Klarinet Archive - Posting 000757.txt from 2001/03

From: "Laurence Liberson" <hardreed@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] The good old days?
Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2001 19:27:33 -0500

Audrey Travis <vsofan@-----.com> wrote:

>Next, the list may have been different at one time (as >you state) but that
doesn't mean it was the 'be-all-and->end-all'. Things change, and sometimes
for the better. >Also, if your main complaint (or anyone else's) was that
>this was an advertisement, (and I don't agree BTW), >why not simply and
politely ask Jonathan to put a k in >front of his message instead of all
these detailed >criticisms of a simple notice? Because again, below, you
>apologize and then continue to nitpick - IMHO. My >understanding of list
members' agreement of using the k >was to advertise actual products like
mouthpieces, >books, barrels, etc.

IMHO, it was better in the "good old days." While I would rather spend my
time with the horn in my mouth, I used to enjoy the e-mail messages that
came from members of this list. The discussions (and let me emphasize the
word discussions) were often thought provoking, engaging, meaningful and
sometimes entertaining. I like to think that the few posts I contributed
were thought of in a similar fashion. And I did learn some things, even at
my advanced age.

But I have been rather disenchanted with the list and have not posted for a
very long time (years, in fact). When I occasionally read mesages it is
usually on the web page. Today happened to be one of those days.

Going back to the roots of this mail list wouldn't be a bad thing. Yes,
things do change with time--but they are not always for the better. Our
individual feelings on that matter are subjective, aren't they? For me
(myself & I), the list has suffered from many things in recent years. It has
seemed to become quite noisy. In that spirit, may I add to the din?

To refresh our collective (not Borg) memories, the Klarinet FAQ reads
"Klarinet is an unmoderated discussion group for clarinet players, teachers,
and enthusiasts. All interested persons are invited to subscribe, and all
aspects of clarinettistry are discussed. This is an excellent forum to ask
questions, share information, or just listen."

It would be interesting if the original list owners intended for the sharing
of information to be more often than not the sharing of commercial
advertising. Perhaps one or more of them might care to comment on that?

Kevin Fay makes a very good argument for the continued use of Klarinet in
this fashion. It is, after all, the sharing of information, albeit
information that can be found elsewhere in Sneezy (as was mentioned by Clare
Guy) without expending too much effort. Often, these "announcements"
(commercial or not) interfere with the discussion(s), break the flow of the
conversation, gum up the works (to chew on a phrase?).

If Jonathan Cohler (or anyone else--I don't mean to make an example of you,
Jonathan--wants to share information about his or her concerts, there is a
section in Sneezy called Announcements (where, ironically, sits a nice
notice of this very same concert!). The suggestion to refer to another page
for further details is not altogether a bad idea.

If he (or Anthony Pay or Roger Garrett or even me) has a recording to
"share," wouldn't the same suffice? Merely point those who would like to
know more to another site. If Walter Grabner, whom I remember well from Ann
Arbor many, many years ago (sorry, Walt) has a new mouthpiece on the market,
wouldn't a simple statement to that effect with a link for further
information be more appropriate than interrupting the discussion at length?

Respect for the list users goes both ways. Those who really want or need to
know all this stuff can readily learn more, yet the rest need not be
unfairly burdened. This kind of commercial information can easily be
construed by some as nothing more than spam.

Mark Charette has continued to graciously and generously provide us with
this resource. I suggest that any commercial notice (and I suspect that we
all can distinguish what one of those is) be treated as such: as
advertisements that should be purchased here, as they are in the "real
world" (whatever that is!). While Sneezy has paying sponsors, does it also
mean that the Klarinet list must be held hostage to the same?

As this is, as Audrey said, a community, let's consider returning to the
spirit of what the best of this list was and can be and respect all members
of this community.

Let's talk about music, let's discuss the clarinet, let's argue history.

And let's sell ourselves and our wares elsewhere.

Larry Liberson
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
hardreed@-----.com

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