Over recent months I have noted an increase in levels of hostility throughout the various forums. This seems to stem from a situation where users are able to offer their (often ill-conceived) opinions without any way of their credentials being checked. This seems to lead to an atmosphere of hostility and mistrust; not to mention a considerable amount of misinformation.
I now believe that there is a pressing need for some sort of regulation and standardisation in this forum. I propose a system of rating whereby contributors with a greater level of skill or wealth of experience might be recognised. The current system provides only the ‘post count’ as a way of identifying the dedicated board user but this of course only gives an indication of how many opinions that user has and NOT whether they are actually worth listening to.
I feel it would be unwise to rely on self-assessment type allocation of what I would refer to as a ‘Respect Score’ particularly as far as musicianship is concerned. It is my proposal that all users wishing to contribute to discussions should have to submit a number of pieces (perhaps in a similar way to the ‘Clips and Snips‘ area) for assessment by an elected panel; a dance tune a slow air and a further tune of the applicant’s choosing. Each piece could then be given marks for technical ability, rhythmic quality and stylistic integrity. In addition to this applicants should be asked to sit a small assessment of their knowledge of traditional music and of their chosen instrument. The scores from each of these tests could then be processed to form the basis of the users ‘Respect Score’. Obviously those few users who have been reared in a genuine ‘traditional’ environment would be allocated bonus points; however I do not believe that incidental factors such as number of flutes/whistles owned or monetary value of instruments should be taken into account.
I would not wish for people to misunderstand my proposal. I am not in any way suggesting that the board should only be for ‘professional’ or ‘expert’ players only. Beginners (or ‘newbies’ as they seem to prefer to call themselves) would be welcome to browse the forums in search of wisdom, but would simply be expected to keep their opinions to themselves until they have reached a certain level of proficiency and allowed their musical tastes to mature.
Perhaps the Uilleann Pipe Forum might be excepted from this grading system as by their very nature all players of this bewildering instrument must be classed as ‘experts’.
I am sure there are many out there to whom this will be a welcome voice of reason. Please feel at liberty to vocalise your support for this proposal and let out voices unite in the name of reason!
