Ok...that post went through...my others disappeared...don't worry, they weren't music, they weren't links, they didn't say let's wake it up...they were just groundhog soliloquizing as always. So anyway, I'm very glad to see some of FHO seems to be working as we would expect...cool.

Peggy, your two posts didn't "disappear" - they're there, but don't appear in the "Last post" column for some reasons.
Maybe more later, but right now I'm busy watching the Premier League contest, where West Ham has just scored a goal against Liverpool. Of course this reminds me of our former member Scotty Road, who left the forum abruptly, WITHOUT EXPLANATION AND FOR HIS OWN REASONS. IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU.
(I'm not shouting, just using caps for emphasis). If you want to understand what happened, just go back and read your two "wake up" threads in the "Sound Off" forum. Gotta get back to the "beautiful game!"

Hi Peggy

I think the FHO site has been up and down this morning -- it has been for me at least-- but not to worry, it's not your fault!! :-D

I did a little spelunking on the Sound Off forum, looking at old threads (some of which I missed at the time) to try to understand the brouhaha that occurred and my conclusion is -- you did absolutely nothing wrong! Your efforts to wake up the SoundOff forum were totally unrelated to the unfortunate comments that led to some members vamoosing. I wish that hadn't happened but I can understand why it did.

The thing that is still hanging out there is some disagreement about the purpose of the SoundOff page. The variety of opinions offered on that December thread included:

1) A public forum for critique of your playing
2) A place to establish ones 'creds' so that others can choose whether to listen to any advice offered by said poster
3) A place to share and have fun with fiddle tunes that may inspire others.

I'm being a little facetious here, but that's pretty close to what was said. Needless to say, I would vote for option 3. I think most here would agree.

Also, the debate on that old thread extended to whether YouTube was an acceptable way of posting one's playing .

Looking at the banjo hangout, which uses a similar platform to fiddle hangout, their Sound Off forum seems to be a mix of YouTube links and embedded YouTube videos. Not too many mp3s. That seems kinda modern. And their forum is actually called "Sound Off! (MP3/Video Posts)". While I would rather see an embedded video than a link to YouTube, it's not a deal breaker. I'd love to see the FAQ here updated so more people here could understand how to embed a YouTube video.

So maybe the Sound Off forum had a rough patch, but I hope folks will be encouraged to keep posting there. Maybe I will too someday...

Well I still stand very confused about what it was I said or did...I did nothing any differently than I have for at least a decade or so on this very forum. But...confusing or not...I can't let it drive me crazy...believe me, I have enough driving me crazy right now.

But here's something I've often thought about many times, especially in recent months...like...11 months, to be exact: And that is...if I were rich...(never gonna happen...lol), but I mean if I won the lottery which would have to be the cause of the wealth to suddenly appear at this point...what would I feel like? I mean, as far as morality and obligation under the circumstances...ie., if you have the wealth, do you just throw all of that out? Dolly Parton didn't, but I'm not sure she fits the picture of wealth anymore...a lot of people have a lot more than she does. Still...she seems to have always thought about the good she has the power to instigate or take part in. I guess I'm wondering if wealth is actually a mental disease...greed takes over and you can't think clearly anymore. I remember when there was a big crash way back some years...didn't mean anything in my life because we were dead broke anyhow...lol..but to the wealthy at that time, it was devastating...and the Walmart guy, Sam Walton I guess his name was, took it in stride...I think he said something like it's only paper, meaning, of course, he was so rich it didn't mean anything in his life either. For both us and Sam Walton it had no visible effects. There were maybe people in between who were affected for all I know....but Mr. Walton (I hope that's his name...something like that) could see that his life was the same regardless. Well anyway here I go rambling...so I'll quit now...it's an obvious symptom of no humans in real life to ever talk with...but I just wonder how it happens...where is the line that stops a person from realizing the difference between paper wealth and comfort and security in real life...when and how does it happen. I'm thinking it has to be a severe mental challenge to come across a buncha wealth...and it's almost scary to imagine how you would feel if it really did happen to you. It won't happen to me because I never buy lottery tickets...I just joke about it all the time. I've bought probably about 5, just when the amount got ridiculous...how's that for greed? Lol...naaahh...I don't want a measly million or two...gotta be way more than that before I buy a ticket.

Oh yeah, and the only thing I can see in the wake up discussion is that some people thought Celtic was not welcomed...I've never said anything like that...I mean, I won't play it because I just don't knwo how...but I love listening to people who are into that or other styles.  I have never said I won't welcome hearing anybody's playing, regardless of style.  I wouldn't be that exclusive.

And then the only other thing is that you, Doug, said you don't click on video links because people just arent' professional enough with their lighting equipment, camera equipment, recording equipement, etc...in a nutshell I believe that's what you said.  Well I have no special knowledge or equipment and don't expect other amateurs to either...I can easily overlook those imperfections for the sake of the important thing: the music.

I stopped following that discussion about the Sound Off thing because I couldn't really make sense of it, couldn't grasp what the issue was or issues were. It seemed to be referencing things that were said and done before I joined this forum, so ... I guess I just lost interest before things got ... "interesting" .....

I hear ya on that...I don't know if I'd call it interesting, or just plain inexplicably zany. The Twilight Zone is encroaching more and more of my personal space, it seems.

Talking about the Sound Off section and attempting to paraphrase the older threads in newer ones has become much more popular than posting music to the section.

Which is the whole point that seemed to have gotten the doggone thing started...I miss when people got on there and shared their music with the rest of us. But I won't say do it anymore...they can do what they want...and I'm inclined not to share my own either...so...yeah maybe the Soundoff Forum got killed by my saying it seems to be snoozin' on the job...whatever. I give up...post music or don't.

Well i'm going to post if i want to.

Maybe i ought to put a disclaimer in The title if i do...Lol Paddy's day coming up ya never know.

i dont give a *!"% if some one gets p^*&&$D off.

I don't mind if people don't like my playin'; I love to play anyway. But if they think I'm trying to demoralize somehow others with my own playing, or posting/sharing what i play, then that's a terrible insult to me as a human being. And that I cannot tolerate. I would never do that, would never have such disregard for others or for music itself, and that people could think that of me is intolerable to me as a human being.

I don’t think anybody thinks that? I would never think that of you, Peggy!

Why are you guys feeling like “Sound Off” is so hostile to players? most comments are appreciative and interested,..I haven’t seen any people hating on other people’s playing.

I was going to try to post something this week and was thinking over what tune, but this morning I dropped my favorite coffee mug and it shattered and when I was cleaning it up, I cut a deep gash in my right thumb and I can’t hold my bow, ouch! I can’t even strum/pick my guitar. :-(
yea …It’s been THAT kind of dreary grey cold Monday…the end of winter always seems to take forever!

quote:

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Originally posted by NCnotes

I don’t think anybody thinks that? I would never think that of you, Peggy!

Why are you guys feeling like “Sound Off” is so hostile to players? most comments are appreciative and interested,..I haven’t seen any people hating on other people’s playing.

I was going to try to post something this week and was thinking over what tune, but this morning I dropped my favorite coffee mug and it shattered and when I was cleaning it up, I cut a deep gash in my right thumb and I can’t hold my bow, ouch! I can’t even strum/pick my guitar. :-(
yea …It’s been THAT kind of dreary grey cold Monday…the end of winter always seems to take forever!

---

Ugh!!!! Terrible!!!

Ouch, NC. I hope your hand gets better soon...what a bummer.

Well, this morning I found that I can play as long as I carefully use the TUF hold (thumb under frog) and stick my thumb out straight so the tip is not touching anything. LOL, I am a hopeless case! I managed to clumsily play a few tunes before work, so I am still sane. :-)

Hey, I heard of a guy who had his right hand blown off in a gun accident - didn't stop him from picking up the bow and carrying on! And apparently, "He was pretty good, too!" He had a ribbon rigged up, that he would tie to the bow somehow, I was told.

NC, sounds like you're moving in the right direction! Old Scratch...scary tale, although it's good to hear he was determined enough to manage to play music anyway.

Oh yea, you’re a full-time TUF bow-er, aren’t you Peggy! :-)
There are quite a few fiddlers out there who are.

Re Gun Accident- Argh. That’s pretty amazing, what people do to keep on making music!

Yeah...it's all TUF for me. I guess that makes it not so bad to cut your fingers that way, except, normally if I cut myself, it's the nothing fingers on L.H., because I've got the knife in the R.H. Lol...sometimes ya just can't win, can you?

quote:

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Originally posted by Old Scratch

Hey, I heard of a guy who had his right hand blown off in a gun accident - didn't stop him from picking up the bow and carrying on! And apparently, "He was pretty good, too!" He had a ribbon rigged up, that he would tie to the bow somehow, I was told.

---

Lowe Stokes lost most of his right hand to a gunshot and kept recording with the Skillet Lickers with an attachment designed and built by Clayton McMichen.  They only did a couple or three more albums, but the one-handed version of Stokes played on some classics like Broken Down Gambler, Whistling Rufus, and Four Cent Cotton.  

Where there's a will, there's a way!

quote:

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Originally posted by NCnotes

Where there's a will, there's a way!

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I was thinking the same thing. At the first shop where I worked there were two little (twin?) girls who came in often. Both were born without arms but they learned to play the cello with their feet. It was truly amazing to see them play duos together, and I always looked forward to their visits. 

Wow that is very cool.
 

Here's a fella who plays around Calgary; doesn't let anything slow him down:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Waq3id9uXY&list=RD8Waq3id9uXY&start_radio=1
 

Whoa, inspiring - I got no excuse now. :-)
This “fiddling with disabilities” topic is practically worth its own thread!
(sorry for the drifting here, Peggy)

My take away is that if the music is in there, it will make it's self known.