Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm one of those 'ol' timers' that abhors the whole concept of face book, twitter, etc...the whole online social networking thing...for one thing, I know just how easy it is to totally lie online and fabricate grandiose images....being real its almost as easy in real life, now isn't it?

fad?

maybe once this type of site could have been called that...not anymore...

getting past my own narrow minded views, it is simply the way a lot of things are being done in the here and now...lots of prominent people are involved (for better or worse) and many more are signing on daily...

harsh facts about most all forums: they die without new blood...they also cost money to run and keep running...

c'mon people, if casual 'passer byes' are directed to this forum it can only be seen as good advertisement for the whole concept of hand built guitars, as opposed to the typical Joe who thinks a Taylor or Martin is the pinnacle of existence...this benefits every luthier!

if new people pop in, become attracted to the whole concept of lutherie and start buying products from the sponsors then that can only do the forum good...

hell Chris, I bet this will result in more hits on your YouTube channel so I'm surprised to hear you voice negative opinions...yep, more tutorials (and you have some nice ones) and such certainly is nice, but if the same ol' same ol' are the only ones being exposed...well you get my drift...

As there have not been any details announced about how the OLF will utilize the Twitter technology, my comments were directed at Twitter in general. I have been aware of Twitter for probably a while longer than most, and I’ve been trying to find where it’s been used in a useful way. I’ve seen it as either the latest mechanism for teens and tweens to get or fell that there are getting the constant attention that they feel they need to validate their existence in this world; or a new way for companies to advertise. This is the same as myspace, facebook… There is this generational shift in thought that if the world doesn’t see you do something, it’s not worth doing or never happened. I see it in all ages, but how rampid it is in people under 30 is scary. It makes me seriously worry about the future of this country and its future adults, business leaders and government leaders. I’ll end the social commentary there.

With mobile internet and email becoming common, I see a lot of these new technologies such as twitter to be unnecessary and just being the latest thing for people to say there doing as they talk at the water cooler. What’s this difference if you get a SMS or an email now days? You can see both on a phone and a computer. You can read the OLF on many phones now. So why is a SMS notification going to add any value? Would email notifications add the same value? I was fairly neutral on the blog thing. I also see that as not having much differentiation from a single thread forum. By the way Lance and Brock, I do enjoy your blogs. Brock you need to start posting again. Its very inspirational.

I’ll try to keep an open mind on how the OLF will use Twitter. We’ll see if you can win my opinion over, but I still will probably not use it even if my opinion of its implementation here shifts. If you have what you think is a good idea, don’t let me of anyone else’s opinion change your mind. Prove us wrong. We’re just stating our opinions and that’s the beauty of our community here. And please don’t take this commentary as a knock on the OLF, not that you have. I’m probably one of the more passionate people about the value of the OLF due to the vast amount of knowledge I’ve gained here, and the wish that it remains as useful and easy a place to gain and share information as it has been.

I agree that there is some element of that. On the surface, the whole social media movement plays to some degree on people's need to be voyeuristic or exhibitionist. But there is a lot more to it. MySpace is oozing with really phenomenal musical talent – folks who are not under major contracts who are looking to be discovered. So much so that MySpace started their own record label and a few reasonably well known artists (ok, most are pop) made their debut by first gaining a huge internet following in social media circles. The same is true for film makers, stand up comics, etc. In fact some fairly famous people have dumped their record labels and are marketing directly to consumers using social media as one of their primary marketing channels.

There are fantastic (albeit low budget) serial programming on youtube from folks you KNOW could be decent screenplay writers. And there is just no way to publish any type of business book, motivational book, etc. without extensive advance promotion by the author in these circles. In some ways it seems to remove layers between content producers and content consumers. No longer do you as a musician, author, comic, filmmaker, writer, etc. need an established organization to give you "a shot". You can simply go out and stake your own claim based solely on your talent, creativity, and determiniation.

There is way more to this than just a bunch of idiotic teenagers gathering a mob of "friends" and posting drunken naughty pictures, but I think this is a real format for creativity and the best ideas are probably yet to surface.

I am not really trying to "sell" social media habits or technology. My point is more about looking past the silly nonsense and finding the underlying value.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Brock and anyone else,
I am sincerely sorry and apologize if I have offended or insulted you as that was not my intension. Really it wasn't.
I'll be keeping my opionions to myself where matters don't concern me and following Rod's wise advice.
Again Sorry guys.

I have had no use for twitter up to now, but I think this could be fun.. can't hurt to see where it goes.

I signed up as Jim_Hansen, and already have two followers

I am currently working on my second build, and have 'tweeted' a couple of updates.

I really don't see this conflicting with the boards at all. The stuff that gets "Tweet'd" does not conflict with, replace, or otherwise contradict what I do or don't post here.

For example, my two 'tweets' today were just updates on what I was doing...

Tweet1 @9AM
Off to the shop to carve the neck on my Concert Jumbo. This is my first neck carve (my previous build was a pre-carved neck).

Tweet2 @11PM
Fun Day! Finished the majority of the neck profiling, shaped the headstock, glued the ebony laminate, and roughed out the heel.

This is not stuff I would spam the boards with, but if a few friends want to follow along with what I'm doing for the day, so be it... no harm done...

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Jim Hansen

Alright, so I don't really know what Twitter is other than a few things that I overheard about it.

Can someone explain a little about what to expect when we sign up (What do we do after we're signed up?, What are we looking for?, etc.)

I did sign up and went to the OLF or LuthiersForum "Twitter page"? (not sure if my terminology is correct here......

I saw I think two "posts" on the OLF "page" is this what I'm looking for? I go here and see updates or notices if you will about upcoming events on the OLF? I know I sound pretty stupid here, but I just want to know how to use this tool in case I'm missing something.

My opinion of this is: .....Heck I'll try anything once. I definitely don't want to miss out on the chance to win some nice tonewood, so what's it going to hurt to give this Twitter thing a try? Who knows, I might even like it. Lance and Brock might have some really cool things on this twitter thing. At the very worst, I may not like it and I wasted what? A few seconds signing up? A minute or two this day or that day going to the twitter site and seeing what's going on. I know if someone told me to sign up for something, click on a link here, read something, and then they'll give me some free tonewood, I'd definitely do it. Shoot I just did it for only a chance to win some free tonewood.

Good work Lance and Brock. I look forward to seeing what this is all about. And to anyone else thinking about it........It looks like there's some extra space in the bandwagon that I'm riding in. I'll even sit in the back, so hop on.

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Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

"89.67% of all statistics are made up on the spot."

Hmmm, I see "LuthiersForum" when I click on the link in the original posting, but the "Follow" button doesn't seem to do anything, and if I do a search for "LuthiersForum" when logged in, it finds nothing....what gives? Is Twitter broken?

Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

I'm with Blain, I signed up but I guess I don't know what I'm looking at!

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

Tonewood giveaway drawing today only on the OLF Twitter!!

If your not signed up and want a shot at it, get signed up! Its easy and free....

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Support the OLF! Bookmark our STEWMAC link Today!
Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Lance, I hope that when you randomly select the winner, you take into account the fact that it's my birthday today

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

Never mind. I see you have already not chosen me

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

Well, reading through all the posts it seems you have about a third of the people for it, a third against it and a third who haven't a clue what it's all about. I fall somewhere between the second and third categories. It seems to me to be one of those things that results in adolescents having an atrophied ear or tendonitis of the thumbs.

As to Lance or Brock feeling insulted....

All in all, it seems like a good way to make people go and look at other forums. A lot of people are doing that by the way

I am new to the forum and I have some friends that use twitter...I have had an account for a while now. I signed up as shawnsblues2 I think that it will help everybody be promoted for what the appreciate doing weather it be building guitars or playing them or whatever other hobbies or business you might be in. Plus I could use a nice set of tonewood for using on a near future build. Thanks for having these great giveaways and thanks for having such a wonderful informative forum here!! Peace, Shawn

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Blues before Sunrise!!
http://www.creativespecialtydesigns.com Guitar and Bass kits here!
http://www.fretjammer.com
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... tent=music

Well, I'm in. I'll sign up when I get home. All the controversy adds to the intrigue!

What the hey, I'm not into the Twitter, My Face, Spacebook scene but for a shot at some free zoot, I suppose it doesn't hurt to sign up. I've signed up in other forums I don't use so......

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

You know what would be cool after we get the Twitter thingie all up and going? A Luthier's Showcase!

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http://www.presnallguitars.com