|  | 
        
         |  | 
        
         |  Ceri JC
             from Jefferson City (United States) on 2003-04-02 01:09 [#00628490] Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to rose: #00628138 | Show recordbag
 | 
| 
     
 
 | Rose, please could you explain the following, "(I hate to mention it)
 PLUR. I have..."
 
 what is "PLUR"?
 
 Good point by ecnadniarb re: govt. breaking up the rave
 scene. I was too young to go to raves, but I was into the
 music from spending hours in my elder brother's room
 listening to old rave/techno.
 
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  Erronous
             from Netherlands, The on 2003-04-02 01:10 [#00628492] Points: 2519 Status: Lurker
 | 
| 
     
 
 | 3. I sure do! One of the things which create this
 community-feeling is the fact not every thread is a
 music-related one. It gives you the feeling you’re not
 only inquiring information about IDM on the board, but
 actually making friends here. You get to know people, their
 habits, ways to respond.. .. It is so much more pleasant
 knowing a little background info of each other. A sort of
 trust, I guess, that arises.
 
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  Erronous
             from Netherlands, The on 2003-04-02 01:18 [#00628498] Points: 2519 Status: Lurker
 | 
| 
     
 
 | 4. Well, it’s true Xltronic has helped me finding people who
 like the same music as I do. Aside from that, I’ve never
 had any contact with the artists themselves, and while the
 Autechre remix contest is a great initiative, contact with
 Ae is still very indirect. (correct me if I’m wrong..)
 Above that, I’m not participating in this contest, so
 perhaps I don’t have that right of speaking.. ..
 
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  Erronous
             from Netherlands, The on 2003-04-02 01:26 [#00628506] Points: 2519 Status: Lurker
 | 
| 
     
 
 | 5. I found the predecessor aphextwin.nu after a web search,
 while I was looking for aphex twin info. First I was hooked
 by the discogs, later I started exploring the rest of the
 site, read the threads on the message boards and the likes.
 Only a few months since I started posting. It did kind of
 grow on me. Now I like to read all the threads because I
 find it very interesting what these people are discussing
 about. I have found great artist names I had never heard
 about before. Plus it’s a way of relaxing – putting my
 minds off... Other message boards never really took my
 attention. Well it’s obvious important the board is
 related to a general concept you like, like electronics in
 this case... So if you like that, the board does
 automatically appeal to a person I guess. With that, the
 gentle people and the orderly lay-out contribute to my
 interest. A lot.
 
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  Erronous
             from Netherlands, The on 2003-04-02 01:27 [#00628507] Points: 2519 Status: Lurker
 | 
| 
     
 
 | 6. Yeah I just said something in that direction in another
 question I guess, the longer you have been a member, the
 more ‘face’ you are getting. You sure have to fit in the
 community, and a person can only make one first impression.
 I’ve seen some people coming over and left forever the
 same day. Noticing the amount of replies on your thread,
 Rose, it’s not necessary to have this reputation with good
 questions. Perhaps I would answer earlier in a thread of
 someone I ‘know’, rather than a complete stranger. But
 this kind of general discussions appeals to everyone,
 regardless of your posting history.
 
 By now my boss must be loving me for spending so much time
 over here heheh…
 
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  Murray
             from Southend, Essex (United Kingdom) on 2003-04-02 02:07 [#00628542] Points: 4891 Status: Lurker
 | 
| 
     
 
 | 1) Alot of my friends are not into this type of music, coming to a place like this helps me express my thoughts on
 the music that i love to listen to. It is great to know you
 are among people who like the same thing you like but have
 different views on it and it is always interesting to listen
 to eachother's views. Plus with reccomendations people have
 given me to listen to (such as Mira Calix, Roni Size, and
 some Tom Waits) i have really discovered different types of
 music that i never though i would have liked.
 
 2) There is a big notion of feeling and emotions such as
 love, hate, bitterness and anger all linked in with most IDM
 tracks. I feel it is impossible for me not to feel a strong
 emotion when listening to an IDM track i like. Also with
 everyone creating their own music on the board, i feel that
 alot more emotion can be reached by listening to different
 people's perspective of how they want music to sound.
 
 3) Yes i do. With such conversations and topics that link to
 the member's personal life and emotion, it gives the picture
 on as the avatar another dimension. You remeber how that
 person felt previously and talk to them about it. It's a
 friendly atmosphere.
 
 4) Yes i do. I know 'of' people who live near me that have
 the same taste in music. I have had contact with a few of
 the artists i listen to (Yeeking, Mira Calix and Venetian
 Snares) with help of members through this board :) I'm soon
 going to write to Boards of Canada
 
 5) I was heavily into Aphex Twin when i was 13-14 and
 searched the net from websites about him. I found
 aphextwin.nu and i have loved it ever since. A real sense of
 community and a reason for being there; for people to
 interact with eachother globally and meet people they never
 thought they would meet. I prefer this message board because
 its easy to use, a nice lot of people :) and aphextwin.nu
 had good content in it, which im sure XLTronic.com will as
 well.
 
 6) I feel that, at times, more points a member has, the more
 they are respected. However, it has been shown
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  Murray
             from Southend, Essex (United Kingdom) on 2003-04-02 02:07 [#00628543] Points: 4891 Status: Lurker
 | 
| 
     
 
 | that people who have only posted several times (50-100) are respected, such as a director who at times posts here to
 promote his videos which alot of people enjoy.
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  tolstoyed
             from the ocean on 2003-04-02 02:50 [#00628601] Points: 50073 Status: Moderator | Followup to rose: #00628138
 | 
| 
     
 
 | you can find a rave party on every corner, as for the idm parties-you can hardly find any. i mean there are some
 bigger events through out the year and many people attend
 those, so i guess if there were more events like this it
 would be easier to socialize with people that like same
 music.
 (if i want to hear idm music in a club, the nearest good
 club is 350 kms away...so if you like this music, you must
 be prepared to travel a lot, i guess its a little better if
 you live in england...)
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  rockenjohnny
             from champagne socialism (Australia) on 2003-04-02 03:06 [#00628628] Points: 7983 Status: Lurker | Followup to Ceri JC: #00628490
 | 
| 
     
 
 | haha! 
 Peace
 Love
 Unity
 +
 Respect
 
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  Ceri JC
             from Jefferson City (United States) on 2003-04-02 03:27 [#00628668] Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to rockenjohnny: #00628628 | Show recordbag
 | 
| 
     
 
 | Cheers Rocken, You've just earned yourself some PLUR for explaining it to
 me.
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  Anus_Presley
             on 2003-04-02 04:33 [#00628755] Points: 23472 Status: Lurker
 | 
| 
     
 
 | how come this is a grrey sticky thrread? 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  Cheffe1979
             from fuck (Austria) on 2003-04-02 05:01 [#00628785] Points: 4630 Status: Lurker | Followup to Anus_Presley: #00628755
 | 
| 
     
 
 | it was glued to the top but when it reaches 1000 posts its too heavy and  falls down really fast. and who is in there
 at this time will never be seen again.
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  giginger
             from Milky Beans (United Kingdom) on 2003-04-02 06:01 [#00628878] Points: 26335 Status: Regular | Show recordbag
 | 
| 
     
 
 | 1. I wouldn't say that there is less of a community because
 it's brought it away from the clubs. I think it's just
 developed a different kind of community.
 
 2.
 When I first came to this board I would have said yes to
 that. Now that I've been here for a while I'd say no. The
 people on this board are very different and from all walks
 of life. There are parallels between many people but you
 only need look in some of the more political threads to see
 that there are certainly different mindsets at work here.a
 
 3.
 Yes, basically.
 
 4.
 Certainly. Very few of my friends I know outside the
 internet like this type of music. Those that do aren't as
 "into it" as I am.
 
 5.
 I found xltronic when it was aphextwin.nu
 I was searching for Aphex sites so I could learn more about
 the artist. I noticed that there was a message board and had
 a look. I didn't register straight away and just read some
 threads. I noticed that there was a sense of community there
 and decided to start posting myself. I can't really compare
 it to another message board as I've really only been a
 regular on this one. I've posted now and then on one other
 board and looked at another but I liked this one so I
 stayed.
 
 6.
 I think it's more a case of people trying to gauge what the
 person is asking in their question. If you "know" the poster
 then you can work out what they mean more. Plus if there's
 someone I get on well with who starts a thread then I'm more
 inclined to read it. I also have to be selective of threads
 due to time constraints. So in a way my answer to your
 question is yes but not intentionally.
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  redRummy
             from Brighton (United Kingdom) on 2003-04-02 12:04 [#00629265] Points: 403 Status: Regular
 | 
| 
     
 
 | (totally off topic) 
 w M w -> did you get your avatar off Glyphiti?  I drew the
 exact same picture there about 6months ago.. lol
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  DirtyPriest
             from Copenhagen (Denmark) on 2003-04-02 12:30 [#00629302] Points: 5499 Status: Lurker
 | 
| 
     
 
 | 
 1: I actually think that the fact that idm music is lesser
 known than other sorts of electronic music, and music in
 general
 helps make the community stronger. Yes, i would say this
 particular message board is a main source of my connection
 to
 IDM.
 
 2: Well, theyre all human beings. Nothing beyond that i'd
 say really.
 
 3: I dont know, because what youre like on the internet
 differs a lot from what you really are often, so real
 friends
 i dont know. i prefer them in flesh and blood! But musically
 enlightened people like this is hard to find, but the
 relationships for my part at least, are wery shallow.
 
 4: Surely. Real fans of electronic music is hard to find
 man!
 
 5: Trough the old aphextwin.nu as i was just getting
 interested in the guy.
 
 6: Yes,i actually think it might be just that! Somehow a guy
 with 6000 points seems more "in" than someone called
 "aphextwinfan"
 with no photo and 3 posts.
 
 Interesting topic BTW. I believe someone else here on the
 board did something similar, also a student of antropology i
 believe.
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  DirtyPriest
             from Copenhagen (Denmark) on 2003-04-02 12:32 [#00629307] Points: 5499 Status: Lurker
 | 
| 
     
 
 | I belive a lot. hehe. 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  w M w
             from London (United Kingdom) on 2003-04-02 16:01 [#00629535] Points: 21639 Status: Lurker | Followup to redRummy: #00629265
 | 
| 
     
 
 | I know, I know, it's hard to believe but I drew this masterpiece myself! I couldn't figure out how to make it a
 small enough file size which is why it looks fuzzy. My old
 avatar with moving lines was awesome but there's no way I'd
 ever figure out how to do that again with the size limit.
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  grm
             from London (United Kingdom) on 2003-04-02 19:53 [#00629683] Points: 494 Status: Regular
 | 
| 
     
 
 | 1. I think that is brings a stronger collective/belonging sense
 into the genre (call it “braindance” please).  A
 lot of people are into the scene for various reasons and
 their views are not always similar.  By not having a large
 selection of fans in any one area the internet helps to
 bridge the gap and, effectively, bring them into your room
 (without them being there, spilling beers and making a
 mess).  On this board everyone is here because they really
 like aphex twin, so us fans can become a collective on here
 
 2.
 Yes and no.  a lot of people here on the board seem to just
 post to get their “rating” up to a hardcore
 level.  This is good in a sense that a lot of friendships
 have been made, and a shame as there are some people who
 ruin messages by spilling childish crap onto the board.
 
 3.
 Yes, and (again proven by some of the replies on this
 message) the childish crap that litters the page
 doesn’t help some valid points brought up quite often
 
 4.
 No, not really.  But I guess others have.  I think that
 because there is this whole safety net thing of “I
 can’t see you and you’re not near me”
 attitude helps people be more open than in normal
 friendships
 
 5.
 I found it many a year ago looking for aphex twin on the
 internet (it’s the first thing to come up on the
 search places).  I come here as I like the layout and the
 opinions most people hold.  It is also nice to find out new
 things on the genre I love so.  the board is the best I have
 ever come across as it is both simple and easy to navigate.
 Current topics stay high so you don’t have to trawl
 through loads of shit to find something interesting.
 
 6.
 what the mylittlesister person said goes for me.  Although
 being a member for some time I don’t hold any real
 status on the board I a rarely post - mostly read.
 
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  Charles D Ward
             from ASS, okay? (United States) on 2003-04-03 11:41 [#00630871] Points: 1072 Status: Addict
 | 
| 
     
 
 | 1. Clubs disrupt any sense of community. There in NO real community among ravers, it's all an illusion. A drug-induced
 illusion. But it seems impossible to create a reallife IDM
 club either, can't say why, for me it's about communication
 problems. I'm afraid of people.
 
 2. Judging from personal experience (reallife and online), I
 can say most people who share similar electronic music
 tastes have the same sense of humor, approach to life, maybe
 even mental issues. Heh.
 
 Three sides of a typical XLTer: uzim, Marlowe, skyfarmer.
 Mix and add water in different proportions to get any user
 you want! Tip: average will be just water :)
 
 3. Of course. We're a bunch of friends, and as I said above,
 we share much more than just music tastes. It's not a music
 messageboard, it's a community messageboard, and we talk
 about all kinds of stuff we find interesting.
 
 4. Yes. I've met many extraordinarily bright and interesting
 people here.
 
 5. I used to frequent aphextwin.nu for some months, then I
 went seriously offline, came back after some years, and
 bang, here it is. Xltronic. It's the best because of (1)
 people (2) design (3) pleasant athmosphere (which is
 provided by the two things mentioned above)
 
 6. People get to know you more over time, and you get more
 popular. If you're an outstanding individual, people pay
 more attention to your words. But if you're grey and
 mediocre, you get the opposite - experienced users learn to
 skip your posts to save time. >:)
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  merg
             from The New New York (Berlin) (Germany) on 2003-04-04 01:55 [#00631896] Points: 1708 Status: Regular
 | 
| 
     
 
 | 1. Yes there is, but it's hard to find people of like minds, so obviously message boards such as this one are a Godsend
 in bringing us together...(altogether now, aaaaaah!) :-)
 
 2. Haven't really been here long enough to say, but I'd say
 that we're all generally sound as a pound(!) Quite possibly
 we'd share the same opinions on other topics too.
 
 3. I believe it demonstrates that people have perspective
 and wish to discuss pressing issues of the day with people
 with whom they feel able to do so, and whose opinions they
 value...it could also be that until the last 2 or 3 weeks,
 there hasn't been much decent stuff released(!)
 
 4. N/A personally (newbie) but I'd say it undoubtedly has
 and will in other cases than mine...
 
 5. Through aphextwin.nu which I had linked on my webpage
 from ages ago. It's the best and only music board I visit.
 
 6. Of course regulars' comments carry more weight, you're
 more likely to value the comments of a long-time poster than
 you are any old gimp like me(!)
 
 Hope this helps
 
 :-)
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  corngrower
             from the fertile grounds of Iowa, w (United States) on 2003-04-04 03:10 [#00631990] Points: 4404 Status: Lurker
 | 
| 
     
 
 | 1)  This message board definetly has helped me a great deal learn more about this music which I've came to love and
 others who see it in the same light as myself.  I've got
 many friends who appreciate this genre of music, but I have
 no direct contect with those who have the same passion for
 it, and that's where this site has helped me.  I've learned
 more about this music I love here than anywhere else, and
 I've discovered great new artists in the process.  Overall,
 the "idm scene" may not be as cohesive as the techno/rave
 scene, but in my mind it is much more rewarding to find
 others who can appreciate this complex form of music which
 I've come to love.
 
 2)  The great thing about this board is the huge range of
 people which accompany it.  Thats another thing I've come to
 love about this music, that there is no stereotype to it.
 Some may disagree on this point, but I find that a broad
 rang of people, different in many aspects, are what makes
 this board as great as it is.  All though sometimes we get
 silly and jokey, overall I believe there is great insight to
 be observed by those who come here.  Like any community, we
 have our quarles (sp?) and our spats, but in the end, there
 is certainly great knowlege around here.
 
 3)  Without a doubt, this message board has regressed into
 serious and offensive debates which often don't pertain to
 music at all, but that is what makes it what it is.  The
 fact that we can get to know each other for who we really
 are is great, and though these debates sometimes get out of
 hand, it can be a great reminder of how different we really
 are, even though we have many things in common.  Sometimes
 it gets stupid, but what doesn't?
 
 4)  This is the most decisive answer I can make.  This mb
 has helped me make contacts and learn more about music than
 I could ever have otherwise in my mind.  Though I don't
 state it, some of the relationships and people I've met here
 (though I dont really know them) are invaluable to me.  I'm
 nothing but greatful that I've found a site w
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  corngrower
             from the fertile grounds of Iowa, w (United States) on 2003-04-04 03:11 [#00631994] Points: 4404 Status: Lurker
 | 
| 
     
 
 | fuck, I got cutoff.  Too drunk to write it all out again. pitty
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  Refund
             from Melbourne (Australia) on 2003-04-04 04:41 [#00632130] Points: 7824 Status: Lurker | Followup to rose: #00623430
 | 
| 
     
 
 | Rose: when you're finished with this thing, please post it up on the forum,. I'm be interested to see what you would
 say in your report
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  nacmat
             on 2003-04-04 05:58 [#00632176] Points: 31275 Status: Lurker | Followup to Refund: #00632130
 | 
| 
     
 
 | yea I am so interested... please post here the result of whatever you are doing
 
 the fact is that this thread could easily be one of the
 bests in this MB history
 
 in some way you must be feeling th community weather right
 now...:D
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  rose
             from asheville (United States) on 2003-04-04 13:28 [#00632652] Points: 7 Status: Lurker
 | 
| 
     
 
 | You want me to post my finished product? The dangers of the anthropology. When Hunter Thompson published his study on
 the Hell's Angels, they nearly beat him to death.
 
 Actually, I'm sure I don't need to worry about reprisal.
 There will be nothing less than flattering in my paper. Yes,
 nacmat, I am experiencing the element of community. I really
 appreciate how helpful everyone has been.  My concern is
 that, since the paper is aimed at  60-something professors,
 the explanations I have to make, like "Richard D. James
 is..." will sound patronizing. The paper will be in process
 for a while, but I can tell you that the title will be "I
 Care Because You Do."
 
 If you would like to invade my message board in return, I
 and some other students create a web-magazine with a forum
 at http://www.warren-wilson.edu/~well. (This probably won't
 be very relevant outside of the college.) And while I'm
 self-promoting, you might also be interested in
 http://www.magazineminima.com.
 
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  rose
             from asheville (United States) on 2003-04-04 13:31 [#00632658] Points: 7 Status: Lurker
 | 
| 
     
 
 | Here's one more question for those who are interested: 
 Do you think that there is something about electronic
 music--usually not made with wood, wind, or any organic
 material, often composed alone, without the collaborative
 atmosphere that a band has--that is inherently bleak or
 isolationist? Do you think it is the same frame of mind that
 makes one like electronic music--distanced from the human
 hand that creates it, through knobs, wires, etc.--that also
 makes one seek interaction and conversation at great remove
 on message boards, through keyboards?
 
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  nacmat
             on 2003-04-04 19:00 [#00633044] Points: 31275 Status: Lurker | Followup to rose: #00632658
 | 
| 
     
 
 | but autechre, orbital, plaid...they are two people 
 what I mean is that it is not that unhuman
 
 no mater the media, the creative process is there as if it
 was made with wood
 
 the creation process makes you live alone anyway
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  tolstoyed
             from the ocean on 2003-04-04 20:00 [#00633085] Points: 50073 Status: Moderator | Followup to rose: #00632658
 | 
| 
     
 
 | plenty of electronic artists use organic sounds (if not otherwise, lots of them make their own sounds and samples).
 that about working alone is a bit true, but somehow its
 better this way-it makes you appreciate artist even more...
 and the last point is pretty hilarious (at least from my
 point of view), how did you come up with that hehe, no
 offense!,  i think at least 95 % of people here would never
 thought of anything like that :)
 (could be that im wrong though :) )
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  mute
             from hell (United States) on 2003-04-04 20:54 [#00633089] Points: 121 Status: Regular
 | 
| 
     
 
 | why do i suspect future cattle prodding and socio-economic manipulation of niche message boards? oh wait, that's
 already been attempted... nevermind. right now i hate
 everyone.
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  Refund
             from Melbourne (Australia) on 2003-04-05 00:25 [#00633230] Points: 7824 Status: Lurker
 | 
| 
     
 
 | 1: It's harder to be open about listening to IDM as opposed to more dance orientated electronic music, simply because
 more people listen to dance, and it is more socially
 accepted, so it's harder to find other people that listen to
 IDM, because there are not only less of them, but they often
 hide the fact.
 
 2: I've found that most people here will listen to any sort
 of music, be it jazz, rock, or classical, as long as it is
 reasonably good, and the production value is there.
 
 3: because this board is well moderated, people can speak
 their mind without having to worry about people coming in
 and abusing them for no reason, this sort of ease about what
 you can post means that people can talk just like they do in
 real life, without having to worry about keeping opinions to
 themselves for social acceptance, as well as that favours
 are thrown around a bit here, (more than at other
 messageboards I've visited) people generally try to help
 each other out, the whole 'give and take' thing probably
 helps out with making friendships between members stronger.
 
 4: Yes, I've Meet many people on this messageboard that I
 couldn't do without.
 
 5: I feel strongly for Xltronic, I've been here for quite a
 while, and I owe part of who I am today to how this
 messageboard and it's members has affected me, I think this
 message board is more professional than other messageboards,
 both in design, and members (well, most members anyway)
 *eyes flappypants
 
 6: Yes, I often browse through a topic and completely ignore
 all posts of people I don't know, it's probably not a good
 habit, but I'm usually browsing topics in between doing
 other things, and try to make the most of my time.
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  tibbar
             from harrisburg, pa (United States) on 2003-04-05 00:37 [#00633237] Points: 10513 Status: Lurker
 | 
| 
     
 
 | 1. i think boards like this help, but there is still a stigma
 to this certain type of sound or mentality, like it's all
 about being effed up or something. i dont do drugs, i dont
 party, im a christian... and yet the artistry is valid. it's
 an odd paradigm, because in painting for example, what is
 abstract or artistically expressive is accepted as the best
 work... in music it works so differently, it's hard to guage
 as a culture. it is present, but fairly mute, as far as
 worldwide recognition goes.
 
 2.
 sometimes, but i've seen very immature and naive people in
 here... talking about how effed up the new venetian snares
 album is. some have a together mindset, but honestly, the
 majority gives off a stereotypical raver vibe.
 
 3.
 oh definitely. i have alot of genuine affections for some of
 these cats, and i think it goes both ways. there is a bond
 that music creates between creator and listener, and between
 listeners... it is unbreakable. it is truly magical. they
 see beauty in something that most ignore as rubbish.
 
 4.
 absolutely. it is a wonderful thing to be a part of. i am
 honored to even be considered for such a contest, and among
 such talented minds.
 5.
 i used to go to aphextwin.nu, though i had never "joined". i
 don't even bother with other message boards. *cough*
 
 6.
 well, i think it's just natural social behavior. people
 don't know you, so they need to warm up to your personality
 and get to know your sense of humor, your way of looking at
 the world, etc... i will say that these guys welcomed me
 fairly quickly, all things considered.
 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  xlr
             from Boston (United States) on 2003-04-06 02:12 [#00634394] Points: 4904 Status: Regular
 | 
| 
     
 
 | 
 1. In real life, I don't know that many people who are real
 fans of the genre.  Only one of my friends is even slightly
 interested.  Most other people will listen to some examples
 and say "that's cool" but they don't listen to it regularly.
 I think the internet is probably the best place for
 commuincating with the other fans since IDM has a very
 international fanbase, and many of them are in Europe or
 elsewhere outside the USA.
 
 2.  They run the gamut, from idiotic middle-schoolers who
 have nothing intelligent to say, to deeply philisophical and
 enlightened individuals.  Fortunetely just about everyone
 here has something to add, whether it's compliments to the
 work of an amateur artist, or discussions about life, or
 just humorous ramblings
 
 3. I think the place would get a bit boring if we only
 talked about music.  There's only so many times you can
 start a topic about everyone's top 5 aphex twin tracks, and
 I'm interested in knowing what people think about things
 other than IDM.
 
 4. It's been a tremendous help when trying to find out about
 new and similar IDM artists.  I found out about Boards of
 Canada & Autechre here, now two of my favorites of all time.
 IDM doesn't really have a lot of mainstream promotion,
 especially in the United States, so it become vital to find
 out through other means.  I'm very happy xltronic (formerly
 aphextwin.nu) exists because I otherwise wouldn't know about
 many of the artists that I like.
 
 5. I joined in February of 2002, back when it was
 aphextwin.nu, because I was starting to really get into
 aphex back then.  I liked the design of the site (they had
 recently changed over to version 2, i believe).  I still
 enjoy the interface.  I don't know if Phobiazero codes it
 himself, but the simplicity and speed of the layout is
 wonderful.  Looks nice too.  I frequent many boards that use
 UBB or PhPBB, and I still prefer this because it's so quick
 and uniform.  I stayed because I enjoyed the topics, and I
 had fun getting to know all the other Aphex fans out th
 
 
 
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         |  xlr
             from Boston (United States) on 2003-04-06 02:15 [#00634396] Points: 4904 Status: Regular
 | 
| 
     
 
 | 6.  Like with any messageboard, there's a social hierachy of sorts.  This place is cool because of the design, everyone
 is on a level playing field.  You've got your name, your
 avatar, and your points.  I think having more points shows
 that you've been here a while, and that can make you look
 like a veteran of sorts; someone that knows a lot about the
 board and the stuff we discuss (although that's not the case
 w/ everyone).  Nobody wants to be a newbie for very long.
 
 
 
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         |  merg
             from The New New York (Berlin) (Germany) on 2003-04-06 09:03 [#00634810] Points: 1708 Status: Regular | Followup to rose: #00632658
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| 
     
 
 | Rose, to steal a quote from an Autechre-related release of the past (I think!) ;-)
 
 "The machines are merely a means to a human end...."
 
 (Feel free to correct me anyone if I've forgotten where
 exactly that comes from!)
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  jenf
             from Toronto (Canada) on 2003-04-07 09:57 [#00636835] Points: 1062 Status: Lurker | Followup to mute: #00633089
 | 
| 
     
 
 | heh, it's funny that you mention that, because i do agree with you in a cynical, nihilistic way. then again, i do see
 a point in rose's attempt at justifying a thesis for some
 project she is trying to fulfill. so we should give her that
 much.
 
 in response to her second question, i find the separation
 between 'organic' and 'electronic' to be somewhat fuzzy. for
 instance, rose quotes "usually not made with wood, wind, or
 any organic
 material, often composed alone" as her definition of
 electronic, and that this 'electronic' music is "distanced
 from the human hand that creates it, through knobs, wires,
 etc." is really generalized and questionable, to an extent.
 
 if you say, for example, music made with synthesizers is
 somewhat different from music made from flutes, because the
 knobs and keys are 'further' away from the artist than the
 latter, then how would you explain pianos? it seems to be
 that they are both making some kind of wave which approaches
 the human ear, and the only superficial thing separating one
 from the other is that the 'organic' flute has less
 'tweaking' options than the former.
 
 so if you agree with me on this point, then you can't really
 distinguish one from the other, unless you specify on a
 scale, the number of tweaking abilities equates to
 'electronic' or 'organic'. but really, that's just a bias in
 measurement in the end, is it not?
 
 and to conclude, i think that the interaction occurring on
 message boards such as this one, does not necessarily mean
 that people are isolated and are functioning through an
 isolationist method (unless i am misinterpreting the last
 bit in rose's question). conversely, i think it is just a
 'way of communication', more than anything else - with those
 who are beyond your geographical reach.
 
 the reason why it feels so remote is because this is an
 international board, one cannot physically fly around the
 world to visit each and every one of the members on here,
 but one wishes to communicate with them as close as they
 can, with
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  jenf
             from Toronto (Canada) on 2003-04-07 09:59 [#00636841] Points: 1062 Status: Lurker
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| 
     
 
 | crap, it cut the rest of the message off and i don't remember what it said. hmm. ah well, you get the point. :)
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  rose
             from asheville (United States) on 2003-04-07 12:33 [#00637104] Points: 7 Status: Lurker
 | 
| 
     
 
 | Jenf: 
 I agree with your argument.
 
 To clarify my question, as a fan of electronic music, I do
 not think the sounds it uses are somehow different from any
 other musical sound. However, people who are alienated  by
 electronic music have regularly told me that electronic
 music seems "fake" to them because it does not come directly
 from instruments they are familiar with.
 
 Neither do I believe that all message boards are frequented
 by hermits. But, I do hear something inherently lonely or
 bleak in the very sounds that most electronic music is
 composed of. I suppose, in a round about way, that I was
 wondering  whether some other listeners are also attracted
 to a distanced sound (and if they might enjoy distanced
 communication for the same reason).
 
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  jenf
             from Toronto (Canada) on 2003-04-07 20:18 [#00637630] Points: 1062 Status: Lurker
 | 
| 
     
 
 | i have come across people who have said something along the lines of the first bit you said about electronic music
 sounding 'fake', but i think people who make these
 judgements are digging a big hole for themselves if they are
 stating it as a whole - on the other hand, if they are
 stating to defend their personal reactions, it's possible
 that they are basically saying "what is not me, is part of
 the other, and the other is foreign (in a negative sense of
 the word)". of course, i find this sort of reasoning flawed,
 nonetheless...
 
 im still unsure about the 'distanced sound' bit - maybe this
 also could relate to the foreign entity idea? maybe it could
 be said that the sound(s) created by electronic means seem
 to lack emotion or insincerity for some listeners, therefore
 attracting or offending, depending on who you are?
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  Frag
             from New Jersey (United States) on 2003-04-07 22:50 [#00637852] Points: 1024 Status: Lurker
 | 
| 
     
 
 | I wouldn't say electro sounds fake, but sometimes it is nicer to hear something that was made completely physical -
 physical contact and flaws gives music character.
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  Ceri JC
             from Jefferson City (United States) on 2003-04-09 04:51 [#00640399] Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to rose: #00632658 | Show recordbag
 | 
| 
     
 
 | Yes, I think that this genre more than most is inherently isolationist. Few acts do a lot of mainstream style
 promotion, some are intentionally cryptic and reclusive (BoC
 would be a prime example).
 
 I think most of the softer, more melodic and less percussion
 based tracks in the genre are tainted with melancholy, even
 relatively upbeat ones (like girl/boy song).
 
 What you said re: reprisals, yes, quite amusing... Thompson,
 (something along the lines of) "Whilst I didn't feel
 immediately threatened, I made a mental note that they had
 hinted that the first way they would seek revenge would be
 to rape my wife..."
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  JAroen
             from the pineal gland on 2003-04-09 06:55 [#00640549] Points: 16065 Status: Regular
 | 
| 
     
 
 | good thing this thread is 'locked' 
 this is some interesting stuff.. what are you gonna do with
 this?
 
 if you gonna write a report i'd like to read it..
 
 ok here are my 2 cents:
 
 1. in my opinion these boards help to increase connection
 between IDM fans. I've only met 1 person in real life who
 really likes IDM, and he only got into it because i
 converted him. If this MB wouldn't have been here i wouldnt
 have been aware of a really huge load of music, and there's
 a lot of nice people here to talk about them.
 
 2. I dont really think IDM fans, or the ppl on this board
 have equal perspectives, there has been a lot of flaming
 threads on the subject of the war and all, but in general
 these people carry an open mind, allowing them to enjoy
 music that is out of the ordinary, wich they could benefit
 from in real life as well...
 
 3. There's definately a lot of personal relationships here.
 A lot of nice people come here, so beside the argueing that
 occurs sometimes i guess a lot of people here like
 eachother, if you have studied the converstations on
 inverted whales winmx server and the soulseek room you'll
 notice this as well. Certain members have even met in real
 life.
 
 In my opinion the good thing of this board is the diversity
 of topics discussed, keeps things lively and all.
 
 4. Yes, definately. I got into IDM through aphextwin.nu (the
 former xltronic) because some guy played afx for me. After a
 google search i found the aphextwin.nu messageboard, which
 helped me to a lot of good music. Other contacts, such as
 the personal contacts ive mentioned before apply here too,
 and come in handy when you are a music maker for example,
 this is a good way of exchanging music making tips and
 letting ppl hear your tunes.
 
 5. This is the best board ive ever visited. Nice people
 overall, and the layout and desing is good as well
 
 6. Well i think there is a certain time it takes before ppl
 appreciate you and all, but there are places on the internet
 that are way more 'elitistic', thus having a stronger
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  JAroen
             from the pineal gland on 2003-04-09 06:56 [#00640551] Points: 16065 Status: Regular
 | 
| 
     
 
 | hieracrhical (typo there for sure) structure 
 heh last 6 words wouldn't fit in...
 
 this is the longest post ive ever made i guess
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  REFLEX
             from Edmonton, Alberta (Canada) on 2003-04-09 13:48 [#00641268] Points: 8864 Status: Regular
 | 
| 
     
 
 | 1. thats not really true though, it takes off on the club idea, there are still "IDM" shows and stuff, but then again
 in a sense this is a community.
 
 2. No. because ever since ive been here, almost 2 years now,
 there has been lots of bullshit by me or by lots of other
 people, these people have something in common, but that
 doesnt mean everything else goes with it.
 
 3. Yeah they can show the relationships among words between
 people here. Ofcourse pretaining to the 2nd question, people
 do become somewhat friends in places like this, more like
 respectable contacts.
 
 4. Yes, Xltronic (and to note other MBs) have helped me get
 contacts to get programs, games, files, albums and even just
 information. But this is not true for everyone.
 
 5. I found this place a long time ago while looking for
 information on Aphex Twin who I had been into for a good
 while before hand. I used to frequent here a lot more,
 especially when I first started coming here, but thats
 dropped a lot. I come here once every 2 days or so for like
 10 mins maybe.
 
 6. Well yeah it goes both ways, it just really depends on
 the topic and who in general doesnt "dislike" the person or
 whatever through previous contact(s). Usually oldskool
 members get a bit more recognition.
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  Cheffe1979
             from fuck (Austria) on 2003-04-10 10:09 [#00642692] Points: 4630 Status: Lurker
 | 
| 
     
 
 | everybody seems to be extremely behaved in this topic, long non-gibberish answers, no flame wars...
 for another glimpse of what is possible here just read one
 of the recent war-threads, hehe
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  corticalstim
             from Canada on 2003-04-10 14:42 [#00643407] Points: 3885 Status: Regular
 | 
| 
     
 
 | :D 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  Cheffe1979
             from fuck (Austria) on 2003-04-10 14:44 [#00643413] Points: 4630 Status: Lurker | Followup to : #00643411
 | 
| 
     
 
 | haha, that's nice to hear 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  Cheffe1979
             from fuck (Austria) on 2003-04-10 14:54 [#00643448] Points: 4630 Status: Lurker
 | 
| 
     
 
 | Hey, Ceri, do us a favour and delete him 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  Ophecks
             from Nova Scotia (Canada) on 2003-04-10 14:56 [#00643453] Points: 19190 Status: Moderator | Show recordbag
 | 
| 
     
 
 | I am so totally NOT gay. 
 
 
 | 
        
         |   | 
        
         |  Ophecks
             from Nova Scotia (Canada) on 2003-04-10 14:57 [#00643457] Points: 19190 Status: Moderator | Followup to Cheffe1979: #00643448 | Show recordbag
 | 
| 
     
 
 | I'm in the process of doing that now. 
 It's annoying, arrrghhhhh! My finger is tired.
 
 
 
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         |   | 
        
         |  Cheffe1979
             from fuck (Austria) on 2003-04-10 14:58 [#00643464] Points: 4630 Status: Lurker | Followup to Ophecks: #00643457
 | 
| 
     
 
 | shit, you should have left only recycle's, that would have been funny :))
 
 
 
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         | Messageboard index
 
 
        
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