The Lurker Speaks....

[Ken Smith]

Yes, that was done about 30 years go or so and the Owner of the Bass did not like at all what the repaired did. Back then, cutting the Scroll was not such a big deal but on some Basses, it's just a crime. Arnold will do his best to re-build the head as it looked originally before making a chromatic extension which will hide most if not all of this repair anyway. Not that I have the Bass, it is a rescue mission to restore everything properly to last to the next century.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Chip Diemond

I hold no status here... I started this thread honestly and with due respect... It's been derailed in what I consider a rather rude fashion.

I wish you'd take your mindless chit-chat elswhere... Let the thread die. I don't wish to be associated..

Chip in Seattle

I have just deleted the off topic posts here. Even though this is the Bull Pit, we still have to respect other posters guys. Sry Chip.. hopefully this can get back on topic.

[Chip Diemond]

Thank you Mr Smith. While I am not generally a big fan of the 'delete' key, [let the gentlemen be who they are for all to see], in this case certainly nothing was lost... And I have learned something; I honestly never knew that 'upright' was considered a slang term...

Thanks also for the PM, I agree.

Chip

[David Powell]

Wow! So that's what happened. I was not keeping up with that stuff at the time it went down.

Well, this is the first time I've read Ken's full side of this. I must say, it explains quite a bit in a way that certainly is supported by my own experiences at TB. I have continued to post over there at TB mostly on the BG side these days, but I'm certainly reconsidering my involvement there. There have been some changes over there in policy recently that must be directly due to Ken's departure, but still. A good bit of what I suspected for a long time is confirmed here, particularly about the unmentionable advertiser whose identity I can only guess with a very high degree of certainty. Ken, you always have had my utmost respect even if you had to earn it the hard way. Thanks so much for standing your ground and not backing down. I know that you'd do that without thanks but thank-you anyway.

And just so there is no mistake about my identity, I am known there as Silversorcerer. Maybe it's time for me to check out of there for good as well. I was really reluctant to join that forum for a few years, but eventually it seemed like it was a genuine place. In fact when I started seeing Ken's posts, that's when I decided it would be worth while. Talk about full circle. It's making my head spin.

[Chip Diemond]

You are correct sir. Nothing was lost. Why did I mention the PM? Just to tweak you I suppose. [Took awhile, but it was apparently successful…] I guess you’ll just have to wonder.

I come here to learn about bass.. I like to hear what Mr. Smith, Mr. Warburton, Mr. Schnitzer, [I’m gonna’ buy a bass from him one day!] Mr. Branstetter, Mr. Bolach, Mr. Lloyd, Mr. Johnson, ‘Silversorcerer’ [he identified himself, but I lost it], just to name a few, have to say about anything bass… The list goes on & on. For me, nothing in this world would top getting these guys all together in a room, buy a boatload of beer, and just sit back & listen to the stories… My ‘weird’ I guess.

So if you’d choose to throw a stone, please do feel free, it is after all, the ‘Bull Pit’. My only request is that you keep it on topic… Hope springs eternal…

Chip in Seattle

PS; Please forgive my mis-spellings… I could look ‘em all up, but I want to get this posted.

[Chip Diemond]

To suggest that I would come, as an invited guest, into Mr. Smith’s house and not abide by his rules distresses me. [Considering the source, I’ll get over it...] If you had half a brain between you, you could confirm my identity beyond any question… in a heartbeat. Much as I have yours. Here’s a hint in “Jeopardy” format; ‘An Ellington is a brand of Baldwin’, What is….? Makes it almost too easy but you guys need the help. [Note to gentle readers; Don’t give it away too quick… Give’m a couple weeks.]

The one thing that does trouble me to a degree is that I am in serious danger of losing my lurker status over this mindless chatter. The upside however, is that if I can sufficiently occupy/overload your limited capacities, perhaps it will result in a reduction of the pollution on the real threads here…

Point to ponder… Was there ever a PM?, or was it just one of those ‘tweaker tricks’ to draw you out so that you could continue to demonstrate your lack of ‘bandwidth’. Don’t ‘cha just gotta’ wonder?

Bye-the-bye; do the kids down there in your part of the world play T-Ball?

So far you guys are oh fer’ four, [give or take]. Come on! Gimme’ something to work with here!!

Chip

PS; Awarded: two (2) ‘style’ points for being able to pronounce my last name correctly.

PSS; What happened to the post that used to be between #22 & #23??... All of a sudden this is gettin' a little scary.

[Chip Diemond]

Well, I’m confused…. Could be me, but I’d swear there are now posts prior to the last one I read this morning when I left for work.. In any case here’s how I see what went down:

I was the original poster. I introduced myself, made a polite comment, and asked a couple questions.

Subsequently the thread was hi-jacked in what I considered to be a rude and inconsiderate fashion.

I protested, and the off-topic posts were removed. [It shoulda’ been dead right there.]

Some while later a post appeared questioning my ‘nothing was lost’ comment.

I responded to that post confirming my assessment of the deleted posts. I also held forth on why it is that I visit Mr. Smith’s site. [Hindsight tells me that this post was my first mistake]

Then there was the ‘tweaker’ comment that was somewhat distasteful. [It was subsequently deleted by the poster and later restored]

I responded to the effect that that comment was not appropriate.

There was a post to the effect that perhaps it would be wise to ‘stay away from this thread’…. [Coulda’ ended there too.] But no…

Then it was suggested that I was posting under an assumed name. I’ll be honest with ya’, that one pissed me off, which lead to last night’s full on broadside…. [Second mistake.] I was under the impression that what I had on my hands was your standard internet ‘flame war’… I’ve done those. Boy was I wrong…. Waaaay wrong.

[Please note, I’m doing this from memory, if I’ve gotten something wrong, please call me on it.]

For Richard/Robert; the answer to the ‘Jeopardy’ question is ‘player piano’. Had you done your research you would have known that. There was a PM, I was only toyin’ with ya’. T-Ball is a kind of baseball played by young children. No pitcher, they set the ball up on on a ‘tee’ for the batter to swing at. The reference had to do with the fact that I had served you up with several topics to respond to.

Mr. Smith, you have a tough ‘row to hoe’. I don’t envy you.

I’m happy to respond to any polite poster who might wish to comment.

So there ya’ have it. I’m honestly not sure if I’m the ‘Troll’ or ‘Trollee’. The clicking sound you hear is me…. tap dancing off, stage left…

Chip

[Ken Smith]

Chip, I deleted some off-topic posts. This IS the Bull Pit so I give it some room to move off the direct topic but when it gets nasty or offensive, I think it needs to be cleaned.

Chip, if you like go back and clean up your own posts if what you are referring to is no longer posted.

Guys, please keep it friendly and not TOO stupid no matter how difficult that may be for some of you.

This is still a BASS Forum and not a Bull Forum. I expect MOST of the Chat to be Bass related with SOME of the Chat being non-Bass oriented to a degree.

Still, there are a few Threads and Posts in some Threads I do not at all like. This is not a public Street Corner. It is MY personal Private Corner that I share with fellow Bassists. Lets keep it Bass oriented as much as possible and find some other place for the silly 'I have nothing else better to do' kind of postings.

I believe that some of the nonsense here actually makes other more serious minded Bass People shy away from posting here.

Against the advice of my Son Mike, I still may go back in the 'Pit here and clean up some of the mindless chatter that does little more than take up cyberspace 'bits. Not my intention at all for starting this Form in the least bit. See also HERE for more of my meaning!

[Steve_M]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Still, there are a few Threads and Posts in some Threads I do not at all like. This is not a public Street Corner. It is MY personal Private Corner that I share with fellow Bassists. Lets keep it Bass oriented as much as possible and find some other place for the silly 'I have nothing else better to do' kind of postings.

Ken, are you intending to create an online community or hold court? I can tell you which is going to last longer and grow faster, but it depends on what you want to achieve.

In my experience the most effective way to deal with attention seeking is to ignore it, or deal with the user offline. Having said that, this site needs activity or you run the risk of it dying on its proverbial feet. Richard in some respects has been keeping things bubbling although that has tended to over spill on occasions.

The other thing is that if there's too much control people feel like they're being imposed on and will leave. There's a fine balance to be achieved here. You can be dictatorial if you like but you may end up cutting your nose off to spite your face. Forums are about tolerating (within limits) and including people, not about restricting and isolating them.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Steve_M

Ken, are you intending to create an online community or hold court? I can tell you which is going to last longer and grow faster, but it depends on what you want to achieve.

In my experience the most effective way to deal with attention seeking is to ignore it, or deal with the user offline. Having said that, this site needs activity or you run the risk of it dying on its proverbial feet. Richard in some respects has been keeping things bubbling although that has tended to over spill on occasions.

The other thing is that if there's too much control people feel like they're being imposed on and will leave. There's a fine balance to be achieved here. You can be dictatorial if you like but you may end up cutting your nose off to spite your face. Forums are about tolerating (within limits) and including people, not about restricting and isolating them.

So, in a shorter sentence, what do you suggest?