I can remember when this forum was about guitars and pickups

[nfe]

I heard time out has six tele necks under its bed.

[Frank]

All internet forums can get on your nerves after a while, that's just the nature of the beast. I posted on b3ta for more than eight years and that forum really can get nasty and personal, this forum is a haven of politeness by comparison.

[Telerocker]

All internet forums can get on your nerves after a while, that's just the nature of the beast. I posted on b3ta for more than eight years and that forum really can get nasty and personal, this forum is a haven of politeness by comparison.

I agree, I don't have bad experiences here.

[Philly Q]

If its been here as long as Philly, it surely must have a place. I always preferred freedom and in the proper room suites the forum nicely...best forum on the planet really, carry on mates. :)

To be fair, some of these guys have been here longer than me.  I just post more.  :oops:

[WhiteRam]

If its been here as long as Philly, it surely must have a place. I always preferred freedom and in the proper room suites the forum nicely...best forum on the planet really, carry on mates. :)

To be fair, some of these guys have been here longer than me.  I just post more.  :oops:

 :lol:

You're the reigning champ though...that we can count. :)

[Johnny Mac]

If its been here as long as Philly, it surely must have a place. I always preferred freedom and in the proper room suites the forum nicely...best forum on the planet really, carry on mates. :)

To be fair, some of these guys have been here longer than me.  I just post more.  :oops:

 :lol:

You're the reigning champ though...that we can count. :)

Days online too!  :o :lol:

It is a lot more off topic in here than it used to be. I think if people are leaving because of it then it needs a balance adjustment.

[Philly Q]

It is a lot more off topic in here than it used to be. I think if people are leaving because of it then it needs a balance adjustment.

But - just throwing a thought in - is it just the "off-topic" stuff which is causing the decline/problem, if there is one?

This isn't meant to be negative towards new members, but when I look at the "on-topic" sections, especially Pickups and Tech, it's people asking the same questions which have been asked and answered dozens of times before:

"Which pickup for this sound?"
"What spacing/leg length for my guitar?"
"How do I get this wiring to work in my Ibanez?"
"What picks do people use?"  :roll:

Now I'm not saying newbies shouldn't ask these questions (except maybe the last one....  :P), or that they should perform extensive searches before asking anything.  But I sometimes think oh no, can I be bothered to answer that question again?  And I'm sure - if they're honest - other old lags must feel the same.

If you look at those "on-topic" threads, it often isn't longer-term members who reply at all, in fact if it wasn't for a few relatively new members (Telerocker and Darkbluemurder, take a bow!  :) ) a lot of those questions might go unanswered.

So do we really want to restrict "off-topic"?  I think it might kill the forum, to be honest.

[Dmoney]

I think the gear related chat has been a little slow for a while. Not many NGD's with Pics for Fernando. Also, I don't really think a lot of interesting stuff has happened for a while in terms of new guitars, new amps, new pedals... etc.

[keith]

I had a couple of 'harsh' responses when I first came on here and I did think mmmm not too friendly here but stuck it out and also met some forumites when i went to Manchester meet couple years back who would be good to see again and Tim at Birmingham nice chap with time for everyone, but overall this forum has been probably the friendliest site ive been on and ive been on and left a few sites with the old f@ck you attitudes and gear snobbery which doesnt apply on here. I suppose all sites tend to get a bit boring after a while but for me its a meeting place for canny crack and seeing a lot of nice gear and good info. So thanks to all. :D :D

[38thBeatle]

I think we may have all gone through the same phase as Shobet at some point. There  are threads that I have no interest in or desire to join in. I don't respond -sometimes I am out of my depth, sometimes not but I make the decision that I have enough hassle in my real life to go looking for it here. So I stick to the technical stuff if it is something I know about and shut up if I don't.
The forum relies upon new people coming along adding their thoughts and opinions. Sure, the same questions will arise over and over but to those making the questions, they may be entirely new to BKP. Doesn't cost anything to welcome them and to answer their questions as clearly as we can-if we can. Some of the new members put me to shame with their willingness to pitch in. I am always conscious that whatever I say regarding pickups is my opinion and based on my experience and might not be right for others.
In the end it is an internet forum-not life or death itself. I hope Shobet sticks around- gives me a good laugh.

[dave_mc]

Well, we have "Time Out" and "The Dressing Room" for off-topic discussions.  They've been there the whole time I've used the forum.

So what's wrong with that?  :?

+1

I've been here from near enough the start, and I still don't have much problem with what's going on. As sifu ben said, we're fairly polite here compared to most other forums. In fact that might be what's making it almost seem like a more serious problem than it actually is- when someone isn't totally polite it's almost shocking :lol: I say things on other forums and I barely bat an eyelid (i still think i'm fairly polite as a default, just i give as good as i get if i think others are being dicks), yet if i said anything a fraction as bad here i'd probably feel bad for a day or two.

Also i agree with nfe, there aren't *that* many contentious threads. I'd also point out that there are several threads which I haven't liked over time which I didn't post in, either- it's certainly not like i love all the contentious threads or anything like that.

what's actually annoying me more is that the gear parts of this forum have been a lot less interesting (for me personally) than they used to be. though whether or not there's actually been any change, I dunno, maybe i've just got bored of answering similar threads :lol:

I'd also say you'd need to be careful- a couple of people might have left now, and obviously once people start leaving, then it becomes more serious and worth considering. However, if you change the forum you might annoy different people and they might leave. Maybe twice as many will.

(that's not a threat that i'll leave or anything, I'm just pointing it out that you can change things for the worse as well as better :) )

[Afghan Dave]

I think we all "play fair" here and I agree that the standards we hold ourselves to are so high that I too feel like an @sshole if I'm not polite 99% of the time.

I don't see a problem here.

I read/reply to the threads that interest me and let the others pass me by.

I like to hear your opinions on anything and it's not the end of the world to disagree, it's not personal.

Please don't go Shob.

[Telerocker]

It is a lot more off topic in here than it used to be. I think if people are leaving because of it then it needs a balance adjustment.

But - just throwing a thought in - is it just the "off-topic" stuff which is causing the decline/problem, if there is one?

This isn't meant to be negative towards new members, but when I look at the "on-topic" sections, especially Pickups and Tech, it's people asking the same questions which have been asked and answered dozens of times before:

"Which pickup for this sound?"
"What spacing/leg length for my guitar?"
"How do I get this wiring to work in my Ibanez?"
"What picks do people use?"  :roll:

Now I'm not saying newbies shouldn't ask these questions (except maybe the last one....  :P), or that they should perform extensive searches before asking anything.  But I sometimes think oh no, can I be bothered to answer that question again?  And I'm sure - if they're honest - other old lags must feel the same.

If you look at those "on-topic" threads, it often isn't longer-term members who reply at all, in fact if it wasn't for a few relatively new members (Telerocker and Darkbluemurder, take a bow!  :) ) a lot of those questions might go unanswered.

So do we really want to restrict "off-topic"?  I think it might kill the forum, to be honest.

I reply quite some times bec I think as newbies who start a thread expect an answer. I was happy I got good advice when I joined the forum. My knowledge is limited though and I always hope some forumveterans will chime in for extra/more detailed info.  And Philly, you forgot Eric Hellstyle,. He is a big help in the contemporary range.

[Tellboy]

I have been on the point of deleting my account on a few occassions - to be honest some of the on topic posts (and not from newbies) p**s me off more than the off topic ones - then I look at it rationally and accept that we're not all the same and close the thread and move on. This is more than compensated for by what I've gained from the forum.

[Philly Q]

I reply quite some times bec I think as newbies who start a thread expect an answer. I was happy I got good advice when I joined the forum. My knowledge is limited though and I always hope some forumveterans will chime in for extra/more detailed info.  And Philly, you forgot Eric Hellstyle,. He is a big help in the contemporary range.

Yeah, I didn't specifically mention Eric because he is a long-termer.  But yes, he is very helpful on pickup threads especially.  :)