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Big Poppa

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Joined
Feb 9, 2005
Messages
18,598
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Coachella & SLO, California
Hey Knuckleheads!

THought I would fire off a thread with some random thoughts and things Ive been wanting to talk about. This isnt really a discussion but an opportunity for me to vent!

The collection of people here is amazing. We help each other out and are involved in others lives way beyond guitars and basses. Our forum is still growing and like many things there are going to be things that you liked when it was tiny and some things that you dont like as well that come with growth. Aybody can say what they want but the fact is that we are growing at a very rapid pace. There are more comments about us both positive and negative because we are making an impact.

I love this place. Sometimes it gets sticky....sometimes testy...sometimes people mistake familiarity with the concept of entitlement. But bottom line what a great collection of wacko's!

Hijacking

I am comcerned with hijacking. It is really out of control, especially with the very frequent posters...Im not naming names but how many threads have started with one thing and eneded uptalking about Albert Lee's or bfrs..... I am guilty too but my sugestion is to make sure that we show the original poster the respect he or she deserves.


What others say......

The frequent knock on us at other forums is that we are Fanboys and cannot accept critisism. The Fanboy part is just cliche and stupid. They are Fanboys where ever you are. Tell me that you spend time on forums that you are not fans of....Fanboy is the epitome of redundancy.... Its like "Mammal" Homosapien!

The criticism part is partly correct. Just this morning there was someone with less than 10 posts that chose to start a thread about the 20th being ugly. Normally this would have gone straight into the dumper but it didnt. Usually the big flames that end up in banning and closing is the oiginal posters delivery.

Look at sevenstring.org and the issue of the bfrs.....several people used that as a chance to declare our quality was in decline. It got a lot of air time. There were regulars that felt that they could express themselves more there rather than here. There was one guy who is in purgatory here so that only he can see his posts that bashed away. I asked myself to take the emotions out of it and there is a perception, how do I fix it....I came up with the BFR sticky thread and the concept that dealers could only use our photos......

Two things came out of that......The delivery wasnt very nice but there was a problem in how the BFRs were being presented leading to misconception regarding quality. I fixed that. The second was the idea that regulars felt that they would be jumped on if they talked objectively....IF people only sugarcoat and never objectively discuss our stuff here how are we going to fix a problem?

I understand part of the strong defense is a sense of your loyalists of protecting me and the company, but lets allow opinions and discussions and work towards makig this place even better.

That being said obvious trolls will not be entertained and be deleted. I also wont engage anymore.........


Fanboys and girls go forward with a healthy dose of humor and tolerance and lets continue to have a blast
 
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DaphneBlue

Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2007
Messages
24
Location
Westchester County, NY
BP -

I'm new here (my S.U.B. is on its way to me) but I have been a member of other bass forums for a long time. What you're talking about happens on all of them.

What I've noticed at most "good" forums is that there is a core of "regulars" who post frequently, know what they're talking about and are willing to be helpful to others. Sure there are some who just like to cause trouble, but that's where the moderators and "regulars" can help. They help regulate the forums so things don't get too out of hand. If the forum is a useful resource, like this one and a few others, most members do not tolerate any nonsense and things go smoothly.

As for being "fanboys," well, Duh! Of course we're "fanboys." There's no point in having a guitar forum if you don't actually like the instruments in question. There are "fanboys" on every forum out there. Have you ever been to the Rickenbacker forum? If that's not the definition of "fanboy" I don't know what is. And why not. They should be proud of their instruments, just like we are of ours.

Anyway, thanks for the great forum. And thanks for the great instruments.
 

bass addict

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 10, 2007
Messages
68
very well said BP!!!!! You are 10000% correct about fanboyism. If you go to any forum, that forum si usually made up of fanboys, why? Because people who dont like or have no interest in that brand aren't going to hang around!

As far as criticism goes, there are two types: There is the type that is jsut flat out mean, you know the "zOMG EBMM blows why would you buy it" kind of stuff, and there is the more honest, more questioning that is partially motivated by an interest in understanding something better. Some alays has something to criticize, and it isnt unique to here, but the people who make baseless comments should get a swift kick in the butt :D (hehe, I said baseless! IVE GOT NO BASSES!) The others should be shown why they are incorrect, or if they are or were correct, how it has since been fixed. (not saying there are any problems, just saying that pproviding evidence is the best way to counter something)

This forum does very well with it IMHO, and it has a great fan base, and so what if we are fanboys? Warwick has fanboys, Gibson has fanboys, everyone does! We are unique but at the same time our "ilk" exists everywhere.

Plain and simple, this forum rules!:D:cool:
 

StingRayzor

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 5, 2005
Messages
108
With personalities such as those of BP and the EBMM crew, it is hard to separate the instrument from those who make and design them. That is what is so cool about EBMM. You feel like you are supporting people by buying and publically displaying your love for the instruments.

Right on BP. When everyone is pleased and everything is perfect, then the forum will be perfect as well. Until that time, which will probably never happen, we will be here laughing and learning.

Peace.
 

oddjob

Well-known member
Joined
May 12, 2004
Messages
2,839
Location
Monroe, Ohio
BP, first let me say how wonderful this place is. The people here are great (once you learn the different personality types) and the info that there is to be had is unreal. But really, I have never had access to sooooooo much before. Access to you and your staff... to tech specs, and behind the scenes happenings.

Some people (I really think that it is most of us) actually get it. We have our moments but I think that most understand what/how/why this place is what it is. With all of that, I think, comes a sence of familiarity... thus, sometimes the air of entitlement (which I hope is never the case).

I am just a 36 year old teacher/local bass player. I think I am good at my job and just okay with my hobby. 5 years ago I would have never dreamed all of this happening (the forum get togethers, posting with you, Marty, Luke, friendships I have built with the other Knucklehead, etc). To me it is an honor to even be part of any of this. I would hope that others see this too.

Is EBMM and the forum perfect... nah. Everything can always be improved. But, then again, that is the beauty of this place. It is a place to voice opinions, to get together, to share ideas. If everyone repected that notion, this place would be beyond compare.

I guess this is just a round about "thanks for putting up with us," hopefully the message will be heard! (sorry about the rambling - it was a LONG evening last night).
 

jaylegroove

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Joined
Aug 23, 2006
Messages
424
Location
I'm a French Knucklehead
BP's thread here is very interesting. By respect I will tell no names and no brands, but some fans' forums from some brands (yes, in bass world) are held and maintained by genuine watchdogs. In these kinds of forums there are only three things you are allowed to do :

1. Worship
2. Worship
3. Worship

I can understand anyone being enthusiast enough to share his passion with others, and even create a forum for that. But some years ago I experienced something weird in one of these forums.

I had a defective instrument from the manufacturer (I mean : really defective), the importer's customer service had confirmed the major issue of the bass (major neck problem - and that was a neck-thru bass), but they had none in stock, and the manufacturer would require about 9 months to send a new quota of instruments to France.

I was pretty much disappointed (the bass was only 7 months old) and tried to talk with others about this problem, while even the CEO of the bass company implied would state he was quite unable to do anything faster.

The purpose was not to bash the manufacturer (I know major issues happen everywhere - I even had one on a brand new Mercedes Benz). I just wanted to share and, why not, try to get some suggestions.

The webmaster's (= watchdog) reply was fast : "I prefer not let anyone say bad things about ************ on the forum, sorry I had to delete your thread".

I finally sold the bass "as is, for spare parts" (which means huge loss on value), switched to something else, and never looked back towards this manufacturer.

End of story.

Between absolute worship and stupid bashing/trolling (whatever we call it), there's a wide area of talking for us to help things always get better, in a positive way.

Just IMO, of course.
 

EBMM7181

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 4, 2007
Messages
1,494
Location
Atlanta, Ga
Thank you for building this place for us to hang out. I really enjoy coming here and Im very thankful for the many friends I've made on here, there are even a few that I talk to daily, via iChat / telephone.

Even though I may not post here everyday, I come here everyday to see what all you guys are up to. I love my Stingray, and Im very exited for my Blue Dawn Sterling HS

Thanks, and I give you my pledge to continue to try and make this an even better place than it already is!
 

Kirby

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 27, 2006
Messages
1,156
Location
Indiana
I too enjoy this forum for what it is, an informative site where people who enjoy EB instruments hang out and share experiences. Like BP said, if I was not a fan why would I visit this site to begin with?
 

Mick

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 21, 2004
Messages
1,405
Location
Germany
I don´t know how old everybody on the forum is but does anybody remember the time before internet?
I tried to get in contact with a big english amp company (sheriff or something police like;) in 1987 to date my Plexi amp, still waiting for their answer.....

So why all the moaning and negative stuff BP mentioned? I am very thankful for every information I get and even free...and fast and the inside stories.

So like in every family or group of people there is yingyang going on, I´m very dissapointed when things like the NorM stuff happen but like I said.

I am very thankful for the forum and I´m sure there is more to make it happen so peacefully than posting threads (from BPs point of view).

Mick

P.S. @BP: everyone over 8000 posts should be banned - fanboy alert;)
 

bassmancb

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 10, 2007
Messages
437
Location
Chattanooga Tennessee
Been playing the bass for 30 plus years. In the short time I've been on this forum my bass playing and knowledge have increased to a new level. This forum is very helpful to experienced as well as beginners. Thanks to all who share and especially you BP for a place we can all come together! <The Bassman>
 

MrMusashi

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
2,840
Location
69 degrees north
the fine line between genius and madness.. the same can be said for running a forum.. too tight and people will leave, too loose and people will be scared away

imnsho i think this place is properly run and operated, just like the rest of the company. i however do hope that you dont mean to leave the forum for good bp. that would steal a lil of the magic ;)

MrM
 

AnthonyD

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Joined
Mar 23, 2005
Messages
3,683
Location
New Jersey
Double life sentence...


(one for the Bassists, one for the Guitarists)






And no possibility for parole! :D
 

syciprider

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 23, 2005
Messages
2,995
Location
The 951
Hey, a little friction between forumites is a good thing. We all see things differently. Our diversity is our strength.

A little hijacking is okay by me. I don't see it as a problem. It just tells me that we are very perceptive and can go off on any tangent that we see (and we see many). With due respect to the OPs though, we should at least close out OT comments with something on topic.

Fanboyism. It's perfectly justified given the quality of my EBMM basses. When I go to GC to test gear, I test it with an MM bass. That's how bad I am :D
 
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