Absent Friends & Missing Persons

[jean]

So, are you suggesting that, if the Forum included fewer posts and Threads in the "Social Club" style, you would post more frequently?

Don't you think people who've never posted at all might be put off?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Don't you think people who've never posted at all might be put off?

"Put off" by what and from what, jean? (Put off from "never posting at all"? By zucchini's posting more frequently?)

[Barbirollians]

I suspect Jean's point is that the more cliquey a forum seems the less likely people are to put their heads over the parapet and post .

I am always a bit more worried with the demographic of those predominantly interested in classical music that health is the reason many of the contributors disappear .

[french frank]

I suspect Jean's point is that the more cliquey a forum seems the less likely people are to put their heads over the parapet and post .

It's a question of balance. If new people feel it's a 'Radio 3' forum, they start off with something in common with it if they have an interest in Radio 3. They know what it's about.

I don't think it unreasonable to expect at least half the threads to be 'Radio 3-related', and to nudge people more in that direction. Is it?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I don't think it unreasonable to expect at least half the threads to be 'Radio 3-related', and to nudge people more in that direction. Is it?

No, I don't think that it is - and now that R3 is broadcasting more programmes worth discussing, I can well imagine that the balance will move increasing beyond that fraction. But all sorts of people don't post on all sorts of topics for all sorts of reasons. Whilst undoubtedy some casual visitors to the Forum might be put off by the fact that everybody seems to know each other, there are probably as many who are attracted to the "banter" ("I thought they'd all be terrible snobs talking about nothing but Isorithmic Motets and Hexacordal Complementation by Invertion; but they're nothing like that!") - there may even be some put off because they don't like emoticons, or avatars. I don't stick any part of my anatomy above the parapet and post on the Jazz and World Music Threads, not because I find those areas "clique-y" and/or uninviting, but because I have nothing much to add to the discussions - but I always follow these, and enjoy them, and learn from them.

As for Forumistas' Health - rather than be concerned that there might be a connection between "listening to Classical Music" and "poor health", I find it rather encouraging that so many of us here seem to be enjoying ripe and active later years, and that mental sharpness in older age seems to be maintained amongst contributors to the Forum!

[Serial_Apologist]

She is one of many. But in my view the forum is progressively becoming more of a social club and less of a Radio 3/music/arts forum. For many people that makes it less interesting (though I speak for myself on that).

Anna is much missed; however I think she'd acknowledge being among those of us who've contributed to making the forum a less formally restrictive place than it might have been, had it always insisted on formality.

[Serial_Apologist]

As for Forumistas' Health - rather than be concerned that there might be a connection between "listening to Classical Music" and "poor health", I find it rather encouraging that so many of us here seem to be enjoying ripe and active later years, and that mental sharpness in older age seems to be maintained amongst contributors to the Forum!

Very definitely so in my case! I hope some kind person on here will PM me the moment slippage in this area is detected!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Very definitely so in my case! I hope some kind person on here will PM me the moment slippage in this area is detected!

All of a sudden, your Inbox appears to be full, S_A ...

[Serial_Apologist]

All of a sudden, your Inbox appears to be full, S_A ...

So, I'm not just way out, I must be on the way out!

[BBMmk2]

Frenchie was saying earlier about this Forum becoming more of a 'social club'. I disagree as there are still quite a few threads about classical music subjects to have a peruse and make a contribution.

[doversoul1]

But it is true though that, despite the name of the forum, threads about Radio3 programmes attract far fewer posts than posts about CDs or other music related (and unrelated) threads, if any at all, which I find it rather sad. Not that I have any idea what to do about it or if anything should be done about it.

Anna sounded very busy just before she stopped posting regularly, and didn’t someone post that she went over to iPad (or something similar) and weren’t logging in to the forum as often as she used to?

As for absent friends, Flosshilde and mercia seem to be absent for sometime unless I missed their posts.

[P. G. Tipps]

Frenchie was saying earlier about this Forum becoming more of a 'social club'. I disagree as there are still quite a few threads about classical music subjects to have a peruse and make a contribution.

Indeed, Bbm, I completely agree ... though I'm not sure 'Frenchie' was necessarily expressing a personal opinion!

[teamsaint]

But it is true though that, despite the name of the forum, threads about Radio3 programmes attract far fewer posts than posts about CDs or other music related (and unrelated) threads, if any at all, which I find it rather sad. Not that I have any idea what to do about it or if anything should be done about it.

I think quite a bit of this is down to how easy it is to repond appropriately to the business of the thread. 10 seconds for some pun based banter. 20 to say you have a particular recording , but the re master is better/worse/more expensive/available in a giant box set. 30 seconds to say something is available in the Naxos library. 2 minutes to bemoan the terrible referee at todays game ( yet again).
But to comment with thought on a 90 minute radio concert, or post considered thoughts on a concert attended, that may not engender replies , though it may get well read, takes some time.

And, for the most part, though not completely, response matters on these boards. So those areas that produce volleys of reponses, ( Beethoven CDs, political knockabout, punning, things I don't like, whatever,) tend to look like the areas of main activity.

The board really comes alive during the Proms, which may not be perfect, but are a central communal activity for the kinds of music that is the major focus round here. And usually , this gets most interesting when those who listened at home engage with several who attended.

But most modern radio , with our current listening habits can't hope to emulate this kind of interaction most of the time.

Er, I think.....

[Padraig]

...does it matter if anyone knows the how and when of your demise or mine?

[french frank]

...does it matter if anyone knows the how and when of your demise or mine?

Matter? Maybe not. Just human curiosity. If people disappear, where are they? Why aren't they posting? If not posting, what are they doing?

But OT, I do feel the comparative longevity of this forum derives from having a focal point which nevertheless includes many different areas of interest. Friends come and go, virtual friends too. But it's the focal point that, we hope, will continue to attract new friends.