Remember the philosophical question; If a tree falls in the middle of a forrest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? Or let me pose it this way. If an idiot is the only one posting messages on a message board is she still percieved an idiot?
she?
As usual, this thread has splintered. I’m sort of ambivalent on the main topic. Philosophically, I have no objection to the OT posts because I think C&F is a community rather that a mono-dimensional whistle club. The pub analogy is appropriate, although I’d point out that some of the posts in the OT threads would have gotten the authors punched out in a real pub. To the extent that the anonymity of a BBS allows people to behave in a way that would not be considered appropriate at arm’s length from their target, the OT posts can be divisive.
As ever, there are some folks posting with well-reasoned argument, others just jabbering on to hear (see) themselves speak or to build up their message count as some sort of trophy. Others like to espouse their own arguments but get touchy or even offended if others state an opposing view.
I guess you have to take the bad with the good, but in looking at it, I find that the seeming predominance of OT threads makes me less eager to visit/read/post, but isn’t enough of a turn-off to make me abandon C&F.
As a male idiot, I found TubeDude’s commentary to be disinclusive, hence my previous post. 
Well.
A modicum of OTs is fun, but I do think that the discussion of the Bush-Blair neo-imperialist war of aggression (see what I mean?) has led to a lot of unpleasantness being revealed, and in some instances carried on into other threads. Some people express themselves with a considerable lack of cultural sensitivity, and the fact that others do not respond in kind doesn’t mean that there is no damage done. I already feel a lot less at home in C&F than I did a couple of months ago. I’m used to the political haranguing in Mudcat, and accept it there because folk song is often intrinsically political, but regret the way it has fouled up the atmosphere here.
Since Gaelic Crossings explicitly invites political commentary, I’d be happier if people took that kind of stuff there and kept C&F as an oasis of peace and harmony, rather than the reverse, which has apparently happened.
Regarding religious content, I don’t mind people overtly indicating their religious affiliations or sentiments here (indeed, given Dale’s tag, that is clearly invited), but like politics, I think that arguing about religion has no place here.
I’ve come close to letting it all rip a few times on the war, but keep biting my tongue. Somehow or other, I don’t find that a badly-scarred tongue has greatly improved my whistle-playing.
Do OT post annoy me? Yes and No.
OT topics where folks can discuss items of interest that are not whistle related I think are fine. The “OT:” in the topic heading gives us the freedom to listen, or not listen, as we choose.
However…
Some OT posts do annoy me.
First, OT posts that don’t relate to the original post can be annoying. Especially if the original post and topic were whistle or music related. Of late I’ve seen more of that than in previous years. If a music or whistle related topic’s discussion touches on a related political or moral issue, why not start a new, related topic instead of kidnapping the original thread. Let the original poster keep their topic.
Second, OT posts that do not allow folks to “agree to disagree”, I also find discouraging. I understand that each of us has ideas and issues we feel strongly about; however, I feel, none of us are perfect, none of us have a corner on the truth, none of us are able to see all sides clearly. If this rule of courtesy is applied, I think we will find that statements of moral absolutes that alienate us one from the other, would seldom occur. If you think you have the truth, have it with patience that this year or maybe next year the rest of us will come to see it. If you think your truth must be accepted today; well, maybe it less the truth and more your opinion or belief that needs affirmation.
Finally, there is much that can divide us. Wars and rumors of wars, leaders and prophets saying this is the way or that is the way. But in the music we can find those things that tie us one to another, the things that help us share our humanity, the recognition that we all share common human conditions. In music we find the connection of the heart that is not the ideology, the politics, the religious dogma of words. This connection acknowledges and excepts the vast complexity of mankind and connects us through that which is essential to our humanity.
Why don’t we supprise one another and find our responses to OT posts in the music. A music that can express that which is beyond words …
I usually don’t read the OT posts, unless they’re closely related to whistle stuff. Whistle stuff is what I come to this board for. People here are really good about flagging OTs as such, which I appreciate. OTs only annoy me when the signal-to-noise ratio gets out of whack – when I have to search through a whole screen of OT posts to find one or two that are whistle-related. But I can live with that.
What concerns me more about them is that they can fracture the community, and I hate to see that happen.
Tery
While I am in total agreement with you on this, it seems that even the on-topic posts can fracture the community. I guess it all depends upon how one conducts oneself, no matter what the subject matter.
All the Best, Tom
Depends on the off-topic in question.
The political stuff I’ve started to just ignore for the most part…
Hi Folks,
OT posts don’t bother me, overbearing and insensitive attitude does. It’s often said regarding OT posts that if we all met in a pub we’d discuss more than whistles and that’s true, however I dare say if some of what’s been said on the forum was said in a pub you’d get a punch in the mouth
Cheers, Mac
Yep.
That’s right.
is presently annoyed
I agree on many aspects. Although it is easy enough to watch for the OT’s in the subjects and pass them over, which I think there is at least something to be said for the poster in that respect, I definately agree on the pub analogies that some things that have been said would definately result in a few low D’s being wrapped around some peoples heads! 
Especially considering that some threads start out being perfectly innocent whistle stuffs that lead into something totally unrelated. Those are about the only things I can truly say really (*!&@ me off! Other than that, I can deal.
Ah, to each their own. What’s my one opinion against so many? 
Take care all,
John
Are the OT posts annoying? Good heavens, no. Although I come here for the whistle related content, I do wander off into the OT threads on occasion. I especially like the political ones. After all, I am only human and enjoy a good wank as much as the next fellow.
Now that’s gotta be a regional word usage if I ever heard it!!
Three pages in and I’m still waiting for the disagreement to begin. So who exactly are these people who don’t like OT threads but somehow can’t just pass over them and click on something else? Where are they hiding? Can’t they take the heat?
Oh, I get it. They’ve just figured out what OT means and they’re skipping this thread.
What an epiphany! They must feel just as I did when it finally dawned on me that LOL didn’t mean ‘lots of love.’ 
Like the time you confessed your ardent and undying love to that cute and sassy woman you met online and asked for a date and she answered “LOL”?
What makes you think it only happened once? 
Not to mention the time that cute and sassy woman confessed her undying love and I answered ‘LOL’. 
Regional, yes, but obviously somebody else’s region rather than my own. This is what what happens when an impressionable boy from Kansas reads too much Adrian Mole.