The Organ Forum

You guys are getting too worked up over this, methinks. As another member said, "days" of visiting with a virtual friend might grow tiring. But a lunch or short visit might be fun.

Actually, when traveling don't most of us prefer to get a hotel room and have a space to call our own and the freedom to come and go at leisure? Personally, I'd rather do that than to stay in someone's home and impose upon his privacy and family life. But the basic notion of making ourselves open to in-person meetings seems a good one to me.

As I mentioned earlier, I gained a new business partner and close friend through this forum, and that sort of thing probably doesn't happen often. But who knows how much you might enjoy a relationship springing from meeting a forum member in person?

I say life is too short to pass up making connections with people, whenever the opportunity arises!

John

I think organists are something like cats when it comes to others in their workspace!  Everything is fine as long as they keep their distance but if you start passing comments on what they play or how they play it....

watch out! 

soubasse32:

Don't worry...

Somehow I get the feeling that nobody will be coming to visit you... 

It quickly becomes a meeting of nerds that have only a single topic to discuss. And then they don't want to discuss any other topic either

 I promise you I am not an organ 'anorak'.  I have many other interests such as sport, architecture, politics, current affairs, good food, visiting public houses with real beer.....

People are welcome to visit me in Brighton, on the south coast of England.  Brighton is a nice affluent seaside town, with some lovely Georgian buildings, a folly called the Royal Pavillion where a King of England used to reside.  Beautiful surrounding hills and countryside within easy reach of London.  We have some nice organs too including a couple of Father Willis organs, a huge 4 manual in Dome Concert Hall and a church which has the highest nave in the United Kingdom.  There is great nightlife.  Huge amount of pubs and of course it is the gay capital of the UK, so there are lots of lovely gay and lesbian people holding hands and cuddling together freely in a wonderful rainbow unity and transgendered people able to express themselves freely without condemnation and ridicule.
 

From experience with forum meetings on other forums, this isn't as exciting or enlightning as you think. It quickly becomes a meeting of nerds that have only a single topic to discuss. And then they don't want to discuss any other topic either.

So not only do they only have a single topic, they tend to become rather hot-headed about it as well.

So it all starts very cheery and ends up bitching, shouting and worse very fast.

But then there is more to the story...

Everybody shakes hands goes home and thinks what a wonderful time was had by all. 

soubasse32:

From experience with forum meetings on other forums, this isn't as exciting or enlightning as you think. It quickly becomes a meeting of nerds that have only a single topic to discuss. And then they don't want to discuss any other topic either.

So not only do they only have a single topic, they tend to become rather hot-headed about it as well.

So it all starts very cheery and ends up bitching, shouting and worse very fast.

But then there is more to the story...

Everybody shakes hands goes home and thinks what a wonderful time was had by all. 

Wooah. Emoticon overload there, me thinks.  

 I really cannot imagine a group of organists having a bitch at each other...it just does not seem possible.
 

As some of you know from an earlier post in this forum, I did meet Jon (vercus) in person to take a look at that B3/22H project.   It turned out we lived like 30 miles away from each other.  I was also contacted by Michael (myorgan) about the Allen organ at our church; as he stated he did offer to come down in person to look at the organ, which was very generous.   (Michael - sorry I did not read your latest PM response until today - I haven't been on the forum much lately - 2 jobs and all...I'll write back).

I have no problem with meeting forum members in person - there just aren't that many up near this rural northwest corner of NJ.  I know there were some reservations expressed in this thread about having other things to talk about, etc... but meeting anyone "new" under most circumstances can sometimes be awkward.  At least we would have one common interest.  A lot of times it takes a deliberate effort when meeting someone to just lighten up and take it as it comes.  I think the online forums like this one have been very helpful in at least having people with common interests find each other and help each other out, but it can get "one dimensional" - that's just the nature of a subject-related forum I guess. 

Meeting people online first, before meeting in person, has its own set of "issues."  Different people on this forum are also in different situations in life (i.e. married/single/children/no kids/retired/working/etc.) so those practicalities need to be taken into account too.  There are also some people on the forum who are not "of age" and it would not be appropriate for an adult to meet a young organ enthusiast in person unless of course the parents are there too.  Knowing real names, addresses, etc. would be a must.

just my thoguhts...

- jim

soubasse32:

Everybody shakes hands goes home and thinks what a wonderful time was had by all. 

Good point.  Reminds me of a scene from the musical, 1776 where Ben Franklin and John Adams have just brought in Thomas Jefferson's wife to "cheer him up."  It occurs to them that the sooner they solve Mr. Jefferson's problem, the sooner their problem will be solved (the writing of The Declaration of Independence).

As they wait for Jefferson and his wife to consumate their visit, John Adams remarks to Franklin "What will history think of us waiting down here for them to finish up there?"  Ben Franklin replies, "Relax, Johnny, old boy.  History will clean it up!"

Isn't it odd how an event or meeting can appear to be a total failure, but in retrospect, we tend to remember how well it went, and how much we liked it.

Michael

Havoc:

From experience with forum meetings on other forums, this isn't as exciting or enlightning as you think. It quickly becomes a meeting of nerds that have only a single topic to discuss. And then they don't want to discuss any other topic either. So not only do they only have a single topic, they tend to become rather hot-headed about it as well. So it all starts very cheery and ends up bitching, shouting and worse very fast.

Who pitted your prunes this morning?

Jimmy,

Thanks for your interesting report of meeting up with some forum members. Other than Matt, I haven't met any of you guys in person, but I have talked to several of you on the phone and corresponded privately with several others. Even sold a few organ parts, had people send me organ assemblies for repair, etc. Actually, a forum member came from Missouri to collect a truckload of organ parts, so that's a second one I've met, though that was a one-time meeting only.

My experiences with organ forum people have all been very positive. It is always a joy to share information, help others solve problems, talk about common interests. And the subject is not always just organ. I believe organ people are some of the most well-rounded and engaging folks in the world, and I have drawn great pleasure from every interaction.

I'm sure that not all meetings would be great, just as you don't automatically hit it off with everyone you interact with in everyday life. In my business I deal with typically 6 or 8 different organists or music ministers every week. Some of them I become friends with, but some I just don't click with. But who's to say that you might not find one of the best friends you've ever had by connecting with a fellow forumite!

Anyway, it's worked for me, and I'd encourage others to try it.

John

jbird604:

My experiences with organ forum people have all been very positive.

John makes an excellent point--YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE.  If you are a member with a history of acrimonious interactions with fellow forum members, perhaps that is what you should also expect in person.  However, if all your contacts with a particular member have been positive, I'd venture a guess that you'd receive that same result in person.

An excellent example of this is John.  All of my interactions with him have been extremely positive, and he's been of tremendous assistance to me in my endeavors with my recent purchase of a digital beast (known to some as a toaster).  I would feel safe in expecting the same result in person--as I have already experienced on the phone with him.

On the other hand, I'm sure all of us can think of at least one or two people on the Forum who range from coarse and tactless, to crass.  Why would one expect anything different in person?

Thank you, John for bringing us back to the basics.

Michael

myorgan:

jbird604:

My experiences with organ forum people have all been very positive.

John makes an excellent point--YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE.  If you are a member with a history of acrimonious interactions with fellow forum members, perhaps that is what you should also expect in person.  However, if all your contacts with a particular member have been positive, I'd venture a guess that you'd receive that same result in person.

An excellent example of this is John.  All of my interactions with him have been extremely positive, and he's been of tremendous assistance to me in my endeavors with my recent purchase of a digital beast (known to some as a toaster).  I would feel safe in expecting the same result in person--as I have already experienced on the phone with him.

On the other hand, I'm sure all of us can think of at least one or two people on the Forum who range from coarse and tactless, to crass.  Why would one expect anything different in person?

Thank you, John for bringing us back to the basics.

Michael

This may or may not be true. People are more crass in an internet forum because there are generally little or no consequences for it. Acting like a jerk in public can get you an immediate and uncomfortable response. I see behavior on the internet conveys the innermost personality that is a particular individual. This person may be completely different in public or with specific people.

Take me for example. I don't think I have met anyone on this forum in person. Very few people come to Rochester, very few members live here (I can think of maybe two, other than myself). Also, no one visits here and I wouldn't wish such suffering on anyone. On this forum I (and a few others, LOL) would describe myself as abrasive, argumentative, impatient, and I speak before I think, and I speak too much. This is the Irish version of me.

If you were to meet me, you would wonder whether I was really the same person! I am generally very shy, quiet, self-conscious, and apathetic. If you start a conversation with me, you'll find you are doing all the talking. I have gone entire days without speaking (even with a full day on camplus). I don't raise my hand to answer questions in class, even when I know the answer, and I deplore working in groups. I find it very difficult to initiate a conversation with a stranger.

This is the French Canadian side of me!

soubasse32:

nullogik:

Unfortunatly it seems like the majority of people on here reside in the US (though there are a handful that are in the UK).

And now we are all coming over to your house.  

Don't worry - due to the economy, I'm afraid I'll only be visiting you all via Google Earth for the foreseeable future. 

I suppose you could Google Earth my storage facility, as it currently houses my TC-3S!

I'm afraid its so full, that only one person can enter at a time..."please form an orderly queue"  

After reading through all of this thread I'm not sure how to react.

Anyone is more than welcome to stop by Atlanta, Ga.  I have access to most of the large organs (and small) in the Metro area and would be glad to show you around, have lunch/dinner, etc.  You are also welcome to play the organ here in our home.

Having said that it seems at least to me  this is not likely to happen.  95% of the forum members don't use their first names or even state which country they reside in.  It's not likely they would show up....in person....and  reveal who they really are.  Not that there's anything wrong with that....

My life if too much of an open book but  that's my decision.  Doesn't work for everyone.  It's just a damn shame that adults are forced to maintain a job where to reveal their real life/politics/feelings/emotions would cause them to be on the soup line.  I praise the Lord every day that I don't have to live in that world....and I also pray for those who do.

Don 

Don Furr:

95% of the forum members don't use their first names or even state which country they reside in.  It's not likely they would show up....in person....and  reveal who they really are.

You never know... 

Choirmaster:

People are welcome to visit me in Brighton, on the south coast of England.  Brighton is a nice affluent seaside town, with some lovely Georgian buildings, a folly called the Royal Pavillion where a King of England used to reside.  Beautiful surrounding hills and countryside within easy reach of London.  We have some nice organs too including a couple of Father Willis organs, a huge 4 manual in Dome Concert Hall and a church which has the highest nave in the United Kingdom.  There is great nightlife.  Huge amount of pubs and of course it is the gay capital of the UK, so there are lots of lovely gay and lesbian people holding hands and cuddling together freely in a wonderful rainbow unity and transgendered people able to express themselves freely without condemnation and ridicule.