|
|
Post by sumgai on Dec 15, 2007 15:43:08 GMT -5
OK, what's up with all this disappearing act going on around here?  The latest to depart the scene of the crime is stratatoulle. No explanation, just a cloud of dust. In fact, he left in such a hurry, some of his postings were sucked along in the vacuum of his vapor trail.....    I have no intuition about what's causing all this (DD842, UnklMickey, deepblue, stratatoulle, others who weren't as big a contributors), thus I have no way to take corrective action, in an attempt to prevent such 'bleeding' of the membership roster. Is it me?  Is it the topic, has it become stale and/or repetitive, or otherwise objectionable in some fashion? How about the personal interactions, are they getting too personal, or are they maybe getting offensive? Is it the advertising at the top of each page? Is it the web in general? What? I am a total loss here. (And I'm not ordinarily noted for being clueless, so I'm a bit grumpy. ) Who's got an opinion or a theory about this? Or even some facts, I'd really like some of those, please. Let's hear it, eh? sumgai |
|
|
|
Post by gfxbss on Dec 16, 2007 2:41:47 GMT -5
could it be another side effect of the "proboard over 1000 members problem....?" granted, its a strange side effect, but whatever works. however, if that were the case, i feel like we would have been let know by one of them.....  Tyler |
|
|
|
Post by JohnH on Dec 16, 2007 5:38:03 GMT -5
Sumgai
I have no idea if there could be technical Proboards issues, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the forum, and also I think that you are doing a very fine job of holding it together and I thank you for it.
This forum, in its current incarnation dates from April 2005 (I know, I was here then). I think what may be happening is that as peoples lives change, a sustained and active interest is what is a rather specialised field may not last forever and after a year or two, people move on to other pursuits or at least put more energy into other things. I know we have areas for discussion of various subjects, but Guitar Wiring is the start and finish of most of what happens here and that is a very small area of a specialist field.
Most members come with some specific issues, drink at the fountain and then move on, maybe staying a while before leaving. Others stay and contribute more, but unless there is some particular angle to their interest, they will eventually get bored with seemingly similar questions coming up again.
The reason I stick around? I like to design – in general anything, but guitar wiring can be a nice microcosm of designing in the real world, in which considerable elegance and invention is possible within a fairly simple set of principles, and it can be simple, complex and elegant all at once. Plus the culture of the music and the people who play it is attractive. I also like it how a simple question from somebody can lead to a new idea and a new design.
Now at this point, I have my own fairly clear ideas about how to do various wiring schemes, but there continues to be new twists. My own playing has taken an onward leap recently and I have the chance to test the ideas in a band situation – and this has changed to some extent what I think is important in a guitar design.
So as long as I’m learning something new or getting new ideas then I’ll stick around. If I don’t then I probably won’t!
Cheers
John
|
|
|
|
Post by sumgai on Dec 16, 2007 13:45:16 GMT -5
John, ............
So as long as I’m learning something new or getting new ideas then I’ll stick around. If I don’t then I probably won’t! But at least you'd say goodbye, wouldn't you? No, I'm sure it's not a technical difficulty, it's each person has done what they've done, all by themselves. Tyler makes a valid point, if they were getting dropped, you'd think we'd hear complaints about it in some way, no? And your fountain drinkers aren't in the habit of deleting themselves after they've drunk their fill.... just look at the roster, and compare that to the current list of those who post somewhat regularly - big difference, eh? Unk's name is still with us, he's active, he just hasn't come by for awhile. He might be a fountain drinker, but for all the previous knowledge he fairly spewed at us over the years..... nah, I don't think so. DD842 is still active, he may come back some day, after his life quits being hijacked by other circumstances. But deep and stratatoulle? They just don't make any sense. BTW, thanks to one and all for the vote of confidence, both here and in PM. This place is worth more (to me) than all the tea in China! ;D (Even if I don't change my wiring scheme more often than once a year.  ) sumgai p.s. After some checking, I see that DD842 is not with us any longer. Curses, I've gotta get better glasses........ |
|
|
|
Post by warmstrat on Dec 16, 2007 14:19:36 GMT -5
I like to design – in general anything, but guitar wiring can be a nice microcosm of designing in the real world, in which considerable elegance and invention is possible within a fairly simple set of principles, and it can be simple, complex and elegant all at once. Plus the culture of the music and the people who play it is attractive. I also like it how a simple question from somebody can lead to a new idea and a new design.
I second that. As a relative newbie to this scene (nearly a year now) i will be possibly a bit precocious, and totally agree with what he said. There. I'm here for life! I might be in and out due to ouytside stresses... but i'll always (intend to) be back.
|
|
|
|
Post by newey on Dec 16, 2007 18:01:41 GMT -5
I'm very new to the board here and find it to be very informative- just reading through the old posts has taught me quite a bit. I can't believe anyone would be offended by something too personal unless the person was really thin-skinned; All the postings I've read never go beyond a gentle chiding, usually deserved. Pretty mild compared to some forums I've seen.
Sumgai, you and the other senior members do a terrific job. I've been impressed with your knowledge and willingness to be helpful to those of us yet to take the orange stripe off our soldering irons (i.e., rookies). I don't think any blame can attach to the gods for any of this.
|
|
|
|
Post by gfxbss on Dec 16, 2007 22:53:39 GMT -5
its kinda funny, im constanly learning on this place, as i hope is everyone. im still not 100% sure how i managed to get to senior member. i know more than most people i know here in meatspace, but not the hear as in cyberspace. every wiring diagram i design, i still post on here to have everyone look over cause there is always a mistake....
i guess what im trying to say, is thanks to everyone. Ive been know to disappear for a bit of time, its was just a hectic time for me. maybe if we give them a bit of time, the will be back. i truly hope so, but all we can do is sit and wait. as the members that have helped us leave, we just need to step up and do for others what they did for us. after all, we still have SG, Chris and John and a number of others to keep all of us inline ;D.
Tyler
|
|
|
|
Post by DarKnight on Dec 17, 2007 1:45:15 GMT -5
Hello everyone! ;D I don't know if this the case for others, but personally I have had one of the busiest falls in my life... Somehow I found myself stuck in a lot of projects OUTSIDE my studies (interior design, working in the library/local school, website design) and now I'm spending even my christmas holiday to close those cases...  So I haven't really been around much more than just reading threads that seem to be interesting now and then... I agree with John about the fact that this is an oasis for people with problems who will move on eventually unless they are hardcore fans of wiring/guitar design and/or linked to the subject in their studies or work. But anyhow I also think that Internet is going out of fashion... So just getting bored isn't the only reason. It had all the bells and whistles and it was a nice place to hang around with rather unknown people, but for example I have alienated from the web more and more over the years. I used to be rather geeky (well, I still am ) in the past. I don't mean that this thing is rubbish or anything. Actually I feel kinda home here and probably other users - even new ones - have the same feel thanks to sumgai and other people, who keep up such a good spirit. It is quite a rarity in Internet even after all these years and it makes this place so special. I think this community has a strong basis and now missing members will eventually show up. They probably just have some hectic time in their lifes, but they will miss us all. Atleast I'm very optimistic!  Ah, I spilled my guts... And probably made some sense... Merry christmas everyone and take care! Dark |
|
|
|
Post by sumgai on Dec 17, 2007 20:51:20 GMT -5
......
Ah, I spilled my guts... And probably made some sense... Merry christmas everyone and take care!
Dark Leave to a Finn to somehow connect guts and sense... j/k ;D DarK, we need to re-open that super-duper circuit of yours, one of these days. I haven't forgotten it, I've just let it languish on the back burner.  ~!~!~!~ Tyler, The membership rankings are based solely on number of contributions, not on quality, nor on Karma. That's straight from the forum's authors, and they are in no hurry to change it. Believe me, if I could, I'd be promoting some certain deserving individuals around here! sumgai |
|
|
|
Post by DarKnight on Dec 18, 2007 3:48:21 GMT -5
DarK, we need to re-open that super-duper circuit of yours, one of these days. I haven't forgotten it, I've just let it languish on the back burner. No worries! I've left it on the background too for a while... Just got frustrated with all the stuff pouring out of my head... It was a nightmare for a perfectionist who STILL wanted something simple and elegant... ;D I'll take a look at it after christmas... "Suprisingly" I just came up with some more ideas... sigh... Dark |
|
|
|
Post by Runewalker on Dec 20, 2007 8:19:03 GMT -5
.... guitar wiring [is] a ... microcosm of designing in the real world, in which considerable elegance and invention is possible within a fairly simple set of principles, and it can be simple, complex and elegant all at once. Zen and the Art of Guitar Electronic convolutions Eloquent, JH. |
|
|
|
Post by Runewalker on Dec 20, 2007 8:42:13 GMT -5
Sumgai:
Since you took on the role of GN2 PoohBah I have been in awe of the time, effort and vigilance you put into the forum.
I suspect among the old guard there was an almost exhilarating burst of creativity from about 2005- early 2007. That creative cauldron bubbled and seethed with ideas and even passions of a numerically narrow sub-sub group of world participants.
Numerous paths were explored, developed, cherished, abhorred and finally sifted to core designs and design predilections. Like John, I have finally settled into what for me and those in my non-virtual guitar world consider optimum designs. Optimum for us, but not for everyone. The whole process of pursuing excess, electronically proper excess, and then optimum excess was a theme park thrill ride. However, in terms now of pursuing new designs, that effort has subsided.
For me, the non-virtual world has also become significantly more demanding. Such that the other artifact of this forum, actually building the designs herein, has been significantly impeded. So that is annoying for me, but also led to less active participation. I am still a creepy lurker, but can't contribute as much as in the past. Also, since the new wave that come are guys just embarking on their journey, and their questions were the ones I had 2-3 years ago. In reality, most of the questions could be answered by searches here. But because this wealth of information is not gleaned and organized in some sort of concise form, and the info might be in a thread where the members drift into randomness for their own entertainment, it is easier just to throw out the question hoping the old guard will bite.
Sumgai, I am still in awe of your stewardship. Saddened that you feel angst about what I suspect is a common phenomena in specialized interest boards .... flurries and AWL (absences without leave). I have been to other forums and seen a similar lament: "Whatever happened SquiggyWorm, etc...." I think you have to expect waves.
The true value of this forum is beyond the knowledge, but the friendships I was lucky enough to have formed. You may be missing some of that camaraderie from warm and prickly old guard. As do I.
Thanks for keeping this going on. It is still a critical reference compilation for me, and I will no doubt still occasionally step in and stir the soup.
|
|
|
|
Post by sumgai on Dec 20, 2007 21:35:11 GMT -5
Rune, Thanks hugely! You're spot on, of course, it does come and go in waves, and all the tea in China won't change that. But if we don't stay vigilant, then some folks will fall through the cracks, and that's what worries me the most - not keeping folks happy with what they're getting out of the NutzHouse experience in general. It is only to be hoped, and desired, that seasoned pro's stick around to share what they've learned, imparting that knowledge to the newcomers. I've been doing this since time immemorial (meaning, I can't remember just how far back ), sharing what I've learned at the fount, and passing it on to the next wave. This forum is just one more outlet of the same methodolgy. After all, as I tell those who need to hear it, "I wasn't born knowing this stuff, I simply got curious about it before you did, so it was just a matter of timing, that's all." Indeed, I was once a newbie, and had to be edjumicated.  And yes..........The wife has also taken notice of my doings here, and has occasionally chimed in with her opinion of this time and effort. That's why there are some days when you see me log on, but I don't seem to have posted much, if anything at all - I was in a hurry to make sure nothing evil has taken hold here, but at the same time, the Honey-Do list ain't shrinking of its own accord! Nearly all of you know that I'm retired. Well, I'm here to tell you, retirement's not all what it's cracked up to be. When they say "Every day is a Saturday", don't believe 'em!  From my perspective, every day is a Monday - it's the same old grind again, back to work, just like the day before. It's enough to make me threaten to go back to work, just so's I can have a steady schedule, and know what's coming next. ;D Enough grumbling. I think we'll be OK here, but Rune, if it's not too much to ask of you, could you please stop by once in awhile, and stir up a controversy or two, pretty please? ;D sumgai |
|
|
|
Post by Runewalker on Dec 21, 2007 9:24:32 GMT -5
I think we'll be OK here, but Rune, if it's not too much to ask of you, could you please stop by once in awhile, and stir up a controversy or two, pretty please? So "lurking" doesn't count as dropping by .... durn. It is hard to imagine that any gentle Texas soul like myself could be an agitant. But I will try. On the notion of working, As Tex Hornet says: "Workin' for a livin'g shore gets in da way of livin'...." RW AKA Tex Hornet |
|
|
|
Post by andy on Dec 22, 2007 16:49:13 GMT -5
Nearly all of you know that I'm retired. Well, I'm here to tell you, retirement's not all what it's cracked up to be. When they say "Every day is a Saturday", don't believe 'em! From my perspective, every day is a Monday - it's the same old grind again, back to work, just like the day before. It's enough to make me threaten to go back to work, just so's I can have a steady schedule, and know what's coming next. ;D Being self employed (and a tea drinker), I think I might know where you're coming from! That said, when I do get a longer run of work, I don't half realise how creativity is a spur of the moment thing. When you're stuck in a workshop/office/theatre wherever and the middle 8 you've been trying to write for days pops into your head, you're gonna have to remember that sucker intact for days or weeks before you get a chance to get it put down. At least when there is a bit more time the music flows free. Except also (as I sip another cup of tea) theres always something a bit easier to do... I've been wanting to chip in on this thread for a while, but not being an old hand, or much of an expert in the technical sense I didn't really know what to say. I was a bit upset myself by Deepblue moving on, particularly as as a new boy, I could have been part of causing offence, if indeed that is what happened. However as I have mentioned briefly elsewhere, Sumgai, you run an extremely tight ship, but with a very friendly, personal touch- I've never joined a forum before, largely because I wouldn't have wanted to get involved with all the sniping that I've seen elsewhere. Here however, I found the info that I needed in a place with a feeling of community and friendship, which I felt I would like to contribute to, as well as take from. I'm sure there are many others who may not have been here for years, and may not have vast technical knowledge, but who feel welcome to ask stupid questions without being shot straight down, and have a fondness for this forum beyond just a bank of technical specifications and wiring diagrams. |
|
|
|
Post by Sebster5696 on Dec 23, 2007 19:43:20 GMT -5
sumgai, it seems as though deepblue has rejoined, so we've regained one member but who knows where the others you mentioned in your first post have gone. Seb |
|
|
|
Post by sumgai on Dec 24, 2007 11:59:18 GMT -5
Seb,
I do believe you may be correct! Standby, we'll what the deep one himself has to say, in his own good time.
sumgai
|
|
|
|
Post by ccso8462 on Dec 24, 2007 15:42:06 GMT -5
Well that's a real Christmas blessing! I'm glad deep is back. It was pretty depressing to think we'd lost him. I know the forum has been pretty quiet lately, but I've tried to check it every day even if I didn't log in. This time of year everybody is pretty busy and all my projects are on hold. Things will probably pick up as soon as everybody unwraps their new presents and wakes up from the Christmas turkey tryptophan knockout.
|
|
Is it the topic, has it become stale and/or repetitive, or otherwise objectionable in some fashion? How about the personal interactions, are they getting too personal, or are they maybe getting offensive? Is it the advertising at the top of each page? Is it the web in general? What? 
)
So I haven't really been around much more than just reading threads that seem to be interesting now and then... 
From my perspective, every day is a Monday - it's the same old grind again, back to work, just like the day before. It's enough to make me threaten to go back to work, just so's I can have a steady schedule, and know what's coming next. 
