Re:Pretty S-l-o-w
Friday, June 22 2012 @ 08:43 AM CDT

Quote by: lavalamp Quote by: crissew I hesitate to even say this because I know the dedicated MJ members here may take offense but what the hay. I think it has become a back slapper website for musicians. No matter what song is posted, it is reviewed like it is a classic. While it feels great initially, it gets pointless after a while. I do get the desire to give positive reinforcement, but it becomes meaningless when everyone gets kudos regardless of what they post. Just my 2 cents. I appreciate VicDiesel critiquing my mix or some aspect of my song 100 times more than someone going "great job". This site has become "you give me a good comment and I will give you a good comment". Not very validating once people catch on to it. I may be completely off base, sorry in advance. I know the MJ militia is coming for me now, I am braced for impact. It's undeniable what crissew mentioned. Also, nothing really happens to the songs after a week or so. They're lost in oblivion. A lot of you are concerned about technical issues, but I'm more concerned about the content. My older songs are better that my newer ones, but the production might be a bit better. Maybe a macjams make-over is in order? Maybe a little change? Bringing back some old members, but how? I don't know. LL

Hey Lava
your right, but I dont think your songs are lost in oblivion, they are there for anyone who passes through to hear. Some of my older songs I find have over a hundred downloads and for some reason it seems allot of my older songs are listened to recently . I think your looking for comments on your old ones and that it seems is very unlikely . Sometimes I listen to older songs on here from MJ members but I dont leave comments because most of time I have already left a comment, IM babbling
anyway just because there isnt a comment does not mean it is not being listened to

Re:Pretty S-l-o-w
Friday, June 22 2012 @ 08:50 AM CDT

It seems like non music projects I have worked on, that have no clearly defined objectives, eventually falter.

I don't know if that is true for MJ. It seems like the occasional community project has helped the group develop some commonality. It would be interesting to look at the social activity that was going on at MJ's participation peaks. Were there more rule followers? Rebels? Trolls? Skills?

There have also been some funky (unspoken) rules. I remember, early on, using the "Show Your Stuff" forum option to... well... show my stuff. I was quickly labeled a "shameless self promoter." I think there are worse things in the world than advertising. (This has been my quiet little rant)

The problem with unspoken rules is that if gnu-bies don't get an education, they may be out of luck.

Homogeneity doesn't always mean harmony. Disagreement is part of a healthy relationship. Since we all have our own truths, it's natural that there are conflicts. The challenge is that internet discussions are different than face to face arguments. The continuity is altered. People type mad... then statements that were perhaps rash become solid, whereas in personal confrontations can be quickly corrected. It can be like our countries' politics, as sides rehash what has been written to find points that resonate their "spin." It's easy to do. Some are really quite skilled at it! I used to get more bothered by hot topics. For the most part, let them go. Some have a real need to express themselves. I think the real harmful ones have been expelled, if I'm right.

I dunno...

Re:Pretty S-l-o-w
Friday, June 22 2012 @ 08:54 AM CDT

Oh, btw, I also agree with crissew!

Re:Pretty S-l-o-w
Friday, June 22 2012 @ 11:04 AM CDT

I have found that the best way for me to get good feedback, is to ask for it from the people here who have the skills I'm trying to develop. I use dropbox, emails, skype etc., all the way along working on a piece, to send iterations and get critique from people who have agreed to take the time to really help me.

I think it's just never very realistic to expect lots of useful feedback in the song comments section (although there are always a few people who do - and thanks!). Lots of people post songs and don't particularly want critical feedback - which is perfectly OK too - to each their own. Usually someone who posts a completed piece and really wants critique will specifically ask for it, which then impacts the type of comments that person receives. I'd guess he/she also gets some more thorough 1-1 critique in venues other than song comments.

I know from providing behind-the-scenes feedback for people who ask it of me, it takes thought and time to really be helpful. I suspect that most people who have dropped in to do a bit of listening don't necessarily feel they have the expertise or time to give useful, thoughtful feedback right then, in the comments section. So that part of MJ real estate becomes heavy in encouragement and community/relationship building.

You don't have to spend much time here to find the musicians who have the skills you'd like to learn. For me, connecting with them on a 1-1 basis for invaluable help and critique not only helps me improve, but has also resulted in the development of friendships I really care about. What a bonus! There is such a huge variety of skills and experience represented at MJ. People are here for a zillion different reasons, every one of them valid. Like anything else, each of us will probably get out of it exactly what we put into it.

As for the slowness here recently, I only know that for me personally, there is a challenging family health issue that has had a big impact on my time. I haven't been able to do nearly as much listening and commenting as I'd like, and I apologize for that. I know I've been missing a lot of good music!

It's easy to paint the entire MJ community with a broad brush. But it's made up of lots of individuals who are here for different reasons, want different things out of it, and who participate in all kinds of different ways. If you get something out of it that is fun and/or useful for you - that's great and you'll likely stick around. If not, you'll probably move on. Just like the rest of life. It's all good.

Re:Pretty S-l-o-w
Friday, June 22 2012 @ 02:28 PM CDT

Quote by: Doadars Uncle Oh, btw, I also agree with crissew!

it seems like there is a consensus; we agree that the sort of commenting crissew has described occurs here. we've identified the problem. terrific.

the question is, what are we going to do about it? as responsible members of this community, don't we have an obligation to set the example of the kind of behavior we want to see here? or do we simply raise a gripe and end the discussion there?

we can bitch all we want about what this site is or what it ain't. i prefer to look hard in the mirror and resolve to set an example of honesty. or more specifically, commenting without an ulterior motive of payback. who's with me?

by the way, i didn't mean to single you out uncle o' doader. i have received comments from you in the past and believed them to be sincere. you seem like an honest cat to me and i have valued your feedback, and have enjoyed your music. i quoted you because it seemed a good segue into a discussion about what we can do beyond simply identifying the problem.

Re:Pretty S-l-o-w
Friday, June 22 2012 @ 02:58 PM CDT

add something like this to your Song Description:

"constructive feedback requested" or such

other possibilities include deleting comments on your music that you consider vacuous

Re:Pretty S-l-o-w
Friday, June 22 2012 @ 06:01 PM CDT

Quote by: SmokeyVW add something like this to your Song Description: "constructive feedback requested" or such other possibilities include deleting comments on your music that you consider vacuous

...wow... too simple ?? Thanks VW .... (a comment from a reluctant clique member ).... i suppose....

Re:Pretty S-l-o-w
Friday, June 22 2012 @ 08:04 PM CDT

Quote by: carbon Quote by: Doadars Uncle Oh, btw, I also agree with crissew! it seems like there is a consensus; we agree that the sort of commenting crissew has described occurs here. we've identified the problem. terrific. the question is, what are we going to do about it? as responsible members of this community, don't we have an obligation to set the example of the kind of behavior we want to see here? or do we simply raise a gripe and end the discussion there? we can bitch all we want about what this site is or what it ain't. i prefer to look hard in the mirror and resolve to set an example of honesty. or more specifically, commenting without an ulterior motive of payback. who's with me? by the way, i didn't mean to single you out uncle o' doader. i have received comments from you in the past and believed them to be sincere. you seem like an honest cat to me and i have valued your feedback, and have enjoyed your music. i quoted you because it seemed a good segue into a discussion about what we can do beyond simply identifying the problem.

I am not sure that the comment thing is entirely responsible for the downswing but from what I hear, MJ used to use the number rating system more honestly. That seems to have fallen by the wayside, so perhaps a return to rating honestly there would be a nice start? Regardless, I am sure the downswing is due to a myriad of factors and will likely be short lived. People are busy trying to not get foreclosed on at the moment.

Re:Pretty S-l-o-w
Friday, June 22 2012 @ 08:23 PM CDT

Quote by: davisamerica Quote by: SmokeyVW add something like this to your Song Description: "constructive feedback requested" or such other possibilities include deleting comments on your music that you consider vacuous ...wow... too simple ?? Thanks VW .... (a comment from a reluctant clique member ).... i suppose....

To me, deleting comments would be pretty rude even if I considered them "vacuous".

I understand the desire to build everyone up and support one's friends. That comes at a price though. Good comments have little meaning once you catch onto the fact that everyone gets them for any song. Even the anonymous number rating system seems corrupted. I find myself less excited to read comments because of it. Maybe it is just my masochistic side.

Re:Pretty S-l-o-w
Friday, June 22 2012 @ 09:21 PM CDT

My fault.