Strong Point of View

[Reid]

The "Real EAI" thread made me think about what makes for interesting threads on this board. We need posters with a definite and strong opinion about a particular issue. When posters start a thread or post a strong opinion, this usually leads to an interesting discussion. Of course, if the opinion is widely held by the posters, that may not lead to a spirited discussion.

There doesn't seem to be very strong opinions about jazz these days.

[Uli]

Originally posted by Reid

There doesn't seem to be very strong opinions about jazz these days.

Did you read the old jazzcorner with your eyes closed?

[Paul B]

u

[Reid]

The avant-garde versus mainstream argument is basically dead, imo. We haven't had that type of argument in a long time, not like how we used to in the past anyway. (Btw, I'm glad we don't argue about that particular issue.)

Uli,

Imo, the vigorous discussions have been few and far between at jazzcorner. That's what makes the place slow, imo. Vigorous discussions come about when someone with a particular viewpoint comes right out with it. But even that doesn't seem to happen as much as it used to in the past.

[bluenoter]

Reid, in thread after thread after thread, you're ascribing *your* perceptions--which usually happen to be pessimistic--to *everyone.* Well, I'm sorry, but not everyone accepts your assumptions, and no matter how persistently or vehemently you state them, not everyone will.

[Reid]

bluenoter,

I'm not the only one who has commented on the activity being on the low side. Btw, this thread (and my other posts on the subject) is not meant to denigrate the site. Indeed, I've been trying to do my part in starting stimulating discussions. But if you think there is a lot of vigorous discussions on this site, you're entitled to your opinion.

Btw, I'm also not trying to get everyone to side with my view. In fact, I feel like there's many other people who share that view. The purpose of this thread is to make a comment that what leads to vigorous discussion is someone having a strong point of view.

[mke]

Outside the context of JC:

There may be something of a "limp consensus" in magazines. I read a bit about how English critics were so traumatised by their collective gross misunderstanding of Charlie Parker that they hardly dared to criticise anything else very strongly. So maybe many critics are scared of missing the boat, or of being accused of close-mindedness.

However, I don't think that there strong opinions are lacking here at JC: on Wynton, on the evolution of Jazz (not the same thing as mainstream vs. AG), on the "no new giants" theory...

[Joe Milazzo]

Must STRONG points-of-view be necessarily exclusive (i.e., "this and not that")?

[Uli]

Originally posted by Joe Milazzo
Must STRONG points-of-view be necessarily exclusive (i.e., "this and not that")?

NOT imho, but unfortunately that's usually how they are played out.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

You know how you're reading a great novel and then little by little, it begins to unravel, and then it gets totally uninteresting, and then the author, for some reason decides to pad the story and make it totally interesting again, but it's not anymore? That is called "plot manipulation"...it doesn't develop "naturally", and you can tell.

Trying to start an argument for the sake of argument is just like that. As is trying to start a great discussion. It just sort of has to break out on its own.

Reid, I must say you've had some very effective threads where people engage you on your terms. You are very insistent, and so you will usually find some takers. But you're not satisfied. Your discussion jones is up. You must be taking Thread Viagra...oh, no, I forgot you're young! : )

But it doesn't always have to be that way. Be patient. Jump in where you know you can have a heady discussion and help those threads along. It'll get there! Don't worry.

[Reid]

I'm not saying we should *force* it to happen. I just wanted to point out that those strong opinions lead to interesting discussions. So if you have a strong opinion about something (particularly if not all people would agree on) than I encourage you to throw it out there. achilles did that with the "Real EAI" thread, and I thought it turned into a pretty interesting discussions.

Again, I don't want fabricated controversy or opinions. But we don't all think a like do we? There must be some strong opinions we have that not everyone would agree with.

Joe,

I think strong opinions are usually tend to polarize groups. That's OK, so long as you respect people with opposing views.

[Gary Sisco]

Reid -- I'm still a modernist and unapologetic about it, and hence believe creativity emerges out of conflict. But first there has to be one, in fact.

Uli -- I don't happen to think anyone has to choose one or another thing, and have been saying so for years now. What mystifies me is why I can't dig Coleman Hawkins *and* John Butcher at the same time. Why should anyone have to choose?

[Reid]

So what if there is no conflict?

[Gary Sisco]

Then we all live happily and brainlessly ever after, chewing on our lotus cuds. The American dream sans tv.

[Reid]

Count me out.

What you seems to characterize how this place can be at times. Having said that I have no wish to see the kind of arguments we saw from Conan or Deep. But I wish there were more sincere, but strong opinions that would be expressed. I guess, my life outside the internet is kinda boring now, so I'm looking for more stimulating discourse here.

[Tom Storer]

Originally posted by Reid
I wish there were more sincere, but strong opinions that would be expressed. I guess, my life outside the internet is kinda boring now, so I'm looking for more stimulating discourse here.

So go ahead and stimulate us! Express a strong, controversial opinion in an exciting, passionate, thought-provoking, in-your-face way! Then we'll beat you up, and you'll be happy!

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Go to the office right now, young man. Are you sassing your elders?

Keep fighting dude.

Oh, and we know by now that there's no "real EAI".

[Gary Sisco]

Oohhh, there ain't no life nowhere ...