What is happening lately?
What is happening lately?
#1What is happening lately?
Posted: 3/6/17 at 9:29pm
Does anyone else feel that this message board has been drastically changing lately? It's not the board I first joined in my teens over a decade ago. There was a wealth of knowledge to be found here, with strong insight from generations of theatergoers and professionals. What set this place apart from a forum like ATC was that it was actually fun to be here.
Now I feel like we are being inundated with juvenile, vapid, and meaningless posts. For example, lately there has been a countless number of stage door posts. Threads regarding the revival of Sunday in the Park were overwhelmed with repeated posts about the stage door, while discussion of the actual production was lost in the shuffle. In just the past few days, there's been posts about where to find nudity on stage, "hottest actors," sippy cups, looking at George Takei's private parts in a public restroom, and a conspiracy theory about Alan Menken being gay. It's becoming more and more like data lounge and I'm assuming that is why we are continuously losing veteran posters. PalJoey rarely posts here anymore, Namo, Phyllis, Jordan, and others are all gone. Not to mention the political trolling on the off-topic board.
I understand things evolve, and I can't expect this to be the exciting forum I joined in 2004, but It sure would be nice to have more posts with substance and quality again.
I'm sure some of you will tell me to just not click threads I'm not interested in, but I feel like I have grown up on this board, and it's disappointing to witness what it's becoming lately. I am not interested in policing what's being posted here, this is merely an observation I've been making over the past few months.
"Let us hope this lunacy is just a trend" as Madame Armfeldt says in A Little Night Music.
#2What is happening lately?
Posted: 3/6/17 at 9:37pm
It's pretty sad and disgusting what's happened here recently. It feels like the board has become inundated with kids. As if the stage door and "what kind of merch is there" threads aren't bad enough, now there's been threads recently about George Takei's penis, which I thought was a new low point, until earlier today when I read the (mercifully deleted) thread about whether or not Alan Menken might be gay. All this to say nothing of the political trolls over on the OT board.
The worst part is the selective moderation that occurs here, specifically the way it seems like the rules are arbitrarily enforced. When Patti Murin complains about "bullying," the thread is deleted within minutes and all of a sudden moderators appear out of the woodwork. Yet other threads have had far worse things said about people than anything that was ever directed at Ms. Murin, but those threads were left alone.
#3What is happening lately?
Posted: 3/6/17 at 9:52pm
The worst part is the selective moderation that occurs here, specifically the way it seems like the rules are arbitrarily enforced. When Patti Murin complains about "bullying," the thread is deleted within minutes and all of a sudden moderators appear out of the woodwork. Yet other threads have had far worse things said about people than anything that was ever directed at Ms. Murin, but those threads were left alone.
This x1000. I couldn't have said it better myself. This, coupled with the juvenile attitudes of so many around here, are why people are leaving in droves.
I used to love coming here and having fabulous discussions with people who really knew what they were talking about. Those kinds of conversations seem rarer by the day.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
Updated On: 3/6/17 at 09:52 PM
Phantom4ever
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/17/07
#4What is happening lately?
Posted: 3/6/17 at 9:54pm
I kind of feel the opposite. I feel like back about ten years ago, there were far more jerks on this board who kind of "ran things" it seemed like and there was almost a pecking order based on how long you had been a member. Now, no one seems to care as much about that stuff. Sure, the occasional obnoxious posters are still here, and the troll-threads still pop up, but I think the board has become more enlightened and civilized. Part of it may be that I've learned to never engage with anyone being a jerk or condescending to another poster. Part of it may be that I don't post as much or read the OT board at all anymore. But I definitely feel like the people that used to call me a moron and an idiot because I enjoy watching Phantom over and over are long gone. I think? : )
whatever2
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/25/06
#5What is happening lately?
Posted: 3/6/17 at 11:07pm
Phantom: the difference is that a decade ago those jerks knew their sh*t and one still could learn a lot. not it's just vapid posts (any thought that crosses my brain is worthy of a thread) or trolls. i continue to check this site because there are a half-dozen posters whose opinions i respect and whos reviews i rely on when making my consumption choices ... that number is down from maybe a dozen.
"You, sir, are a moron." (PlayItAgain)
ggersten
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#6What is happening lately?
Posted: 3/6/17 at 11:09pm
I think the board goes through phases. There's still a lot of information provided. There were jerks here 10 years ago and there are jerks today.
I'm fairly selective about which posts I read - and I never venture to the OT forum, so my blood pressure is just naturally high..
I get annoyed at the multiplicity of threads on the same topic. The "search" function is not used frequently enough.
I wish there were a better way to just click on a thread and go to "new" posts -because sometimes an older thread gets bumped up (properly given the subject matter) but the first posts may be months old and out of date. I know that if I click on the name of the person who last posted, I can go to a more recent page, but that doesn't always work for me to know there is something "new".
And I agree that I'd like to see some more moderation.
#7What is happening lately?
Posted: 3/6/17 at 11:09pm
I agree with whatever2. I'm all for people who are new to Broadway coming here to learn, but I'm not sure who's left for them to learn from.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#8What is happening lately?
Posted: 3/6/17 at 11:12pm
whatever2 and Lizzie, that is precisely my point. For example, with a poster like PalJoey, one could go head-to-head with him, but there was so much to learn from him. You could argue with him all day, but he would still enjoy sharing his knowledge and experience with you.
It just feels weird here lately. ggersten, as you said, I really think we're just going through some kind of phase here.
carayip
Swing Joined: 7/2/15
whatdoesntkillme
Featured Actor Joined: 8/15/16
#10What is happening lately?
Posted: 3/6/17 at 11:25pm
I know I haven't been around here very long (though I lurked for a couple years before I made an account), but even in the past few months I've noticed a change. Personally, I'm really getting sick of the show recommendation threads and people asking performers' schedules. I think a lot of it has to do with Hamilton, honestly. Now that Broadway and pop culture have intersected more than ever before in recent past, people have discovered this board and are using it to see and meet stars.
Not to mention a few personalities who start way too many threads, can't take sarcasm/a joke, and just don't have their head screwed on 100%.
#11What is happening lately?
Posted: 3/6/17 at 11:40pm
My first instinct was to assume that the majority of regular, knowledgable, witty board members who started here 7-10 years ago were in college or a little older, and now have other things to deal with that take up more of their time. (marriage, babies, careers, just not wanting to deal with message boards?) Which is understandable if so, but I'm not even entirely sure if my premise is correct.
I think whatdoesntkillme brings up a good point about Hamilton and pop culture. Again, I'm all for new people discovering a genre, but I should hope it doesn't come at the cost of institutional memory.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#12What is happening lately?
Posted: 3/6/17 at 11:46pm
Not quite sure you can blame Hamilton for this. There has always been some hot show that drives new members to join - Rent, both Spring Awakenings, Billy Elliot, Newsies....the list continues.
I am less engaged, skip far more threads than I read, and end up deleting many a comment before hitting post. Few seem interested in conversation, only in being right; and more want to start threads rather then read them.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
GreasedLightning
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/11/14
#13What is happening lately?
Posted: 3/7/17 at 12:07am
I'm glad I'm not the only one who caught that George Takei comment.
My jaw dropped. I thought I was dreaming.
#14What is happening lately?
Posted: 3/7/17 at 12:11am
I'm so glad I missed whatever thread that was in, though it doesn't surprise me!
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#15What is happening lately?
Posted: 3/7/17 at 12:23am
I don't think there is anything wrong with teenagers joining the boards to actually have a more indepth knowledge on how broadway. That's why I joined. But posts like you mention is downright disgusting.
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
#16What is happening lately?
Posted: 3/7/17 at 12:26am
No one has a problem with teenagers joining the boards. However, many of our younger posters come on here and either act like they know everything (I remember one memorable thread where a teen poster tried to argue with Pal Joey over something related to Follies), or they try to pretend they aren't teenagers and pretend to be someone else. There was a poster here recently caught in a lie just like that. No one cares that you're a teenager- just own it and learn a little. Stop trying to be something you aren't because you think it earns you more credibility. There have always been teenagers on the boards, but in the past they were much more willing to learn than this current group.
#17What is happening lately?
Posted: 3/7/17 at 12:27am
I am less engaged, skip far more threads than I read, and end up deleting many a comment before hitting post. Few seem interested in conversation, only in being right; and more want to start threads rather then read them.
This sums up my recent experience. I've hardly been here lately because there just aren't interesting conversations happening anymore. The news I can get from other sources (more accurately too lol).
Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated
VintageSnarker
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/30/15
#18What is happening lately?
Posted: 3/7/17 at 12:30am
I don't mind the Rush/Discount threads and the Stage Door threads. I'm glad the board is here for people looking for that kind of information since the sites that traffic in it have basically stopped operating.
But I agree that things have been a little weird lately. Hopefully it's mostly just a lull before the new spring shows and then everyone will have something new to focus on.
For whatever reason, there's not a lot of conversation around A Bronx Tale, In Transit, and some other shows and there's only so much you can say about Sunset Boulevard, Miss Saigon, Sunday in the Park with George, and the other show threads that seem to dominate.
#19What is happening lately?
Posted: 3/7/17 at 12:33am
Far be it from me to turn this into a fight, but does anyone else think it's because people are glued to the news and are prioritizing their online activities? Personally sometimes I'd rather skim the board than participate in it because I'm trying to keep up with the world (while telling myself it's also okay to take a break). I don't know if I'd be able to denote a drop-off in discussion starting on election night or inauguration day, but I'm probably not alone.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#20What is happening lately?
Posted: 3/7/17 at 4:30am
I think at least some of this may also have to do with the fact that message boards just aren't that prevalent anymore. I mean, it's been that way for a while I guess, but I know at this point I get most of my theatre news updates from Twitter/Facebook.
#21What is happening lately?
Posted: 3/7/17 at 5:12am
I will admit that part of the reason I've been on here less is that I made a positive life change that makes me need less of the time wasting escapism this board provides.
Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated
djoko84
Broadway Star Joined: 3/14/13
#22What is happening lately?
Posted: 3/7/17 at 6:03am
My only issue with the board is the inundation with Hamilton posts and topics. At some point it's enough already. Other than that, I like the rest of the posts on here including the stage door ones.
#23What is happening lately?
Posted: 3/7/17 at 7:00am
Whatever happened to Jordan Catalano? While I didn't always agree with him, I do miss his witty posts. He hardly posts anymore. Shame.
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#24What is happening lately?
Posted: 3/7/17 at 7:02am
Except those have tamed down considerably in the last month or so.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#25What is happening lately?
Posted: 3/7/17 at 7:27am
GreasedLightning said: "I'm glad I'm not the only one who caught that George Takei comment.
My jaw dropped. I thought I was dreaming. "
Same here! I can't believe somebody felt the need to post that.
