Friendly Proposition

[Doc Jones]

As most of you know I'm a veterinarian. I belong to a professional internet community called the Veterinarian Information Network.

It has a message board very like the C&F community where vets can go ask questions, discuss weird cases etc...

There is however one very significant difference. Each of the message boards has a handful of board-certified specialists that are moderators. One of these experts always weighs in on each topic.

Because I know they are specialists I weigh their opinions more heavily than those of all the other posters. Everyone is free to post their thoughts but the specialists are identified so that if they say something you can know it's from a legitimate source.

What would be wrong with implementing such a system here? What if Dale and Joseph et al. assigned special status to people known to them to be the most qualified. I mean the really serious players and makers.

They could be given the status "Mentor" or "Exalted Poobah" or some such thing that would be noted under their name.

That way when a seriously experienced player or well-respected whistle-maker chimed in on a thread, the newbies would know who they were and give proper weight to their comments.

I think one of the things that really rasps the wise and experienced is the fact that some newbie can contradict their advice and seem to have equal weight. This would solve that particvular problem once and for all. It works beatifully on the vet board.

Just a thought.

Doc Jones, Poor piper, mediochre fluter, average whistler

[Dale]

I like this idea.

[pipersgrip]

that is a good idea. but i hope it doesn't boost someone's ego up and make it feel like they have a power trip. if that does happen, i am sure Dale and everyone would make the right decision for that not to happen.

[fearfaoin]

OK, but how do you determine "Poobah" status?

One user here is a mentor at whistlethis.com,
and has given great advice, but there has been
plenty of sniping at this person from others who
could be considered "experts". I wouldn't want a
battle of the experts, like some common Law and
Order episode.

[BillChin]

The idea has potential. However, unlike the vet forum, it may be more difficult to identify true experts. Makers have their own credentials and reputations.

Musicians and other categories are more problematic and controversial. Perhaps something other than an expert title, such as an objective tag line explaining a person's expertise or lack there of.

It is a problem, and I have some newbies take advice from other novices. Some might have believed they were getting advice from experienced players when it was more a case of the blind leading the blind. A new system won't prevent that, but might mitigate the worst examples. I'm not sure if that would be worth the additional overhead and controversies.

[sbhikes]

It's a good idea, but maybe more appropriate for discussions of how to play the music. Because if you're gonna talk about making flutes, some of the experts at playing won't know anything about making!

[FJohnSharp]

My wife does the VIN thing. She hasn't cracked open a JAVMA in months.


In my opinion, things like that, where medical professonals can connect with knowledgable resources the previous generations couldn't dream of, is one of the very best uses for the internet.

[Unseen122]

I like the idea, but I don't think it would work in here in practice. Why? Well, although with makers it is relatively easy to figure out who is the real deal and who isn't, players are a different situation. Unless the moderators have met these people they will have a very little idea of how well they play. I have never sat in at a session with the moderators and I am sure the majoriy of members has not. There is really no fair way to judge a persons playing, experiece, and level of expertise just by way of the internet. A person can send in a recording and explain how long they have been playing, but that doesn't mean they no jack sh*t about anything. When it comes to Vets there will be those who have been in the practice longer, gone to better schools, and are overall more qualified this is not nessacarily the case with musicians.

Plus, this is a very large board and the member to moderator ratio is a lot heavier on the member side. There are 6 mods right, and thousands of members. The mods have better things to do than judge every single member on here and I doubt that they have the time to devote to that task as it is, especially Dale who is a busy man. Like I said it is a good idea that would help stop a lot of arguments, but I don't think it could be done properly on this large a scale.

[IDAwHOa]

This would be a great idea but....

How is a musical expert (especially in folk music) identified?

In medicine and many other trades there are tests, boards of inquiry and other such methods of determining when someone has attained a particular level of expertise.

Here it would be the opinion and conjecture of those assigned to opine and conject to make the decision.

Then what of the "new" person that has been playing for years without drawing attention to themselves and has just joined here?

It has taken a little while, but I have learned to identify several people who's opinion I have come to respect.

[Doc Jones]

OK, but how do you determine "Poobah" status?

Great question and brings up a great point. Forget "Status" that will only lead to crankiness and ego trips. Forget "Mentor" or "Poobah"...

Just have the moderators list a significant credential if one exists.

ie..

Michael Burke
Whistle maker 20 years (or however long it's been)

Or

Joannie Madden
Recording Artist, Flute & Whistle
Cherish the Ladies

Or

Bill Stine
Veteran whistler

Doc

[CranberryDog]

Good idea. I don't see any particular negative. I say give it a go. It should lend perspective and provide a filter that could verify reality (trying to keep to a family atmosphere).

I am here to learn and share direct experience.

[Doc Jones]

The mods have better things to do than judge every single member on here and I doubt that they have the time to devote to that task as it is, especially Dale who is a busy man. Like I said it is a good idea that would help stop a lot of arguments, but I don't think it could be done properly on this large a scale.

I would never presume to suggest that the moderators go through the list and make a decision on each member. Just that when there is really an obvious credential it could be noted.

The vast majority of us will remain un-credentialed. Doesn't mean we have nothing to offer or even that our offerings are less valid than a credentialed person's. Some who have credentials won't be noticed or remembered by Dale. Hopefully, they'll be grown up about it and not stomp off in a huff just because their ego was bruised.

It's not about judging everyone or estabisheing some kind of caste system, it's just about identifying some folks that Dale and co. think know what they're talking about.

Doesn't mean that the rest of us don't know what we're taliking about. It just means people will have to judge us based on their experience with us instead of the moderators' experience.

Doc

[Zax]

i love the free-for-all that is intrinsic to this board. i was particularly concerned about this suggestion until the 'grand poobah' bit went out the window! i think that once people start getting labels, we're going to run into some uncomfortable situations...

but i also understand why you suggested it in the first place.

wouldn't it be a great compromise to simply encourage members who have some kind of whistle related know-how to just add it to their signature line? that way, it can stay informal, and it doesn't feel like anyone's bestowing selective knighthoods...

just a thought..
~Z

[anniemcu]

Hmmm... in theory, it's a great idea, but in practice, it's difficult because, like any art, there are differences of opinion as to what is good, bad, excellent and suitable for lining bird cages. While vets are certified, whistlers are not, nor are makers. What will be the criteria, and where will the line be drawn, and who has to administer the test. I think it could quickly become not just a thankless job, but downright uncomfortable. If the power(s) that be (Dale) want to tackle it, I say, more power to ya, and the best of luck!

[Mitch]

HI Doc,

I think it's a good idea. Everyone has said "but" at this point and I'm no exception - so I'll say "however"

However! We all have a profile that can be viewed by others. From when I first signed-up, it was my understanding that one's profile should be filled in to give others an idea of who they are dealing with.

For those who neglect to put anything in their profile, can we assume they regard themselves as "nothing" ?

Perhapse Dale could make it mandatory for folks to put something in there.