MOTM

In a message dated 7/29/2000 5:29:59 PM, oldcrow@... writes:

>On Sat, 29 Jul 2000 davevosh@... wrote:
>
>> p.s. - does anyone know what the origins of this antipathy i see
>> between this list ( which i normally find very interesting ) and the
>> "ah" list ( not as consistently interesting but i`ve seen some good
>> stuff over the last week or so ) ? can`t we all just get along ?

Well Dave, you're right, we should "all just get along." And as one who often 
denigrates AH, I recognize the error of my ways! However ....

I strongly agree with Crow here, though for somewhat different reasons. The 
MOTM list was set up to deal with a very limited subject matter (the MOTM -- 
design, construction and use), and, with the exception of a few Stooges, does 
a very good job of that. Even when the subject drifts (or when the jokes fly) 
it quickly comes back to MOTM. 

I also think the (relatively small) size of the list helps too. When the list 
is quiet, and (for example) Ken starts posting about obscure electronic film 
scores, or Crow posts about Japanese animation scores, I really like to read 
and learn about these because of the "MOTM community" -- the way I feel I've 
come to know them, and respect their opinions.

One of my most vivid memories of AH was about two years ago, coming home to 
find 100 AH messages, 60 of which appeared to be about whether Donna Summer's 
big hit from 1977 (you'll forgive me for not remembering the title) was a 
pivotal moment in EM history.

I'd love to see a list similar to the "high S/N" of MOTM or diy about EM 
usage (patching and history for example), but my experience with AH hasn't 
given me encouragement that it's THE list -- I could easily be wrong, and I 
do appreciate the references that are made to that list when appropriate.

While my soldering in no way compares to Crow's, I also believe that most 
posts on this list (from those that don't "solder") are well reasoned 
insights about EM topics related to MOTM -- for example, Larry had almost no 
experience with modulars before MOTM, but his input to the MOTM line (as well 
as his diy type modules) have been to many list members benefit.

But I'll try to just get along!
JB

>  The schism for me lies in the fact that this list has a majority of
>people interested in doing some freestyle engineering on the hardware
>whereas AH (which I can never stand to join for more than 2 days per year)
>always seems to be all about attitudes and nothing about technology or
>even musical art.  No doubt something worthwhile ends up on AH from time
>to time, but I just don't have the time to filter out all the posturing
>and other variant crap to find it.
>
>  I like synthesizer *design*, not endless cycles of animosity over who's
>currently hippest in wrenching t3kn0 machine noise from their toys.  A
>list filled with folks that like to solder suggests a level of enthusiasm
>quite above the rwars on AH.
>
>  (And even for those who buy their MOTM stuff pre-built, it suggests to
>me that folks want quality stuff and I'm happy to be in such company).