#21

I think the complication is that this forum isn’t what it was.

Either the mods ‘fight’ that evolution, or create ways for it to grow and evolve while allowing users to customize their experience. Some don’t want those conversations permeating the forum. Others don’t seem to care. If people are increasingly avoiding MW and coming here, then it’d be weird if people at Lines said ‘go back to MW’ while at the same time talking down about that forum (not everyone, not always, but there are moments that sort of pseudo-rivalry has cropped up). If this is to be an alternate community for people who aren’t as comfortable there, the question becomes whether Lines allows for a similar type of conversation or not.

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#22

I think the specific module threads make more sense than the “design/usability/theory” threads, at least when I read them. I don’t own a Cold Mac but it’s a great thread to read to pick up techniques that can be translated to my own setup. Batumi is a module that’s existed for a long time now and it’s very versatile so it makes sense to me that a thread about it could be sustained beyond discussing whether someone should buy it or not.

These “design/usability/theory” seem to be the opposite whenever I look at them, interesting discussions sometimes occur but most of the time, it looks to me like people beating themselves into a frenzy over whatever new module that brand is about to release.
Personally I find that it’s kind of hard to have all that much to say about “design/usability/theory” when it comes to a specific brand, it’s much easier making general comments around that topic beyond specific manufacturers. Whenever I see this discussion sort of spring up, it always feels limiting because of that.
I also find it kind of hard to express strong design opinions when your thread is about one manufacturer along with this forum’s general preference towards positivity (which isn’t a bad thing, at least not in general). If I for example don’t like Make Noise’s design language, I don’t particularly feel like going into the Make Noise thread and argue that, it feels like raining on someone’s parade, especially when there’s always someone working for them in that thread. (I’m also aware this trepidation is my part and that someone else would like feel more confident in expressing these opinions gracefully.)

I definitely agree about the recent general “what should I get” questions. They often don’t make for interesting conversation and I don’t think they actually help the person asking the question most of the time. Pretty much everyone has a different opinion, to guess what’s right for some stranger you’ve barely talked to online requires psychic powers and the OP generally seems to walk away more confused than before in my experience.

I really think this community should try to provide the same utilities as MW. I won’t harp on about why is dislike that site but the less bound people are (or at least I am) to it the better. Doesn’t mean the conversation itself should follow the same formula.

7 Likes
#23

For what it’s worth, Lines has become something of a home for me on the music oriented web…

I respect the people, learn a lot, try to contribute as much thoughtfulness and kindness as I can… I really don’t want to spend much time on Facebook or MW or wherever…

I hope I’m taking guidance from the mods when offered… if I overlooked a guideline regarding single module threads, I’m sorry and am happy to have the Batumi thread moved somewhere else… but I’m very interested in what Lines folks have to say on the topic, so I hope the conversation can stay here somewhere, I’ve already learned from it…

It would be helpful to know where the line is so as to avoid crossing it again…

Thanks…

6 Likes
#24

i think this makes a lot of sense and it definitely seems true that individual module threads have been more useful than the design/usability/theory threads in my experience as well. we don’t have a problem of every module getting it’s own thread, so the type of cluttering maybe isn’t really an issue/something we could solve with tags if it becomes an issue. Presumably only threads about modules that prompt discussion will be started & returned to anyways… maybe it’s a non-issue.

@eblomquist I don’t think you did anything wrong here or against “code” as far as I know, and definitely wasn’t trying to call you out, batumi was just the first one that came to mind cuz I’d just seen it!

5 Likes
#25

I think the older and less “blingy” the module is, the more it makes sense to make a thread about it. I definitely agree that having it the way MW does where every single module on the planet gets its thread before it’s even released isn’t very useful.

I think older modules with many potential applications or perhaps a unique or less-than-obvious interface make the most sense as threads (like Maths, A152, Synchrodyne, etc.)

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#26

I appreciate @xenus_dad for raising this as I had noticed it as well, although I think @oot’s points about the usefulness of process-oriented module threads are quite useful.

I find when there are threads for modules I don’t own (or don’t own anymore), or if other design etc threads are (for me) veering into GAS territory (usually temporally) I just mute them. Mute mute mute!
(I also mute “what should I buy” threads)

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#27

(I’d also note: more specific threads tend to disappear from view much faster: they are more contemporaneous, or have a smaller audience, who will keep them alive. The popular long-running threads are all quite broad. But there’s no harm in starting a new topic to stop derailing another one, and frankly, I’d prefer it. So, +1 for mutes, categorisation, etc.)

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