Help - University project (UPDATE, Questions for MODS/ADMIN)

1. What motivates you to visit the discussion forums of Guitar Noise on a regular basis? To what do you award the success and longevity of Guitar Noise?

I think you mean "attribute", not "award". I visit because a) it is one of the most informative sites on the internet and b) it is a community. You get to know people and, even if you never meet them in person, become friends. I think it is a success for those same reasons.

2. Do you consider Guitar Noise as a virtual community? If so, why?

Yes. People interact and share ideas. A question will spur a discussion and result in several people collaborating on the answer. A lot of forums are just questions followed by 6 different and separate answers.

3. What are the differences between the social relations that you maintain on Guitar Noise and the ones you have in “real life”

I don't play poker with anyone on here. "I swear I have 4 Aces!"

4. Does Guitar Noise fulfill a void in your life?

Yea, even though I'm surrounded by musicians in real life, you don't always have time to discuss the music or the gear.

5. How do you imagine your life without Guitar Noise?

A little flat. Sorry. I definitely wouldn't play guitar/bass as well as I do now. Which means I would play about as well as a monkey having a seizure.

6. Does Guitar Noise allows you to learn? How so?

Probably mean "help" instead of "allow" (no 's'). There is a ton of information on the main site, plus all the brain power that visits the forum daily is enough to power a small town.

7. Would you be able and more so would you have the money, patience and motivation to learn and better yourself without Guitar Noise?

It's hard to say. I would probably have the motivation to learn without it, but probably not the patience.

8. In your opinion, does a collective project exist in the Guitar Noise community?

Yes. If aliens landed on our planet hundreds of years from now and stumbled across archives of GN, they'd be starting a cover band within a month.

9. According to you, does a social structure exist in Guitar Noise comparable to real life? What form does it take?

There is definitely a social structure. It's like a large group of friends or social club. I'm amazed at how little the moderators actually have to police. We mostly keep ourselves on track, just like a group of friends. Every once in a while, that one friend has to pull another aside and tell him he's making everyone else mad.

1. What motivates you to visit the discussion forums of Guitar Noise on a regular basis? To what do you award the success and longevity of Guitar Noise?

I always learn something from Guitar Noise every time I log in. I think that GN's success and longevity is due in large part to the wonderful members we have here. We have built a community of musicians who come here to learn and teach in a family-friendly atmosphere. Wars are not permitted. It's a joy to interact with GN Members.

2. Do you consider Guitar Noise as a virtual community? If so, why?

Yes, I do consider GN a virtual community. Even though most of us have never met face to face, GN is like a "neighborhood", if you will. But in this "neighborhood" all of the "homeowners" share a common love of music in general and the guitar in particular. There are some neighbors that you simply pass, smile and nod "hello" to, and then there are those who impact your life on a daily basis.

3. What are the differences between the social relations that you maintain on Guitar Noise and the ones you have in “real life”

Other than being able to interact with people in a face to face manner as opposed to a "virtual" manner, I can't really say that there's much difference. In both the "real" world and the "virtual" one, I try to treat everyone as I would wish to be treated, with respect, understanding, sympathy when necessary. You can't forget that in a "virtual" world, the people you are interacting with are still "real" people, with their own ideas, strengths, weaknesses and emotions. If you treat people like they don't really exist except on the computer, then you really have no place in the "virtual" community.

4. Does Guitar Noise fulfill a void in your life?

No, I wouldn't say it fills a void. I would have to say that it enhances an already full life. It brings new ideas into your "real" life. It expands your thinking in ways that you might never experience in "real" life.

5. How do you imagine your life without Guitar Noise?

I think I would have had to struggle considerably more than I have trying to progress in my playing and I don't believe I would be as far along as I am today. And I wouldn't have made as many friends (certainly not from around the world) as I have through GN.

6. Does Guitar Noise allows you to learn? How so?

Definitely. After not playing guitar for over 20 years (after having played for more than 10), Guitar Noise is the place where I have learned the most. If I can't understand something, I simply have to post the question and will receive several well though out answers to that question. I learn something every single time I come to GN.

7. Would you be able and more so would you have the money, patience and motivation to learn and better yourself without Guitar Noise?

No. Some of us simply cannot afford personal instructors at $50 or more per hour. And, the people on GN motivate me greatly! When I read that someone has broken that barrier that he or she has been battling with, it makes me more determined to break my own barriers.

8. In your opinion, does a collective project exist in the Guitar Noise community?

Definitely. That project would be to learn and in turn, teach.

9. According to you, does a social structure exist in Guitar Noise comparable to real life? What form does it take?

Yes, I believe there is a social structure, but, in my opinion, it's more like a family structure. There are, as anyone who has spent any time at GN knows, some very wise people here. They would be the "parents" trying to teach those who have not yet reached their level of wisdom how to attain it. The moderators are kind of like the friendly "Aunts" and "Uncles". We offer advice but we try not to interfere unless we find it absolutely necessary, but we don't "spank" anybody without the "parents" permission. And, I hope no one takes offense to this, but, then there are the "kids". Those would be the brand new beginners ("infants", "toddlers", and "tweens" if you will), as well as those members who have progressed beyond absolute beginner status and have moved into more difficult terrain (teenagers), who eventually hope to become wise enough to become "parents" themselves.

Hi Clau!

Good luck with your project!

1. What motivates you to visit the discussion forums of Guitar Noise on a regular basis? To what do you award the success and longevity of Guitar Noise?

Acquire knowledge on guitars and music and try to help to others (if I could). Some members (usually moderators but also some non-moderators) maintain a good relationship between them, the rest of the members participate but they (we) are not long time users.

2. Do you consider Guitar Noise as a virtual community? If so, why?

Yes, it has all the attributes of a community and it is virtual, isn't?

3. What are the differences between the social relations that you maintain on Guitar Noise and the ones you have in “real life”

I only speak about guitars and music at GN, that is the topic of these forums. Obviously I maintain empathy and a different relationship with some members. But the real life is different at least for me.

4. Does Guitar Noise fulfill a void in your life?

No.

5. How do you imagine your life without Guitar Noise?

Guitar Noise is a great site but I think I could live without it. As I previously said, I am here for music and guitars. I guess I'd search the info in books or other forums.

6. Does Guitar Noise allows you to learn? How so?

Yes, sometimes your questions are solved here, directly or indirectly. You also can learn from the experience of the other members.

7. Would you be able and more so would you have the money, patience and motivation to learn and better yourself without Guitar Noise?

Yes, it is a great site but there are also more information sources available.

8. In your opinion, does a collective project exist in the Guitar Noise community?

No. Perhaps there are several collective projects and I don't mean only the collaborations. People could share the same objectives but there is not a global collective project.

9. According to you, does a social structure exist in Guitar Noise comparable to real life? What form does it take?

Yes, it exists. It always exists in each group and community, real or virtual. To me, it is composed by a small group, an elite, that control, govern, show the path to the others. I mean elite, I don't refer to moderators. There is also a group of more or less stable members that participate. And there is a third group of visitors.

Hi Claudine, haven't seen you around for a while - guess university's keeping you busy? Anyway, here's my answers....

1. What motivates you to visit the discussion forums of Guitar Noise on a regular basis? To what do you award the
success and longevity of Guitar Noise?

I learned a lot from Guitarnoise, and I'm still learning - but part of GN's strength is that you take a little
out, you put something back. I'm now answering the questions I was asking a few years ago, and, remembering how I
was back then, trying to answer them they way I would have wanted to be answered back then. As to longevity, I'd
say it's because the site is so well structured, and so diverse - there's something here for everyone. There's a
general spirit of the forum that everyone tries to help everyone else - a friendliness that I haven't found
anywhere else.

2. Do you consider Guitar Noise as a virtual community? If so, why?

Definitely. It's a gathering of like-minded individuals with a couple of common goals - to better oneself, and
to help others better themselves.

3. What are the differences between the social relations that you maintain on Guitar Noise and the ones you have
in “real life?”

Real life involves more than talking about guitars. Well - sometimes, anyway!

4. Does Guitar Noise fulfill a void in your life?

Another "definitely." I know very few guitarists/musicians in real life - at Guitarnoise, I feel like I know
hundreds!

5. How do you imagine your life without Guitar Noise?

A lot duller! I've made a lot of virtual friends through GN - and more than a couple of real friends who I
wouldn't have met otherwise.

6. Does Guitar Noise allows you to learn? How so?

There's a wealth of information here - and there are no time limits, no examinations and no pressure. I've
been drawn into exploring musical genres - blues and country, for example - that I'd previously barely scraped
the surface of.

7. Would you be able and more so would you have the money, patience and motivation to learn and better yourself
without Guitar Noise?

I'd find the money somehow - but I'd find it more difficult to motivate myself without the support of my
friends here, and as for patience - well, I've already mentioned how much easily accessible information there
is. Without that easy access, I think I'd pretty soon lose interest.

8. In your opinion, does a collective project exist in the Guitar Noise community?

There's definitely a community spirit here - collectively, I'd say there are a lot of individuals all working
towards the same goal....which leads me to question 9....

9. According to you, does a social structure exist in Guitar Noise comparable to real life? What form does it
take?

Although there is a hierarchy of sorts, it's very informal - I'd say Guitarnoise is more comparable to a
Kibbutz, or a collective - everyone's virtually equal, and everyone's working to the same ultimate purpose -
to be a better musician, and to help each other.

:D :D :D

Vic

Thank you all for your complete answers! :D

And thank you to Jwmartin for the corrections (some terms were not OK, english is not my first langage so.. :oops: )

I made the change.

Hey Claudine, good to see you. Hope school's going well. I'll answer without looking at other's answers.....for purity's sake.

1A: Social interaction, sharing experiences and learning new things.

1B: Respectful discussion, very little "flaming" or "bullying" that happens elsewhere in the digital world.

2: Yes. Many shared charactaristics with a real one, especially small town atmospheres. Examples include willingness to help, concern for other's well-being, birthday wishes, people jamming together (virtually), knowledge transfer, old people, young people, etc.

3: One's mannerisms and personality traits get conveyed via written word rather than visually and audibly. As an example, you get no assistance in the forms or voice inflection (spelling?), facial expressions, body language, etc, unless someone puts an emoticon up or if you "know" this person well enough to apply learned behaviorial patterns to what the person said.

4: Yes. I've been ill for over a year and a half and don't get out a whole lot. This helps on a social level.

5: I've disappeared in the past for months at a time. Normally due to being busy with other interests, work load, etc. Right now, I'd find some other way to interact with people and the world. It relates to question #4.

6: Yes. GN is a great enabler due to it's people and it's site content. It's information content is available to anyone, and if you're not a flaming jerk, it can be interactive via questions and answers.

7: Yes.

8: Not one. Many.

9: Yes. The work place.

OK, now a question for you. If motorcycles had doors, how many pancakes would it take to fill up a dog house? Explain.

OK, now a question for you. If motorcycles had doors, how many pancakes would it take to fill up a dog house? Explain.

ANSWER - Not many. The doghouse contains guitars, a bass, a banjo, amps, recording equipment, stompboxes, etc, etc - when Smokindog gets in there, there isn't much room for pancakes!

:D :D :D

Vic

OK, now a question for you. If motorcycles had doors, how many pancakes would it take to fill up a dog house? Explain.

ANSWER - Not many. The doghouse contains guitars, a bass, a banjo, amps, recording equipment, stompboxes, etc, etc - when Smokindog gets in there, there isn't much room for pancakes!

:D :D :D

Vic

:lol: :lol: :lol:

1. What motivates you to visit the discussion forums of Guitar Noise on a regular basis? To what do you attribute the success and longevity of Guitar Noise?

Learning, sharing experiences, 'meeting' and getting to know people and their ideas, opinons etc. Like-minded souls, common interest, friendly and (mostly) non-judgemental environment.

2. Do you consider Guitar Noise as a virtual community? If so, why?
Yes - it's a meeting place of people with the same interests who interact. And it comes with some of the baggage of real communities, hierarchies, groups, ...

3. What are the differences between the social relations that you maintain on Guitar Noise and the ones you have in “real life”
Real life is very local, face to face - GN is global and virtual. Sometimes the 2 meet, and it's great.

4. Does Guitar Noise fulfill a void in your life?
No - the guitar fills a void in my life. GN assists me in learning and developing, and it's one of many resources available.

5. How do you imagine your life without Guitar Noise?
Just fine - there are many other similar communities out there (perhaps not as friendly and helpful as this one).

6. Does Guitar Noise help you to learn? How so?
Yes - read what other people are doing, ask questions, get help, lessons, experience, songs for beginners etc.

7. Would you be able and more so would you have the money, patience and motivation to learn and better yourself without Guitar Noise?
Yes - I could technically learn more outside GN by getting a teacher or going to a collegge. The benefit of GN is that the learning is a holistic experience and doesn't just work on a technical level.

8. In your opinion, does a collective project exist in the Guitar Noise community?
No - if you define project as an outcome or deliverable that can be measured and costed.
Yes - if you define project as a goal and purpose that we all share and work towards.

9. According to you, does a social structure exist in Guitar Noise comparable to real life? What form does it take?
Yes - main group, close-knit network - there are opinion-makers - technical gurus - etc. And there are people who keep it all together, will sort out issues, calm nerves etc.

Thanks again!

When I talk about "collective project", I mean something like the section "Sunday Songwriter Group", "Guitar Noise Songwriting Group" or the online collaboration between members.

Exemple, three members will play the guitar, the other one will play the bass and another one will find a drum beat.

Is this a collective project?
What do you think of those activity?

Yeah, happy to take part.

1. What motivates you to visit the discussion forums of Guitar Noise on a regular basis? To what do you attribute the success and longevity of Guitar Noise?

It's a place where I can exchange ideas, find out what's happening in the non-factory world, pass the time of day. It's longevity is down to having decent membership

2. Do you consider Guitar Noise as a virtual community? If so, why?

Yep, most definitely.

3. What are the differences between the social relations that you maintain on Guitar Noise and the ones you have in “real life”

I'm far more careful what I say

4. Does Guitar Noise fulfill a void in your life?

Not any more

5. How do you imagine your life without Guitar Noise?

I might practise a bit more

6. Does Guitar Noise help you to learn? How so?

No. Yes. No, I was right first time. Yes. No. Geez, that's a hard one. What was the question again? I learned an awful lot before I found GN.

7. Would you be able and more so would you have the money, patience and motivation to learn and better yourself without Guitar Noise?

Yes.

8. In your opinion, does a collective project exist in the Guitar Noise community?

Yes, to get more people playing guitar. If it stops them dropping bombs on each other it's a good thing

9. According to you, does a social structure exist in Guitar Noise comparable to real life? What form does it take?

Yep. We have a community where everybody's opinion is valid, we have management/ leadership and we have law enforcement in the form of the moderators

A :-)

1. What motivates you to visit the discussion forums of Guitar Noise on a regular basis? To what do you attribute the success and longevity of Guitar Noise?

Like the scarecrow, I'm looking for a brain.

Because, they say, this is where the wizard lives. Gnease is that you?

2. Do you consider Guitar Noise as a virtual community? If so, why?

Yes because it meets the definition of virtual community.

3. What are the differences between the social relations that you maintain on Guitar Noise and the ones you have in “real life”

In real life I can use profanity.

4. Does Guitar Noise fulfill a void in your life?

Yes, otherwise my life is utterly meaningless . . .
I'm a ship with no rudder . . . with tattered sails . . . drifting on a vast ocean of uncertainty and . . .

5. How do you imagine your life without Guitar Noise?

Why are you asking that? Is it filing for bankruptcy too?

6. Does Guitar Noise help you to learn? How so?

Yes. I learned not to use profanity here.

7. Would you be able and more so would you have the money, patience and motivation to learn and better yourself without Guitar Noise?

Yes . . .
although I would have the money, patience, and motivation without Guitar Noise I would . . .
(now you're making me cry) . . . I would be poorer if it wasn't for the virtual treasures I have found within its virtual walls.

8. In your opinion, does a collective project exist in the Guitar Noise community?

Yes, we are all virtually collectively groping for . . . some life fulfilling sense of purpose . . . virtually.

9. According to you, does a social structure exist in Guitar Noise comparable to real life? What form does it take?

Yes a virtual social structure exists and Nick is the virtual warden . . . the moderators are the virtual trustees.
But you can virtually leave anytime by clicking your heels three times and saying "Yes We Can"

I don't know if my answers count, since I'm the Illustrious Leader of the Ministry of Moderation.

1. What motivates you to visit the discussion forums of Guitar Noise on a regular basis? To what do you attribute the success and longevity of Guitar Noise?

A couple of things bring me back regularly. I can keep track of what some people are doing musically. I can make myself a better songwriter in the SSG. I can see some of the problems some of the newer guitarists are having and that connects me to the issues I had myself. That in turn makes me a better teacher. It's so easy to think I could always play barre chords. Finally, the feeling of giving back is great. Knowing that what I've done here has helped thousands of guitarists makes me feel like I'm doing my Karma good.

2. Do you consider Guitar Noise as a virtual community? If so, why?

Yes and no. I'd just answer no, but you'd get the wrong impression. There is nothing virtual about it. I've met many of the members that I never would have met except for this site. The first time I met David, Greg, Kathy, Jeff, Celt, Jim, Tony, etc. etc it was like I'd known them for years. In truth I had know them for years, just online. When I do meet Vic and Alan it will be just like meeting old friends, because they are my old friends. So yes it's a community, but to call it virtual minimizes how wonderful it really is.

3. What are the differences between the social relations that you maintain on Guitar Noise and the ones you have in “real life”

They have become one and the same, except I don't have to shower before I get on guitarnoise.

4. Does Guitar Noise fulfill a void in your life?

Yes, without guitar noise I'd be guitar noiseless. Guitar Noise connects me with many more musicians than I could connect to in real life.

5. How do you imagine your life without Guitar Noise?

I wouldn't know what to do with the free time. Do you mean if I quit cold turkey? I'd really miss the interaction and learning and teaching. If I'd never discovered it in the first place? I imagine my life a lot colder, less musical and sadder. Learning to play and the friends I've made online and in person mean the world to me.

6. Does Guitar Noise help you to learn? How so?

Every day. Lessons, critiquing others and seeing my mistakes in their work, finding new ways to do the same old things all teach me. Take a look at the thread "What I've learned in my 800 days" for examples.

7. Would you be able and more so would you have the money, patience and motivation to learn and better yourself without Guitar Noise?

No I wouldn't. I figure the guitarnoise site gives me about 5 hourly lessons worth of information per month. That would be about $300/month. I can't make that kind of expenditure with the economy as it is today. And no, without someone here that can hear me play what I've mastered, I wouldn't be motivated.

8. In your opinion, does a collective project exist in the Guitar Noise community?

Lots of them do. We have collaborative lyric writing in SSG, we have collaborative songwriting, we have online jams. There is a bigger collaborative project though, to freely share guitar knowledge and to encourage guitar playing everywhere we can.

9. According to you, does a social structure exist in Guitar Noise comparable to real life? What form does it take?

A) Yes, it's a bit like pre-war Iraq.
B) I'm the Saddam Hussein of Moderators

I'm kidding. I've used this analogy before but the structure here is more like a family at the dinner table. All of the family and guests gather around and have a great time sharing stories and eating. Every so often mom says, "Get your elbows off the table" and the conversation continues.

1. What motivates you to visit the discussion forums of Guitar Noise on a regular basis? To what do you attribute the success and longevity of Guitar Noise?

How it's moderated! (THANKS for not posting some of my crappier posts, Nick!)

2. Do you consider Guitar Noise as a virtual community? If so, why?

Well...yeah. Guess so. Why? Guitar is esoteric, etherial...so that, in itself, is virtual.

3. What are the differences between the social relations that you maintain on Guitar Noise and the ones you have in “real life”

I don't have to feed anyone, pay for college/cars/petrol/clothes/braces/shoes/etc for anyone on GN!

4. Does Guitar Noise fulfill a void in your life?

Maybe. Maybe a little like a chord that's got one open string in it. You do things in life purposefully and sone things come along for the ride...

5. How do you imagine your life without Guitar Noise?

Geez. We're not talkin' cyber sex here...it's a blokey, open a tinny, twist uppa dubassa, gassbag opportunity.

6. Does Guitar Noise help you to learn? How so?

Sure! For the most part to learn what not to do! :lol:

7. Would you be able and more so would you have the money, patience and motivation to learn and better yourself without Guitar Noise?

Ya mean did we all decide to play guitar after stumbling upon GN??? Yer gonna give Nick a fat head w/that question!

8. In your opinion, does a collective project exist in the Guitar Noise community?

Hmmm. Could be. But not open to view...maybe private collaborations. I've been robbed blind of uncopywritten stuff umpteen times...even to the point of a courtroom for remedy. NEVER AGAIN!

9. According to you, does a social structure exist in Guitar Noise comparable to real life? What form does it take?

Well..it is real life, isn't it??? To the point...I've come across more than a few people on GN that are well and truly ready to "give up their day job" and make heaps of money and, ultimately, a more satisfied set to life with their six strings...but...they either don't know it or are just too reticent to give it a go.

How'z zat?

Cat