Enough negative stories about people you don't like

Hi,

Really sorry you feel that way. Actually I think this forum is one of the most “user-friendly” around. There is very little bickering, no serious name-calling. Yes there’s been a few posts (out of many hundreds) that show what readers think is not the way to go when DJ-ing (and granted, some of those were truly horrible). But of all the posts made here that is a very, very small percentage and imho definitely not “a great deal of the site’s stories”.

As moderators we are active in monitoring that threads don’t get out of hand, that solid discussions (like the long thread on EDM that is currently going on) don’t turn into shouting matches or “I am right, you are wrong” situations. Depending on the the topic we’ll allow for people to show how strongly they feel about a subject, as long as it is done with respect for the others.

And we are pretty adamant in that we enforce the forum posting rules where it comes to stating things clearly as your opinion as opposed to it being fact. Opinions are personal and everyone is entitled to his/hers. Harder to dispute facts without saying the OP of an opinion is wrong. If someone posts an opinion and someone else doesn’t agree with it, there is plenty of room to express your own opinion. As long as it’s not of the “you are wrong, I am right” variety.

Now, us moderators are human too and we may miss something occasionally. With just two of us, and in the same timezone too, it’s not always possible to catch everything right away, but we are very tight on top of things, in our humble opinion anyway.

At the end of the day I experience a site where there is a respectful environment, where (beginning) DJs can get information the feel they need. We clearly support digital DJ-ing as the name of the site suggests, but we’ll gladly answer questions on analogue setups too. Can’t fault us for pointing out the advantages we believe digital holds over analogue.

Anybody here that posts a question gets a respectful reply and usually fairly quick. There is a fair amount of humor as well, especially between the more active and long-time posters. No beginner ever get’s told off. We don’t give them the idea that questions are stupid, but take every question seriously. If a question has been answered in another thread, we might point to that other thread. In general we see that most questions are answered on their individual merites though.

Quick side-step to the blog (which is all but in ownership seperate from the forum, Phil does not involve himself in the day to day running of the forums). You say that if there are no reviews of new gear, to not fill the air with hate. Now I know for a fact that Phil runs a tight ship and airing hate is furthest from his mind. The friday round-ups sometimes have some sharp articles from OTHER places. And you can actually say why you don’t agree with those sentiments on the blog. I just scrolled down the blog and looked at the articles posted this month. It they are not about gear, they are about user questions and/or other things that are relevant to (starting) DJs. And they all tend towards giving advice without lecturing, imho. Yes, there is a story about what Soundcloud is doing, and I think rightfully so. Can’t call it airing hate though. And of course you will have disappointed people reacting to this article with what they have experienced (mixes they are proud of suddenly taken down without notice and such). Other than that, all I see is stuff aimed at helping others.
Good example of that is the “Gig from Hell” article. While that sounds negative and hateful, it then goes on to say “and the valuable lessons I learned from it”. It contains a great story how something really bad (messing up your gear as you are setting up for a gig) has turned into an eye-opener and changed someone’s view on the whole DJ gear issue completely. And looking at the amount of (mostly positivie and/or informative) replies, it’s something that clearly resonates with a lot of readers.

I have to say, I see little of the “how cool are we” attitude you mention. I see every reader being accepted for who he/she is. Hercules controller or DDJ-SZ, total beginner or 30+ year old veteran, controllerist, producer or wedding DJ, or even just an interested person looking around for a new hobby. If we were all that negative and “how cool are we”-ish, I doubt we’d be getting the compliments we are getting from first-time posters and old hands alike.

Finally, this site (well the blog) has plenty of free material, there’s free DJ Tips, a Controller Buyers Guide, plenty of vids over at the youtube channel. If you ask for something specific, readers will share their favorite vid-links with you on topics that we don’t cover. And, as you know, the paid courses are very worth much their money.

Again, I am not saying you are wrong. I am sorry you feel this way. It’s clearly your perception of this site (and the blog) and thus your truth. We will carry on doing what we are doing and I personally will keep an even sharper eye out for negative things. Believe it or not, I actually agreed to volunteer for the moderator job (yes, my time, no money, no gear) because when I was just a poster on this blog I found it refreshingly mellow and accepting. There was/is room for everyone’s opinion and there is a genuine desire amongst readers to help each other on their way to becoming better (digital) DJs.

Feel free to point out to me where you believe there is a truly hateful or “how cool are we” thing that could be hurtful for other readers going on. You have my personal word that we’ll look into it and, if we agree with your assesment, will remedy the situation. If it’s about the actual blog, we will have to forward your message to the team there, but you can easily do that yourself by sending an email at info@digitaldjtips.com. This does get read and usually answered pretty quickly. In that sense it also is one of the better places I know on line. Even the people behind the blog are accessible.

So, hope you know I have taken your comment seriously. I also hope I have been able to portray my view on things and why my take on it is different from yours. We look forward to having you as a reader and contributor to the forums for a long time to come.

Greetinx.

Actually the forum is quite de-coupled from the main site.
It is Phil’s belief that when the forum would be run by the same people, then it would all get watered down and discussion (like this one) could be hindered.
Hence the forum is mainly run by Chuck and myself, while the main site is run by Phil and his team.
However we do share information of course, talk about things and which direction we want to go, sometimes I do main page stories or reviews and guides and of course the rest of the crew visits the forum and does post there.

And of course posts like this one get forwarded to Phil, so it gets his attention, but most of the time he leaves it to us how to answer unless it is something we cannot answer at all (like billing stuff for DJ courses etc.).

So of course you can voice your opinion here and we value all feedback and it eventually finds its way to the one in charge 😉

Well Chuck can be pretty cool when he does his “wait foooor it” before dropping the bass 😉

This article is a spin-off from a thread that started here on the forum (and one I mentioned in my original reply). It’s been a very interesting discussion to say the least. The OP stated his dismay at the effect EDM has on other genres IN HIS OPINION. And many have chimed in. The thread has been called “one of the best conversations I’ve been a part of in a long time” by one of the readers.

The OP vents that he had hoped that the increased interest in EDM would, as a side-effect, increase the interest in other genres too but that the opposite has happened. The ensuing discussion shows the mutual respect that is there and the opportunity for everybody to speak their peace. It’s not whining, it’s not complaining, but it is stating what a committed DJ feels is happening to “his scene” and what it means for his enthusiasm for DJ-ing. As the blog clearly states: “You obviously care about your music, and about DJing, and your scene over there in Canada, Eliah, and you argue reasonably and calmly, so I want to throw this open to our other readers, in the spirit of a constructive debate.”

That is exactly what it is in my opinion. Again, sorry if that gives you the feeling that this site and the blog are PREDOMINANTLY negative. Hope you do value the fact that, like anybody else, your opinion is valid enough to be heard here.

I am with Bill on this one. If you start looking for negative things on the blog, I am sure you can find something. If not from the staff, then in the comments from readers. But I still strongly feel that the overall vibe here and over at the blog is a positive, helpful and respectful one.

Greetinx.

I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree. Out of the entire text of the article, you lift the one line where he comments that he THINKS that the youth today doesn’t even know what good music sounds like.

And while I don’t necessarily agree with that opinion (I firmly believe that musical taste is purely personal and even if I might not like a particular song or kind of music, that doesn’t mean that others that do don’t have taste or don’t know good music), I don’t think the article was all negative. Again, it’s a cry from someone who sees his scene changing for the worse where he thought it would change for the better.

Having said that, if you look at the blog listing for the last 1 or 2 months, there are very few articles that I could qualify as negative. I’ve really made an effort to look back and I can just not find the “proof” to substantiate your claim of “… shown me almost EVERY TIME I come here …”.

I read some newspapers and magazines that I will like 70-80% of the content of. And there will be some opinion pieces in it or article on stuff I really am not interested in. I have two choices, I either stop reading the publications altogether (cutting myself of from the 70-80% I DO like) or ignore/skip the bits I don’t like.

Utopia is where all is perfect. The real world hardly ever is. And if a good place, which DDJT imho is, drops the ball on occasion as far as you are concerned, then so be it. Don’t read the article or if you do read it, discard it as something you don’t want. If there is too much you don’t want, then it’s time to discard the entire site.

Greetinx.

It’s amazing indeed.

a) I replied, in-depth I might add, to your first comment and took is seriously. Just because one person out of thousands complains doesn’t mean he/she is wrong after all. By the same token it doesn’t mean he/she is right either. At the end of the line it comes down to you going personal and blaming “the mods” for the perceived attitude. A tad odd as we have nothing to do with the content on the blog which you initially qualified as the big culprit.
b) Personally I don’t think I have dismissed anything and furthermore I have clearly stated that I am not commenting on the ideas of the poster, merely on his right to vent those ideas. I am not here to judge content in any other sense than if what is posted checks with the forum posting rules, stuff is in the right forums, there is no spam and commercial activity and things like that.
c) Where is the constructivity in your remarks. I see complaints, I see finger-pointing and I see degrading remarks (you’re just not getting it). I apparently am not getting YOUR thought process. And since you seem to be convinced that what YOU think is the undisputable truth, anybody not “getting it” is, by default, wrong. The offered “agree to disagree” to you seems to be proof that we don’t “get it”, whereas to me it just means what it says. I do not adhere to your “truth”. We are all entitled to our own truth. The point is respecting others in theirs. At no point have I said that you are wrong, I have given you some of the arguments that lead to the way I look at things, my truth if you will, which differs from yours. I am willing to question my truth, for the simple reason that I understand that truth, especially in matters like these is subjective. However, I am afraid this will qualify me for “we’re too kool”.

I mean, seriously, you get “sick” of all the negativity. Apart from the entire who is right question (which is not gonna be solved anyway, because we are talking personal opinions and not concrete, measurable hard facts), I’d say that means you are taking this way to seriously. Especially since visiting, reading and participating in the blog and the forums is totally voluntary. Nobody is forcing you to be here. If I am in a place where I see things I don’t like and it’s minor things, I will talk to the people in charge, share my concern and, most likely, offer one or two alternatives. If, as your words are more and more suggesting, the MAJORITY of it is stuff I don’t like, I ask myself what is the added value in going there at all. And, again most likely, I will leave the place.

I’d am sad to see readers go. If people are unhappy we try to do something about it, if we can and if it fits in with the afore mentioned forum rules. When people say things on here that we feel should be known to the powers that be over at the blog, we inform them of the post. Flipside of that coin is that I understand people decide not to stay if they are of the belief that the place is not right for them (for example because they think it’s too much negativity).

On the off-chance that you actually do hold the absolute and indisputable truth and this place is predominantly negative, if the mods (including myself), blog staff (and I am assuming the majority of the contributing members) are of the “how kool are we” affliction and if we are a biased bunch afraid of self-reflection and improvement, then so be it. That “truth” does not resonate with the intentions of the people trying to keep this place up and running, nor does it seem to be the general consensus of the vast majority of our readers.

Since we’ll keep doing what we have been doing with an effort at never ending improvement, I am afraid we will not be able to change your perception of reality. Which no doubt will mean we will lose you as a member on the forum and as a reader of the blog.

On a personal note:
1) I am generally considered a moderate, rather intelligent and calm individual. I have a tendency to weigh both sides in an argument and I am open to constructive criticism as I believe even great things can be improved. I do believe I have something to offer to this forum and it’s readers, both in content and in moderating. And I do that to the best of my abilities. Perhaps you are right, I don’t know. You haven’t been able to convince me of my wrong though. Your contribution thusfar seems primarily criticism, lacking the constructive part, which makes it, in my humble opinion, nothing more than a complaint (which still got full attention and reply).
2) I firmly believe in the freedom of speech and the right of every human being to believe in what he/she wants, as long as those beliefs don’t hurt other people. By the words of Evelyn Beatrice Hall (who wrote the biography of Voltaire), “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”.

Clearly we can’t agree to disagree as the only outcome that seems acceptable to you is our “getting it” and changing our behaviour to fit your mould.

Feel free to write a final comment if you want (don’t want anybody claiming I always want to have the final say), but do not expect another reply from me. I have spoken my peace, listened to what you said, expressed my opinion and (part of) the arguments that lead me to that opinion. I have also told you I’d look at things posted and what happens on the blog (even though I have no direct influence on that) with an even more critical eye out for (overly) negative things. Clearly that is not enough. And thus ends my involvement.

I truely am sad to see you go. But as a wise man once said “you can’t please all the people all of the time”. I do wish you all the best and hope you will find a place that offers you the “home” you want.

Kind regards,
Chuck van Eekelen