On the topic of "off-topic":

My immediate reaction was "what's the problem"?

As Mac pointed it out, it's PG Music's forum. The way this forum has been run, the people here, and the (relative) freedom of expression are what attracted me here.

I have viewed (maybe incorrectly) PG Music's forum statements of the last year as a reaction to external pressures. Practically, I haven't seen that much difference in how non-music posts / topics have been handled. Those who have zero interest in PG Music products or even in music, and come here to "blow their horn" are usually gone, and often their posts go with them.

When threads get ultra-contentious or even mean, no matter who's participating, they get closed or vanish.

The moderation has never seemed "over-the-top" or heavy-handed to me. Sometimes, when reading a volatile thread (I usually read but almost never participate in such threads), I feel for the PG Music staff, wondering whether the "internet police" demands on their time will lead to harsher moderation or even forum elimination..

Suppose PG Music creates a "wild west" compartment. If they don't moderate at all, then they may have some liability for what happens there. If they do moderate, and it's really a "wild west" environment, it's nothing but a drain on their company resources, with little our no value returned to their (fine) company.

I wouldn't visit. What makes this forum compelling for me is the two things I have in common with everyone here. I love music and I use (love) PG Music products. From PG Music's point of view, many, if not most, of PG Music's loyalists visit here. When PG Music newbies visit here, I would think the skill and general music knowledge would impress them. (At least, I've been impressed.) In that environment, once they see the rabid loyalty to the PG Music products, they're probably well on their way to being customers.

Though nearly everyone here is a nameless, faceless internet personage to me, in my minds eye, I see very real people (friends). Maybe it's mostly tastes in music, views on music, or on PG Music's software as characterization, but the people are fleshed out to me by their off-topic posts.

That's the chief value of "off-topic" to me. I learn stuff, and that's a huge ancillary plus. I could go elsewhere to learn stuff. But I could never replace those off-topic aspects of these musicians who I have come to admire and/or respect.

I really agree with Lawrie's thought here:

Quote:


...There are lots of people here for HT to feel sorry for; they are the ones whose opinions, in general, I value most, the ones who make this forum a worthwhile place to come.




Change nothing!