Membership in this forum is a privilege, not a right. I didn't start this forum with the idea of creating a space where endless "gotcha!"'s, ceaseless bickering over who said what, repeated casual disrespect, and "They're my toys so I can take them home" attitudes (wholesale erasure of one's presence from multiple threads) could take place. TNFrank has never been sure he wanted to be a member here; I've helped clarify the situation. N.O.D. preferred to attitudinize, and harass TNFrank, rather than contribute in a positive way.
I'm fair, but I'm certainly no saint, blessed with endless patience and bottomless forgiveness. There are other harmonica forums, N.O.D. and TNFrank. Many other forums, of all kinds. I wish you well.
Please reread the forum creed, everybody: NOT the negative parts, but the positive, aspirational parts. A great deal of good can happen here, if you allow it to.
Last Edited by on Nov 01, 2010 4:56 AM
TNFrank has been yanking everyone's chain from the beginning. He's ridiculous request for cheap harp recommendations was so dumb I couldn't believe that people actually responded. And that whole deal on biker harp? Are you serious? Biker harp = crappy playing. period. I responded to Frank once, got a silly response that validated my take on him. I am a little surprise that many kept indulging him like NOD.
As for NOD, I never understand a thing he said. I don't think I missed much... Seemed like a nice enough dude.
Last Edited by on Nov 01, 2010 7:16 AM
@Shoulders: Thanks. Let's try and keep this place a reasonably positive and supportive learning environment.
@6SN7: I'm afraid you're missing the point. The words "ridiculous" and "dumb," applied to members current or past, are out of line with the forum creed. You're breaking my heart, buddy. Take a pause for the cause.
@ kudzrunner: I like this forum. Pretty interesting and I like to hear what a lot of folks have to say. I agree with your decision, so I don't understand why you tell me I'm "breaking your heart" and "take a pause for the cause."
Please note, I didn't call anyone "dumb" or "ridiculous" but rather the subject brought to the table. And look what transpired in its wake, enough baloney that you cut them off.
Personally, I think Frank came here to yank chains, get a reaction out of people and laugh about it in the comfort of his own room. As for NOD, I never understood a lot of what he said.
Last Edited by on Nov 01, 2010 7:36 AM
Thank you sir! even if I am not a regular contributor , I do read the forum every day , but in the last 3 weeks the 2 named guys made me give up on that too.
harpwrench, perhaps a discussion for another thread? :-)personally, i "biker harp", to a number of tunes, with the boys I play with, mostly to songs that dont have any harp, and guess what? sssssssh (the crowd likes me best!) ---------- Kyzer's Travels Kyzer's Artwork
I am going to miss them. They did push each others buttons a lot but I think they were harmless. N.O.D. actually seemed pretty cool to me and he was polite enough to new guys. Rabbit, Joestooge, TNFrank, N.O.D., all gone. If the read the last posts from them, in my opinion it looks like ony Rabbit should be gone. But this isn't my castle and you run it how you see fit. You do a good job. Its a good site to communicate and I don't mind a little back and forth.
I am going to miss NOD's random capitalization. I never got around to asking him the rhyme or reason to it. Was it just complete ramdomness, or was it where he figured the caps should go? It couldn't have been an accident, because you have to either push down the shift key or the caps lock, a conscious act.
In so many ways, the dude down under was fascinating to me.
"Thank you sir! even if I am not a regular contributor , I do read the forum every day , but in the last 3 weeks the 2 named guys made me give up on that too" (sorin).
2nd'd. Though, I don't think it's just 2 people or just the last 3 weeks. Hopefully this will cause everyone to reflect on their own messages before they hit the Post Message button. Hopefully more positive energy then negative energy! We should keep the forum fun and a worthwhile source for useful knowledge.
----------
~Ryan
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Stephen Wright
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
I don't see what the issues are in dealing with Frank or NOD. I called him out on day one and you people sided with him. Fine. Then I just ignored him for the most part. It wasn't difficult, it baffles me that people would leave the board simply to avoid certain posters.
I say grow a pair and learn to stand on your own two feet. If you like something, then participate, don't like something? Then move on.
---------- "I am a great believer in understanding, not copying."
I was a bit baffled by the point of some of TNFrank's threads. But, he didn't seem like a bad sort of fellow. Too gratuitously argumentative in my view, but that doesn't make him a bad.
I couldn't understand much of what N.O.D. wrote, and, for the life of me, I couldn't understand why he felt so compelled to argue with TNFrank all the time. Like Buddha said, "If you like something, then participate, don't like something? Then move on." It really is that simple. There other things to do in life than quarrel on here all the time. Perhaps that's what some folks like doing. I don't know.
The trouble with just "moving on" is that I had to waste my time in the first place. The are/were decent topics that digressed into crap. Wasting time, for me, is not an option so often I wouldn't read, much less participate, in the thread. I don't think that represents what the forum is designed for. Bought some jewelers files this weekend though!
It amused the hell out of me. I've been playing 4 years and still don't feel qualified to say what is a good harp. Frank knew a good harp after a couple weeks of playing...ahhh yes..good ole Nasty...I think he found someone he wouldn't mind "cuttin headz" with and he was all about it. I still refuse to let someone in cyberspace affect my emotions in a negative way.
I don't believe there is anything wrong with asking the question, what's the best harp for the {insert $$ amount here}?
The only problem is that you'll never achieve consensus on a question like that. It's like asking, what's the best pizza? It's a personal decision based on subjective criteria.
I hate seeing good people get booted, I got booted myself for reacting strongly to an NOD post, based on my interpretation of who he was, and ironically he was one of, if not the first people to vouch for me!
I see Frank being good at heart as well.
I personally believe in free speech, and working things out through communication, and refuse to indulge in a story that I was in any way a victim of these threads.
Being a victim of something I don't have to read is incomprehensible to me, and there are no "good" or "bad" boys and girls on either side of this debacle.
Adam, I know it sucks having to be the one to pull the trigger to keep peace in the land, usually it's nothing to celebrate. ---------- Shane
NOD was on his second life, Mojo...He was formerly Nasty Old Dog ...and many warnings were doled out. This isn't kindergarten;it's Adam's forum. ----------
Todd L. Greene, Codger-in-training
Last Edited by on Nov 01, 2010 2:05 PM
TNFrank showed me what a great forum this is, great amounts of patience shown by most and even offers of free harps and lessons as well as quality advice. Speaks volumes about this place.
I know I was tempted at first to send him a harp when I heard he was down on his luck.
thanks.. I'm not a regular. I will surf occassionally looking for cool subjects to read about, or throw my 2 cents in, when appropriate. I am a mic builder, and I love to mess around with tube amps searching for a cool combinations to brag about, too. There is plenty of helpful info, and this is a great place to get feedback. No matter how strange your subject matter is. The part about kindergarten was good. You are right Todd, though, I prefer to see this forum as everyones..thank you Adam. All contributing members, and their Forum etticate, will always be challenged. Then, with the help of it's forum leader,...tweeked for the better. ..and there ARE justifications for bannishment. though... More so than 'challenged', maybe... a better word comes to mind, Tolerance... The free speech thing has to come in to play here.(thanks Shanester) If you don't like the thread, move on. It's that simple. What have we learned today, kids? If you want to start booting people off for being ignorant and mean...sorry, inexperienced or arrogant. I can think of a couple others who deserve the boot, too. hardi har har.
Let's all try to get along and keep the subjects moving fairly quick, and pertinent to the blues harmonica. It's too easy to rag on someone, you never met face to face. And, you never know who said what...they could be in a wheel chair, retarded, seriously disfunctional, short, bald, mentally challenged, etc. And to them, bless their hearts, this forum has opened up a whole new world for them to feel a part of something. Ruling out the proven trouble makers. I can surely understand the tendancy to click on that "post message" button...before really editing the content thoroughly. I do it over and over so many times already..it's no wonder I have a life at all. There have been a few times when I regret saying things, wishing I had not. whew!~ beee careful.
CONCERNING THE RECENTLY DEPARTED: Some people will argue with an empty school bus. The right of free speech doesn't mean there is a corresponding right to be heard. In a privately owned facility, the boss man has his right to set the rules and if anyone can't deal with that, then "Delta is ready when you are". And life goes on.....
Thanks for the support. What many people don't realize is that we're gaining 7-10 new members a week. Many of those new members are disheartened when they discover that they have entered a place of trivial feuds. They see the dysfunction quite clearly. It's not yet normalized for them, thank God.
This forum began as a place where people who had enjoyed my YouTube videos (and MBH videos) could discuss them. I'm not a strict constitutionalist, but still: I haven't forgotten those origins. All the rest--the bluster, the petty ego-games, the mockery, the threats--is a distraction from the mission: a free and respectful exchange of information.
The extent to which we've diverged from this mission hasn't been obvious to many of you old-timers, but several well-intentioned souls helped reawaken me. I'm glad for that. TNFrank and N.O.D. ultimately made it all about them, and the did so in a way that consistently undermined the benevolent mission of this forum.
Follow your bliss, and share it. Be helpful to newbies with questions. Be willing to learn a new trick or two, even if you think you've got it all figured out.
Last Edited by on Nov 02, 2010 5:04 AM
"I just stopped reading their posts. It was simple."
Same here. You learn to stay away from certain threads... At the end, it's just too much effort/time wasted. I think that's the reasons some people just don't frequent forums. It's a trade-off: some interesting discussions on harmonica - and - school room bickering atmosphere when the teacher is gone for 5.
If the bickering gets too much it simply isn't worth it anymore for many (and especially pro's and advanced players). Most check out the forums from time to time, but trying to avoid the crap when posting (especially in the high-profile threads..) is just too much of a hassle.
So you do what any mature person would do... you stay the hell out of it.
Still, this is an awesome forum! As Adam mentions... people are joining constantly. The spirit that made this forum great at the beginning is still lingering. :)
Why does Bushman not have these problems? It seems like they have almost no rules. ---------- Emile "Diggs" D'Amico a Legend In His Own Mind How you doin'
I wasn't going to comment, but I have to add to what Greg said. I look at topics that may be interesting first, then unfortunately I look for the names who consistantly have something constructive to add to the topic (ie: BBQ bob), second. I frequent many internet blog/chat sites, and they all suffer from the same online smallmindedness. You end up automatically filtering out the nonsense, otherwise you end up losing interest all together.
Bushman is a forum of Bean Blossom blues festival atendees. Its sort of a closed forum for all purposes. Of course all are welcome, and it seems to be civil. Most of the regular posters have met each other personally through the festival.
Im glad its civil, I had been warned it was wild over here. But it seems cool to me. I was on a flatpicking forum where a few guys hated & kept insulting me cause I like fingerstyle blues as well. They were ready to roast me for posting a Candyman vid. thanks for letting me be here, and I hope to never offend anybody. Steve
The Bushman forum is pretty conflict free, but you've got to remember a few things about that site.
1. They delete posts from angry customers who don't receive their orders in a timely fashion.
2. They delete posts that doesn't present John Hall in the best of lights. For example, when he was looking for some acts to headline his little festival, if he didn't agree, he was obnoxious.
He belittled one suggested act. When he booked them at his little brewhouse. Aterward, he had a 180 degree change in attitude. He deleted all of his previous posts on the topic.
3. John Hall can be pretty abusive. He's had some pretty nasty words for some of his long time forum members including: eharp and me.
4. They've got one guy over there who posts under three different usernames. Sometimes, he'll disagree with himself for kicks, but usually he supports his alternate personalities posts.
5. People come and go there frequently. There are probably less than two dozen people that post there regularly.
6. You must have missed the big hassle created by a user that had some similar personality traits as TNFrank. He got his ass booted off the Bushman forum.
I was a lurker at the Bushman forum for awhile. John Hall is despicable. You can't separate truth from fiction on that forum. John Hall is a pathological LIAR.
I wouldn't be surprised if John Hall is a member of THIS forum (under a ficticious name) that interjects positive comments about Bushman and the Delta Frost.
Last Edited by on Nov 02, 2010 10:03 AM
OK its all that and cliquish, but cliques are in any chat, not as much as in that one. Clique members are told happy birthday etc. But overall its about normal for a forum. I did not miss the hassel . Hassels seem to be normal. I never figured out why someone would fight with people they will never meet in their life.
Joe , I know the 3 in 1 guy . He is a great guy just having fun, maybe not the way everybody would like him to, but I assure he means no harm. Hes not that kind of guy. I call him a friend Ive made mistakes on forums, but learned from them. I think we all do something stupid sometime, it just cant be over & over, Im not Jon Hall fan either Steve
"They've got one guy over there who posts under three different usernames. Sometimes, he'll disagree with himself for kicks, but usually he supports his alternate personalities posts."
This is too bizarre to be fiction. I used to appreciate N.O.D. only because he did have a decent sense of humor, but as bizarre as his posts would get and as prolific as TNFranks' posts would get, their antics seem innocuous in comparison to whoever this guy is. Sounds like he needs to get a life--maybe one (or both) of his alter egos could discuss the topic with him. Go figure....
"He is a great guy just having fun, maybe not the way everybody would like him to, but I assure he means no harm. Hes not that kind of guy." Sounds like someone on this forum. :>)
