More Negative than Positive Chat? — Page 2

Oh yes. Those were the days. The Golden Era of chat.

I remember when everyone loved BKLYN, Marisa deserved the Tony, everyone got his/her audition song and we all knew how the Beast tranformed in B&B.

And then...it all changed. The heavens opened up and flooded and the land became barren.

god. get over yourselves.

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I agree with Ordinary, SamIam and Eslgr8. I joined this board last year when I was planning to vacation in New York. I stay pretty informed about the goings on in theatre across the country and I also am active and Chair an organization at the Denver Center of Performing Arts/Denver Center Theatre Company. I thought that joining this board would be a great way to hear what people are saying about the shows I was thinking of seeing and about theatre in general. A number of people seem to be pretty well connected and before I joined, I just read some of the threads. I found that I would look for almost anything that Margo posted. Don't know who Margo is but his/her posts are always worth reading. After my trip to NY I got back on the boards and started noticing the bitchiness and just plain nastiness that starting creeping in. I like to read threads for peoples opinions. And yes, the "W" word(!) threads got a little out of control but I also think it is great when someone is so excited about a show that they want to talk about it. The bashing of these people has been just awful! Granted, some posters should do a search and join a thread related whatever subject they are posting about. If one exists. It seems that some people just love to be nasty to others on the boards and that has become a real turn off for me. And no...all theatre people are not nasty and bitchy. And no, I don't have to "suck it up" as one post suggests. I think that some people need to do a little growing up. What really got me was the day I felt compelled to correct someones spelling! I knew that I needed to back away for a bit. There is a way to correct people without being nasty. I am sure a lot of posters are young kids who are excited about the theatre. And the way some of them have been treated on this board is really apalling. And that bothers me because the organization I chair here in Denver at DCTC has a program to get youth into the theatre. I attend the shows on the days we bring the kids in and there is nothing like seeing these kids come out at intermission and the end of a show really excited about what they have just seen. Most are seeing a show for the 1st time.

I say if you don't like the subject of a certain thread, don't post in it. Simple as that! All the bashing, side conversations and nastiness gets in the way of the comments regarding the posted subject. Anytime one has to fear posting their opinion or is chastised for doing so, there's a problem. I do still post here, but not quite as much. And I don't read as many threads as I used to because I am over having to read all of the negative comments and side conversations to get to what I want to read. Just my opinion. And now I am going to listen to the SOUNDTRACK from Wicked with Christine Chenawith and Edina Monzel!!!! (Just kidding!)

Oh......also, along with the bitchiness and whatever, there are some really great people here and I guess I will take this opportunity to thank those posters who have provided us with some great info and insight into the goings on in the theatre world! You are the ones that keep me here.

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Updated On: 3/21/05 at 04:03 PM

Come on ya'll...if it wasn't for the bitchiness and fighting, most of these threads would have about 3 posts. If you're afraid of a bit of tackiness or cattiness go watch Sesame Street.

Sorry the bitchiness and fighting are simply annoying and quite immature.

I do agree, the theatre is a community. Everyone respects each other (or ignores each other), though generally pitch in and help each other out.

However, it cannot be denied that some theatre people (not just actors) ARE bitches and will be rude, offensive, and confrontational. I would say one person in every other show I worked on came across this way. Granted, I have only been in the business for 8 years.

In regards to the message boards - my advice is just deal with it. Deal with the attitudes and the amusing posts and the younger population of posters. This is an ONLINE community. Several opinions in a field where opinion rules. Our opinions discussed here are judging the opinions that designers, directors, and actors use to create their art. So of course, there will be controversial ideas and opinions.

If there is ANYTHING that could improve on this board is the REPEAT POSTS! My goodness, I remember when I believe it was John Raitt passed away, there were six posts announcing his death ON THE FIRST PAGE ALONE! Before you post, look at the first page! Do a search! Don't clog the boards! Don't be a server space whore!

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MaTakeALookAtMe....I don't think anyone wants to deny you your rights, but it seems that a lot of repeat posts are saying the same things as some of the originals. I have read threads where people are asking the same questions as those in a repeat thread. I think it is just a matter of taking the time to see if a thread is already going that you can join to post comments and questions. Plus it just seems to make it a bit easier. I will somtimes sit and read through a thread and then go to another on the same subject and the questions asked in one thread are answered on the other. It's as if some people don't bother to search out the subject before they post. (I think I just repeated myself!!!) :)

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