Who's Better?

[Jim Alfredson]

I took this from the thread called New Issue JAZZIZ pretty good. This is by Ed Swinnich in response to a mean-spirited comment he made concerning Greg's recent appearance on this board.

Tony, you're probably right.  I know I'm thinking of a time that the venom and vitriol was spewed all over the Blue Note Board and a time when any thread at any time could break out into a flame war that was usually political and/or religious in nature.  There were times that as much as I enjoyed discussing and learning about jazz, I began to hate coming to the board.  So I guess in retrospect, there were a number of posters taking part in that sort of thing

But that was indeed another time and place.  At this board, the same basic cast of characters has confined the politics to the political threads.  If there is any venom or vitriol therein, I am unaware as I do not read those threads.  There certainly has been no spillover to the rest of the board - which has made this a pleasant place to hang.

Arguments will always break out and we will have to agree to disagree.  On the BNBB, it seemed like there were a few posters who enjoyed arguing for the sake of arguing and baiting posters into fights with flames, condescending attitude,  and incendiary comments.  Once again, that was then and this is now.

I am closing this thread. Those involved need to figure out if not checking their ego and apologizing are worth losing a friend and/or holding a grudge in this small community. Whether or not something was said is not as important as whether or not someone thinks something was said and is offended and/or hurt by it.

The easiest way to solve this is to say, "I didn't intend my comment to convey that, but if it did, I'm sorry." But so far all we've seen are responses akin to a badger with it's back up against the wall. I'm speaking to all involved here.

I suggest some time off from this to think about how we can better treat each other without getting defensive. If after reading this you immediately think, "Well, he's the one who said..." than it hasn't been long enough. Keep thinking.

I will not have this board devolve into bickering and flame-wars like the old BNBB.