Is tMP's time passing?

MoominDave · 25.07.2010, 13:36

As someone who's been on tMP since the early days, and who's in the last year or so felt himself missing some of both the earlier density of posting and the consequent feeling of involvement here that went along with that, this post made me pause and think:
http://www.themouthpiece.com/vb/show...ook#post751661

Is this what's going on? Are significant numbers of people spending time on Facebook and other more general internet social utilities instead of spending it here? Is tMP losing its role in the brass band community? Other fora have fallen by the wayside in the past, due to various reasons; I'd be sad for that to happen here, where we've had such an active and enthusiastic membership.

Or is this part of our natural variation, where the level of conversation ebbs and flows? We've had troughs before, but none that felt as prolonged as this one seems to be. Could it be tied to the recession somehow?? Maybe causing people to not feel as inclined to adventurously spend social time with strangers, even on the internet?

If we are losing contributions from people because they are preferring to spend their online socialising time talking with their already existing friends, then I think that that is a shame - because the glory of tMP and other similar fora has always been that you get to know players from all over the place, with consequent exposure to all their different attitudes. It would mean that the online presence of brass bands is becoming a more inward-looking thing, a clear step backwards.

What do you think? Am I up the spout on this?

jockinafrock · 25.07.2010, 15:51

I've noticed this too.... Must admit that, since I'm having to give more time to keeping Foden's youth website/patrons scheme up to date, this has taken up time I would usually spend on tMP. Still like to come on though to see what's happening ( or what folk think is happening), and to see if the same people still get their knickers in a twist!

Don't think I'll be packing it in though!

**DMBabe** · 25.07.2010, 16:24

It's not going down while I'm still around! For some people it serves a specific purpose and once that's achieved then they have little use for it but I think people will always come and go on forums and there's little other competition out there.

I'm just grateful for all the awesome contacts and good friends I've met on here. I've had support from them through some rubbish times and just hope I can do the same for them.

Long Live TMP

baritastic · 25.07.2010, 16:37

I think that FB is just a better format at the moment and is a much more satisfying web experience all round.

It's far harder to fake an IDentity on FB although not impossible and your only a click away from chatting with someone who's not a bander at all. Which is refreshing.

Another big issue with this site and a real reason that many of our movements members choose actively to use other sites like FB, is the over moderation that seems to be an epidemic on this particular forum. It makes a huge difference to the forum and it's waining number of active users. So often any real discussion here is quelled within seconds of actually getting near any real nitty gritty.

If this site had real ids with pictures and groups etc etc it would be far more popular with bandied than FB but the investment and Capitol investment it seems is just not here. I know that's not the point of this forum (to make money) but as long as it's on the shoe string it is it will never compete with FB. It's like the local caf taking on Starbucks. No chance.

I like it here don't get me wrong. But FB is better, on every level.

Sorry. (I'm now ducking the onslaught that will follow.)

baritastic · 25.07.2010, 16:40

Sorry for shocking iPhone post mistakes.

Leyfy · 25.07.2010, 16:58

Ok - in general - why the comparison with Facebook at all? TMP and Facebook are both designed for different things. The Facebook 'fan' sites are so general, and there are so many of them (for brass bands let along anything else) I wouldn't know which ones to use and which ones will be any good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by baritastic

It's far harder to fake an IDentity on FB although not impossible and your only a click away from chatting with someone who's not a bander at all. Which is refreshing.

If you don't want to talk to banders, don't come on a banding forum

Why is it harder to fake an ID on facebook? All you need is an email address and a password. Keeping an ID going to convince anyone you're someone else is harder on Facebook but..... why would you *really* want to, to be fair?

Leyfy · 25.07.2010, 17:01

Oh, I also forgot to add - I find this site is most busy and interesting (unsurprisingly) after big events such as the Areas/Nationals/Butlins etc when there are new results and events to discuss.

I guess there is only so many times you can discuss 'What size mouthpiece/which instrument/what colour socks does David Childs wear to make his playing better' without covering the topics to death. Especially as you can usually find answers to old questions using the search facility.

marksmith · 25.07.2010, 17:15

I want to talk bands, that's why I really appreciate this site.
Anyone can see that it is me, no false ID, and if I want to test the water, then I know to expect diverse responses.
Whilst out of playing (as I am), this site keeps me up-to-date with current issues, much quicker than other BB webs.
It is obviously 'holiday time' at present, so it is quiet - but come September, the contests will soon bring individuals back to the forum, I am sure.
It is up to the 'skeleton crew' to keep it afloat.
Is it's time up? Not by a long way!

MoominDave · 25.07.2010, 17:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leyfy

I guess there is only so many times you can discuss 'What size mouthpiece/which instrument/what colour socks does David Childs wear to make his playing better' without covering the topics to death. Especially as you can usually find answers to old questions using the search facility.

Is that it? Have we reached a saturation point where all the banders out there have discussed as much as they care to? It's hard to tell, because the internet is still a young invention. I suppose my question could be recast as one that asks whether fora have had their day - are people now tending to move away from fora in search of novel formats? I hope not - it seems to me that the centralisation of tMP offers a lot more worth persisting with than the fragmentary scraps of banding talk elsewhere.

baritastic · 25.07.2010, 17:27

I want to talk to bandies too that's why I'm here, im just saying it's nice to be a click away from people who are not.

The ID thing is a mixed bag I suppose. People like me, who would not be known anyway, make no difference really and my entire Tmp is one of complete anonymity, and why not? I'm not forced to tell you guys anything about myself and why should I?

On FB it is pretty difficult to have false ids that can stand the test of time, especially if you want to be involved on small movements like banding group etc. Most of the best groups for banders are secret to keep out the JANH's of this world. They simply spoil the fun.

Which brings me back to the main point which is the moderation on Tmp. It's simply too much. O know it's here to stay, but, actually it's the biggest issue fr most with this site, and does not exist on FB which is why here are 2 or three secret banding groups set up purposely for those who are either banned or constantly moderated here. Whether that's right or wrong is another issue, but in the end it's FB that are making all the money so they must have something right. ( I know a direct comparison is not fair, but then life isn't fair is it.)

MoominDave · 25.07.2010, 17:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by baritastic

I think that FB is just a better format at the moment and is a much more satisfying web experience all round.

It's far harder to fake an IDentity on FB although not impossible and your only a click away from chatting with someone who's not a bander at all. Which is refreshing.

Another big issue with this site and a real reason that many of our movements members choose actively to use other sites like FB, is the over moderation that seems to be an epidemic on this particular forum. It makes a huge difference to the forum and it's waining number of active users. So often any real discussion here is quelled within seconds of actually getting near any real nitty gritty.

If this site had real ids with pictures and groups etc etc it would be far more popular with bandied than FB but the investment and Capitol investment it seems is just not here. I know that's not the point of this forum (to make money) but as long as it's on the shoe string it is it will never compete with FB. It's like the local caf taking on Starbucks. No chance.

I like it here don't get me wrong. But FB is better, on every level.

Sorry. (I'm now ducking the onslaught that will follow.)

One question that still hasn't been resolved to my satisfaction asks whether the assertion that FB is dragging people away from tMP is actually an accurate one. You assume that it's patently obvious that the effect is strong, as did the poster whose post I originally linked to, but I don't follow the logic of it - if you want to talk about bands (and why else were more posters here in the past if not to talk specifically about bands?), then the FB set-up offers nothing anywhere near the level of this set-up. That I've ever found, anyway - is there a banding discussion utopia out there on FB? Jon Pippen's breakaway FB group was much trumpeted on here when he launched it, but it never gathered much traffic and now is pretty much dead - the effect I'm talking about here is actually more extreme there!

In brief - Are banders actually doing either of 1) Congregating somewhere else online (links would be nice if so), or 2) Not talking about bands online as much as they used to?

Leyfy · 25.07.2010, 17:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoominDave

Is that it? Have we reached a saturation point where all the banders out there have discussed as much as they care to? It's hard to tell, because the internet is still a young invention. I suppose my question could be recast as one that asks whether fora have had their day - are people now tending to move away from fora in search of novel formats? I hope not - it seems to me that the centralisation of tMP offers a lot more worth persisting with than the fragmentary scraps of banding talk elsewhere.

I'd imagine it is part of the whole picture. It is tricky to come up with a topic which hasn't been discussed before and at great depth.

Leyfy · 25.07.2010, 17:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by baritastic

Most of the best groups for banders are secret to keep out the JANH's of this world. They simply spoil the fun.

Ah - but thereon is the problem for me. The thing I like and appreciate about this site is the huge membership base, and very easy to find. You have opinions from every level of banding here about a variety of topics. I'm sure you wouldn't find anything as close on FB. If I want to discuss local banding, with a group of people I know, I have been known to use my old band's Facebook site now and again.

**Rapier** · 25.07.2010, 17:45

Have no interest in Facebook, but check in here everyday to see what's going on.

baritastic · 25.07.2010, 17:53

I don't know how you could accurately clock how many people are being pulled away. We do seem to have many topics that are very very similar and thats bound to get pretty tedious for many.

I still think it does actually come down to FB being a better all round web experience and moderation and identities being hidden in 80% of the members here. Myself included of course.

I enjoyed the facebook group "theGobpiece" and still enjoy it. A couple of others are superb. My favorite is The Wamsman. Its genius, and totally unmoderated and secret to all who are not directly invited by the creator.

It may just be as that group grows this site shrinks a little. I think they are up to about 11000 members or so now.