I'm the admin, and I can understand how my notes affixed to individual comments may seem to be an interruption.

But all too often people post about their personal "hobbyhorse" opinions, respond to requests for information with mere disapproval, or hijack discussions with self-indulgent digressions.

I'd welcome ideas about how to encourage good habits of forum use.

The post editor currently has buttons to make text bold, italic, underlined, ... there should really be another button to quickly make text purple.

More purple. I never go back and read posts again, so I haven't seen the "greenies." But we need more purple. I never realized chonak was so color conscious.

I know I digress, but am so used to conversing with forum members I think nothing of it. Another thing, is that there are requests for information, then there are requests for information. Some are pretty good questions that are concise enough that they are easy to delve into. I like those questions and generally learn good things from them. Others are requests such as, "can I do the Messiah with 6 voices." Uh, no. You can't.

And we can remember the summertime advance request for free original piano arrangements of Christmas carols in a certain key, for use at a party. (sfx: nostalgia/harp)

My opinion is that I want little or no interference by the admin. This forum is for the members to express their views, and if they want to rant about something, I say let them do it! There are very few places where we can express our opinions on our vocation...certainly not in the situations we work in. I would like the forum to be one of free expression.
If someone does not like an opinion, he or she does not have to read that, no one is forced to use this forum. As well, if you disagree, you should be free to express that in a forum of free exchange.
Now, if someone goes over the like into personal insult or prejudice, then that another problem, but I have seen very few instances of this.

What we DO NOT WANT is comnents on our points, such as "this post is off topic etc." Please stop this. I consider this forum to be great blessing and wish for it to continue to be beneficial for all of us...Thank you for listening and pass the Johnny Walker please.

The discussions that get most heated usually have nothing to do with music and everything to do with morality. It becomes clear very quickly when that happens and those who don't like that type of discussion probably open that discussion once and never again. I can think of a few that I read for a day or two and then stopped because it made me too distressed. I later went back and read on, because it is good to understand how someone else is thinking. It is the reader's choice. Overall I think we are grateful to Chonak for being an even handed administrator. The few times you have actually closed a thread, I agreed with your timing.

Thanks for what you do!

Perhaps when you give someone the chance to join you could direct them to the etiquette section and the html tips when you give them access. Not everyone would actually read what is there, but you would have tried.

It was like reading Fr. Z's blog, and not in a good way.

Yeah, Chonak. Next time intersperse it with pictures of the Italian cuisine you are eating at that very moment.

chonak,

You exercise tremendous restraint. I would have been sorely tempted to wallpaper this thread in green text.

Not to make any point, mind you, just because... well, it's there.

So glad you're the moderator, and I'm not.

(meatless for Friday? yes)

With this being my 7912 post, I will admit that I am quite opinionated, can be cantankerous at times, Tend to ruffle the feathers of those Who think different, But I truly enjoy this forum immensely and it is definitely my go to place - The number one spot on the Internet. Chonak does a good job. Sometimes let things fly that Shouldn’t, and sometimes blows out a fun fuming flame, But I love the human dimension of the whole shebang. Wouldn’t trade it for the world. Their ought to definitely be a gathering for all of us in a bar somewhere.

Charles -

What is that Byzantine forum to which you belong?
It sounds interesting in spite of your rebuke of it.
Is there anything positive about it?

http://www.byzcath.org/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/cfrm is the forum. I read the news part but tend to stay out of the discussion areas for the most part. The prayer section is worthy, and from time to time something newsworthy and of interest appears, but very few people post in the forum anymore.

So true, Stimson. The Ukrainians can be especially cantankerous. I have often thought them the Irish of Eastern Europe. They hate each other and everyone else. ;-) There are probably other forums, but one could easily spend all their free time on the Internet. I tend to not want to do that.

Hah! Actually the Ukrainian comment was originally made by Andy Rooney, if anyone remembers him, from the 60 Minutes show.

An interesting site for things eastern is by Dr. Anthony Dragani. He actually has some credentials and is a reputable source for information. https://east2west.org/

I think this forum is very well-moderated.

While one of its longstanding uses is as a kind of pressire valve--a safe-ish place to let off steam with humor--if it became mostly or only that it wouldn't fulfill its much more important purpose.

Based mostly on older posts, this forum at its best is a unique, vast library of professional resources that helps musicians do their jobs better--in concrete and not just letting-off-steam ways.

I'm running a bit behind on these threads, but I'm not sure why so many on this forum give Fr. Z. such a bad rap.
Sure, I don't follow him, religiously, nor do I read the posts about food, but he does try to remind us of the beauty and goodness of Catholic Tradition, and to remind us of our moral and spiritual duties; especially that of frequent confession.

Don't be so sure on the morals part. Among other things, his censoring of Catholic objections to waterboarding in his comboxes in the Naughties was not one of his better moments. Then again, he has no episcopal mandate for the pastoral care of souls of a given place or teaching, so take it all in context.