I guess I am one of those people who come & go from time to time.

I just caught the thread about leaving & thanks for the fish and now a new thread about another departure.

Both of those posts are mysterious to me and I haven't got a clue as to what is happening or going on...I looked through some of the other topics and can't find anything terribly contentious????

I guess it's one thing to take a break and say so long for a while, but to do so & imply there are reasons known only to a few is puzzling.

What's the story?

Opus45- People come and go all the time - if you did a detailed study since the inception of PW you would probably find a surprising number of people who posted here for awhile and then moved on (without notice) - the story here may just be that only a few are thoughtful enough to advise others of their intention to do so, and we have to take them at their word (if any) as to why.

Regards, JF

I don't think anything happened. After a while you stop posting as often and then maybe it's once or twice a week. Then one day you realize that you don't come here as often and decide to just let everyone know.

If you look at the posts you'll see that many many of these posts are the same over and over again.

What method book? How many hours do you practice? I'm new where do I begin? How long to reach this level?

After a while it feels stale and the desire to answer the same question for the 100th time has lost it's appeal.

Not to say that all the posts are that way but it gets old.

That's just my opinion on things because lately I've been feeling the same way and I assume that it's a phase we will all reach eventually.

I agree with JohnFrank and Oxfords Gal. It's the nature of an internet forum for people to come and go, and the infusion of new blood helps to cope with the sadness of seeing old buddies leave.

All I would tell the people taking a break is "never say never!" Think of it as, say, a sabbatical rather than a departure.

Things have actually been pretty calm around here lately, which is nice after a couple of the spats we've had.

I'll stay in for the recitals if nothing else. They are a good source of motivation.

This thread might provide more insight:

Thread

It is sad to see valued members leave, but to each his/her own. I choose to stay, if only to annoy those who would prefer otherwise. :p

Thanks all, I appreciate the clarification. For some reason I had a different impression.

Mike, I really enjoy the recitals too, even if I can't always find the time to participate or comment.

Bluekeys (we were simulposting)...thanks for that thread which does provide some insight. Funny, but I remember being involved in that very same discussion a few years ago. I suspect it's going to crop up every now & then since there is such a vast range of piano abilities in the ABF.

It's kind of like where I work. People who have been her for years leave and leave behind their wisdom. New people come in a give a new perspective on things and new ideas. Then some people come back and bring in new things they learned. So you have a great wealth of knowledge and experience to be shared with all.
And I sit back and watch it all.

JF,

I wholeheartedly agree with your observation.

Well said.

Lisztener

Thanks Lisztener - you're obviously a gentleman of very astute observation and highly discriminating taste!

Regards, JF

I don’t post much here on the ABF forum but I do post regularly on the piano forum. I used to post some on the piano technicians forum, but most of those guys are hard nosed; if you are a do-it-yourselfer or learning to tune your own piano, many of them think you are scum or an idiot, but I still read a lot there.

I don’t know why I post in any of these forums though; I don’t know much about how to play a piano and I know less about pianos in general. I like to think I can play a piano a little bit and know a little about them in general.

But, for some reason I’m drawn to these forums. For the most part the members here are decent, high quality, high character individuals who have similar interests. My philosophy is that if you want to learn, hang around with others who know more than you do. That is why I hang around these forums.

Yes, people/members do come and go here. Sometimes I think they just get tired of it; others get offended or otherwise put-off by rude and inconsiderate members. The thing is, many members who leave will eventually come back after a break from the forums.

Okay, that’s my .02.

Best regards,

Rick

Compared to some forums I have belonged to this one is a PUSSYCAT! Plus it's very well moderated IMO.

Monica,

"never say never" is good advice.

After recently being one of the participants spatting with another member, I have once again re-assessed my reasons for continuing to come here. I have concluded that I must bite my tongue when disagreeing with another poster to the point that I attack him/her personally for expressing themselves in a way that doesn't please me. I'm trying to keep this uppermost in thought when reading threads. Attacking the opinions of others does not change the other's opinion in most cases. Instead, it leads to an entrenchment of the attacked opinion and a counter attack that continues to spiral downward and harms the true spirit of the forum.

John Frank, Oxfords Gal,[/b] and you, Monica,[/b] have summed-up many of the issues that have troubled me of late.

I wonder if outside forces (the economy, elections, holidays, personal situations etc.) have led to general frustrations on the part of some (me) to the point that they (I) bring them home and kick the dog.

I truly hope that my attitude becomes more tolerant and my mood lifts with the advent of the new year.

Great posts, all,

sincerely,

Lisztener

Hey Mike (thread hijack) what's the screen on your P-80?

So true!!

ABF is without a doubt the most well mannered forum I (have) belong(ed) to. I guess that's part of the reason it causes me to shake my head towards the 'silliness' at times.
Other forums I pass it off as, "Well, after all, it is just a forum."

But for me the ABF is not "just a forum".

Quite. Many people think they want to learn but when push comes to shove...

Thanks for the link Bluekeys, that explains a lot.

This is really the only place (PW) that I frequent with any kind of regularity and my posting has dropped in the last year, but I still enjoy the site.

I agree with Oxfords Gal's comments. I also find that I tend to spend TOO MUCH TIME ON THE NET

Recently, I have spent most of my time in the tech forum. I am making a career change in that direction and am using that forum to further enhance my learning curve. Along with working with the tech I purchased my M&H from.

I spend very little time on the tech forum, so this is the first I've heard of your new career, Monster. That's fantastic!! Talk about turning crisis into opportunity. Please do keep us all posted on how it turns out.

I've somehow become a lurker the last year!

But ya haven't chased me away yet!

...but you do show up with a bag over your head!! :p

Monica made me put the bag back on my head...it's her fault!!!