Are some of us too old to grow up?

[noelford]

First, I apologise for posting something which, yet again, has nothing to do with our music, but frankly I've just had it with the minority who are spoiling what should be a joyful celebration of something that we love and want to share.

When I first joined the previous site I posted a comment saying how nice it was to find a forum where everyone got on and enjoyed chatting about our music without any of the unpleasantness that plagues many forums.

Boy, was THAT premature!

I have been dismayed in recent times, both on the old forum and this one, at the way just a few people seemingly deliberately spoil the atmosphere by posting ill-considered, petulant comments, calculated to disrupt and cause dissent.

I used to look forward with pleasure to visiting this place. Now I do so with trepidation and am seriously considering not coming here again, at least for a while.

Life's too short for this nonsense.

With great regret

Noel

[AlanMcKillop]

My feelings as well, I wrote to Dave Robbo this afternoon saying that the pleasure visiting the site has all but gone. We've discussed everything, tried all the equipment that is available, learned a lot, met a lot of great people and made worldwide friendships, so what more is there to do?

I never thought that we'd ever get a chance to see Cliff and The Shads again, so I think that it's a great way to go out on a high, closure at last.

[David Martin]

I agree with Noel... but I think there's plenty of life left in each new "intake" of people joining the site who want to enjoy playing this great music.

Frankly, if any member feels so jaded about using the site then, don't... But don't spoil it for others with provocative and/or cynical comments.

As I promised I have removed all the threads which relate to the "Board Header Controversy" and removed yet another provocative posting from this thread.

On with the music...

[noelford]

David, now that you have removed all the other stuff (and the forum looks more welcoming already!), I'm very happy for you to delete this topic, too, as it is the last reference to the unpleasantness that was going on. I agree that there is plenty of life left for forums like this as long as there are people like the majority of this community who just want to enjoy the music as listeners and players.

[MeBHank]

My feelings as well, I wrote to Dave Robbo this afternoon saying that the pleasure visiting the site has all but gone. We've discussed everything, tried all the equipment that is available, learned a lot, met a lot of great people and made worldwide friendships, so what more is there to do?

I never thought that we'd ever get a chance to see Cliff and The Shads again, so I think that it's a great way to go out on a high, closure at last.

There is no closure on this music. We should not be going out on a high, because we should not be bringing closure to our fellowship at all. For me as a 22 year old Shads fan, that is a horrible suggestion. Alan, do you consider the Shads' last work as a band - ie: the current tour - as complete closure and that we fans now no longer have a point? Put it another way: Does it mean you will now stop playing guitar? Of course not.

I am about to play my first gig as a member of the Shadowers (a band that includes three musicians under the age of 23), the Foot Tappers are still going strong and there are yet more youngsters discovering the Shads' music as we speak. Shadowmania might even happen again. Please do not give up on the incredible legacy of the Shadows. Just because some vocal members decide to exacerbate bad feelings within our ranks does not mean we should retreat into the night. If we do, that means they've won. What brought about the disagreements this time? Something as petty as a banner at the top of a computer screen. Never has the phrase "Get a life" had more meaning. Nobody is perfect: there are always going to be some that disagree and argue, and every one of us is going to have an opinion and is more than likely to express it with feeling. I guarantee you that I will always voice my opinions, and I will encourage others to discover the magic of the Shadows and to also discuss it. The point of having a place like this being that we do not lose our interest, and, more importantly, that younger people just discovering this world have a place where they can talk about this music, as you and I have had the luxury of doing. I have learned a great deal from my contact with others who post on this site. Let others have the same opportunity.

For my part, my passion for the Shadows will live on. What about yours?

J

[alewis41]

Post deleted

[noelford]

Here we go again! I would ask David to delete my topic now, though it would be a great shame to lose Justin's eloquent post regarding what this site should really be about.

[AlanMcKillop]

Justin, read my post again.

I'm not talking about anyone else other than me, it's a personal reflection and for you to suggest that it's a "horrible suggestion", simply highlights the examples of misinterpretation which goes on here. The only time my post used the plural, i.e. "we'd", was a reference to my wife and I going to the show, so please, no lectures, I'm a big boy capable of making my own decisions and others have the same choice in which I won't/don't interfere.

[alewis41]

Since Noel has a habit of asking for a thread to be deleted when he doesn't like a particular response, I have instead deleted my post and will contact Justin privately.

[David Martin]

I am so pleased that Justin has posted his response, and I agree with him 100%...

Much of the "aggro" which occurs here is actually the result of using the written word in the same way as the spoken word. Alan's and Andrew's posts above are good examples of that... If we had been at the bar together and Alan had said those things, I would have immediately tackled him along the lines of "What! You mean we should just close it all down?" and he would have responded "No, I didn't mean that, I meant for me personally..." And I suspect that Andrew is just making an observation as he sees it, but it feels like a pop at Noel when I read it, though I suspect Andrew didn't mean it to look like that...

So that's why I continually implore people to "stick to the music" because it's much safer territory... and to review what you write carefully before you click that submit button.

As for me, I'm all for Justin's view of the value of this place and the sharing of expertise, and though, certainly yesterday, I wanted to express my personal feelings, I don't, because I just don't think it would help anyone, including me.