Adrian W. wrote:I see people mentioning Facebook; I didn't even know there was a Facebook site. Zero intention of going there; I'm not on FB, doubt i ever will be, and only go to public sites when forced to.
Same here. That's why I'm grateful that C&F proper is still plugging along.
The ancillary C&F Facebook site was started by C&F itself, not by others due to marginalization or anything like that. Its purpose is twofold: A site for those Chiffers who simply prefer Facebook (no doubt due to a shift in their social media priorities and presence), and as an emergency go-to for the rest of us when this, the main Board, is down. For me, the latter is its primary purpose; I can't conceive how FB could actually supplant this site in any meaningful way. I've only accessed the FB site once when the Board was down, so because I had to sign up just to simply view the page (which is all I wanted), technically speaking I
am on Facebook. Only I'm not. No profile, no picture, no posts, nothing, thank you very much. Haven't been back since that one time I just wanted a simple look-see and nothing more. On FB I'm sort of a ghost, I suppose you could say. Still, they keep emailing me with all these "friend" requests. Gosh, it's amazing how many utter strangers want to be my "friend" when there's nothing on FB for them to know about me. TBH, I don't get it one bit.
If my life were set up to rely on widespread social connections I'm sure I'd change my tune. Until then, there you have it.
The way I see it, the main difference between C&F's then and now is in its level and expression of socialization. FB seems to have taken over the broader socialization part (although Ben would have to tell us how active it really is), while the Board seems to have "matured" (for lack of a better word) and honed its focus on the nitty-gritty: instruments and the playing of them, music, sales and purchases, the like. The Pub is what's taken the hit. I also think that C&F's former penchant for celebrative silliness may very likely have been muted by the effect of world events upon us.
That said, the fact of ever-constant change is worth considering. Nothing remains the same, ever. This does not make change regrettable in and of itself. Was the past indeed better? It depends on your angle. To those of us who have been around for a while, the C&F of yore may seem to have been more vibrant. Certainly it was more free-wheeling, but there was also more conflict, and I don't know about you, but personally I found that distressing. What is certain is that C&F is still here, and I wouldn't call it moribund at all. New members may have a completely different take on the present tone of things; knowing nothing else, maybe for them C&F is still entertaining, and still the bee's knees.