GMG Classical Music Forum

Announcements => GMG News => Topic started by: Opus106 on January 30, 2009, 07:17:55 AM

Title: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Opus106 on January 30, 2009, 07:17:55 AM
I know the story behind all the forums I have participated in except GMG. They range from commercially-backed-by-big company to a high-school computer science project that saw success beyond what it was designed for. So what's the story behind GMG? :)

Is there a GMG History thread that I could refer to?
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: aquablob on January 30, 2009, 09:07:57 AM
Quote from: opus67 on January 30, 2009, 07:17:55 AM
I know the story behind all the forums I have participated in except GMG. They range from commercially-backed-by-big company to a high-school computer science project that saw success beyond what it was designed for. So what's the story behind GMG? :)

Is there a GMG History thread that I could refer to?

In the beginning, there was Rob.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: greg on January 30, 2009, 11:44:55 AM
This is Rob.

(http://gingersnaps.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/cieling_cat_creates.jpg)
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Brian on January 30, 2009, 01:28:17 PM
Quote from: opus67 on January 30, 2009, 07:17:55 AMa high-school computer science project that saw success beyond what it was designed for.
:o my little brother runs a forum like that! What's it about?
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: B_cereus on January 30, 2009, 05:23:02 PM
i vaguely remember it started as a little board with a rather garish blue & orange skin  :)
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Lilas Pastia on January 30, 2009, 08:33:50 PM
I remember the "little board", but I can't recall blue and orange. But then again, Rob has always kept the place up to date. He's our benevolent deity.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Opus106 on January 31, 2009, 04:27:38 AM
Quote from: G$ on January 30, 2009, 11:44:55 AM
:o my little brother runs a forum like that! What's it about?

Primarily physics. But it also has a respectable maths section and smaller places for other branches/aspects of science and philosophy, career guidance in the sciences, etc. And a really fun general area.

What about your brother's?  :)
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Herman on January 31, 2009, 05:32:06 AM
Rob's original GMG was mainly a board for newbies, as I recall. Then -   I'm not sure whether it was 2003 or 2004  -  a whole bunch of refugees from CMG moved to GMG. (Gurn, Todd, Lilas, Tony / Ezodisy, DavidW, me, many others) Since these guys were a little more sophisticated GMG changed a little, and the board got subdivided into the three or four sections of the Music Room, as I recall. There was a huge increase in traffic, too. There were enormous threads on Haydn, Chopin, and of course Beethoven, with a very high level of information and (kindly) passion. A bunch of guys from the NYT music forum joined (Karl among others), upping the chatter level and the Diner was created. There was a brief period ACDouglas graced our boards. Eric, at that point was a psychotherapist with a peculiar sense of smell, I seem to recall. (And a love of Debussy's Faun, obviously.) After long debates moderators were instituted, which only seemed to make matters worse. I think it's fair to say GMG is a much more peaceable kingdom now than three years ago.

Please feel free to correct me when I'm wrong.

One unfortunate thing was that virtually every one or two years new software was implemented, wiping out all the previous posts. Apparently there are some members who have archived some material from way back, but there's no institutional memory, and that's too bad. I think that changed (and ultimately hurt) GMG as much as anything, including the intramural conflicts. GMG is fun and friendly enough AFAIC , but it's very hard to ask people to write the kind of long and considered threads there used to be when you're sure they'll be destroyed sooner or later.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Opus106 on January 31, 2009, 05:56:00 AM
Quote from: Herman on January 31, 2009, 05:32:06 AM
Rob's original GMG was mainly a board for newbies, as I recall. Then -   I'm not sure whether it was 2003 or 2004  -  a whole bunch of refugees from CMG moved to GMG. (Gurn, Todd, Lilas, Tony / Ezodisy, DavidW, me, many others)

Thank you, Herman, for that look back. I too have been a part of a forum which was created by a refugee and soon joined by other refugees, although I wasn't one myself; I got invited early on by another member. But it's one of the friendliest places I've been to. I still am a registered member there, but I don't have the time to visit it as often as I used to.

QuoteOne unfortunate thing was that virtually every one or two years new software was implemented, wiping out all the previous posts. Apparently there are some members who have archived some material from way back, but there's no institutional memory, and that's too bad. I think that changed (and ultimately hurt) GMG as much as anything, including the intramural conflicts. GMG is fun and friendly enough AFAIC , but it's very hard to ask people to write the kind of long and considered threads there used to be when you're sure they'll be destroyed sooner or later.

That is unfortunate, indeed. I sometimes run across links to threads from the older forum and am disappointed to end up at 404.

There is this website called the Way Back Machine, which saves pages from the sites in the internet every (few) month(s), but I just saw Google warn me against visiting it due to possible malware attacks!
http://www.google.com/interstitial?url=http://www.archive.org/




EDIT: Re: Google tagging the site as malware. It appears to have been a glitch on their end. In fact, they had tagged every website including their own, according a Slashdot story (http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09%2F01%2F31%2F1457221), that way. Things are back to normal and archive.org is apparently safe to visit again.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Herman on January 31, 2009, 06:15:19 AM
Quote from: opus67 on January 31, 2009, 05:56:00 AM
Thank you, Herman, for that look back. I too have been a part of a forum which was created by a refugee and soon joined by other refugees, although I wasn't one myself;
http://www.google.com/interstitial?url=http://www.archive.org/


let's be 100% clear: GMG was created by Rob. Only he (probably) can tell you about GMG's first year, before the incursion of the above mentioned.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Opus106 on January 31, 2009, 06:18:28 AM
Quote from: Herman on January 31, 2009, 06:15:19 AM
GMG was created by Rob. Only he (probably) can tell you about GMG's first year, before the incursion of the above mentioned.

I don't deny that. :)
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Brian on January 31, 2009, 07:44:10 AM
Quote from: opus67 on January 31, 2009, 04:27:38 AM
Primarily physics. But it also has a respectable maths section and smaller places for other branches/aspects of science and philosophy, career guidance in the sciences, etc. And a really fun general area.

What about your brother's?  :)
Uh, physics, math, other sciences ... oh boy.  ;D

Is it ScienceForums.net?
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Dungeon Master on January 31, 2009, 08:22:25 AM
Quote from: Herman on January 31, 2009, 06:15:19 AM
let's be 100% clear: GMG was created by Rob. Only he (probably) can tell you about GMG's first year, before the incursion of the above mentioned.

Stay tuned for a book to be released soon about this very topic!

;)

cheers
Rob


Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Opus106 on January 31, 2009, 08:52:07 AM
Quote from: Brian on January 31, 2009, 07:44:10 AM
Uh, physics, math, other sciences ... oh boy.  ;D

Is it ScienceForums.net?

Nope. physicsforums.com.

Quote from: admin on January 31, 2009, 08:22:25 AM
Stay tuned for a book to be released soon about this very topic!

;)

cheers
Rob

All hail the Great Cat-that-inhales-the-dust-from-what-appears-to-be-a-proto-planetary-disk! :D
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: DavidW on January 31, 2009, 09:01:43 AM
Quote from: opus67 on January 31, 2009, 08:52:07 AM
Nope. physicsforums.com.

Really?  He did that as a high school project?  I post on that forum, and it's easily the best forum to discuss physics, math and engineering online at any level. :)
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Opus106 on January 31, 2009, 09:11:38 AM
Quote from: DavidW on January 31, 2009, 09:01:43 AM
Really?  He did that as a high school project?

I hope you didn't fall for that trip through the Amazon river story. ;D ;)

QuoteI post on that forum, and it's easily the best forum to discuss physics, math and engineering online at any level. :)
HA! I know another GMG'er who used to post (still posts?) there, but I wasn't aware that you also took part in the discussions. :) That's good to know.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: DavidW on January 31, 2009, 09:16:03 AM
Quote from: opus67 on January 31, 2009, 09:11:38 AM
I hope you didn't fall for that trip through the Amazon river story. ;D ;)

Oh sneak!  I'm just too trusting! :D

QuoteHA! I know another GMG'er who used to post (still posts?) there, but I wasn't aware that you also took part in the discussions. :) That's good to know.

Ah must be Daverz, I've seen him there.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Dungeon Master on January 31, 2009, 10:29:11 AM
GMG started in 2002, as a beginners guide to classical music.

Here are some screenshots of the early days.

The forum was very rudimentary, with very few features. It had a single "board" and members of guests could post a message and get replies, but that was about it. No PM's, no images, no moderators, and a very garish colour scheme (hey, I still like it). It got about a post every week or two.

Then, all of a sudden, there was a sudden influx from CMG. The software had to be updated a few times to cope with the huge increase in traffic. One of those software upgrades went very badly - the database got muddled up. I struggled to keep it afloat and running with a corrupted database for a few months, but it was clear that sooner or later it was going to crash and not be recoverable.

So I warned everyone to copy the posts they wanted to keep, and started a new forum with a fresh database and a fresh install of the software. This is the forum we have now. With a few minor glitches, this forum has been crash-free for over a year now. And, as expected, the old forum finally became inoperable. The database still exists (and the data is still there), but I do not have the database skills to repair it. (anyone??)

cheers
Rob
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: George on January 31, 2009, 10:48:25 AM
Quote from: admin on January 31, 2009, 10:29:11 AM
GMG started in 2002, as a beginners guide to classical music.

Here are some screenshots of the early days.

The forum was very rudimentary, with very few features. It had a single "board" and members of guests could post a message and get replies, but that was about it. No PM's, no images, no moderators, and a very garish colour scheme (hey, I still like it).


Great story Rob!  :)

Any chance we could get some color options with the current software? I am mostly interested in getting a darker overall back ground.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Gurn Blanston on January 31, 2009, 10:49:22 AM
Ha, I remember that scheme all too well. It was hideously ugly, yet with a certain charm... :)

We were still very small when I came here but the growth rate was stupendous. I really don't know how you managed to keep it running in those days. Clearly though, the biggest advance came when you made alternative color schemes available...   ;D

8)

----------------
Listening to:
Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra / Fischer - Hob 01 097 Symphony in C 4th mvmt - Finale: Presto assai
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Herman on January 31, 2009, 10:49:56 AM
Rob, please be assured I wasn't blaming you or anyone / anything for the loss of archives. It's just one of those things that happen over time. I think in the beginning (2003 / 2004) we were just exhilarated and assumed we were writing these posts for eternity or its internet equivalent. By now most people are wiser, but certainly not sadder.

Thanks for those pics!
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Wanderer on January 31, 2009, 10:59:43 AM
Quote from: admin on January 31, 2009, 10:29:11 AM
The database still exists (and the data is still there), but I do not have the database skills to repair it. (anyone??)

I would like to emphasize this part. Any volunteers for the job would be proclaimed forum heros upon successful restoration - an overwhelming honour - and I'm sure some medals will be handed out as well.  8)
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: DavidW on January 31, 2009, 11:17:19 AM
Herman brings up something interesting.

We have had correspondence that told us much about life and culture in the past.  Now that we have transitioned to electronic correspondence over ink and paper, we are in danger of loosing the bulk of what we've written.  Future generations might not have the same window into our generation, that we've had in past generations.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: B_cereus on January 31, 2009, 11:17:47 AM
Quote from: admin on January 31, 2009, 10:29:11 AM

The forum was very rudimentary, with very few features. It had a single "board" and members of guests could post a message and get replies, but that was about it. No PM's, no images, no moderators, and a very garish colour scheme (hey, I still like it).

sorry to bring it up  >:D... as i seem to recall didn't you allow a forum vote to decide on it, and the consensus was for this more pastoral option.. :D
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: B_cereus on January 31, 2009, 11:19:23 AM
Quote from: Herman on January 31, 2009, 05:32:06 AM
Rob's original GMG was mainly a board for newbies, as I recall. Then -   I'm not sure whether it was 2003 or 2004  -  a whole bunch of refugees from CMG moved to GMG. (Gurn, Todd, Lilas, Tony / Ezodisy, DavidW, me, many others) Since these guys were a little more sophisticated GMG changed a little, and the board got subdivided into the three or four sections of the Music Room, as I recall. There was a huge increase in traffic, too. There were enormous threads on Haydn, Chopin, and of course Beethoven, with a very high level of information and (kindly) passion. A bunch of guys from the NYT music forum joined (Karl among others), upping the chatter level and the Diner was created. There was a brief period ACDouglas graced our boards. Eric, at that point was a psychotherapist with a peculiar sense of smell, I seem to recall. (And a love of Debussy's Faun, obviously.) After long debates moderators were instituted, which only seemed to make matters worse. I think it's fair to say GMG is a much more peaceable kingdom now than three years ago.

i also remember that Steve Molman, another on the roll call of knowledgeable sophisticates, was also a forum member for a brief period when GMG started out..  :)
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: George on January 31, 2009, 12:19:53 PM
(http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=10826.0;attach=14952;image)

I heard that Prince was a member back in the day.  ;D
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Herman on January 31, 2009, 12:22:52 PM
Quote from: B_cereus on January 31, 2009, 11:19:23 AM
i also remember that Steve Molman, another on the roll call of knowledgeable sophisticates, was also a forum member for a brief period when GMG started out..  :)


Oh yes, I wasn't giving a exhaustive list of names (plus some people have changed their handles, like Lilas).

I remember Molman was mad at me for a week or so, about some moderation thing. His musical advice was excellent. Wonder what he's up to currently.

Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: DavidW on January 31, 2009, 01:05:10 PM
Quote from: B_cereus on January 31, 2009, 11:19:23 AM
i also remember that Steve Molman, another on the roll call of knowledgeable sophisticates, was also a forum member for a brief period when GMG started out..  :)


We came over by the dozens back then.  Only a few of us are still here posting. :-\
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Gurn Blanston on January 31, 2009, 01:11:38 PM
Quote from: DavidW on January 31, 2009, 01:05:10 PM
We came over by the dozens back then.  Only a few of us are still here posting. :-\

Yes, probably a dozen or so. Even so, 5-6 years is a long time for a core group in the Internet society nowadays. Hell, a year or two is a long time! :o

8)

----------------
Listening to:
Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra / Fischer - Hob 01 100 Symphony in G 4th mvmt - Finale: Presto
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Dungeon Master on January 31, 2009, 01:12:43 PM
Quote from: Herman on January 31, 2009, 10:49:56 AM
Rob, please be assured I wasn't blaming you or anyone / anything for the loss of archives. It's just one of those things that happen over time. I think in the beginning (2003 / 2004) we were just exhilarated and assumed we were writing these posts for eternity or its internet equivalent. By now most people are wiser, but certainly not sadder.

Thanks for those pics!

I didn't think you were blaming me. But, as I recall, the fault was caused by a sloppy database upgrade by me, so I do take responsibility for the loss of the old forum.

I am sure it is still recoverable, because the data is all there. All I need is someone with mySQL skills to help me repair the database. Then I could make the old forum a read-only archive, and have this forum still active.

I have tried repairing it myself, but the fault is beyond my skill level.

Volunteers - submit resume below.

cheers
Rob
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: DavidW on January 31, 2009, 01:15:54 PM
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on January 31, 2009, 01:11:38 PM
Yes, probably a dozen or so. Even so, 5-6 years is a long time for a core group in the Internet society nowadays. Hell, a year or two is a long time! :o

8)

Yeah internet years = dog years. :D
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Kuhlau on January 31, 2009, 02:03:17 PM
Quote from: admin on January 31, 2009, 01:12:43 PM
I didn't think you were blaming me. But, as I recall, the fault was caused by a sloppy database upgrade by me, so I do take responsibility for the loss of the old forum.

I am sure it is still recoverable, because the data is all there. All I need is someone with mySQL skills to help me repair the database. Then I could make the old forum a read-only archive, and have this forum still active.

I have tried repairing it myself, but the fault is beyond my skill level.

Volunteers - submit resume below.

cheers
Rob

May I tentatively suggest you request the help of a very talented chap at the R3OK forum (http://www.r3ok.com)? He's the rather ecentric member going by the name of Sydney Grew (http://www.r3ok.com/index.php?action=profile;u=2), and he has single-handledly effected a working offline recovery version of an SMF forum which would otherwise have disappeared forever into the cyber-ether following the collapse of the hosting firm. To give you an idea of what Mr Grew pulled off, read this thread (http://www.r3ok.com/index.php/topic,343.0.html).

FK
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: karlhenning on January 31, 2009, 02:57:42 PM
Oh, he's made himself eccentric here on one or two occasions, FK  8)
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Kuhlau on January 31, 2009, 03:03:08 PM
Well, if he's also a member here, I'd suggest Rob approaches him. It can't hurt to ask. ;)

FK
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: karlhenning on January 31, 2009, 03:06:31 PM
True enow!
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: karlhenning on January 31, 2009, 03:09:33 PM
Quote from: Kuhlau on January 31, 2009, 02:03:17 PM
May I tentatively suggest you request the help of a very talented chap at the R3OK forum (http://www.r3ok.com)? He's the rather ecentric member going by the name of Sydney Grew (http://www.r3ok.com/index.php?action=profile;u=2), and he has single-handledly effected a working offline recovery version of an SMF forum which would otherwise have disappeared forever into the cyber-ether following the collapse of the hosting firm. To give you an idea of what Mr Grew pulled off, read this thread (http://www.r3ok.com/index.php/topic,343.0.html).

Eccolo. (http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php?action=profile;u=603)
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: George on January 31, 2009, 03:32:51 PM
Quote from: karlhenning on January 31, 2009, 03:09:33 PM
Eccolo. (http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php?action=profile;u=603)

I knew that avatar looked familar.  :)
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Brünnhilde forever on January 31, 2009, 05:34:36 PM
It must have been in 2002 or very early 2003 when news of a new classical music forum reached the New York Times and it's posters in the Classical Music - CMF - and the Opera - OF - sections. A number of New Yorkers stuck their toes in to test the GMG water, but didn't like the thread format, they were more comfortable in what I call their Kaffeeklatsch version.

I have searched my memory for some time now and still can come up with only three former New Yorkers now happy at GMG:

Karl Henning, Mark Simon, and I, nee uffeviking. There was ACD but he didn't stay long.

If I missed any, you'll certainly correct me!  ;)
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: DavidW on January 31, 2009, 05:54:13 PM
Yeah you forgot Pinkie!  I think he might have been banned from CMG at that time for being crazed and annoying, so I would consider him an NYT poster (he posted on both forums). ;D
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Brünnhilde forever on January 31, 2009, 06:34:39 PM
Please refresh my memory, David, who is Pinkie?  ???
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: DavidW on January 31, 2009, 06:38:24 PM
Quote from: Brünnhilde forever on January 31, 2009, 06:34:39 PM
Please refresh my memory, David, who is Pinkie?  ???

He's unrepentant. ;D
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: greg on January 31, 2009, 06:41:34 PM
wasn't the old forum at penny-farthing.net or something?

you know, the only member I can remember from that long ago is you, David. I know I'm forgetting others... when did Karl join?
Also, some posted consistently for a while, then just quit. Some guy (i think his name was Chris) with Sarah Chang's eye as an avatar, for example. Anyone remember who I'm talking about?
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Brünnhilde forever on January 31, 2009, 06:51:54 PM
Big help,  :P David! Who is unrepentant? Nobody with that name listed as GMG member.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: greg on January 31, 2009, 06:53:57 PM
The Pink Harp?
Unrepentant Pelleastrian?
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: George on January 31, 2009, 06:54:20 PM
Quote from: DavidW on January 31, 2009, 06:38:24 PM
He's unrepentant. ;D

Faunny.  ;D
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: DavidW on January 31, 2009, 06:56:54 PM
Quote from: G$ on January 31, 2009, 06:41:34 PM
wasn't the old forum at penny-farthing.net or something?

you know, the only member I can remember from that long ago is you, David. I know I'm forgetting others... when did Karl join?
Also, some posted consistently for a while, then just quit. Some guy (i think his name was Chris) with Sarah Chang's eye as an avatar, for example. Anyone remember who I'm talking about?

Andre was one of the first to come over, and I was actually one of the last.  Me, Heck, Hector, Iago, Catison, Herman, Molman, Gurn, Dirk (he's still here too), Karl, Weirdears, Andre, Pink Harp, Sidozey and a few others all came around in the same few months.

That's not really the beginning of the story, those posters (minus me and Catison) started on the Classical Insights board years before that.  My only 90s era posting on classical fora was just a couple of posts on rmcr.  And I have to admit that rmcr is much better at retaining posters (such as Tom Deacon, M, Vaneyes, etc etc (that list could go on for very long)) than the internet forums. :P
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Brünnhilde forever on January 31, 2009, 06:57:30 PM
Got it, David!   :-*

Was he with any of the NYT fora? If you say so, Luv, your memory is younger than mine!  ::)
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: greg on January 31, 2009, 06:59:43 PM
Quote from: DavidW on January 31, 2009, 06:56:54 PM
Andre was one of the first to come over, and I was actually one of the last.  Me, Heck, Hector, Iago, Catison, Herman, Molman, Gurn, Dirk (he's still here too), Karl, Weirdears, Andre, Pink Harp, Sidozey and a few others all came around in the same few months.

That's not really the beginning of the story, those posters (minus me and Catison) started on the Classical Insights board years before that.  My only 90s era posting on classical fora was just a couple of posts on rmcr.  And I have to admit that rmcr is much better at retaining posters (such as Tom Deacon, M, Vaneyes, etc etc (that list could go on for very long)) than the internet forums. :P
Andre sounds familiar... Who's Dirk? (i mean, his screen name now?)
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: greg on January 31, 2009, 07:03:19 PM
Whoa, why was that post deleted? lol


i sent him a pm about all the bad things everyone said about him on this thread.  8)
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: DavidW on January 31, 2009, 07:05:18 PM
Quote from: Brünnhilde forever on January 31, 2009, 06:57:30 PM
Got it, David!   :-*

Was he with any of the NYT fora? If you say so, Luv, your memory is younger than mine!  ::)

I think he would post on NYT.  Karl remembers those days well, you can ask him about it. ;D
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: DavidW on January 31, 2009, 07:07:24 PM
Quote from: G$ on January 31, 2009, 06:59:43 PM
Andre sounds familiar... Who's Dirk? (i mean, his screen name now?)

Dirk = Dirk Ronk, and he's always been Dirk Ronk.  I swear he posted like just a week or two ago, or maybe just even a few days ago! :D  Wherever there are posts about great musicians (especially if it's piano music) performing Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms etc he'll be there.  He's heard like everything when it comes to the greats.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: DavidW on January 31, 2009, 07:15:13 PM
Quote from: G$ on January 31, 2009, 06:59:43 PM
Andre sounds familiar... Who's Dirk? (i mean, his screen name now?)

Andre is sending Bruckner to heaven now.  Usually it's the other way around. ;D

Oh bwv1080 I think he's been on both cmg and gmg the whole time.  And don't forget Larry Rinkel, oh wait Larry's gone, Utah Bill was on gmg, and I thought maybe he came back?  Our resident Malcolm Arnold fan, I forgot his handle, but I was debating Mahleria issues with him just a few days ago, has been here and on cmg for quite awhile.  He changes his handle as often as I change my avatar! :D
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: greg on January 31, 2009, 07:17:09 PM
Maybe we should start a club for us seniors  :D
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: greg on January 31, 2009, 07:18:36 PM
Ah, i get it- Andre = Lilas Pastia
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: DavidW on January 31, 2009, 07:20:19 PM
Quote from: G$ on January 31, 2009, 07:17:09 PM
Maybe we should start a club for us seniors  :D

I had forgotten Gabriel.  And that's really a shame that I would do that, because he and Herman really got me into Haydn.  And you know he is my favorite composer now.  Gabriel just posted a few days ago, so he's still here.

Even though alot of posters still seem to be here, we really have lost much more of the older times than we've retained.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: greg on January 31, 2009, 07:25:08 PM
For some reason, though, the nostalgia of old message board posting doesn't quite compare to the nostalgia of real life.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: DavidW on January 31, 2009, 08:28:30 PM
Quote from: G$ on January 31, 2009, 07:25:08 PM
For some reason, though, the nostalgia of old message board posting doesn't quite compare to the nostalgia of real life.

I'm too young to be nostalgic.  Whenever I think "remember those wonderful times of old..." I recall "... oh wait they sucked, just in a different way!" :D
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Herman on January 31, 2009, 10:01:53 PM
Quote from: DavidW on January 31, 2009, 07:20:19 PM
I had forgotten Gabriel.  And that's really a shame that I would do that, because he and Herman really got me into Haydn.  And you know he is my favorite composer now.  Gabriel just posted a few days ago, so he's still here.

Even though alot of posters still seem to be here, we really have lost much more of the older times than we've retained.

Yes Gabriel! He was the one who mailed me and said let's come on over. This was in the winter of 2003, around this time of year, I remember now. The moderators came about a year later.

Andre was called Calaf, back then. He and I left GMG at about the same time. I remember he said he'd had it. And when I came back a couple months ago, there he is, called Lilas! ;D

Larry Rinkel was a great guy.

Pink Harp wasn't with the first bunch, not by a long shot. He tagged aling with Karl and the kaffee klatsch, which is kind of ironic. I guess one could make a case that Eric and Karl are the same person, only different.

Those names on the oldest screenshot from 2002 don't ring any bell for me.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Opus106 on February 01, 2009, 12:00:27 AM
Thanks a lot, people! And thank you, Rob, for history, screenshots and all. :)

I wonder what that Sibelius retirement fund was all about. :D
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Lilas Pastia on February 01, 2009, 07:03:44 AM
I clearly recall the original poster who approached Rob, politely asking if he'd mind him inviting a bunch of friends to join GMG. His handle was ThomasJ. He's the originator of that 'huge trafic influx' that started in 2002. Tom is a gentleman and I miss him. I think he's more into jazz now, or maybe even back at the old board (CMG).

I joined as Calaf, keeping my old handle from the other board.  When I resigned as moderator (there were periodic bouts of revolt among the moderated and I just couldn't take the aggravation), I found that, much to my annoyance, some here thought my opinions were 'tainted' because of my tenure. That led me to quit. After a few months I quietly came back as Lilas. I also dumped my trademark Papa Smurf pic. The choice of another operatic character was of course intentional, and so was the fact that it's a very secondary one vs the previous incarnation, the caddish prince who wins girl, throne and fame :D.

Reflecting on all this I can say that 6 years of posting at GMG has immeasurably widened my musical horizons and (I think) deepened my understanding of music. It's been quite an adventure!
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: greg on February 01, 2009, 07:13:00 AM
Didn't you have that smurf as an avatar?
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Lilas Pastia on February 01, 2009, 07:20:20 AM
(http://www.costumzee.com/view/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/papa_smurf.jpg)

Yup. That was me. Sorry I can't make it smaller. I couldn't get the old avatar from the profile options.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: aquablob on February 01, 2009, 07:22:19 AM
Quote from: Lilas Pastia on February 01, 2009, 07:20:20 AM
(http://www.costumzee.com/view/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/papa_smurf.jpg)

Yup. That was me. Sorry I can't make it smaller. I couldn't get the old avatar from the profile options.

I remember that!
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Benji on February 01, 2009, 09:07:04 AM
Memories, like the corners of my mind. Misty, water-coloured memories. Of the way we were...

I feel sentimental about the old days, the old days with the garish coloured boards and the equally, ahem, colourful chat. Maybe its the calming pastel blue shades of the most recent board that have made it such a peaceful place in recent years?  :D
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: DavidW on February 01, 2009, 09:43:09 AM
Haha Soggy Moggy there you are! :)
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Benji on February 01, 2009, 11:15:35 AM
Yeah babies, i'm back [and soggier than ever]!  ;)
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: knight66 on February 01, 2009, 01:33:08 PM
And snowy white; which I suspect is the prevalent colour out of your window right now.

Mike
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Benji on February 01, 2009, 03:02:17 PM
Quote from: knight on February 01, 2009, 01:33:08 PM
And snowy white; which I suspect is the prevalent colour out of your window right now.

Mike

Unfortunately not - the prevalent colour out the window is, as always, Urban Night-time Orange. They should name a crayon after it.  ;D
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: knight66 on February 01, 2009, 03:04:40 PM
I do believe the white stuff is on its way.

Mike
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Diletante on February 01, 2009, 05:39:56 PM
Very interesting thread! Maybe now there could be an "inside jokes" thread for us new people. I, for one, wonder what the heck "vibrational fields" are.  ???
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Opus106 on February 01, 2009, 10:10:07 PM
Quote from: tanuki on February 01, 2009, 05:39:56 PM
I, for one, wonder what the heck "vibrational fields" are.  ???

The source of Elgar's music - I think.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Sergeant Rock on February 02, 2009, 12:04:20 PM
Quote from: tanuki on February 01, 2009, 05:39:56 PM
Very interesting thread! Maybe now there could be an "inside jokes" thread for us new people. I, for one, wonder what the heck "vibrational fields" are.  ???

Believe me, you don't want to know. You've been warned.

Sarge
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: knight66 on February 02, 2009, 12:09:38 PM
I was going to reply to Tankui's question, then I though that really he was better off not knowing.

Mike
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Herman on February 02, 2009, 12:16:10 PM
Quote from: tanuki on February 01, 2009, 05:39:56 PM
I, for one, wonder what the heck "vibrational fields" are.  ???

We could take you there, but there's no guarantee you'd get back.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: knight66 on February 02, 2009, 12:31:18 PM
Yes, a journey to the Wilder Shores.

Mike
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: karlhenning on February 02, 2009, 01:32:13 PM
(* chortle *)
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Brünnhilde forever on February 02, 2009, 01:39:51 PM
Quote from: karlhenning on February 02, 2009, 01:32:13 PM
(* chortle *)

When you are done with the chortling, please put your expansive memory bank in gear and list the present GMG members who have ??? come over from any of the NYT fora, centuries ago. I listed only you, Mark and myself.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Benji on February 02, 2009, 01:47:59 PM
Quote from: Brünnhilde forever on February 02, 2009, 01:39:51 PM
When you are done with the chortling, please put your expansive memory bank in gear and list the present GMG members who have ??? come over from any of the NYT fora, centuries ago. I listed only you, Mark and myself.

I just want to say that I will think of Elmer Fudd every time I see your name.

Fudd: Oh Brunnhilde you are so wuvvely!
Buggs: Yes I know, I can't help it.

Thanks for a giggle!  ;)
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: karlhenning on February 02, 2009, 01:59:09 PM
Can't stop the chortling!

Lis, apart from perhaps UB (if he headed this way from the NYT forum), I don't think of anyone who hasn't already been mentioned.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Brünnhilde forever on February 02, 2009, 02:27:22 PM
Quote from: Episode VI: Return of the Mog on February 02, 2009, 01:47:59 PM

Thanks for a giggle!  ;)

You are quite welcome, any time, I am glad to be of assistance to your giggling!

P.S. If I were familiar with the characters behind the names you mentioned, Fudd and Buggs, I might even understand why you are giggling.  :-\
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: knight66 on February 02, 2009, 02:32:59 PM
Lis, Let us know when you enter your second childhood and we will explain the arcana of Bugs Bunny et all.

Mike
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Brian on February 02, 2009, 02:38:31 PM
Quote from: Brünnhilde forever on February 02, 2009, 02:27:22 PM
You are quite welcome, any time, I am glad to be of assistance to your giggling!

P.S. If I were familiar with the characters behind the names you mentioned, Fudd and Buggs, I might even understand why you are giggling.  :-\
Here we go! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDwDo_hTs2Q) A cartoon classic. :)
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Benji on February 02, 2009, 02:46:14 PM
Quote from: Brian on February 02, 2009, 02:38:31 PM
Here we go! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDwDo_hTs2Q) A cartoon classic. :)

That's the ticket! Hilarious stuff  :)
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Brünnhilde forever on February 02, 2009, 02:53:07 PM
Oh you guys! I love you all, especially Brian,  :-*  for the entertainment and the education on the subject of American cartoons! I am not only chortling and giggling, I am laughing!

See, that's what I get for not having television, by choice, not necessity, and for spending my childhood in a foreign country!

Refresher course recommended?  ::)
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Herman on February 02, 2009, 08:32:10 PM
Quote from: Brünnhilde forever on February 02, 2009, 02:53:07 PM
spending my childhood in a foreign country!


Ah, Lis, this is GMG, not the NYT: there are no foreign countries.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Gabriel on February 23, 2009, 03:07:02 PM
Quote from: Herman on January 31, 2009, 10:01:53 PM
Yes Gabriel! He was the one who mailed me and said let's come on over. This was in the winter of 2003, around this time of year, I remember now. The moderators came about a year later.

Indeed, I wrote to you, Herman! Yes, I'm quite sure it was in January or February 2003. I recall that there had been some problems in CMG for a while, and after a specific and unpleasant incident (which, fortunately I guess, I don't remember) many of the posters decided not to post in that site anymore, including me and those who you have mentioned. I don't know exactly how we got to GMG, but remember I received an e-mail from one of the members (possibly André/Lilas?) telling me about this site, so we coordinated by e-mail our arrival to this new musical home.

I also remember Lin from the (re)founding group. (Lin/Rach, if I'm not mistaken).

David, I am sincerely thankful to your words. I'm sure Haydn's music expresses itself very well, but if my enthousiasm contributed as a vehicle for your motivation, I cannot but feel a great and humble joy.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Cato on September 13, 2023, 02:12:44 PM
😇 O.M.G.  😇


I was not sure where to place this, so I chose this topic, since I must have been with GMG near its inception.


While placing a comment just now, it struck me that, after nearly 2 decades (!) here, I somehow, some days ago, broke 10,000 comments!


I suppose that does not count the comments from GMG 1.0.   ;D


Anyway, on to 20,000!   8)
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: DavidW on September 13, 2023, 03:56:22 PM
Rereading this thread brought back memories.  And it was funny to see how wrong I was:

Quote from: DavidW on January 31, 2009, 01:15:54 PMYeah internet years = dog years. :D

I can't believe it has been twenty years already.  As Herman pointed out in the beginning of the thread, Herman, Gurn, myself, Todd, Karl and a few others came over from cmg around 2003-2004.

Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: DavidW on September 13, 2023, 03:59:25 PM
Oh and if you're wondering what Cato was like back in the day... there were far more angel emoticons! :laugh:
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Karl Henning on September 13, 2023, 04:09:29 PM
Quote from: DavidW on September 13, 2023, 03:59:25 PMOh and if you're wondering what Cato was like back in the day... there were far more angel emoticons! :laugh:
Hah!!!
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Cato on September 13, 2023, 04:39:12 PM
Quote from: DavidW on September 13, 2023, 03:59:25 PMOh and if you're wondering what Cato was like back in the day... there were far more angel emoticons! :laugh:


Quote from: Karl Henning on September 13, 2023, 04:09:29 PMHah!!!


To be sure, the original Angel Emoticon RAWKED!  

Now I must settle for this imitation:  😇    ;)
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Holden on September 14, 2023, 01:50:25 PM
Quote from: DavidW on September 13, 2023, 03:56:22 PMRereading this thread brought back memories.  And it was funny to see how wrong I was:

I can't believe it has been twenty years already.  As Herman pointed out in the beginning of the thread, Herman, Gurn, myself, Todd, Karl and a few others came over from cmg around 2003-2004.



I also came across from CMG at the same time and when I think 20 years where did al that time go?
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Cato on September 14, 2023, 03:34:51 PM
Quote from: Holden on September 14, 2023, 01:50:25 PMI also came across from CMG at the same time and when I think 20 years where did all that time go?


Holden!  You are in the club!  ;D

And look at what I found!!!!

https://web.archive.org/web/20051123014442/http://www.good-music-guide.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=232 (https://web.archive.org/web/20051123014442/http://www.good-music-guide.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=232)

So!  I registered on November 4, 2004, and wrote nearly 800 comments by a year later!

I know that Karl was already established here.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Daverz on September 14, 2023, 03:39:22 PM
When did GMG have the "great reset"?  I know I was here before that.  Searching shows a registration email from April 6, 2007, but I don't remember if that was before or after.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Cato on September 14, 2023, 03:52:06 PM
Here is another archived page from 2006: I note that I had started a discussion for the music of Ernst Toch!

https://web.archive.org/web/20060325030721/http://www.good-music-guide.com/forum/index.php?board=6.0 (https://web.archive.org/web/20060325030721/http://www.good-music-guide.com/forum/index.php?board=6.0)

Unfortunately, I cannot get past that page to see the actual discussion.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Cato on September 14, 2023, 04:10:28 PM
Another shot of a discussion page from long ago!

https://web.archive.org/web/20070810083344/http://www.good-music-guide.com/forum/index.php?board=6.0 (https://web.archive.org/web/20070810083344/http://www.good-music-guide.com/forum/index.php?board=6.0)
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: DavidW on September 14, 2023, 04:12:56 PM
My favorite from the original Haydn thread:

Quote from: Gurn Blanston
Quote from: chuck on October 23, 2004, 12:40:56 PMwhy does Mozart get a mansion but Haydn gets only a corner?

Because Herman was much more humble and self-effacing than DavidW, which carried oven into their thread naming adventures!
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: Daverz on September 14, 2023, 04:15:45 PM
Quote from: Daverz on September 14, 2023, 03:39:22 PMWhen did GMG have the "great reset"?  I know I was here before that.  Searching shows a registration email from April 6, 2007, but I don't remember if that was before or after.

Yikes, I see on the wayback machine that I had 2355 posts on the old GMG by December 10, 2004.  That's how bad my memory has become (it was never very good with things like timelines to begin with).  I must have registered on the old site before I had gmail.  I'm not going to try to drill back to the beginning with the wayback machine's anachronistic 1200-baud modem speeds.
Title: Re: How did GMG begin?
Post by: DavidW on September 14, 2023, 04:27:57 PM
Quote from: Daverz on September 14, 2023, 04:15:45 PMYikes, I see on the wayback machine that I had 2355 posts on the old GMG by December 10, 2004.  That's how bad my memory has become (it was never very good with things like timelines to begin with).  I must have registered on the old site before I had gmail.  I'm not going to try to drill back to the beginning with the wayback machine's anachronistic 1200-baud modem speeds.

Yeah I was going to say that I always remembered you being here.  I didn't remember the reset, but I think was on a short hiatus for a few months when I started my career as a teacher when it happened.

I think I came back, and it had already happened.  I recall from a convo with Poju that I ended up trying Caldara and made my first digital download purchase at that time that I returned which was sometime in either 2007 or 2008.