Posted by musekatcher on Tuesday, April 5, 2011
The flatpicker hangout has been a nice niche distraction from the overwhelming world events for a few years now. While it hasn't become the definitive oracle of flatpicking, it has been a success in many ways, IMO.
On last count, there are 4120 members signed up. Currently, 70 members are online, and there have been a dozen or so active topics in the last 12 hours. Not a blazing amount of activity, but notable considering the boutique participation levels expected with something as obscure as flatpicking.
Flatpickerhangout, or FPH, engages in plenty of minutia for those addicted to flatpicking. There have been spirited debates on all sorts of elements, including the definition of flatpicking itself, and its mission on FPH, or the mission itself of FPH for that matter.
Lots of good tunes, technique, tone, and rare instruments have been shared thanks to the sound file feature. Pics too. After years of list serve interaction, its a breath of fresh air to actually hear and see each other, and share the most important element: flatpicked guitar music.
Unfortunately, all this wonderful opportunity and liberty doesn't come without a cost to this and all internet communities. There are spammers, trolls, hackers, and imposters, as well as purists, zealots, legalists, and dictators. An occupational hazzard I suppose, that can be managed with some extra effort, and tolerance.
After seeing cycles of good and bad with most internet communities, its usually worth to hang in there. Misunderstandings eventually clear up, troublemakers go elsewhere, owners install anti-spamming techniques, etc.
I'd say most of the communities I've embraced have been well behaved. I like to think those into music are also into harmony. Was that a pun? Personally, I've just been too busy to post to FPH, but I have managed to lurk and check in weekly. I hope to do more in the future. I also hope to see more posted too. There's some great resources and members here.
4 comments on “Internet Communities: Chivalry, Sovereignty, or Sobriety?”
elevate155 Says:
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 @5:01:30 PM
Agreed! Great post!
Tom Smith Says:
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 @2:18:31 AM
"I like to think those into music are also into harmony."
I'm not sure if that's a pun, but it is clever. Very nice post!
delboy Says:
Thursday, April 21, 2011 @1:07:18 AM
Good blog post.
twayneking Says:
Friday, May 27, 2011 @8:45:39 PM
There's not a finger-picker hangout and I lost my Ovation in my recent financial collapse, so I'm not exactly a flatpicker. I have an old Goya classical and finger pick along with the flatpickers at church. Still, there's lots to learn here. It's a nice place to hang when I'm in the mood. I do have an old 12 string I converted to six because most steel string guitar strings are too close together for my fat fingers. Still too complicated to play with a pick.
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