The Steel Guitar Forum

You meet people, so to speak, here on this forum. In my way of thinking, that would greatly expand on one's known credentials by expanding on communicative ideas, and all sorts of beneficial data. The problem with this capricious intent lies mainly with a noticeable decline in responses. The forum has become a medium for complainers. Debates leading to complex issues have all but vanished. I've considered new approaches to these stubborn modifications, that tend to weary an expressed desire to speak out.

Why don't you try speaking English and staying on subject?

Chris,

Those sneakers are a definite warning to beware of the snide remarks that will surely follow the opening of any issues with the wearer of the #12 C widths scuffed up footwear. You have yet to respond in a civil tone to anything steel related. This causes me to contemplate the caution light accompanying your comments.

In my way of thinking, that would greatly expand on one's known credentials by expanding on communicative ideas, and all sorts of beneficial data.

Credential: "A credential is an attestation of qualification, competence, or authority issued to an individual by a third party with a relevant de jure or de facto authority or assumed competence to do so." from Wikipedia.

Credentials are not awarded by communication. If that were the case Bill, you would have more credentials than Buddy Emmons.

Perhaps you could start by defining the word "credential" and how it applies to what you are talking about.

Chris,Don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen Just be prepared for four or five pages of insignificant,meaningless,incoherent babbling nonsense.On the bright side just make a game of it. The [What the hell did he say] game.You could spend hours trying to interpret what he's saying. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

I always find it helps to deconstruct and parse Bill's posts. Let's break it down:

"You meet people, so to speak, here on this forum."
This is a clear statement. No comment needed. One does, so to speak, meet people on this forum.

"In my way of thinking, that would greatly expand on one's known credentials by expanding on communicative ideas, and all sorts of beneficial data."
Here is where we run into Hankey problems with grammar and syntax. This requires some parsing, to whit: "That would greatly expand on one's known credentials" the "that" in question seems to be the "meeting of people". "expanding one's known credentials" is hard to parse or understand because it seems to be based on a misunderstanding of the word "credential". "expanding on communicative ideas" is also hard. What is being expanded? What I am guessing he is saying is that by expressing one's "knowledge" on a subject by expanding on an idea that has been communicated in a post opens up the possibility of one gaining additional "credentials" with other forum members, i.e. that person seems to know what they are talking about and have domain expertise in the matter being discussed.

"The problem with this capricious intent lies mainly with a noticeable decline in responses."

Not sure what is "capricious" about the "intent" but basically Bill seems to be saying, "if you don't speak up, you won't get credentials" from other forumites.

"The forum has become a medium for complainers."

Mostly, I've noticed, in Bill Hankey posts.

"Debates leading to complex issues have all but vanished."

Again, some grammatical errors. I think it should be "Debates inspired by complex issues, or leading FROM complex issues" is probably closer to Bill's intent.

"I've considered new approaches to these stubborn modifications, that tend to weary an expressed desire to speak out."

unclear what these new approaches might be. Not sure what "modifications" refers to. Does he mean modifications to the forum where now no one debates, but complains instead? Not sure. and is it Bill who is weary of expressing a desire to speak out? or the forum in general. Not sure that is clear.

That is my best shot at divining meaning out of Bill's post.

If you think that a forum is a place where one goes to share ideas and debate topics of interest, then you have misjudged the modern use of a forum and you should be seeking a community group.

People mainly use forums these days to get feedback on issue or thoughts on a particular situation like:

"What should I buy..."

"What would you get..."

"What would you do if you were me or in my shoes..."

"I have a problem, who's smart enough to solve it for me?"

People use forums as quick fixes or sounding boards because it free and provides varying levels of anonymity. Where people don't have to give, to get. They don't need to think to make decisions because someone will tell them what they should do. And the problem is, quite a few people, or sheep, will do just that. Because they don't know but they expect you to know.

You think you are "meeting" people online? You are fooling yourself. You think you know the real person typing on the other end of the keyboard without any physical introduction? You think you can judge someone's worth or worthiness by some intangible criteria? This is why there are child predators and people masquerading as young girls or boys to do things with or to you or get from you because they have established a trust. Don't think I have strayed from the subject as I haven't. You think you know somebody, but until you've shaken their hand and got to know them personally, how much do you really know?

Why should I trust anything anyone says about any topic? It doesn't even have to be true! That's the great and terrible thing about the internet. So many of one's ideas can be misconceived notions of reality. To few people take too many things without "a grain of salt."

Perhaps your posts don't garner as much traffic or yield many responses because your ideas or whatever are just unimportant to them... They are not interested in the finer points of debating a topic. They want a quick fix to a current problem.. like fast food. I don't care what I eat.. So long as I eat... (Which isn't true of me but that truly would be a digression.)

Swirling the drain... and.. out...

Bill,

I'm satisfied that my suspicions about excessive salivating and sallying into personal thoughts of a better method of communicating has awakened a sleeping giant. Bill's convincing policies governed by paraphrastic literature, serves to slow the purpose of meaningful musical gains, made entirely by perseverance in the direction of meaningful goals. Practicing one song over and over for up to one week to get it right, is a form of credentials. Forget the travel agencies, I'll drive, thank you!

bill, your desire and ability to speak out does not seemingly tend to weary. just thought i'd respond because you obviously are in need of constant feedback...even if you have to assume nutsoism to attain it!

Chris Ivey,

Are you slowing down? There was a time when messages were sent on a good day, and a kind word or two from you were part of a good day.

Bill,

I'm satisfied that my suspicions about excessive salivating and sallying into personal thoughts of a better method of communicating has awakened a sleeping giant. Bill's convincing policies governed by paraphrastic literature, serves to slow the purpose of meaningful musical gains, made entirely by perseverance in the direction of meaningful goals. Practicing one song over and over for up to one week to get it right, is a form of credentials. Forget the travel agencies, I'll drive, thank you!

Bill, are you talking to me? If so, you have not communicated effectively since I have no idea what you are trying to say.

Bill McCloskey,

Yes, I'm talking straight at you. You are a sleeping giant, with great possibilities. Your attacks amount to tearing away the first layer of protective skin, much like the sun on a boy's unprotected back in July and August. To prove you wrong, will never happen. You have made that very clear in your messages, should we decide to run a few tracings of where you stand on musical issues. (Particularly those where technical issues come into play).

Your attacks amount to tearing away the first layer of protective skin, much like the sun on a boy's unprotected back in July and August. To prove you wrong, will never happen. You have made that very clear in your messages, should we decide to run a few tracings of where you stand on musical issues. (Particularly those where technical issues come into play).

1. Do you feel I was attacking you? I don't think I was attacking you. On the contrary I was trying to provide some meaningful sense to your posts, which seemed unclear to me.
2. Are you trying to prove me wrong? Wrong about what?
3. You can run as many "tracings" as you want on my musical "issues" including technical. Most of my posts in that area are posted in the Steel without Pedals section, since I play straight steel and not pedal steel. Is that what you meant? I don't play pedal steel? Still unclear on this end.

It's picking up speed like that ole 97.About one more page you will be knee deep in Hankey guano. Get your waders out. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

Bill M.,

That's what I did! I tried to recall where you had omitted text due to discrepancies (apparently) of grammar. Then, wham, bam, I found your written text in Barry Blackwood's thread that was entitled: "If Hank Were Alive Today". Remember the writer who likes to show his tongue? Your post is next, and "reads", "I doubt if there is ANY artist recording in 1947 that would be a hit today." A messy syntax, wouldn't you agree?

Bill M. said:

"What would you do if you were me or in my shoes..."

Bill H. said

Those sneakers are a definite warning to beware of the snide remarks that will surely follow the opening of any issues with the wearer of the #12 C widths scuffed up footwear.

Well, obviously, the answer to Bill M.'s question is that Bill H. would have him go buy some Florshiems (or other fancy dress shoes) to prevent Bill M. (or others who wear sneakers) from posting any snide remarks.

""I doubt if there is ANY artist recording in 1947 that would be a hit today." A messy syntax, wouldn't you agree?"

ah...no.

Bill, do you think anyone would not understand what I wrote. I'm not asking for perfect grammar, syntax or spelling on an online forum from anyone. But that is not what we are talking about here. We are talking about writing in a way that ignores all laws of grammar to the point of incomprehensibility.

I don't think anyone misconstrued the meaning of "I doubt if there is ANY artist recording in 1947 that would be a hit today." Wouldn't you agree?

I can't believe it.

WHAT THE HELL DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH A PEDAL STEEL GUITAR?????


PHRED

I think it is immeasurably rude to insist, thread after thread, on continuing to post in a way that is so completely at odds with the general trend of the forum. The trend here is to, at the least, be understood. There is little or no value to be found in using archaic and complex syntax just for the sake of it.
Why would anyone go to the effort of posting an idea or a concept for discussion in a manner that allows for more discussion on the grammar and syntax than on the stated subject matter?
To do so once might be a mistake. To continually do so is either intentional or ignorant. I don't think Mr. H. is ignorant so I can only conclude that he posts the way that he does with full intent. Said intent being to engender discussion on the post its self rather than its content.
By extension, I can only see the mans posts as being off topic from the beginning of each of his threads.
Bill, in a spirit of friendliness, I am asking you to please post in a way that allows the reader to get to what you are saying without crawling through the mire of how you say it. If you are sincere about the points that you try to raise, would it not make sense to raise them in such a way as to allow the forum members to understand them? If you believe that your points are worthwhile, why not put them on the forum in a way that the readers can understand?
Your posts could be pure gold Bill, but, if they are not grasped by the reader, you may as well flush them!

Fred Said:

WHAT THE HELL DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH A PEDAL STEEL GUITAR?????

Well, I see Bill is playing a PSG in his avatar and there is an avatar showing a sneaker (God forbid) on a volume pedal. That must make it as acceptable as any other Hankey thread.

I could tell you that on my walk today I was practicing in my head. I tune my 10th string to a D instead of most who have a C there. So strings 10,8,7 and 6 are from bottom up...D,A,C and E. Does that not make a Dm9 chord. So, if I'm at the 7th fret (G) start at the 9th fret and play those above mentioned strings can't I come down chromatically from a 3m,2#m,2m and then be in position to be at the 1 chord at the same fret! I know it was complicated but it is understandable.

I think that kind of post is very appropriate on a steel guitar forum but it rarely gets as many responses as yours Bill.

Allen,

Thanks to you for stating some of your thoughts. The writers thusfar have given me a better idea about things in general, and I appreciate their responses. I must very quickly respond to Fred's reminder that these posts hinge on things other than THE PEDAL STEEL GUITAR. I live and breathe STEEL GUITAR, as I have for many years. I play everyday. I did make one strong point about practicing on the steel. This past week, I was determined to work out a tune that is "country catchy", meaning it is beautiful only if it is played properly, unlike so many other tunes that get badly mauled by a faulty lack of practice among musical groups. I'll tell you what I've noticed! Virtually every country bandleader has learned to hire a lead guitarist who can throw 9 yards of scales into any unfamiliar tune, and make it sound as if he's known the melody from the day it was published. Little do people realize, that he'll manage to come up with something, even after hearing the melody for the first time.

W. Franco,

You became a member in 1998, and records show that working as a property sales person, may have taken up much of your time. The norm for consultations into matters relating to the pedal steel guitar should be expected to be much higher for such a lengthy membership. Your question posed, appears to be a version of the C6th tuning, where most technical chords (Dim. & 9th chords) lie within easy reach. Most of the seasoned players started playing, using the 6th tuning. I hope one of those who fancy that tuning, such as Franklin, Wallace, White, Jernigan, etc., will assist you. I know many C6 players in this area. Don't rush off! Express your desires fluently here on the forum. I am personally, a ninth tuning advocate. Please load up my thread with as many pertinent questions as you may have.

Bill I sometimes am really embarrassed for you. You start a topic with a title "Expanding On One's Credentials" and because this is a Steel Guitar Forum one would expect you were going to give us info about bettering your play of that instrument or something related to it. Instead you start in with some of the most ridiculous 'goggledegook' imaginable. I can remember when I could open a Hankey Thread and glean some enjoyment reading it. Now days you've put yourself into a mode that makes it impossible to enjoy what you write or to even enjoy reading what you've put down. I don't really know how you can keep violating the general rules laid down for this forum and remain a member. It's too bad you've elevated your writings to a point where a Websters' is a necessity for any comprehension of what you're trying to convey. This will be the last thread I ever open of yours. Too bad because I know you have a lot to offer,.

phred






From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA

Thanks to you for stating some of your thoughts. The writers thusfar have given me a better idea about things in general, and I appreciate their responses. I must very quickly respond to Fred's reminder that these posts hinge on things other than THE PEDAL STEEL GUITAR. I live and breathe STEEL GUITAR, as I have for many years. I play everyday. I did make one strong point about practicing on the steel. This past week, I was determined to work out a tune that is "country catchy", meaning it is beautiful only if it is played properly, unlike so many other tunes that get badly mauled by a faulty lack of practice among musical groups. I'll tell you what I've noticed! Virtually every country bandleader has learned to hire a lead guitarist who can throw 9 yards of scales into any unfamiliar tune, and make it sound as if he's known the melody from the day it was published. Little do people realize, that he'll manage to come up with something, even after hearing the melody for the first time.

Wow, a very cogent and easy to understand post. Make em all like this Bill and we'll have be a lot happier.