more people involved in TubeNet

[TubaRay]

There is no (9) None of the above.
Truthiness be told, I can't read. That's why I depend on people to tell me my opinion.

Please do not tempt the TNFJ into making a political comment. Sean has forbidden such.

[scottw]

miss some folks (doc and Chuck G come to mind),

I post only when I think I can add anything, but I read a lot. Somewhere, have I missed something about doc? I remember that he was hit by the hurricane and going to be off tubenet for awhile, but I haven't seen him around since. What is the story? I sure do miss him!

[tubashaman2]

.

[OldsRecording]

I think there are probably a lot more folks involved here than meets the eye. Most folks seem content to just read the posts and glean what information they want. Some folks post so much I find it difficult to understand how they even have time for anything else. I guess I could respond to EVERY post just to keep things moving along but I prefer to post only when I think I have something to add to the thread that might be of interest to someone else.

Yeah! What he said!

[Bill Troiano]

Bingo, Dan!!!!!

[DBCooper]

I have tried to speak up in the past, but I find that mean elephant always flames my efforts.

Now, I mostly just stalk. Wait. Lurk. I'll get that SOB one day when he least expects it!

[TMurphy]

I've been reading posting here for several years....since I was a senior in high school, on the old TubeNet. I go through spells where I post a lot, and periods where I post nothing for weeks. It depends on whether there is a topic interesting enough to me to illicit a response, and whether I have time to post. The more free time I have, the more frequently I post. I may not have thousands of posts, but I do my part, and feel like I make a mostly positive contribution around here.

[tubatooter1940]

I admire Bloke's efforts to draw us out. I'm a fan of his.
Doc used to draw me out and into trouble. I miss him.
I am more mouthy since I got old but Tinker's post represents the way I really should go.
I am very comfortable with all you guys and I hope you never go away.

[MartyNeilan]

I wonder about others (tubashaman)

Don't worry about tubashaman. He's still with us, but has chosen to fly under the radar just in case a snooty instructor is searching TubeNet to read his posts.

I am still lurking around and not posting (so watch what you post). I am avidily emailing pros and tuba buds about stuff so I don't have to post on here and cause an uproar. Tubenet is a great resource, especially for the amazing Pokorny recital and information about the new horns and new music.

Snooty??



Snotty???

[The Big Ben]

/quote]
I am still lurking around and not posting (so watch what you post). I am avidily emailing pros and tuba buds about stuff so I don't have to post on here and cause an uproar. Tubenet is a great resource, especially for the amazing Pokorny recital and information about the new horns and new music.

Snooty??

Snotty???

No, it's as I said in another thread:

It's a remarkable lack of self-awareness. James walked off with his tail between his legs and now is telling us to "watch what we post" because he's lurking in the shadows. Yet, he can't be bothered to figure out why he causes an uproar when he posts. Even when people outright tell him. That kinda says it all.

Fie on thee....

[MartyNeilan]

Just pulling the guy's leg a bit, don't take it too seriously
Plus, how many here are actually old enough to get the FBDO reference???

[Matt G]

Honestly most of the topics are not so great.

The focus seems to shift all to often to equipment, and not music. I posted a topic on some not-so-familiar works with solid tuba parts, and got no replies. I guess every person here knows Copland's Third Symphony from memory on BBb, CC, and F.

Also, it seems that many tuba players are really thin-skinned. Maybe it is because we got called fat while going back in the lunch line in school for the third time? Who knows. In what should be a parallel world, photography forums would be much more what TubeNet should be. People in most photography forums actively promote their images for comments and criticism, research the methodology of professionals, and converse about new equipment. As some myopic photographers focus on equipment only in the pursuit of art, I find that to be seemingly the majority here. Realistically, it is more the idea (I hope) that the "artists" amongst the tuba community are just too busy or apathetic to post. Many photographers will post because the computer is a common tool in modern photography, however a great tuba-ist need not ever know of the computer in all reality.

I have had the pleasure of sitting next to two fantastic players (who are both employed in large professional orchestras) in the same semester while they rotated the tuba position in the school orchestra in which I played bass trombone. I've also been lucky enough to have had students selected to the first two chairs in the all-state band in a large state (Florida) and place in local orchestras. With all of that, one does feel reticent to post in response to some "noob" on the tuba who thinks that because he/she just played the open fundamental for the first time last week on the Hirsbrunner their 'rents bought for them they are going to be the next Arnold Jacobs. Then the next post is either telling you from the original poster that you are full of fecal material, or someone else telling you that your manners/discretion are lacking.

One reason I didn't post for years is because my chops up and left. I still have the love for music, and it is difficult at times not being able to be active the way I once was. However, I still feel that their is room for improvement in this medium, and at times I may offer a bit of direction that is helpful. Unfortunately, topics that seem to be more interesting and important from my perspective are not as attractive as the newest tuba/mouthpiece/douche nozzle/etc. for up-and-coming tuba players.

I know bloke is trying his best to coerce some "mature" discussion that I believe most of us would indulge in if we were outside of this cyber-realm. In all reality tuba-playing is just another means to an end, and a job for only the top 1% (likely much less than 1%) of the tuba playing population. We should look for ways to enjoy it more on an aesthetic level, and leave the current obsessions to those of simple minds. Sure, having equipment that allows one to play at the needed level is important, but keep in mind that your favorite "pro" can probably sound 95% the same on a Jupiter sousaphone.

Remember that probably every major "pro" has at some point looked over "TubeNet". A few of them continue to return, some of them on a more regular basis than others. However, given the "attitude" of many of the posters, they probably feel that their energies are better spent in other places.

I am probably guilt of stepping on a toe or two in my youth. I have participated in this board since 1996. From 1996 to about 2004 I was very active. From that alone one can figure I probably got someone ticked off. However, I tried to learn more about music in general from the board, and I realized that their were potential network contacts that may see what I type. From that, I took the chance to state articulate (as best as possible) and clear opinions that were well-founded. I find that ability to engage in civil discourse with relevant knowledge has seemingly faded with the evolution of the internet.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

...how many here are actually old enough to get the FBDO reference???

I must be getting there...I was a projectionist at my local twin theater when that came out. Dang near memorized the entire thing after a couple of weeks. Great movie!

Matt, that was a great post, with lots of great points to ponder. I hope you continue adding your voice to the discussion from time to time when you find a topic of interest.

[Chris Smith]

Just pulling the guy's leg a bit, don't take it too seriously
Plus, how many here are actually old enough to get the FBDO reference???

As one of the younger lurkers on tubenet I am glad to say that I got it!

[Nick Pierce]

I think the recurring discussion of equipment has a fairly basically and perfectly legitimate cause actually: who doesn't like talking about new toys?

By the way; never had one lesson.



Nick "18 going on 19" Pierce

[MaryAnn]

I'm sporadic but certainly can't put myself in the non-posting category, hence no checkmark on the poll.

As I get older, I know less, and I certainly don't know all that much about tubas, however well I have or haven't fallen into some scant knowledge of how to play them. I'm not even a hack compared to a lot of the people here.

I liked the first Tubenet better for a couple of reasons. One, you could see by looking at the thread who was posting to it, and choose accordingly. I chose not by topic but by poster population, because I knew that certain people would be actually saying something I wanted to read and participate in. I don't like the new format because of that lack of overview ability. There also has been an influx of people who aren't aware that the high level pro they just flamed and called an idiot is not a teenager at some other school who doesn't know how to hold his horn yet.

I think we did better as a group when it wasn't possible to post pictures of food. (And yes I know that it also wasn't possible to post pictures of tubas, but maybe if you sit and think a little you'll understand what I mean.)

MA

[rocksanddirt]

some interesting thoughts.

Like MaryAnn, I'm a sporadic poster. I also feel like I know less than jack about equipment, and don't really care much about it (other than checking out folks interesting photos). I comment when I feel moved to.

Like many forums of long stature, there is an ebb and flow to the posting. I still feel that this is one of the most polite forums I've frequented.

[Rick Denney]

Responding to Matt:

I understand the complaint that the conversations turn to equipment too often. But I'm not sure just how to avoid that. We can talk about equipment, but it's not so easy to talk about music. As Mr. Anon said, "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture." Music expresses itself, and any attempt by mere words to supplement or explain that expression get lost in technicalities or sophistry almost immediately.

I can attempt to talk about the music that I know, but if I've never heard something, then I can't even think about it, let alone carry on an intelligent conversation about it. That's why obscure music ends up being a conversation among a few acolytes, and with little value to those who haven't heard it.

But we can talk endlessly about the stuff.

During my brief absences from Tubenet, the limitation has always been a period of busyness that made participation impossible. Even when I have time, I open no more than maybe a quarter of the threads, and beyond the first post in only maybe half of those. I'm choosy about where I waste my time.

Rick "a professional time-waster" Denney

[TubaRay]

Rick "a professional time-waster" Denney

Even from a genius, that is impressive!