Why Are You Here?

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In the ADMIN: Classics or Dud thread, someone mentioned that they were here because they read a pile of message boards and this was the most interesting, so I was just curious - how many of you are just message board junkies who surfed here going through greenspun.com, and how many of us are FT readers/contributors? I'm curious because it's struck me on more than one occasion that a lot of the recent posters don't seem like FT readers - this is neither a good or bad thing, just a comment - and I didn't understand how they'd get here otherwise.

So, chalk it up to curiousity.

― Ally, Thursday, 22 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Reader, contributor, friend, annoyance who won't leave -- I've even met Tom face to face. I think the only way Tom could get rid of me is by killing me, and that would sting. I'm here because it's Tom's site, it's quality stuff, and I knew about it from the word 'go' having happily been a good net compatriot of his for some years. Viva.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 22 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I was a long-time FT reader and lurker before I started posting.

― Patrick, Thursday, 22 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Not to annoy people, as some of you probably think. I was just searching for "pop" or "indiepop" or something along those lines, and this is one of the places I found.

― , Thursday, 22 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

google search for "pokemon nude," and, hey, whaddya know.

― fred solinger, Thursday, 22 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Well, Ally, I'm that person you mentioned who said this was an interesting board. I do not read "a pile of message boards" as you said--rather, out of the two or three others I have seen, this is the most engaging. I don't even know what the hell greenspun.com is. So, I don't think I can be labelled a "message board junkie." To tell you the truth, I had been reading Freaky Trigger for about three or four weeks (following a link on Josh's page) before I found the I Love Music forum link, with its oh-so-strange (to me, at least) placement on the Freaky Trigger homepage. So yeah, I found the forum by accident, and I think it's fun to read and comment on. If I don't fit the FT reader profile (whatever that is), I apologize.

― Clarke B., Thursday, 22 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

A question I find myself asking myself occasionally. ;)

For reference: the 'FT readership profile' is anyone who reads and enjoys FT. Come one, come all.

― Tom, Thursday, 22 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'd been a regular FT reader, and then a contributor, and therefore joined this forum when it started last August.

― Robin Carmody, Thursday, 22 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I don't contribute to FT, I read it occasionally, mostly I just like a good pop argument. It's like being in the pub, but chaeper! I knew one or two folks who liked and contributed to this forum, so I started contributing myself. I have never met Tom Ewing. Do I want to?

― Ally C, Thursday, 22 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

heard about greenspun and looked for a good forum about music. i have never been to FT nor do i want to. other sites i've seen people talk about that i do enjoy are pitchforkmedia and mark prindle..

― Kevin Enas, Thursday, 22 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The people are nice and you're guaranteed a good argument. Oh, and FT is good as well.

― DG, Thursday, 22 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'm only here cos I'm waiting for the "Hanoi Rocks: Classic or Dud" thread.

― Ally, Thursday, 22 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I've been lurking for a few weeks now, posted a handful of times. I found about it through a message on the newsgroup rec.music.progressive. Dang, I wish Usenet didn't give way to web message boards. I mean, message boards are cool, but newsgroups are so much more convenient IMO. Anyway, here's the message that turned me on to freakytrigger, some of you might be amused:

>> Nah, he wouldn't like that either. This tired old hipper-than- >>thou, smarter-than-thou schtik would have played so well back in >>the glory days of alt.music.alternative.

>Don't worry...the shtick is still flourishing at freakytrigger.com. >That clique's juiceless exercises in reciprocal ego-stroking may >have killed alt.music.alternative, but now they have their own >special site for cuddling and impressing each other. ;)

― Squirrel Police, Thursday, 22 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

To help make the Internet "a greyer and lonelier place to be".

― Nicole, Thursday, 22 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Because I can talk about music endlessly and some of the friendliest people on the Internet hang around here (really you can't imagine how rare this is). Now what about a The Cure: Classic or Dud? :)

― Omar, Friday, 23 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Someone posted a message about "am I cool or not?" at the Tweekitten website. So, I took a look...and came to the message board bit, and thought what the hell I might as well respond to some of these posts. Don't really view any other boards apart from the Elephant6 one.

― jel, Friday, 23 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

It beats work. It's fun. I like the people. Music is good. Talking about music is almost as good.

The Cure - do it, Omar.

― Dr. C, Friday, 23 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Mainly to collect a list of names of people I never, ever want to meet in real life because they will be incessantly talking about - shudder - music. And Tom who I met in the pub who seemed to be a nice music hating chap, which I now know was merely a funny turn bought on by sleep deprivation.

Now he even has a beard.

― Tanya Headon, Friday, 23 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

That's a disgraceful accusation. Isabel is going to sue.

― Tom, Friday, 23 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Is it a ZZ Top style beard? Do you have the keys to Eliminator? I am intrigued by this new development.

― Ally, Friday, 23 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ha! I'm terribly amused that Gondola Bob's rant actually brought people here. Free advertising, he should do that more often.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 23 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Shhh! Not too loud! I don't know whether Google picks this board up or not.

― Nicole, Friday, 23 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

GB really *is* like Candyman, and we've said his name more than 5 times now for sure. Judging by the speed at which Google updates I think we've got 3 more weeks of forum peace left.

The beard, Ally, started off as a kind of bloke-from-Arab-Strap thing and is now in a sort of "Hasidic crofter" phase. It needs a trim. It is unlikely to get to ZZ Top lengths, I'm sorry to say.

― Tom, Friday, 23 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

You know, my stomach was already feeling queasy this morning, thanks for helping to turn the tide to full on upset.

― Nicole, Friday, 23 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Tom, I would really like to see you sporting a ZZ Top beard by your 30th birthday. That's an order.

― Ally, Friday, 23 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I am not 100% sure what, or rather how large and invisible, the entity 'Freaky Trigger' is, except that it is among other things that 'web site' thing via which I reached this bit. Doubtless there is far more iceberg that I've not seen.

The question 'are you a FT contributor?' has me stumped. What is a FT contributor? How does one get to be such a thing?

I must have sent virtually 100s of messages to this page, or whatever it is called in 'internet' lingo. That is my 'contribution', until such time as anyone asks me for anything else.

Why am I here? I can't read Steady Mike anywhere else these days.

― the pinefox, Friday, 23 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I won't go to the trouble of starting a new thread, but does anyone who has ever grown a beard (or even spurious George Michael style facial hair) think it looks good? It's either Miami Vice or Smelly Hippy or James Cockfarming Hetfield, depending on the length.

Brian Wilson had an excuse, because he was CRAZY. But no one else does.

― Nicole, Friday, 23 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Pinefox, you are clearly living in a parallel universe. Long may you remain there.

FWIW an "FT contributor" is anyone (myself included) who has written some of the contents of the website of Freaky Trigger.

― Robin Carmody, Friday, 23 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Does that include this?

I can't seem to get out.

― the pinefox, Friday, 23 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Um, no, it does not include this, this is just message boards. This is not http://www.freakytrigger.com/ which is a webzine. The "contributors" are the people who have written for it, meaning articles or pieces. If you go to the website, there is a link telling you how to get writing pieces if you were so inclined.

Nicole: I think most men with facial hair think it looks good. Unfortunately, it does not 99.99999% of the time.

― Ally, Friday, 23 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Erm...sorry to bring this up, but who is Gondola Bob? Is he anything like Sideshow Bob?

― DG, Friday, 23 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Kind of, only not funny.

― Josh, Friday, 23 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

And I imagine he sounds nothing like Kelsey Grammar.

― Ally, Friday, 23 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

uh,.. i was just posting on the All Things Final Fantasy board(which is at this point in time under a baarage of bullshit twelve year old spammer shit heads) an was checking out most of the boards one day,... found this one and occasionally post when i feel adaquate

― Mog, Friday, 23 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

An FT contributor is whoever the FT editor says is one, ha.

I would very much like Pinefox to contribute to the website, though.

Beards. I have a special reason for growing the beard. It symbolises my rural exile away from my beloved London. It does not look good though Isabel quite likes it. Conditions under which I would get rid of it (in order of desirability): i) moving back to London. ii) ultimatum from girlfriend. iii) break-up from girlfriend. Oh yes, ii-and-a-bit) waking up one morning and realising what an arse I look.

― Tom, Monday, 26 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

About the facial hair thing:

I refuse to go without at least a goatee, as my clean-shaven face makes me look like I'm approximately 16 years old. This will probably be desirable once I hit 40, but right now it's a supreme pain in the ass.

As to why I'm here: I read Freaky Trigger. It makes my day happier. Chatting with other folks who read the site and/or write for it is a HUGE bonus.

― Dan Perry, Monday, 26 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

For fuck's sake, Ewing, are you actually *trying* to piss me off, or just playing up to what Hopkins wants to read?

Not sure how I'd define "rural", but Oxford is not it.

― The voice of sanity, Monday, 26 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Hopkins is vociferously disapproving about the beard so I have no interest in his views on this matter.

Don't be precious about what constitutes the 'urban' and the 'rural', Robin. The two categories are fluid, particularly in a place like Oxfordshire. I don't live in Oxford: I live on the edge of the A40, out beyond the ring road. In walking distance terms, the nearest field full of sheep is as near as the nearest street of shops.

I think you might also find that my tongue was in my (bearded) cheek on that post.

― Tom, Tuesday, 27 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'm pretty sure how I would define 'rural'. The same word might be applied to Tom's beard.

― Tim, Tuesday, 27 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'm here because I know Tom through Frank's APA and started reading FT because of that.

Exciting.

― pihkalboy, Tuesday, 3 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Let me say that I've been to many a message board, music related or otherwise - and always I've been disappointed by their slow, clunky interface. LUSENET, on the other hand, is blazingly fast, and the people here know what they're talking about (most of them) - why go anywhere else?

― Inukko, Thursday, 5 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Found ILM through Simon Reynolds site which I found by putting in Kodwo Eshun after reading his book. I think the site is great in that it's thought-provoking in a way that NME + other stuff isn't. I don't agree with everything thats posted and that's a good thing. I have also sought out more music since I started reading ILM. I wish I could write as eloquently and passionately as y'all do.

― Geordie Racer, Saturday, 14 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I blame Ned. For everything.

― Sean Carruthers, Wednesday, 18 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

three weeks pass...

You're mean.

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 13 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Honestly, I can't even remember how I got here. I know I was reading FT first though, then wandered over onto this thing after a few visits. I've been hanging around since sometime in January.

Sean stop picking on the nice Ned! ;)

― Kim, Sunday, 13 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I thought of something else - the longer I hang around here, I may finally pluck up the courage to actually write something. Which means if I do, when my dad tells me to get a job, I can say that I already have one - a freelance journalist! Heh heh heh...

― DG, Sunday, 13 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I was doing a search on Maura, who I met at my college radio station when she DJed (as she will when again this summer, says me the Summer PD). A couple of clicks and I was on to the most intelligent and thought provoking music journal I've ever read. Kudos, Tom, Ned and all you others, by the way.

― Dave M., Monday, 14 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

to generally take the mickey....................................

― paul, Tuesday, 15 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

A couple of weeks ago I asked my boss if I could re-position my computer "because light was reflecting on the screen". Really what I wanted was to turn the screen away from prying eyes so that I could play about on the internet all day instead of working. ILM was one of the first sites I came across. Needless to say, I'm now very behind in my work.

― Scott, Wednesday, 16 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

in one month my views have changed - too much second-guessing, trolling, hatemail. i'll probably see the week out - i genuinely have enjoyed your on-screen company and wish you all well

― live by the sword....., Wednesday, 16 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Aww...not leaving us are you? :(

― DG, Wednesday, 16 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Yeah don't leave, I like your posts. But do you have to start so many questions for me to categorize?? :)

― Josh, Wednesday, 16 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

sorry josh, ive honestly never read the rules at the top of the question page and have ejaculated questions in dumb enthusiasm - once told - i think ive held back. Wasn't a happy bunny yesterday (but hope my friendly mailer has relented). Thereafter, i got a bit pompous on the 'ruder' thread.Am hanging on for fred's top five like a complete arse.

Will check out some other websites but i'll be back - it's the recidivist in me !

― creative solutions, Thursday, 17 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I don't think you were being pompous. It was what I was thinking about the Courtney Love thread. Are we talking about the same post?

― Ally, Thursday, 17 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

It's Ned's fault that I'm mean! Seriously though, Ned pointed me here and now I'm also very behind in my work. I guess it breaks up the day, however.

― Sean Carruthers, Thursday, 17 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

geordie, since you're a bot why not Cmd-D "duplicate" yourself and then leave the process running? if this is unfeasible i fear a violent swing in the "keeping it real" seesaw. says me.

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 17 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

why eye do declare ! (swoonz)

― havin' a moist-on, Friday, 18 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

never did get round to answering this question

got an e-mail from tom in back end of '99, saying he liked surface vs depth (hey, self publicity!). started reading freaky trigger. when this board started, began reading that too.

after an apprentice period as a non-posting reader, i decided to contribute my own pseudo-intellectual crap too. now, large chunks of my day seem to be spent messing around on this thing, instead of configuring Cisco routers like i should be doing, which doesn't seem too bad a deal to me, esp if on overtime, heh heh...

― gareth, Saturday, 26 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

woops, should have been www.norfolkwindmills.com

this self-publicity thing isn't as easy as it looks eh?

― gareth, Saturday, 26 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i'll always come back to your love !

― samantha mumba, Saturday, 26 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

nine months pass...

My trading comrade Bill Harris dragged me here, kicking and screaming. And I like it. Lots of clever folk in the bush and the weather's always predictable. Is there a phone nearby? -jeff

― mxyzptlk, Wednesday, 13 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

...and the thread is revived! I got here from rockcritics.com. Why do I stay here? Dunno. I guess it's because I'm obsessed with music right now, and unlike Usenet, I can disappear for weeks at a time without feeling like I'm missing out.

― Christine "Green Leafy Dragon" Indigo, Wednesday, 13 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I arrived here after doing a google search on something like "definition of pop music." I have checked out Freaky Trigger, but I find the ILM message board more interesting, including ILM contributions from FT writers. I am somewhat of a message board/news group addict, but there aren't actually that many that I check on regularly.

― DeRayMi, Wednesday, 13 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I was wanting to ask this question and found this thread.

indexmagazine.com ---> Momus site ---> ILM

― Ron Hudson, Saturday, 16 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Like Don, from Momus' site.

― OleM, Saturday, 16 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Should be Ron, of course. Sorry.

― OleM, Saturday, 16 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

one month passes...

I got here cos my bro was experimenting, he typed "Henry Cow lyrics" in Google Search and got here. I've stayed here cos I want to make the world a better place by spreading my genius around.

― Anna Rose, Saturday, 11 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Because it's a nice place with nice people who sometimes have interesting things to say on music. Wouldn't mind less pop threads and more answers to threads on lesser known indie/alternative/americana music though. But there are still quite some people around here who like the music I like. Like e.g Mark@PF, Ned, bnw, Sundar, Josh, badger, alex in SF etc. Newcomers to ILM who have their own distinct opinions are not always received with flowers but I guess that's part of the introduction ceremony.

― alex in mainhattan, Saturday, 11 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

i'm learning to write

― mark s, Saturday, 11 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I am deaf and what to discover why people listen to this strange then called music. Last night I put my hands on the speakers when Ok Computer was blasting. It sounded much like braille.

― nathalie, Saturday, 11 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

soundedfelt. See, you're getting to me.

― nathalie, Saturday, 11 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh fek it, I am learning HTML and failing.

― nathalie, Saturday, 11 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I was bored and depressed and asked my friends about any good groups. Andrew L pointed me at this, and I've been a frequent visitor since. I have had no involvement in Freaky Trigger, and only visit occasionally, usually when a thread prompts me. I don't know if I'll ever be a contributor - I don't believe I write well about music, and I don't suppose they feel desperately short on middle-aged contributors anyway.

― Martin Skidmore, Saturday, 11 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I was actually searching for pictures of Steven Wells (don't ask), and this came up. And I've spent the past few months revelling in the fact that there are people out there as arrogant, smug, self- satisfied, and generally twattish when it comes to music as I am.

― Judd Nelson, Saturday, 11 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Thieves "Unworthy" search back in 2000. Lurked for a long time then made grand entrance with Steve Gurley discography - which I need to update. Too many people to like on here: talented writing, taste- range, humour, etc. Hoping to learn some skillz from youse, even - especially- the ones half my age...

― Paul, Saturday, 11 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

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