...it's a hundred little things.

...and it's nothing at all.

But, whatever it is, it's keeping people from chatting. From wanting to chat.

Sure, life changes and people come and go. New jobs, no jobs, new relationships, new babies, new breakups, old drama, new drama...things happen. But, this is a new kind of ebb, isn't it?

People are still reading, for sure. I bet I could name 50 people who are reading this thread right now, but haven't posted in longer than anyone can remember.

So, how come no one is talking?

I can only speak for myself.

Sometimes it's hard to post here. It takes too much energy to censor thoughts or feelings or tidbits of information. Sometimes, an opinion isn't worth the sh!tstorm that follows. Sometimes I feel like my hands are literally tied, because it's not worth 'offending' someone. Sometimes, it's easier for me to just NOT post, because then admin has to deal with someone who didn't agree with me or who just doesn't like me.

Do I offer up opinions about music? Hardly ever. Am I friendly and encouraging? Not usually. Could I have a better attitude in general? You betcha. Do I miss having somewhere to "talk" with lots of people I care a great deal about? Absolutely. Do I miss knowing that there are lines that shall not be crossed, and things that will not be tolerated? More than many of you will ever know.

I'm not trying to start anything. I'm not trying to create any drama. I'm just trying to find an answer to the "Where Have All the Average People Gone" question, and figure out how we get them back.

I'm fully aware how and why this site was created. This is not a 'it's a music site' argument. This is a 'why are people too tired to deal with ANYTHING at GW, so they're doing NOTHING at GW' argument. I've given my reasons, and no, I don't know how those get fixed. I'm not sure there is a 'one click fix' for whatever it is that's going on. But, maybe if we can get it out in the open, we'll figure how to make it better, and we can all stop being tired.

Although, per usual, it's quite possible I'm just talking out of my ass.

I have my theories... not the least of which is it's much easier to snipe and be catty on FB and twitter than it is to lay your wrists open in front of everybody. You can talk all the sh!t you want, and only you and your catty ass friends can hear it.

As far as the music goes... GW suffers from the same disease the 'scene' suffers from. There's too much garbage, too much garbage being passed off as greatness, and it's not about the music anymore, it's about who can buy the most ad space and who's got enough dough that they can play for free or next to it.

The trolls took over this site 2 or so years ago, and it perpetuated to the point where all the "old skoolers" don't want to deal with it.

I mean, I could go on and on and on, and there's more that I could say, because it would mean calling specific people out, and I'm not in the mood to piss off any of my friends today.

Cept you Melish. You're a bitch.

We established that about 7 years ago, ass.

Posts like this really make me wish I had known about this music scene and this website long before I did.

I think people (fans and musicians alike) grew up. Except Norm.

I think it has a lot to do with "new-blood" not being treated very well here. Even in the artist forums, new blood is often met by harsh words. And the "self-proclaimed bitch" bit gets old. If there are people there that make it a point to be unfriendly, unencouraging, and have a bad attitude, why is it a suprise when people stop coming around?

What new blood is met with isn't exactly conducive to warm feelings

Just my opinion... I'll try and limit the sh*tstorm as much as I can by not replying in this thread again.

ColeInDallas wrote:

I think it has a lot to do with "new-blood" not being treated very well here. Even in the artist forums, new blood is often met by harsh words. And the "self-proclaimed bitch" bit gets old. If there are people there that make it a point to be unfriendly, unencouraging, and have a bad attitude, why is it a suprise when people stop coming around? What new blood is met with isn't exactly conducive to warm feelings Just my opinion... I'll try and limit the sh*tstorm as much as I can by not replying in this thread again.

I am still pretty new, but even when I was really new and since then, I was never met with harsh words or treated badly. Just saying.

*radio edit*

It's just not even worth it.

I think Norm hit it on the head. 5 years ago it was a community, now it is nothing more than my link to textsfromlastnight.

Personally, I post on GW very rarely. I do get on the site several times a day and see what's going on. I check in on JW&J and the music forums as well. But I don't post. And it's because I don't want to offend anybody. Not that I would ever intentionally do it, but those that know me from here, know that I found someone on here and married him. We're no longer together, and with that went some great friendships. And mostly, I feel that I would upset someone by showing my presence. That's pretty much it.

Mel, I don't post as much because sometimes I feel like I'm being redundant. People post their thoughts on something and I agree with them, so I just nod my head and move on.

Then there are the times when I don't post because I don't care about the topic being posted or perhaps the person posting just kind of rubs me the wrong way with the topic. I don't need to react to that and create more of an issue. It's not about keeping the peace, it's just i don't want to get mad over the net unless it's something I'm very passionate about. Even then, there's only so many times I'm going to say something before I leave it alone.

The last reason, man I have such a short attention span. If the post is long, my eyes practically roll up and I just don't mind what I'm reading. I love all of you guys on here like you were my dysfunctional family. We really are, but there's always room for more

ColeInDallas wrote:

I think it has a lot to do with "new-blood" not being treated very well here. Even in the artist forums, new blood is often met by harsh words. And the "self-proclaimed bitch" bit gets old. If there are people there that make it a point to be unfriendly, unencouraging, and have a bad attitude, why is it a suprise when people stop coming around? What new blood is met with isn't exactly conducive to warm feelings Just my opinion... I'll try and limit the sh*tstorm as much as I can by not replying in this thread again.

This could be no further from the truth. New folks are always welcomed to the site and treated like they've been here for years.

That is, until that person acts like a total ass.

I think Norm may have a point. People don't always post things here, mainly because the same subject is being posted on other social networking avenues. FB, Myspace, Twitter..etc.

No point in discussing the same subject, with what is usually the same folks on multiple sites.

Then again, sometime life just gets in the way. I know I'll be absent come November, and probably only popping in from time to time.

I'm not a political sort... I don't follow much except the artists I adore... some are represented here and others are not because my taste is all over the map.. Like Ali said often times I find what I would say has been said... Compared to most I'm mildly passionate about football and basketball but not enough to have anything to contribute to those conversations... These are all the reasons that I don't chime in often in GD.

I came here over five years ago because I had just discovered Pat's music for the first time... I was thirsty to find out as much as I could and being in Southern California at the time my resources were slim at best. I was invited here by one that isn't around much as he has grown up quite literally and life has taken him other places. I found here not only sooo many artists that have become much of my exclusive play list now, but I found a family. Such strong bonds were formed that 3 years later I made the move that seemed insane to many in my life as what real ties did I have to Texas ~ only the most loving, supportive, non-judgemental, accepting, caring, comforting, FUN family a lost soul could hope to find.

I was then (and still feel much like) one of the newbies and I can say that I was never found anything but open hearts and acceptance so to hear that others are not feeling that here makes me sad. Over the five years that I've been here its truly been a family with all that goes along with that... new relationships... falling outs... forgiveness...

This has grown to a VERY large community of people with all kinds of thoughts, personalities, opinions and taste. I would hope that everyone would make their posts keeping that in mind and if you are going to type something that may be taken out of context or found offensive by others perhaps a self filter would be a good idea. For many of us the only way to make an impression on us is by what you post here as we all come from so many different places these days.

I truly am the eternal optimist and it would break my heart if I ever typed anything that offended another person. I don't need everyone to like me, but I certainly don't want people thinking ill of me because I was careless with their feelings.

I've found living in Texas that I enjoy the real time I get with my family so much that I don't spend nearly the amount of time that I once did here. But my respect and love for this place would never allow me to leave or have ill feelings towards those here.

I am in person exactly as I am online. I make a concious decision to be that way. Those of you that know me can attest to that. I'm not one to cause a stir just to cause a stir. I will respond with my opinion and even have discussions that can have me somewhat frustrated but I never hold grudges.

Over at Countrytabs, we've had these things occur - even to the point that I had an IP address tagged to 2 usernames that were being inflammatory for me and my tabs. I called him out and eventually he left. I see it as an ebb and flow...honestly - I don't have as much time available as I used to...

PS - You are quite eloquent, Melish...

eh... bad form. Even for me.

I read every day but I'm working on that whole "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" thing which leaves me with nothing to say.

ColeInDallas wrote:

I think it has a lot to do with "new-blood" not being treated very well here. Even in the artist forums, new blood is often met by harsh words. And the "self-proclaimed bitch" bit gets old. If there are people there that make it a point to be unfriendly, unencouraging, and have a bad attitude, why is it a suprise when people stop coming around? What new blood is met with isn't exactly conducive to warm feelings Just my opinion... I'll try and limit the sh*tstorm as much as I can by not replying in this thread again.

cole, i've been around here a long time. one thing i know for a fact is that people tend to get treated around here how they act. come around acting like a d!ckweed, expected to be treated like one.

ColeInDallas wrote:

I think it has a lot to do with "new-blood" not being treated very well here. Even in the artist forums, new blood is often met by harsh words. And the "self-proclaimed bitch" bit gets old. If there are people there that make it a point to be unfriendly, unencouraging, and have a bad attitude, why is it a suprise when people stop coming around? What new blood is met with isn't exactly conducive to warm feelings Just my opinion... I'll try and limit the sh*tstorm as much as I can by not replying in this thread again.

I haven't been on here that long and I've been treated very well But that could be because I'm wearing a shirt with 3 wolves and one moon