MOTM

On May 31, 2005, at 11:34 AM, Mike Marsh wrote:

> I agree.  This is inappropriate.
>
> Mike
>
> --- In motm@yahoogroups.com, mbedtom@a... wrote:
>> In a message dated 5/30/2005 10:54:50 PM Central Standard Time,
>> elhardt@a... writes:
>>
>>
>>> Art or laughter don't benefit survival either.  Evolution is a 
>>> mostly a
>>> fraud, and many are moving away from it.
>>>
>>> -Elhardt
>>>
>>> "a superior intelligence has guided the development of man in a 
>>> definiate
>>> direction" - Alfred Wallace, Darwin's coauthor and simultaneous 
>>> inventor of
>>> evolution by natural selection.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Politics and religion are forbidden subjects on this list for obvious
>> reasons.  We live in a pluralistic society with people holding many 
>> points of view.
>> However, this list is not the appropriate venue for the display of our
>> political or theological orientation.
>>
>> Thank you.
>> Tom Farrand
>>

I think most of us see the practicality of limiting the discussion on 
this list to MOTM - or at least to synth related things in general, 
like the patch book idea, or analog synth CD idea Elhardt mentioned.  I 
have been thankful over the years that the discussions here have 
remained mature and civil, unlike every other list I have read.  I 
suspect there is as much diversity of ideas and tastes here as 
elsewhere, but for whatever reason, we have maintained a great 
atmosphere for discussion, imo.  Maybe we are a smaller group, or older 
on average than say, AH - whatever; as long as we can keep it going.  I 
will say one thing though, in hopes of furthering the tolerance of the 
plurality of ideas we find among us - as a wise man once said, "take 
the log out of your own eye, before you help your friend take the speck 
out his", which is a slight paraphrase, for those of you who know the 
reference.  To wit, here is the original quote from Elhardt, who was 
quoting someone else (I deleted that original post and don't remember 
who it was):


>> There have, for instance, been studies that show that music causes 
>> activity in the emotional centers of the brain in newborns. This is 
>> somewhat perplexing, because it would seem to indicate that there is 
>> a survival benefit attached to having an emotional response to music, 
>> (or else why would we have evolved it?)<<

Art or laughter don't benefit survival either.  Evolution is a mostly a 
fraud, and many are moving away from it.

-Elhardt


I find it interesting that no one responded to that original post 
saying that it was inappropriate to talk about evolution; or more 
specifically, to imply that of course Darwinism is true and accepted by 
all.  I can only guess that it was because most of us agree with that 
assumption - or at least have a blind spot and don't see such a claim 
the same way we see Elhardt's.  Hence the log in some of our eyes, 
perhaps.  I personally almost responded to the original post with 
something like Tom's response to Elhardt's, reminding the poster that 
not everyone here has the same assumptions about evolution, but thought 
it better not to say anything, figuring that would be the end of it, 
and such things come up so rarely that it would be better that way.  
Anyway I'll stop using BW for that - just thought it might be helpful 
since the maturity level here suggests to me that we may be able to 
receive constructive criticism.  :)

On topic, I think Elhardt's idea of an analog synth CD, with 
contributions by people who do the kind of music he was talking about 
would be great.  I like the "bug music" too - like Robert Rich's 
Bestiary - I can listen to that CD over and over and not tire of it.  
But my favorite electronic music is more traditional in style I guess - 
diatonic with identifiable structure, etc.  I've been waiting for the 
Aaron Copland of my generation who composed for "synth orchestra", and 
he/she has yet to appear.  Tomita or Carlos are about as close as I 
have found, and neither of them is exactly what I was hoping for.  
Anyway, I'd buy such a CD!  :)  (I'd even try to contribute something 
if I could...)

Larry D.