A Few Thoughts (On the Future of the Forum)

[The DARK]

I read earlier the argument between Dylan and John Conway, which led to Dylan leaving the board (and leaving John's return in doubt). I am not going to take any side in this argument because I hold no grudges against either of them. With the exception of a select few, I cannot think of anyone that I would not like to meet in real life. These guys are not part of that exception. Dylan has left the board before, and to be fair, he seemed to be feeling horrible the last few days (read Current Complaints). He really has done quite a bit for the forum by adding tapings, creating the tabs section, and organizing JacketFest. I sincerely hope he comes back at some point in the future. And I hope John is not put off by this, I think the majority of us here really like him.

Remember that none of us have to be part of this. I think most of us don't want to take sides in these arguments. Besides, we can be full of shit at times. It's part of being a human. I was a bit full of myself for my first few weeks on the forum. Whatever. Kudos to you who try to keep your mouths shut on these issues. You're what makes this forum great.

But this brings up another point: the incredible number of new members we've gotten over the past few days. I knew this was coming. It happened after Conan, it happened with Z. But again, what disturbs me is that so many people came here just to get a link to hear the leak. You go somewhere else to do that. Not here, where the band sent out an email less than three days ago saying that they didn't want us to hear it until the release date. They even gave us a free track, for God's sake. I'm not pissing on anyone who got the leak, it's hard not to listen. But you kept our good modarobot Riny up all night trying to delete the links being sent to people we don't even know. Take it somewhere else next time.

In the words of Jim:
"I'm amazed at the love you rejected
I'm amazed at what you accept in its place"

This will not be the end. With SNL and the release date coming up, there will be hundreds of new members. These days there are 25+ members on the forum at the same time regularly. Unavoidably, some of these people will be jerks. It's part of getting a bigger fanbase. We have a reputation of being warm and welcoming people, but it's gonna get harder as it goes along.

So this is a message to all you longtime forum members: put up with the newbies. There's gonna be a mixed bag of some incredibly nice people and some total jack-offs. Stick together, people.  ;)

[thatswhatshesaid]

well put, my forum friend!

[SMc55]

Well said.

[bluntmaster]

I've got your mixed bag right here

[kyjed48]

I couldn't agree more.  I'm somewhat new, but I've never felt any disrespect from anyone on here.

[bridget]

I read earlier the argument between Dylan and John Conway, which led to Dylan leaving the board (and leaving John's return in doubt). I am not going to take any side in this argument because I hold no grudges against either of them. With the exception of a select few, I cannot think of anyone that I would not like to meet in real life. These guys are not part of that exception. Dylan has left the board before, and to be fair, he seemed to be feeling horrible the last few days (read Current Complaints). He really has done quite a bit for the forum by adding tapings, creating the tabs section, and organizing JacketFest. I sincerely hope he comes back at some point in the future. And I hope John is not put off by this, I think the majority of us here really like him.

Remember that none of us have to be part of this. I think most of us don't want to take sides in these arguments. Besides, we can be full of shit at times. It's part of being a human. I was a bit full of myself for my first few weeks on the forum. Whatever. Kudos to you who try to keep your mouths shut on these issues. You're what makes this forum great.

But this brings up another point: the incredible number of new members we've gotten over the past few days. I knew this was coming. It happened after Conan, it happened with Z. But again, what disturbs me is that so many people came here just to get a link to hear the leak. You go somewhere else to do that. Not here, where the band sent out an email less than three days ago saying that they didn't want us to hear it until the release date. They even gave us a free track, for God's sake. I'm not pissing on anyone who got the leak, it's hard not to listen. But you kept our good modarobot Riny up all night trying to delete the links being sent to people we don't even know. Take it somewhere else next time.

In the words of Jim:
"I'm amazed at the love you rejected
I'm amazed at what you accept in its place"

This will not be the end. With SNL and the release date coming up, there will be hundreds of new members. These days there are 25+ members on the forum at the same time regularly. Unavoidably, some of these people will be jerks. It's part of getting a bigger fanbase. We have a reputation of being warm and welcoming people, but it's gonna get harder as it goes along.

So this is a message to all you longtime forum members: put up with the newbies. There's gonna be a mixed bag of some incredibly nice people and some total jack-offs. Stick together, people.  ;)

Very, very well done.

I wish a message like this could be required reading when you enter the forum.

Deep breaths everyone... it's gonna be fine...

[whothrewthecake]

i love everyone.

[TheDude]

I've been waiting for someone to say this..... and you've gone ahead and done it so perfectly!  For that I want to thank you too, I've been a member since January of 07, a reader of the boards since the release of Z and a fan of The Jacket since their first appearance on Conan way back when.   I'm amazed at how warm and inviting everyone on these forums has been the whole time I've been around, and I feel that is directly correlated to the beautiful music that has directed us all here, and the complete lack of any ego by the souls that make it.  Whenever anyone has had a question regarding the band/songs someone has always been right there to help them.  It's truly a wonderful thing to see, but I as well have noticed that in these last few days it has been missing.  We all get evil urges, but let's not forget why we are all here in the first place; to discuss, share, revel, and bask in our undying love for the greatest band in the game today!

[MMJ_fanatic]

I have never had a problem with John Conaway from my day one here nor have I any memory of him "hating on" anyone.  Sure we have debates and some differences of opinion here but that's life.  I get the feeling that there's something behind the scenes with Mr. Dylan and Mr. John which happend to spill over into this forum somehow.  I'm sorry to see anyone leave out little community, but jeez this is a FORUM (AKA:  VIRTUAL COMMUNITY) have things goten so bad in the real world that we need the same kind of BS happening on the interweb that we see in our day to day travails?
C'mon and feel the love and as Aluminum Dark says "stick together" 8-)

[Coltrane]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=aMfr2CgIPhg





baba booey

[mjkoehler]

That's sagelike for a youngun Dark. Very nice.

[Dorothy_Mantooth]

if everyone would go listen to some gospel disco, everything would be MORE than okay.

[Angry Ewok]

There have been two disruptive issues and you brought them both up.

In all fairness to John Conway... there wouldn't have been an argument/issue if he wasn't attacked at random, despite having been silent for over a year. Obviously, one of John's friends alerted him to the blind assault, and he came and defended himself. It just so happens that Riny is one of his friends - and I think it speaks measures about how out of line the attacking party was that Riny spoke up the way he did.  

Threat neutralized.

Next issue. The leak.

I am normally a really welcoming guy. At least, I try to be... but over the past three days or so, I'm not so quick to hop into a "Hi, I'm new" thread and want to be BFF. I'm no mathematician, but my guess is that 90% of the people who have registered accounts in the past three days haven't just openly admitted to distributing MMJ's music, but they've carried themselves arrogantly about doing so.

... and I just can't sit still and quiet while people trample on MMJ in their own house.

[size=14]"This is my house!"[/size]

[getinthevan]

Wow, seems like I missed something big here.  Who is this John Conway character and what happened between him and Dylan?

[bluntmaster]

in defense of people downloading the leak...

it's just my opinion but the unfortunate reality is at least personally, I barely buy any hard copies of music, nor do a lot of other people I know these days.  what I do pay for is other merch, tickets for shows, traveling expenses, etc.  they get money from from me.  is music about money? no.  do they need and deserve every penny they're getting and more, hell yeah they do.

the fact is the way in which I obtain my music is no longer going to the cd shop or best buy, it hasn't been for at least 5years, maybe more.  I can understand the people being pissy because the band said not to and all that.   but this is the 21st century and information is now "free".  

I grab a highly anticipated album the second I can because I can't wait to listen to, not because I'm some freeloading mother fucker trying to screw over the.  I just love their fucking music, love it so much I COULDN'T FUCKING WAIT BECAUSE THEY ARE ONE OF THE BEST BANDS OF OUR GENERATION.  

if mymorningjacket.com was the first place I saw I could download it at that's where I would have got it.  but someone other distributer was quicker.

I don't think this is rude but just reality.

[Angry Ewok]

in defense of people downloading the leak...

There is no honor amongst thieves... so what is there to defend?

[Coltrane]

in defense of people downloading the leak...

it's just my opinion but the unfortunate reality is at least personally, I barely buy any hard copies of music, nor do a lot of other people I know these days.  what I do pay for is other merch, tickets for shows, traveling expenses, etc.  they get money from from me.  is music about money? no.  do they need and deserve every penny they're getting and more, hell yeah they do.

the fact is the way in which I obtain my music is no longer going to the cd shop or best buy, it hasn't been for at least 5years, maybe more.  I can understand the people being pissy because the band said not to and all that.   but this is the 21st century and information is now "free".  

I grab a highly anticipated album the second I can because I can't wait to listen to, not because I'm some freeloading mother fucker trying to screw over the.  I just love their fucking music, love it so much I COULDN'T FUCKING WAIT BECAUSE THEY ARE ONE OF THE BEST BANDS OF OUR GENERATION.  

if mymorningjacket.com was the first place I saw I could download it at that's where I would have got it.  but someone other distributer was quicker.

I don't think this is rude but just reality.

hmmm.....but the band has specifically asked us NOT to download it now. Maybe you didn't get the e-mail.

i hardly think waiting a few weeks (months) is a lot to ask, especially from your favorite band.

just my opinion.

oh...and information these days is hardly "free." it just seems that way. it's certainly not free when i see my Cable/Internet bill every month.


baba booey. stern rules.

[bluntmaster]

in defense of people downloading the leak...

it's just my opinion but the unfortunate reality is at least personally, I barely buy any hard copies of music, nor do a lot of other people I know these days.  what I do pay for is other merch, tickets for shows, traveling expenses, etc.  they get money from from me.  is music about money? no.  do they need and deserve every penny they're getting and more, hell yeah they do.

the fact is the way in which I obtain my music is no longer going to the cd shop or best buy, it hasn't been for at least 5years, maybe more.  I can understand the people being pissy because the band said not to and all that.   but this is the 21st century and information is now "free".  

I grab a highly anticipated album the second I can because I can't wait to listen to, not because I'm some freeloading mother fucker trying to screw over the.  I just love their fucking music, love it so much I COULDN'T FUCKING WAIT BECAUSE THEY ARE ONE OF THE BEST BANDS OF OUR GENERATION.  

if mymorningjacket.com was the first place I saw I could download it at that's where I would have got it.  but someone other distributer was quicker.

I don't think this is rude but just reality.

hmmm.....but the band has specifically asked us NOT to download it now. Maybe you didn't get the e-mail.

i hardly think waiting a few weeks (months) is a lot to ask, especially from your favorite band.

just my opinion.

oh...and information these days is hardly "free." it just seems that way. it's certainly not free when i see my Cable/Internet bill every month.


baba booey. stern rules.

I definitely agree about the band stuff, I honestly felt a little guilty. not really that guilty, but still a little bit.  and that just shows how deep they've sunk their claws in me.   I want to apologize to if that other post I made was a little over the top.

[ms. yvon]

it was also in the wrong thread.   ;)

aluminum didn't start a "defend your position" thread.

it's a STICK TOGETHER, PEEPS! thread.   :D

to echo those posts before:  well put, adark  [smiley=beer.gif]

[the_wizzard]

Stick together, people.  ;)