I'm just going to repost what I said in the MTL forum:

I hate to jump on the bandwagon, since I've had some great times with ppl from TO. However, I've met strangers and friends in Montreal, and people are always far more outgoing, far more open, far more chatty. I remember several occasions where I'd stay 'till the closing hours, with only a handful of people left on the floor. Music stopped, everyone looked at one another, high-fives, hugs, greetings and goodbyes...all from COMPLETE STRANGERS. Awesome times.

quote:

Originally posted by zokissima high-fives,

The best!

___________________
TECHNO IS THE BEST NOISE ON EARTH.
Save Techno - Stop Minimal / Tech-House

I've been out of the loop for the last few years or so, who are the assholes??

quote:

Originally posted by dj_bas I like how you smell like feet, then yell at homeless people for not having a job. So hypocritical

so fucking sketch

quote:

Originally posted by magikb I am friends with people from all over the world on TA. I honestly love it.

quote:

Originally posted by matty I've been out of the loop for the last few years or so, who are the assholes??

hi.

___________________
I'm the trouble starter, fuckin' instigator.
I'm the fear-addicted, danger illustrated.

Nothing really surprising here - I've heard many of the same comments from the bigger intl DJs some years ago -- with respect to TA/Music Discussion forum.

There is a natural progression towards more negativity as a forum grows -- not necessarily because the people who are joining are of a different mindset than those prior -- but more so that the 'safety in numbers' allows for an anonymity that wasn't possible earlier.

MTL is a smaller forum than TOTA so it has a core group of regulars whose views are familiar amongst themselves (for the most part). If someone wants to post something negative about a promoter/artist/event/venue then they have to be ready to back it up on their own -- especially if it goes against the views of the core group. If you're a newbie who is not familiar amongst regulars then your opinion has a much higher chance of being completely ignored - trampled upon simply because you're outnumbered.

With TOTA being larger you automatically have a different set of circumstances to deal with. There are core groups of posters but some have a 'clique-ish' mentality which allows them an identity that will separate them from the other groups. The 'community' feel will fade as its size grows - its inevitable - the only way to counter this is to form sub-groups that maintain that feel. Sometimes, relations between these groups are less than amicable in nature as they each try to mark their territory on TA. Now, each group tends to have their quirks (i.e. - "house sucks", "trance sucks", "DJ ____ sucks", "____ must be a slut like omg look at her pic", etc).

Enter the negative poster - a newbie - he/she signs up just to bitch about whatever, sometimes never to be seen again. Now, since TOTA is larger there is a greater chance of finding people that agree with your opinion -- and since there are multiple core groups of posters then you will at least find some support in one of the groups -- or at least a few members of a particular group -- who will, if necessary, rally the others to their cause and so the shitfest/flamewar begins.

Enter the negative poster - the regular - he/she feels safe posting their opinion since some amongst their core group will back them up making their voice stronger (strength in numbers!).

Enter the DJ who reads a review thread only to see that someone thought their set sucked. This is a HUGE jolt to the ego the first few times it happens... Imagine touring the world, having ppl trampling over each other to get your autograph, professing their love of your music to your face and saying they'll name their kids after you, etc. Now, they go online, and see some bad comments and wonder where this is all coming from - it can't be true! - the people love me - they tell me all the time!! Yes, many people do love you and your music but those who don't (or didn't that one time) have few outlets to let others know what they think - so they come onto forums like TA to speak their mind. God forbid they actually go to the DJ's official site and enter their forums to post a negative comment - they'd be EATEN ALIVE by the loyal fans and others would be afraid to voice support (even if they agreed).

The same goes for local DJs - they may not have their own official site/forums so they can only gauge their popularity by their resident nights and how successful they are. Week after week the place is packed, the crowd has a good time, and the world is a happy place (or so it seems). Enter the review thread -- the majority of comments are positive but that's what they're already used to - now someone says something negative -- "but, this can't be true - the club was jumpin' and smiles were found all over! Those TAs must be clued out!".

It is very difficult to read something negative about your set/music and not take it personally, it's as if it was your sole responsibility to make sure everyone in the club that night loved the music. Well, guess what, you can't please everyone and you never will. Those that you didn't please will sometimes take things a little too far, lose objectivity, and get personal (if necessary) if it means it'll make their voice heard. The others that agree with their negative comments will pipe in with their own two cents, even if they weren't present that night, simply because they have a dislike for DJ XYZ -- either because they're jealous, don't have a residency, or think they could program the music better that night -- because, of course, your set must've sucked because you played that track that is 3 months old -- never mind that the crowd still loves it.

Summary:

Everyone loves TA as long as it agrees with their opinion and/or they're getting something from it, they hate it once they read something they don't like.

___________________

"In a world of illusion you only see what you feel"

Last edited by Swamper on Mar-04-2007 at 22:10

quote:

Originally posted by Swamper

i wanna be analyzed next!

Pooooooooost!! ^5

___________________
TECHNO IS THE BEST NOISE ON EARTH.
Save Techno - Stop Minimal / Tech-House

quote:

Originally posted by Swamper Nothing really surprising here - I've heard many of the same comments from the bigger intl DJs some years ago -- with respect to TA/Music Discussion forum. There is a natural progression towards more negativity as a forum grows -- not necessarily because the people who are joining are of a different mindset than those prior -- but more so that the 'safety in numbers' allows for an anonymity that wasn't possible earlier. MTL is a smaller forum than TOTA so it has a core group of regulars whose views are familiar amongst themselves (for the most part). If someone wants to post something negative about a promoter/artist/event/venue then they have to be ready to back it up on their own -- especially if it goes against the views of the core group. If you're a newbie who is not familiar amongst regulars then your opinion has a much higher chance of being completely ignored - trampled upon simply because you're outnumbered. With TOTA being larger you automatically have a different set of circumstances to deal with. There are core groups of posters but some have a 'clique-ish' mentality which allows them an identity that will separate them from the other groups. The 'community' feel will fade as its size grows - its inevitable - the only way to counter this is to form sub-groups that maintain that feel. Sometimes, relations between these groups are less than amicable in nature as they each try to mark their territory on TA. Now, each group tends to have their quirks (i.e. - "house sucks", "trance sucks", "DJ ____ sucks", "____ must be a slut like omg look at her pic", etc). Enter the negative poster - a newbie - he/she signs up just to bitch about whatever, sometimes never to be seen again. Now, since TOTA is larger there is a greater chance of finding people that agree with your opinion -- and since there are multiple core groups of posters then you will at least find some support in one of the groups -- or at least a few members of a particular group -- who will, if necessary, rally the others to their cause and so the shitfest/flamewar begins. Enter the negative poster - the regular - he/she feels safe posting their opinion since some amongst their core group will back them up making their voice stronger (strength in numbers!). Enter the DJ who reads a review thread only to see that someone thought their set sucked. This is a HUGE jolt to the ego the first few times it happens... Imagine touring the world, having ppl trampling over each other to get your autograph, professing their love of your music to your face and saying they'll name their kids after you, etc. Now, they go online, and see some bad comments and wonder where this is all coming from - it can't be true! - the people love me - they tell me all the time!! Yes, many people do love you and your music but those who don't (or didn't that one time) have few outlets to let others know what they think - so they come onto forums like TA to speak their mind. God forbid they actually go to the DJ's official site and enter their forums to post a negative comment - they'd be EATEN ALIVE by the loyal fans and others would be afraid to voice support (even if they agreed). The same goes for local DJs - they may not have their own official site/forums so they can only gauge their popularity by their resident nights and how successful they are. Week after week the place is packed, the crowd has a good time, and the world is a happy place (or so it seems). Enter the review thread -- the majority of comments are positive but that's what they're already used to - now someone says something negative -- "but, this can't be true - the club was jumpin' and smiles were found all over! Those TAs must be clued out!". It is very difficult to read something negative about your set/music and not take it personally, it's as if it was your sole responsibility to make sure everyone in the club that night loved the music. Well, guess what, you can't please everyone and you never will. Those that you didn't please will sometimes take things a little too far, lose objectivity, and get personal (if necessary) if it means it'll make their voice heard. The others that agree with their negative comments will pipe in with their own two cents, even if they weren't present that night, simply because they have a dislike for DJ XYZ -- either because they're jealous, don't have a residency, or think they could program the music better that night -- because, of course, your set must've sucked because you played that track that is 3 months old -- never mind that the crowd still loves it. Summary: Everyone loves TA as long as it agrees with their opinion and/or they're getting something from it, they hate it once they read something they don't like.

I KNEW IT! THIS IS JUST ONE BIG SOCIAL EXPERIMENT!

Nice, Swamper! You went way beyond addressing the meaningless (i.e. unrelated to music) negativity that has been coming up lately, and went the extra mile to describe a DJ's impression of TA reviews. Thank you!