Is there a way to delete an account AND all its posts?

C'mon!!

You don't need to do that....

Don't leave us!

I think the posts will still remain.. the account can be deleted if a request is sent to the admins, I guess. However, do stay if you think you can stay away from the threads that waste your time, precious time that you can spend practicing instead.

For us amateur pianists (or aspiring ones like myself), this is about the only way to be in the company (even if virtual) of other pianists. For professionals, they are surrounded by musicians everywhere and they get to talk about music all the time anyway. So I believe that might be the reason why several professional pianists (like JAP) choose to leave the forum. I don't think its necessarily because the rest of us are stupid and because the discussions here don't make sense because many "professionals" do not take part in these discussions.

No, time isn't the issue.. I don't come here instead of practicing - that comes first.

Not that I'm aware of.

Really? There's not even a way to delete them myself?

So, what is?

No, you cannot delete your own posts once a certain (short) editing time has passed.

C'mon Pogo.
What's going on?

I don't know, sometimes I say things without thinking and I wouldn't want my career sacrificed because of me saying something I'm not "supposed" to. Plus, I don't need people (like chercherchopin, to use a fresh example) telling me I don't know what I'm talking about and actually making me DOUBT and feel bad about myself - it affects my playing and I don't need any more insecurities right now.

That's basically why =)

GOOD ANSWER.
In my humble opinion.

We've been hearing more and more about how what people say on the internet can give them problems in 'real life,' and yes, it's good to be cognizant of that.

But, for what it's worth, again in my very humble opinion from what I've seen of your posts, you have nothing at all whatsoever to worry about. Nothing in any of your posts would keep you from being picked for the Supreme Court or being elected president.....or even getting a music faculty position.

So, IMO, it's a very valid concern -- but you have no worries. I think anyone who might ever check through your 'posting history' would, if anything, be IMPRESSED, even in many cases by the kinds of things that I think you're afraid might be the opposite. It all adds up to a very impressive young musician -- and person.

I would hate to see you go.

But I wouldn't blame you. I've been a member for a LONG time. This is not my first account. When I first got a university teaching position I had many of the same concerns, so I had a friend change my password and not tell me what it was.

I ended up rejoining under the name Kreisler after that and making myself only semi-anonymous. I didn't want it easy for people to figure out who I am, but a little clicking around uncovers my identity. In a way, it actually proved helpful. I've learned a lot about expressing my ideas clearly in writing, about how people outside of academia and the musical establishment view classical music, and I've met some pretty amazing people as well.

Ooooh, Kreisler has a sock! Well, if you ever recovered that password.



Yeah, like one click!

IMO, that's the wrong reason to leave the forum.. like I said though, its your choice. Make the decision that you think is the best for you. I know you don't like advice from non-professional musicians very much but if you feel insecure about something, the best approach is to try and think about it more,.. to try and see if you can nail your thoughts about it so that you no longer feel insecure no matter who challenges your ideas about it. When that happens, you might find yourself more open to discussion because you can hold your own since you've thought about it in depth and have *actively* thought about the matter in depth. Running away from questions is not a permanent solution because if you feel insecure just because somebody said something on an "anonymous" online forum, I wonder what real feedback (frequently negative) from real people might do to you.

You don't know..... what the last 2 years has done to me - not online, but just from people in real life, musicians. I think if you'd experienced that, you'd be a little vulnerable too. I don't need any additional sources eating up my confidence, even something as small as PW. It is my fault, no worries - I'm having help with it all, and my teacher's guidance will be focused on this too. I'm kind of tired of subconsciously trying to please people all the time, it shows up in my playing too and I especially don't need that. I'm seeing it happen here too, posting things that I try to make "good" and not offensive to people especially outside people lurking, and it ends up only being 90% honest or something. It shouldn't be like that, I wish there was a policy that only active users can read posts, but that's obviously not the case.

Good answer again.

It sounds like leaving might be a good move toward what you're saying. But if so, I'm sure everyone else joins in saying we hope it's just temporary -- and maybe, as time goes on, you might even feel that coming back here now and then might help rather than hurt with what you're trying to do.

Doing music seriously (even as an amateur) involves a lot of vulnerability. I've also picked and chosen what I've 'subjected' myself to; some things are worth it and some aren't -- and some are necessary; being here isn't, so it can be dispensable.

I know what you mean, and I imagine just about everyone else does too.

Thanks!

Anyway I have a masterclass and lesson soon, must go practice.

Yea, I know what you mean. You've been too nice lately. Be ferocious (I mean that in a good way!) like you know you're capable of.. and make the choice of not having to please other people all the time (it really is a matter of choice.. now, it might be a difficult choice to make but then again, not many choices in life are easy). I don't like being 90% honest either.. I think I'm about 99% honest here on PW. The 1% is reserved for the urges I have to call people names when I get real frustrated, which I try to avoid. So that's where I'm "dishonest".

However, I understand from what you just wrote that there have been lurkers reading your posts. I agree completely with you.. only registered and active users should be able to read posts here. I was once active on another forum (not music related). Turned out there was a lurker there who made life difficult for me at work (that person might be lurking here too, but I haven't said anything about work related stuff here, so I've said nothing to offend any of them here). I then quit that forum. So I completely understand if somebody "at work" (= almost any musician, I guess!) has been lurking and knows who you are and could potentially use the content in your posts here to form prejudices, etc.

i wouldn't leave.. nothing wrong with taking a break.

Hi,

I'm relatively new to PW, and haven't really communicated directly with you. So I guess I'm more or less a lurker

I have no advice for you, and I don't think I could improve on what's been said above anyway. I just wanted to chime in and tell you I've appreciated reading your posts here. Whatever you decide to do, thank you for speaking up in the manner you have!

I think there are two separate questions here (at least).

One is the impact of posts on your career. I've struggled with this in the past myself. What I've come to believe through experience and observation (in fiction writing, my own field) is that people with strong personalities, who're state their opinion and don't 'make nice' in an intellectually dishonest way, actually tend to do better professionally.

Yes, you will alienate some people (you can't please everyone). At certain points in your life it may cost you if that person is a jury member or in charge of hiring or something. But I think you gain more than you lose. Most people will respect and admire a strong personality, even if they disagree with some of your views. It sure doesn't hurt building a popular career. A great musician is a wonderful thing, but a great musician who's also a fascinating character? That's the stuff that makes artists legendary.

(Of course, that's as long as you are genuine and don't take things to an excess. Coarse arguments, public drunkenness etc won't get you anywhere unless you're a name already, or trying to be a socialite/reality TV star. but I don't think that's the problem here).

The other question is the impact of these online debates on your psychological well-being. That's something none of us will be able to help you figure out, I suspect. That's actually the main reason I personally hardly ever post, in any forums, on any topic. Often I'll actually write a post and delete it before clicking submit, because I don't want to get entangled in long arguments that might ruin my day and make me less productive. I think it's a perfectly fine reason to step away from posting, if that's what it takes.

(I'll end here, before I end up erasing this and not posting after all. . .)

If a mod or admin reallllllly wanted to, I am sure they could manually delete all your posts. I'm not totally sure, though, and I'm not sure if they would want to do that. Or they could temporarily allow you the power to delete your own posts?

Idk. I'm just guessing, and even if they are possible, I don't know what it would take to actually achieve this or get permission to do so (if that's what it takes).

I think it would be an exercise in futility, anyway, since people's posts are frequently quoted in other posts, and they don't disappear if the original post is deleted.

Besides, I've saved all of her posts and videos in case she gets famous.

Pogo has over 3000 posts, Kreisler would need to give up a whole afternoon of golf to delete those!

If the forum software works as I think, Pogo would have to be granted temporary moderator status for her to manually remove the posts.

Whatever, I wish she would just take a break if need be (as suggested by apple*), and come back later. I adore Pogo -she has awesome spunk- and, if I may be so selfish, I'm always interested in what she has to say. Love you, dear!

I would delete them all myself gladly, if the mods know how? I won't create any trouble I swear...

One by one, hours and hours and hours??

Pogo, your instincts here are wrong.
You are inflating some danger in your mind.

Are there any posts where it's obvious who you are? Maybe you could just ask to get all your recordings and any posts containing references to your school/name deleted. Then, simply change your log-in to a different name (in case any real-life people know your PW username and want to search you up). Bingo - almost no trail from RL Angelina to PW. I thought you were totally anonymous anyway. I would be sorry to see you go as well, but I understand what you mean. PW ceases to be fulfilling sometimes and I take breaks too. I am very careful to be completely anonymous on here, but of course some master hacker or something could figure out who I am. Don't bother trying though, the person behind this screen ain't that interesting.

I too, think it would be a shame to see you leave, Pogorelich.