I have noticed that this site has become more of a second hand whistle sales site.
Any comments?
wiz
Why? Do you have some for sale? 
No I don’t, but it seems that many posts are now about selling rather than playing and sharing info.
wiz
Putting my serious hat back on … I think it’s something that goes in waves. There was a spate some years ago - from memory about 2008 to 2010 - when everything seemed to be a ‘for sale’ post. I’m sure it wasn’t the case, but sometimes that’s how it felt. Maybe we’re in another wave.
… or we could talk about whistle playing, tunes and whistle technique. Just looking through recent posts, there seem to be quite a few about such things. I can’t find it now, but there was one recently where someone suggested maybe we should all play like pipers. That was interesting, I thought.
Maybe it’s just that everything essential concerning playing has been said (several times) and can now be accessed via the search function. Now and then a new maker will be discussed or someone is waxing lyrical about their latest acquisition, but apart from that… all quiet on the western front, I suppose. The information is already there.
As for sales, why not? Might be useful for some. Personally, I just find those multi-posts a bit annoying since they unnecessarily clutter the “active topics” view. Why not confine these posts to the UIE? But oh well.
Anyway, so what do you want to talk about, wiz? 
Actually, I thought it was becoming a piping site 
. Lots of posts about chanters and sets. I’m ignoring those because I know my limits.
In part, I think C&F has a lengthy enough history that some of the members might have realized:
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After a long time, they still can’t play worth a darn, so they’re quitting or at least cutting back on instruments. Of course, a certain number of us like to try different whistles and flutes, and keep changing our minds which we prefer, or keep our funds tied up in.;
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They want to devote some $$ and effort to other activities/interests. That interest could possibly be other instruments or accessories. I’m fixing up a couple of electric basses, looking for new (lighter) cases, maybe a beater guitar;
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Family comes first, and maybe it’s better to spend some time with them. Or it’s third. Here it’s third.;
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Health constraints - their own or in care of others. My dad just had his 98th birthday.;
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Financial concerns. Or Greed, yeah, greed. Money…want. Could be for those topics above. Or chocolate. Prices keep going up.
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Cats. OK, maybe that’s just me. I spend considerable time and $ on trapping, neutering, taming, medical, etc. If you’re in/near Los Angeles, I have kittens (and even fine adult cats) that could use homes. Let them suck YOU dry for a change.
The search function has been a great tool, especially for someone like me. I still consider myself a newbie to the music and instrument, and try not to bother the more experienced players more than I already have. Many have helped me out, and it’s greatly appreciated, so I try not to ask the same things they’ve read/heard probably a hundred times already.
Newbie-ish kinda guy here. The secondary market doesn’t always appeal to me as I prefer a new build and in wood. I do have used wood whistles purchased. The whistle forum does have a sales flavor, but, not entirely and I’ve learned a lot about different types of whistles available from reading the threads even if I’m not interested. I think SH has a place and I’ve seen trading whistles as another means to try a particular whistle because the music stores don’t carry large inventory and usually not the custom made crafted whistle.
I certainly appreciate all the long-time members who have chimed in on topics as I find the “search” feature hugely valuable and I use it almost daily. I also appreciate all the help along my whistle way.
So the real meaty topic threads come along when they do and play out. Meanwhile whistles are being moved around globally. It is what it is.
So what is the current state of pure drop Irish Trad?
There’s something to be said for, with the buy and sell forum functioning well enough, diverting all adds for buying and selling to the instrument exchange forum. Especially all the posts that only provide a link to that forum anyway.
What’s wrong with having sales and requests for whistles? It’s cheaper than selling on eBay and provides a service to the worldwide whistling community. Chiff & Fipple was always about whistles so why limit its scope.
There’s nothing wrong with it, but if the sales start outnumbering the threads that have an actual subject we can discuss the forum is in trouble. Diverting the trading to the Instrument Exchange Forum (should the mods take that route, I was just thinking out loud) is hardly banning it, is it? All in its own time and place and all that..
Sorry, I’m multi-tasking here and didn’t fully understand the discussion. No, I think you’re right. Confining all buying and selling to the UIE and banning links to the UIE from the main forum would certainly clean it up a lot.
Nope. That can’t work without additional policy changes and loss of functionality. Currently we are not allowed to add comments to a UIE thread, only the OP and mods can. Posts in the Whistle, Flute or other forums allows discussion, questions, etc. that can at times be valuable.
I’m all for the UIE and if replies could be made there the whistle, flute, pipes forums would have much less baggage. Cross-posting just seemed to allow broader exposure for those individuals who don’t follow multiple forums.
Cross posted with kkrell.
I agree. I’m not sure why replies etc, discussions are not allowed in the UIE forum. I’m sure there must be a good reason.
Perhaps another forum with less strict rules could be added. People are already taking the trouble to post in two places, they could post in UIE and Second Hand Instruments Discussion or whatever instead of the whistle/flute forums.
I’d expect someone that actually is in the market for an instrument or interested in instruments for sale to check out forums specifically devoted to selling instruments.
Personally, for what it’s worth I’d much rather for sale posts be separate from discussion about music and playing.
Because replies and discussions are already allowed in the regular forums. In contrast to this, the UIE format embraces that of classified ads. Keeps things cleaner and more on point. Each to their own, and as I’ve said before, everyone wins whether you like it or not.
Frankly, the participation in most or all music fora is down. I attribute it mostly to Facebook and maybe smartphones. I wouldn’t be surprised if the days of Internet fora are numbered. They mainly seem to be archives anymore.
That’s my perception too, but is there evidence for this? I’d be interested.
The last post made at the fellowship topic of ‘‘Praise Whistlers Abroad’’ was made July 10.
http://praisewhistlers.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=2&sid=c76562d2091f9116da686ddea4e18236
Most former members have moved on to Face Book.