Music fans can be a pedantic lot, but they become vicious on social media. The thread you mention is a great example- and a large part of why I try to avoid FB in general. The OP's points were valid, as were yours.
The other thing the pack is good at is killing people's excitement.
How many times have you seen someone post that they were excited to a certain record, only to have others poke fun at them-either for the price they paid, or the record in question? It doesn't matter what you and I (or anyone else) thinks is a good price to pay, or who is/isn't a "good" artist. Someone was excited enough about their find to share it, and we should champion that.
P.S. "In Your Eyes" is a great record! Got a favorite track on it?
Thanks a lot for your comment. Absolutely agree. What you mention about killing excitement is a great example, whether it be about a certain record or piece of equipment.
I think a lot of these people feel very insecure about their own decisions and knowledge, and hence why the aggression/bullying. It is pathetic 😂
Once again thanks a lot for stopping by and for your very valuable insight!
PS: the records in the picture are not mine (although I own or owned some of them at some point), but that Peter Gabriel album is fantastic. Favourite track is Sledgehammer (funky beats and soulful vocals galore 😅) followed by Big Time. You?
Ooh I see! I didn’t know it, so thanks for the suggestion! Just listened to it quickly and sounds like the type of record I would enjoy, so thanks a lot for the props!
Just reading this now off your link in today's post.
I've always summed up this problem as follows: people tend to arrogantly confuse what they like and what's good, and those are not the same thing. There's lots of music that I don't care for at all that I know is indisputably good. And there is music that I like that I know is junk food. What I like and what's good are two different categories. Sometimes they intersect, sometimes they don't. The arrogance is in thinking that our personal evaluations and tastes are the defining standard.
I agree 100%. Thank you for this. You’ve summarised it very well. And I also think some people are too close-minded or stubborn to admit that they may no longer hate or dislike a certain artist, or that they may no longer absolutely love him/her/them as much. Sometimes some of our tastes may change one way or another, due to age or life experience or for a myriad of reasons, and that’s okay. It doesn’t necessarily mean we were wrong before.
Great piece! I think there's a lot of value in actively seeking out genres I wouldn't normally listen to. Still trying to get into hardcore from a funk/jazz/folk perspective and will keep trying until it clicks.
Thanks a lot, Andy! I really appreciate your comment. Exploring genres outside of your “default” (so to speak) can be really enriching. The most important thing in my view is to keep an open mind and start with albums/artists that became emblematic (usually involving some crossover or revolutionary element). Once again thanks a lot for stopping by!
You encapsulate my entire relationship with social media, Andy! I only joined all of them in August 2021, when I started on Substack (was never a part of ANY social media until then, believe it or not!). I knew exactly what I wanted to do on Twitter, FB, Reddit, ad infinitum, and NONE of it had to do with me "interacting" with the mouth-breathing numbnuts that 5 minutes on either site led me to realize were simply lurking and lying in wait. "Who needs this?" I said to no one in particular, and ceased even LOOKING to see what others were writing or contributing, because it all seemed like verbal venom. Thanks, but no.
And, there's no way I'm going to assume anything I say is going to be met with anything close to acceptance or intelligence, so I don't even bother. Cynical? Sure. Jaded? You betcha? Self-preserving? Amen. Anything to lower my blood pressure!
I'm a member of literally dozens of FB groups, and will use them for nothing other (or more) than slapping my 'Stack article links up on appropriately-themed ones. On many of them, now, I'm beginning to presume one admin or another might actually look forward to my content, because otherwise, all they seem to be getting are countless YT videos, and pointless blathering about this or that....in other words, not exactly riveting original content! Are they sitting back, waiting for me to post something? I've never been THAT self-delusional.
I'm all for the ole "give more than you take" bromide, but at what cost? Your brilliantly-worded article actually arrives at that price. And, frankly, I'm too old to even want to pay that emotional/psychological price. Read my article/don't read my article. I've been a show-biz "ho" for years: As for each little FB group, to me, they're like a street corner in Hollywood.....I'm standing there and my article is asking, "Would you like some company?" If so, great....enjoy. If not, move on.
As for FB, I have made some cool friends (and even subscribers) of those I'd really only want reading and appreciating my articles, anyway.....the artists about whom I've written, or record biz folks who know those very same artists, and appreciate my writing and experience.
I suppose, too, that the lone Substack outlets like Thursday Office Thread and our bi-monthly MusicStack Google Meets are taking the place of "online discourse" for me, where I feel accepted and welcomed to open my mouth without fear of being run out of town on a rail (like, say, on Reddit)!
So, all I do is try to make it work for me, and attract whom I'd like to attract to my content, if they're interested. Others can stay away because of the playground bickering, etc, but I stick around just to try to maximize my 'Stack reach.
Call me selfish or call me a cab...I've been called worse; I used to teach!
Thanks, Andy....you helped get a lot off my chest! But, with all that said, my main take-away, I'm afraid, is still gonna be "you're young, fit, and dress in a suit!"😵👍
Thanks a lot, Brad! I agree that social media (particularly Facebook) has become, at the best of times, a vacuum of intelligence, but most of the times, a kindergarten playground. It's a good platform to promote your work and, at least in my case, keep in touch with friends and family who live far away (e.g. Argentina)... but that's basically it.
Your philosophy (if you'd like some company, great; if not, move on) is spot on. Definitely the healthiest way to approach the madness that reigns in those sites.
Once again thanks a lot for stopping by and for sharing your experience!
PS: Your last sentence made me chuckle :) I definitely look like the odd one out at record stores sometimes, not going to lie!
Thanks, Andy, for letting me fume, and get out what I must've needed to!.....I just find it funny, that, in Aug '21, it took me, like, minutes to see "what this is all about," social media-wise (after hearing all about it for 2 decades!), and either I was going to wallow in this virtual mud (and I have, on some occasions, don't get me wrong! I'm on my second Twitter account! I've been tossed off several Reddit subs, mainly for self-promotion!), or find a way to make these virtual cesspools work FOR me! I chose the latter.....and, when I climb onto a roof, I choose the ladder!
Of course, this is an open space :) In its early days, Facebook wasn't like that at all (at least I am old enough to have seen that!). Of course with time other platforms became more popular, and each seems to have now become an outlet for a certain "type" of behaviour or vibe (with exceptions, of course). Reddit is vile. I've never even had an account there, as it never did anything for me. But it's great you manage to find a way of promoting your work on most platforms. That's admirable because it takes a lot of patience and discipline (and a great deal of courage) to get out there and spread the word. So, well done you!
Thanks for another great post. The comparison with real estate is a good one, the same applies, in my view, to fine art collections, as they have value but also provide a lot of enjoyment.
Thank you! Yes, real estate and fine art collections are good examples of assets that tend to have a strong emotional value running in parallel with market value. Cars as well to some extent. Crazy that some people don't seem to be able to separate the two!
Music fans can be a pedantic lot, but they become vicious on social media. The thread you mention is a great example- and a large part of why I try to avoid FB in general. The OP's points were valid, as were yours.
The other thing the pack is good at is killing people's excitement.
How many times have you seen someone post that they were excited to a certain record, only to have others poke fun at them-either for the price they paid, or the record in question? It doesn't matter what you and I (or anyone else) thinks is a good price to pay, or who is/isn't a "good" artist. Someone was excited enough about their find to share it, and we should champion that.
P.S. "In Your Eyes" is a great record! Got a favorite track on it?
Thanks a lot for your comment. Absolutely agree. What you mention about killing excitement is a great example, whether it be about a certain record or piece of equipment.
I think a lot of these people feel very insecure about their own decisions and knowledge, and hence why the aggression/bullying. It is pathetic 😂
Once again thanks a lot for stopping by and for your very valuable insight!
PS: the records in the picture are not mine (although I own or owned some of them at some point), but that Peter Gabriel album is fantastic. Favourite track is Sledgehammer (funky beats and soulful vocals galore 😅) followed by Big Time. You?
I meant George Benson's "In Your Eyes." lol. It's in the lower left of the picture.
That said, my favorite on the Peter Gabriel record is "Red Rain," with "Big Time" coming in a close second.
Ooh I see! I didn’t know it, so thanks for the suggestion! Just listened to it quickly and sounds like the type of record I would enjoy, so thanks a lot for the props!
Just reading this now off your link in today's post.
I've always summed up this problem as follows: people tend to arrogantly confuse what they like and what's good, and those are not the same thing. There's lots of music that I don't care for at all that I know is indisputably good. And there is music that I like that I know is junk food. What I like and what's good are two different categories. Sometimes they intersect, sometimes they don't. The arrogance is in thinking that our personal evaluations and tastes are the defining standard.
I agree 100%. Thank you for this. You’ve summarised it very well. And I also think some people are too close-minded or stubborn to admit that they may no longer hate or dislike a certain artist, or that they may no longer absolutely love him/her/them as much. Sometimes some of our tastes may change one way or another, due to age or life experience or for a myriad of reasons, and that’s okay. It doesn’t necessarily mean we were wrong before.
Great piece! I think there's a lot of value in actively seeking out genres I wouldn't normally listen to. Still trying to get into hardcore from a funk/jazz/folk perspective and will keep trying until it clicks.
Thanks a lot, Andy! I really appreciate your comment. Exploring genres outside of your “default” (so to speak) can be really enriching. The most important thing in my view is to keep an open mind and start with albums/artists that became emblematic (usually involving some crossover or revolutionary element). Once again thanks a lot for stopping by!
"Emancipate yourself from what is “expected” of you." Bravo! True in so many ways.
Thank you!! It's like a mantra: not always easy to achieve, but worth the journey (and effort).
You encapsulate my entire relationship with social media, Andy! I only joined all of them in August 2021, when I started on Substack (was never a part of ANY social media until then, believe it or not!). I knew exactly what I wanted to do on Twitter, FB, Reddit, ad infinitum, and NONE of it had to do with me "interacting" with the mouth-breathing numbnuts that 5 minutes on either site led me to realize were simply lurking and lying in wait. "Who needs this?" I said to no one in particular, and ceased even LOOKING to see what others were writing or contributing, because it all seemed like verbal venom. Thanks, but no.
And, there's no way I'm going to assume anything I say is going to be met with anything close to acceptance or intelligence, so I don't even bother. Cynical? Sure. Jaded? You betcha? Self-preserving? Amen. Anything to lower my blood pressure!
I'm a member of literally dozens of FB groups, and will use them for nothing other (or more) than slapping my 'Stack article links up on appropriately-themed ones. On many of them, now, I'm beginning to presume one admin or another might actually look forward to my content, because otherwise, all they seem to be getting are countless YT videos, and pointless blathering about this or that....in other words, not exactly riveting original content! Are they sitting back, waiting for me to post something? I've never been THAT self-delusional.
I'm all for the ole "give more than you take" bromide, but at what cost? Your brilliantly-worded article actually arrives at that price. And, frankly, I'm too old to even want to pay that emotional/psychological price. Read my article/don't read my article. I've been a show-biz "ho" for years: As for each little FB group, to me, they're like a street corner in Hollywood.....I'm standing there and my article is asking, "Would you like some company?" If so, great....enjoy. If not, move on.
As for FB, I have made some cool friends (and even subscribers) of those I'd really only want reading and appreciating my articles, anyway.....the artists about whom I've written, or record biz folks who know those very same artists, and appreciate my writing and experience.
I suppose, too, that the lone Substack outlets like Thursday Office Thread and our bi-monthly MusicStack Google Meets are taking the place of "online discourse" for me, where I feel accepted and welcomed to open my mouth without fear of being run out of town on a rail (like, say, on Reddit)!
So, all I do is try to make it work for me, and attract whom I'd like to attract to my content, if they're interested. Others can stay away because of the playground bickering, etc, but I stick around just to try to maximize my 'Stack reach.
Call me selfish or call me a cab...I've been called worse; I used to teach!
Thanks, Andy....you helped get a lot off my chest! But, with all that said, my main take-away, I'm afraid, is still gonna be "you're young, fit, and dress in a suit!"😵👍
Thanks a lot, Brad! I agree that social media (particularly Facebook) has become, at the best of times, a vacuum of intelligence, but most of the times, a kindergarten playground. It's a good platform to promote your work and, at least in my case, keep in touch with friends and family who live far away (e.g. Argentina)... but that's basically it.
Your philosophy (if you'd like some company, great; if not, move on) is spot on. Definitely the healthiest way to approach the madness that reigns in those sites.
Once again thanks a lot for stopping by and for sharing your experience!
PS: Your last sentence made me chuckle :) I definitely look like the odd one out at record stores sometimes, not going to lie!
Thanks, Andy, for letting me fume, and get out what I must've needed to!.....I just find it funny, that, in Aug '21, it took me, like, minutes to see "what this is all about," social media-wise (after hearing all about it for 2 decades!), and either I was going to wallow in this virtual mud (and I have, on some occasions, don't get me wrong! I'm on my second Twitter account! I've been tossed off several Reddit subs, mainly for self-promotion!), or find a way to make these virtual cesspools work FOR me! I chose the latter.....and, when I climb onto a roof, I choose the ladder!
Of course, this is an open space :) In its early days, Facebook wasn't like that at all (at least I am old enough to have seen that!). Of course with time other platforms became more popular, and each seems to have now become an outlet for a certain "type" of behaviour or vibe (with exceptions, of course). Reddit is vile. I've never even had an account there, as it never did anything for me. But it's great you manage to find a way of promoting your work on most platforms. That's admirable because it takes a lot of patience and discipline (and a great deal of courage) to get out there and spread the word. So, well done you!
Thanks for another great post. The comparison with real estate is a good one, the same applies, in my view, to fine art collections, as they have value but also provide a lot of enjoyment.
Thank you! Yes, real estate and fine art collections are good examples of assets that tend to have a strong emotional value running in parallel with market value. Cars as well to some extent. Crazy that some people don't seem to be able to separate the two!