What is happening lately? — Page 4

And it's gone. I assumed maybe it was a make up brush for War Paint?

I've been posting here considerably less in the last few months. I'm finding thoughtful discussions of theatre few and far between on here; it seems the board is often used like Yahoo Answers more and more. There's been a trend of new posters who like to start new topics that pose a question for discussion... but not offering anything else to go on, like their own views or reasoning. The members who have deep knowledge of theatre and the industry post with less frequency. I keep in touch with several people here off-site and have found that far more fulfilling.

And the less said about the quagmire that the off-topic board has become, the better.

Hey everyone...I'm not sure many folks remember me, but I still stop into BWW occasionally to read the buzz on a new show, and may even post a review.

I used to love coming to BWW for the lively discussions and often hilarious threads, especially on the OT board...but the fun drained like a sieve when "she who must not be named" began ranting. I hate to give power to someone so vile, but that's the truth. While many reasons also must have contributed, I'm not even sure things weren't already changing before, but I know I didn't even want to open BWW after that.

I'm even sadder as I read this thread and looked from yesterday to today (looking for War Paint reviews...seeing it next week) to see so FEW posts, especially on the OT board. Those threads I looked at yesterday have barely moved or been commented on. Not to be a fogey, but back in the day, the topics, humor, information, caring, and yes...nastiness sometimes, flew so fast your head would spin. the wit, intelligence and sense of community was the reason BWW was always an open tab on my browser.

Then there are the trolls. With so few regulars continuing to post, they ran roughshod and ruined every discussion, and seem to still.

I'm certainly not meaning to paint with a broad brush (get it? Glad that thing is gone....is that a new thing around here, changing your cursor? How 1995!) and am glad to see some friends are still posting.

My two cents. Be well, all.

well, this thread got most of the people whose opinions and feedback i value and enjoy to reply, so it may just be a matter of getting great topics that will attract more interest from the esteemed folks here...

I still like to read about

new shows and reviews

gossip about shows from insiders

discussions about favorite composers, or favorite songs (best opener, best showstopper)

discussions like the members current ratings of all the current shows

quality content drives quality discussions....I dont care if its two or twenty posters

thanks to all of you who know your stuff and contribute your expertise

I, too, am a longtime poster, though nowhere near as regular as many of you, and with the added disadvantage of being in a tour market far from NYC. But I've noticed these changes too, and while I really miss the thoughtful, enthusiastic discussions, I don't miss some of the cattiness. I joined when I was finishing high school, at the suggestion of one of my best friends (another longtime user here), and I admit to being too intimidated to join discussions or ask questions for a long time, until I felt like I had the lay of the land and what I could ask that wouldn't make me the target of nastiness for a poor word choice.

But I started coming here - and stayed, even though I post irregularly - because of the intelligent and passionate discussion around theatre. Part of me wonders if there are many people in the boat I am - non NYC locals - who feel like they can't contribute? Or if it's just a shift in demographic? I post on a couple of figure skating forums as well (don't mock ), and we've had issues with "ubers" who don't want to do anything except squeal about and hyper-analyze every move their favorite make and refuse to see flaws, and I wonder if that's something that's happening here, except with stage-door celebrity culture. (And I say this as someone who's loved stagedooring over the years).

In any case, I still love reading the first-preview and opening-night threads for all the shows - it makes me fee like I'm part of the party, even though I'm on the other side of the country :) I'll still hang around here as long as there's a handful of quality, fun people to hang around with! Thanks to everyone who's been contributing to the discussions - it's wonderful to talk to other people who love theatre this much!

It's a mix of a lot of things. Over the summer I was named a co-guardian to my younger sister. And that's part of what's going on.

I miss my palsies here but for the most part I don't really feel welcome. So many of the newbs think they're all that and I just don't want to deal with it. "Oh, you run a street team? What a loser". I have bigger fish to fry.

"(Has Whizzer seen CFA in previews yet? Did I miss that post?)"



Yes, he has. It's somewhere in the preview thread. I have to say it made me super excited to see it next Friday. Seek his review out--you'll be glad you did. :)

bwayrose7 said: "But I started coming here - and stayed, even though I post irregularly - because of the intelligent and passionate discussion around theatre. Part of me wonders if there are many people in the boat I am - non NYC locals - who feel like they can't contribute? "

This board used to be a little more national in its scope. I first joined when I lived in the SF Bay Area and didn't even visit NYC for the first time until a couple of years later. But back then, I didn't feel all that shut out from the NYC-centric happenings here.

I feel like there used to be more posts about long stops of tours, regional shows, etc. Mostly I recall the mega-Jersey Boys tour thread which went on for pretty much the entire original run of the show in San Francisco 10 years ago (through three companies), and there was a long one for the San Francisco sit-down of Spelling Bee, too. Those were a lot of fun.

I am brand, brand new, longtime lurker, just finally registered. But what has stopped me for the longest time from participating is the format of these message boards. They are woefully outdated and not user friendly.

I don't think it has to be an either/or.

Can't it be both a place to talk in-depth *and* basically be "Yahoo Broadway Answers" (though with more intelligent answers than regular Yahoo Answers)?

And can't it be a place for both "regulars" and those who check once a day or once a month?

I scan the front page once a day or so and try to chime in when I feel I can help and/or share a useful thought. But I mostly lurk to find interesting news and/or find specific answers I'm looking for. I do read and appreciate the lively discussions and debates about the merits of shows, how the theater has changed, etc. And I ignore the threads I'm not interested in.

I think I joined six or so years ago, and haven't noticed that much of a change. But again, I'm not paying really close attention to the trends.

That last, Pick My Shows! post put me over the edge.

Pick your own damn shows!

Seeing how most "pick my shows" threads go, it's why I never ask what to see. The original poster may list some stuff, but people always give other opinions instead if they liked something more than what is listed.

I also have some shows I really enjoyed more than the majority opinion here. If I listened to everyone on not to see some of it, I would have missed out on something I did want to see because others told me no.

If anyone is looking for some actual good content, check out the Glass Menagerie reviews thread.