Since my knowledge of guitars is admittedly limited i usually just read posts. It seems cordial to me.

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Vintage Hotrod '57 Strat, 81 G&L L2000 Series E Bass, Fender Musicmaster Bass Amp.

First off, welcome, Sean!

On to other business:

There's one thing that one must remember with postings, there is content but not context. Just as the one typing is the only one who knows exactly what he or she meant is just as the readers can only interpret it. Here's a perfect example:

Let's say someone got a real 1969 Strat at a flea market for say, $50 and posts of his or her good fortune. Another poster comes on and types, "You suck!" In my 'neck of the woods', that would be interpreted as, "You are an incredibly lucky individual!" Of course, others from elsewhere (including the OP) could take it on face value, interpreting it as a totally negative remark. Taking it one step further, when I was in the Army, a bunch of us were clowning around. One of my Army buddies in the group, native to the area where I was stationed told me in a jovial voice, "Y'all as crazy as dog sh-t!" To this day, I'm still not really sure of what that means because I only heard that evidently, rather popular local expression while I was stationed there. Yet, due to the fact that he was a good friend of mine who said it face to face, I knew it wasn't meant in any kind of insulting or derogatory sense.

The point: Granted, some posted stuff is pretty obvious where it needs no interpretation, good, bad or indifferent. Yet, as this forum is world-wide (which I think is a fantastic thing), I recommend considering the fact that some can express themselves more effectively than others and due to where we each live, choices of words can indeed convey different contexts. Admittedly, I try to be very careful with my choices of words because of this.

One more thing and I'm bragging on the majority of us: I think we do a pretty good job of policing ourselves when 'skirmishes' do arise.

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You dig?

Biff, interact mate. Everyone has a opinion, everyone has some experience.

It seems to me that what these forums are suffering is a lack of tempered input. I do agree with Windwalker completely, my earlier puerile attempts at humour ignored. This forum is in no way the place it was.
Though yeah, leave the punks alone.
How do we change that? Well we'll never get it back. But if more tempered, restrained individuals contribute. I'm sure we'll be back to form before long.
So lurkers, please join in. Tell us your views. Just don't command that we all must accept them as gospel truths.

Martian makes a good point. We do self govern well. But I'd still like this to be the place it was where those incidents that need correcting happen on a monthly basis. Not a weekly one. User Blertes in particular, is not one to stand for anyone being insulting and needs commending for such.

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No no and no

i am 16 and i enjoy this forum but from what i have read there have been a few people telling each other their guitars are trash or are calling them "retarded".


I like to read the forum because i get to learn about others guitars and see what other people are doing to get the best out of their guitars.

I have to say, being a new member, that this is one of the friendliest frums I have been involved in. There are those that will diffuse a conflict with humour and others that will say when someone has gone too far.
I tend to hang around the forum at silly hours late at night and this has caused me to be involved in a couple of 'episodes' through tiredness and issues arising that I feel passionate about.................

This forum really does provide, I feel, a 'safe' place to ask 'embarrassing' questions that you may not want to ask a local tech or music store but on the flipside of that it also, in its nature as a forum, offer a 'safe' place to speak your mind and not worry. A faceless pm or post telling you you have been a jerk for saying something derogitory or insulting is not really a deterrant.

I agree with an earlier post when some messages are mis-read due to age/cultural/language and personality differences. As long as we are dilligent and respectful these issues can be dealt with in a friendly, positive manner.
Let's face it though the good and helpful outweigh the bad many many times over.

This forum has many members and, to me anyways, I have been made to feel welcome by both the young and the old on here and there is a definite cameradery that does not seem to include making people feel like outsiders because they don't get the 'in jokes' etc.

An informative, unthreatening and inclusive forum that is a great way to while away the wee small hours!!!

Made even better by the fact I just noticed there is a 'preview' button so I can proof read my late night jibberish........

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speak slowly I'm a drummer too!!

And I proudly lack a stick or a kazoo up my arse...........

A big favourite of mine too.

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No no and no

Hey,I'm a Tennessean,we love a good scrap.
I'm a sarcastic old fart and I'm sure things I post rub some the wrong way...just did it this week to a guy,when I was trying not to be sarcastic!,can't win for losing sometimes.
Yeah,you can't tell how some of the words are meant because you can't hear the tone they're said or typed in.
Then again I say things in person and my tone of voice gets me in a fix sometimes.

If a breathalyser test before use was instituted, there would be much mellower posts. Also, ban grumpy old men with the punks. Actually, I find the young people on here very nice and interesting. You're always going to have know-it-alls blowing it out their kazoo. I apologize for that.

I love this place. There's much much much more good here than bad. Tons of very helpful advice from guys who really know their stuff. I have yet to partake in any serious arguments and will try and continue to steer clear but sometimes I find it pretty entertaining to read the arguments. How's that saying go? Take it as a grain of salt or something like that.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS FORUM AT ALL.

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"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

I have been the target of a few unprovoked attacks but not from regular or longtime members.Just the other day a very new member insinuated that I was stupid because of an obvious facetious remark I had made and even had stated as being so.All that is well enough-to say something insulting- but there was no apology ever issued by this guy even when it was made clear to him that he was mistaken.That's what urks me about some people who go on forums they say mean,hurtful and insulting things absolutely without any provocation and are completely remorseless about it and sometimes even arrogant when confronted about their faux pas.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Hey, I resemble that! Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk!"

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You dig?

Those are just passers by though, no long timers. Us old guys need to stick together.

Ayup.

I guess I should be "banned" too.



Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

You are hereby banned to your music room and must serve 4 hours of rock and blues practice,followed by the loading of gear to be set up on the stage of your choice to play 4 sets of said style of music.
By order of King Leo the 1st.

Not to beat a horse. But im sort of new. Not brand new but new. I have been enjoying the forum so far. I have not seen the atitude that you speak of. But you know adults can ask just as childish as an actual child. I've learned so much from these forums they are awesome! I may too young to say, but sorry you had a bad expirience last year. Maybe you should revisit and enjoy.