Really, in looking back at the contents of this list from the time I joined, I can say that this is definitely NOT a players list. There are very few discussions of techniques, of arrangement methods, of playing techniques. There is a lot of discussion of events, of bands, of music to listen to. There are a few requests for tunes. There are a LOT of requests for information about how to get started, but very little about intermediate or advanced playing. Most of the information I see that is more than just topical has to do with the instrument itself - setting up, information about strings and tensions and adjustments. I find this information is particualarly part of 'builders' discussions.
It seems like most of the replies and responses we see on the list are of a technical (instrument) nature rather than a technical (playing) nature. And it seems every once in a while someone approaches the topic of 'technical' discussion as if they were mistreated by someone on the list - there are numerous apologies for posting building / adjusting / modifying information, as if people get yelled at for bringing that discussion to this list. I haven't been a member for more than a couple fo years, but I have bnever seen the reason to be apologetic for posting technical 'builder' questions or comments - nobody ever yelled at me for doing it, and a lot of people respond to the threads. I think that much of the lack of advanced discussion on the list is because of the nature of the beast - the Hurdy-Gurdy is a limited-interest insturment, and nobody, either player or builder, wants to simply 'throw' their specialty knowledge out for general consumption. I guess that I feel that a seperate builders list would turn into an amateur hobby builders list right off the bat and stay that way. I know that it would be fun to discuss the trials and tribulations, and what does and doesn't work for us, but I fear we would not end up with a significant presence of master builders on the list, and it would become more just a 'social gathering spot' than a real resource for building (at least I don't think it would be a better resource than this list). Besides, as Melissa said, people on this list actually enjoy these discussions as well - And with the shape the world economy is in, I have a feeling a lot more people are going to be trying their hands at building a lot more of their own stuff (instruments and everything else) so keeping the largest community possible as diverse and useful as possible might not be the worst thing we can do. That being said, i would actually participate in a hobby-builders hang-out group, but I think I would still expect my best information to come from this list. Chris *********** REPLY SEPARATOR *********** On 9/29/2008 at 10:20 AM Melissa Kacalanos wrote: >While I'm not a builder myself and have no plans to be >one, I still find builders' discussions interesting, >and enjoy reading them on this list. They help me >better appreciate all the work that went into my hg. >I'd vote for leaving these discussions here, since >then I wouldn't have to check a separate group for >them. > >Are there builders who are uninterested in this list's >discussions of tunes and bands and such? In that case, >I guess I could see why they'd want their own private >space free from all that, so I can't force them to >have their discussions here where I can conveniently >eavesdrop on them. > >Melissa > > >--- Arle Lommel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> Would it make sense to set up a Google or Yahoo >> Group just for makers >> and those interested in building hurdy-gurdies? >> While I don't want to >> fracture the group on this list, I wonder if a >> dedicaed group might >> not attract those who don't want to participate on a >> general HG list. >> It would also allow those with an interest in >> detailed building >> questions to discuss as much as they want without >> overwhelming those >> who have an interest in playing only. My other >> thought is that often >> enough I've seen people say that they'd take such a >> discussion off >> list (like Marc proposes here), in which case the >> result of that >> discussion is lost to anyone else who might be >> interested, while a >> Google group would allow that to be recorded. >> >> If there is enough interest in a builders' group, >> I'd be willing to >> set it up. >> >> Best, >> >> Arle >> >> >> On Sep 29, 2008, at 3:13 AM, Reymen Marc wrote: >> >> > Hello jim, >> > I hear you have the same interests as I have. >> > I'm a hg builder and i asked questions like yours >> to on the site but >> > I discouverd to that the inerest for these items >> is minimal on this >> > site. >> > I'dd like to discuss these and others items like >> these but i think >> > we can better do this not on the site... >> > [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> > marc
