'coffee-table' books were all the rage for a trendy home? Well...

Lovely!

[Pabmusic]

...I would see the fact that the same people can be discussing favourite recipes on one thread, & vigorously disagreeing politically on another, as a strength, not a problem...

For what it's worth I agree completely.

And so do I, wholeheartedly.

[Mr Pee]

I am sure we all agree that FF does an admirable job managing this forum, particularly at times like this. I think she did absolutely the right thing by closing the Thatcher threads; I apologise to her and other forum members if I added to the need for her so to do. I think it is fair to say, and we have seen it throughout the country, that the subject was always going to provoke strong reactions on both sides. In the end the main thread became like a fire, every new post was adding fuel, to which some contributors added petrol!

I may be one of the "thin skinned" referred to earlier; I admit I sometimes respond over-hastily, particularly if I feel, rightly or wrongly, personally attacked or ridiculed. I shall endeavour in future to go and take a deep breath, listen to some music, and put things in perspective. I spent most of the day today watching my Blu-Ray of the Met's new "Siegfried", (stunningly good IMO!) and as a result barely thought of a certain ex-PM!!

Like many, it seems, I listen to the station less than I used to, hence most of my contributions to these boards are on other general musical matters, sometimes programmes aired by a well-known non-terrestrial broadcaster, , and, at my peril, on politics and current affairs. I for one would miss Platform 3 for the wide varety of subjects it can embrace. I think it would be a shame to lose what can be a highy entertaining and varied part of the forum because of a minority of ill-tempered threads, but I understand the decision is ultimately French Frank's.

Let's all take a collective deep breath, get a good night's kip, and start anew, and in better spirits, tomorrow.

(I'd better get to bed- alarm is set for the Chinese GP practice session tomorrow morning! )

[Flosshilde]

Do you remember when 'coffee-table' books were all the rage for a trendy home? Well...

Lovely!

He likes to sit on it & watch the world go by

I have to say, though, that we discourage him from getting on to the bed - there's just not room for the three of us

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

the questions around who posts, why and how often etc ... and whether sharpness of tone etc deter the more civilised members are fascinating

it is quite usual i believe for an inverse power law to describe contribution levels: a few do a lot and most do very little ...

on the Jazz forum we see a dedicated few often posting; the exception was when i posted very sharply about the inclusion of cabaret as Jazz and the proverbial hit the fan ... i support the view that controversy is welcome, but one poster who has since disappeared kept going at me for what i had said, many including ff took some issue with him, but apart from that it was a productive thread ... on the old jazz bored there were regular trolls who would go for someone, many seemed to pick on Trevor Cooper for no apparent reason except that he was trenchant in his views on vocalists ...

eighthO the class thread was a curate's egg when it was good etc but when it was bad it was also horrible .... but i for one really gained from the exchange of ideas and elucidation of differences in view sans acrimony ...

and a horrid thought, i wonder if Platform 3 is our version of the accessibility game that we delight in berating r3 for?

[Stillhomewardbound]

Elsewhere, I am on the steering group for a photographers collective which also has a presence on Facebook. Well, at one point I started a thread which advanced to lively debate, then vigorous, but followed too closely perhaps by rancour.

At that stage, and having seen all the relevant elements of the debate gone over, I deemed that it would be a merciless release to pull the plug. Well, that was when the roof caved in on me.

Of course, I weathered the storm but it was rough, so hat's off to the admin on here for having closed that particular thread.

Now, I can argue a point till the cows come home, are milked, fed, watered and bedded down for the night on all the aspects of the Thatcher years, but that is when I would have to recognise myself as all of bore and a nuisance unto the larger community. Rather as we have witnessed amongst others on these boards.

So, to my co-debaters, left and right, if your conviction is so strong, then, like your powder, keep it dry, use it sparingly and only fire when fired upon.

If nothing else, let us keep our peace till Wednesday, and let us get beyond that day, after which, I suspect, as it happens, a quietness will fall upon us and we will repair to the shadows tired of old battles and feuds.

If Margaret Thatcher arrived at Downing Street heralding the words of of Francis of Assisi, then let us close this prolonged chapter in our history with the words of Ecclesiastes:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboreth?
I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God.
I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

[Beef Oven]

Elsewhere, I am on the steering group for a photographers collective which also has a presence on Facebook. Well, at one point I started a thread which advanced to lively debate, then vigorous, but followed too closely perhaps by rancour.

At that stage, and having seen all the relevant elements of the debate gone over, I deemed that it would be a merciless release to pull the plug. Well, that was when the roof caved in on me.

Of course, I weathered the storm but it was rough, so hat's off to the admin on here for having closed that particular thread.

Now, I can argue a point till the cows come home, are milked, fed, watered and bedded down for the night on all the aspects of the Thatcher years, but that is when I would have to recognise myself as all of bore and a nuisance unto the larger community. Rather as we have witnessed amongst others on these boards.

So, to my co-debaters, left and right, if your conviction is so strong, then, like your powder, keep it dry, use it sparingly and only fire when fired upon.

If nothing else, let us keep our peace till Wednesday, and let us get beyond that day, after which, I suspect, as it happens, a quietness will fall upon us and we will repair to the shadows tired of old battles and feuds.

If Margaret Thatcher arrived at Downing Street heralding the words of of Francis of Assisi, then let us close this prolonged chapter in our history with the words of Ecclesiastes:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboreth?
I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God.
I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

I only understood 20% of it, but it's brilliant!

[Quarky]

S_A

There has long been a view that we should focus on arts and Radio 3, and close Platform 3. That would be popular and unpopular. Maybe something to consider in calmer times?

I would support that long held view, ff. Alphabet Associations and a few other threads are worth saving, but the rest is fit for the refuse bin. Don't people have better things to do with their time than yarn about political issues? Intersting to some, poison to others.

Politics is obviously a factor in any discussion of music, given the historical development of classical music, pop, jazz etc., but in my view it should be kept as a background issue.

[ahinton]

Thank you kindly for a typical non-answer.

It is neither typical nor a "non-answer"; I stated that I don't know - and I don't - and that only FF can provide more of an answer than that, since the decision to remove the thread was hers alone.

I am inclined to think that hiding away a whole (long) thread out of fears that it would bring the forum into disrepute is a somewhat overreacting and heavy-handed measure; but maybe that's just me.

Or maybe not; there was some interesting debate in it. My preference would have been for any post that might be deemed to risk bringing the forum into disrepute to be excised rather than to lose the entire thread, as it happens; but maybe that's just me. It is not up to me in any case.

[ahinton]

I would see the fact that the same people can be discussing favourite recipes on one thread, & vigorously disagreeing politically on another, as a strength, not a problem.

I add my voice to others who have already expressed agreement with you on that.

[Sir Velo]

Of course the contributors to this forum are going to say what a splendid thing Platform 3 is. I am talking about the 95% of forum members who no longer contribute at all or only minimally to the For3 forum. If we are happy for this forum to be a vehicle for a tiny clique then, by all means, keep the status quo. I still suggest that it would be worth asking the opinion of all forum members their opinion.

[Sir Velo]

I would see the fact that the same people can be discussing favourite recipes on one thread, & vigorously disagreeing politically on another, as a strength, not a problem.

No mention of Radio 3 programming or strategy; or music or the arts? 'nuff said, really.