3RD STRIKE!! Blackflag is REDFLAGGED!

[blackflag]

Actually no Abakua, I was unaware that I had a "first warning" and ALSO unaware that my kind words of both Tony and Robert were unwelcome. I've had nothing but kind, contributing words for this forum and the members. I've never endorsed or claimed that this site is a birth right or dictated by any particular country.

What kind of "open discussion" is it really when opinions (without insults) aren't welcome? This site seems better when your not threatening members with banishment for speaking their minds and or positions on certain topics that don't agree with your own! Go ahead and delete this one too. At least a few will read it before you do.


Anyways, This is starting to seem like 1970's Russia. Let's just go ahead and call this strike #3. Another "contributing member" OUT! If i need to contact any of my friends here, I'll come in under a different user ID.

[caballoballo]

I think when somebody does wrong everybody has to know. Who is who ? That is call in spanish ( Tirarlo al medio) because we have to be honest while selling, trading, ect. How would you feel if you get something crack like it happens to El Greco and he is blame for the fault when he got evidence that the item has flaws . What about Robert and his eggshape Quinto ? The other guy tried to fool other people with side picture but from top was the other side of the story. I do not care how much those can contribute to the forum I could careless. The point is that they were not honest & deserve to be flamed. Today is one of those days I got up from the other side of the bed. Let me get downstairs to meet with the punching bag. Aguanta presion animal . Si yo siempre he sido son y son siempre yo seré.

[blackflag]

Ok Caballo, cool to hear your voice!

Anyone else have an OPINION on anything or are you afraid of being booted or blacklisted??

[Derbeno]

It's not just that my friend, I too had an issue cause the guy made a global statement not to buy from anyone from San Diego. Then he launched a campaign on the site against a brother from Poland because he assumed the guy was into dog fighting. When it was clarified he refused to apologize.

But after all is said and done, I don't know the guy, he is not my family, my daily bread is not dependent on him, he is just an anonymous name.

So why get heat up about it, or how the mods want to handle a situation, life is too short....for the sake of our beautifully instruments ....let's move on

[Gallichio]

Blackflag,

I hear you brother. I also have at times felt this forum is over moderated and micro managed especially when a viewpoint is different. I have also felt that some people on this list like to gang up on the ones that can't seam to defend them selves like a pack of wolfs. You know who you are. Also the same pack of wolfs always are looking for something for free. No free rides here. Wolfs have you contributed to this site yet? I will bet you have not. It some times sucks but it is still the best Conga site on the web. Lets not let a few jerks ruin it for all of us. This is Congaplace, The world of Percussion. Lets not forget and respect the fact that we have people from all over the world and respect one another. It will make it a better Congaplace.
It is hard but I try to ignore the jerks.

Mike Gallichio

[windhorse]

We're actually much freer to speak our minds here than the other Drum site - I will not mention - which I was a member of for about 5 or 6 years. There were some pretty smart people on the other one,, but the moderator was just way too pedantic and fatherly about every freaking thing..
I'm a very relaxed guy,, but even I could not stand it after a while..
If anyone mentioned anything about religion it was fine if it was Chrisitian, and not if it wasn't.. If anyone got into anything slightly political, it simply wasn't allowed,, unless it was right wing based... It became readily obvious the guy was a Right Winger,, and you'd think that shouldn't matter to me,, but it was his know-it-all pushy right wing attitude that really polluted a really cool interface he'd scripted. He felt it his moral obligation to interfere just about everywhere someone hinted at wanting to sell something, or say something that might a bit leftist.
This site, though maybe not perfect,, is the best you're going to find on conga drumming and African percussion diaspora..
I don't feel a need to defend our Marcelo because I've seen him take a bunch of flack, and give some back when he was pushed too far, so he can handle himself.. But, he's human. He's got buttons that when pushed can cause a reaction,, like all of us, but he does a decent job of it.
He's not overly sensitve, overly reactive, or know-it-all-ish pedantic like others I've seen.. It's pretty refreshing actually..

Obviously everyone on the site has an agenda, whether it be to share your love of the music or instruments with the others, to sell your used stuff, sell the stuff you are making, to debate and get into some fights (I'm not saying that's wrong,, it makes it interesting!), to show off your vast knowledge (that's cool too if you've got it), attempt to get everyone on your side if you feel slighted (this can be fun as a bystander, but a bit annoying at times), to right the wrongs you might interpret from net misuse (just shows your own paranoia), or to point out the good stuff (maybe you're a prince)..
Whatever it is, this is the forum.. Everyone's personal agenda gets aired like dirty laundry,,, and it sort of cleans itself.. Eventually everything works itself out.. In the mean time, some of us are having a blast and physically meeting people on this list. And some are actually making cyber friends here,, some are sharing instruments, some just share rhythms, or techniques, It's pretty awesome in my opinion.. All of it..

[Chupacabra]

I am going to take this opportunity to express my opinion about this forum that I've been participating in since November of last year.
When I first discovered the forum it was like I had just been introduced to a whole new world of possibilities and learning opportunities. I had hopes of establishing contacts with whom I could learn from and share some of my knowledge with. Although my musical knowledge is lacking and I haven't been around drums for years and years like many of you, I do have other skills and knowledge. I've tried to participate in a lot of the threads that I'm interested in and the ones that I felt that I can contribute something positive. Most of the drums I own I've either made myself or made or modified some part of them, whether it's reheading, refurbishing, repairing or whatever else.
Over this period I have come to realize there is that there is a factional element that is quite prevalent in here that is pretty stifling for newer, less knowledgeable members. There are also many established members who, quite frankly, are full of themselves. They come across as very arrogant individuals who are unwilling to share their knowledge, or to allow other members not in their clique to participate in discussions. You go on about "keeping the tradition alive" and talk about all the legendary rumberos and congueros with God-like reverence and you've played with so-and-so, and this legendary guy used your tumba as an armrest or played with that other maestro. Good for you! These experiences you've had don't give you any higher a station in life that me or anyone else in here. And it is a complete 180 from the limited experiences that I have had with the members of Los Muñequitos de Matanzas and Yoruba Andabo who were gracious enough to come all the way from their home country to share a small part of their culture and traditions with us. Their humbleness and sincere interest in bestowing us with their knowledge is what inspired me even more than I already was to take up this art and to explore it's traditions as much as time will allow. I do have a career and responsibilities that don't really allow me to devote as much as I would like to.
Lately, I don't really see much worth sticking around for. There is just a lot of rock-star hissy fits, hostility, sarcasm and plane lack of inspiration. The only excitement seems to be the bench clearing brawls. I really do want an outlet where I can further my skills and knowledge in percussion and it I don't think I'll find much here anymore. If I have to go to Seattle every 2 or 3 months to get lessons down there - so be it. I know I'll get the real deal down there!
I'll check in every once in awhile to see if things have changed for the better in here, but in the meantime I'll have to try and find more real-world contacts here in this little fart-bag town!

[Mike]

There are also many established members who, quite frankly, are full of themselves. They come across as very arrogant individuals who are unwilling to share their knowledge, or to allow other members not in their clique to participate in discussions. You go on about "keeping the tradition alive" and talk about all the legendary rumberos and congueros with God-like reverence and you've played with so-and-so, and this legendary guy used your tumba as an armrest or played with that other maestro. Good for you!
(...)
Lately, I don't really see much worth sticking around for. There is just a lot of rock-star hissy fits, hostility, sarcasm and plane lack of inspiration. The only excitement seems to be the bench clearing brawls. I really do want an outlet where I can further my skills and knowledge in percussion and it I don't think I'll find much here anymore.

Cupacabra, there might be the tendency you describe, yes, I have also come across self-inflated egos on this forum,
but it not ONLY that. I have received tremendously useful information on playing technique, highly qualified and yet very friendly technical support on everything around congas, bongos and timbales.
So I can say I benefitted pretty much from this forum and in return I tried to leave something too. PMs and email contacts worked equally well.

So unfortunately, your post does not really contribute to constructive, cooperative atmosphere, which I find rather saddening.

Well, after all, why are we discussing this? Blackflag started a multi-post campaign concerning free speech that has not much to do anymore which the musical, cultural, technical advice sought here. But that does not mean the "silent " members do not want this.
Although I have posted on the current issue several times, I feel awkward about it, because it might be ineffective too.

Anyway, I hate the melodramatic touch this kind of threads have taken on lately. Hey, come on, let´s fuggedaboutit!

Greetings
from a concerned Mike