What is happening lately?- Page 4

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 9:40am

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

[LesMiz24601]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 9:56am

Is it possible to add Reddit like "Flair" options on message board posts? That could be a way to quickly categorize their posts and allow readers to better pass over content that doesn't matter to them....just an idea

[Kad]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 10:15am

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.  

 

 

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 10:40am

That makes me really sad, Kad. I always look for your posts.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 11:03am

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.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 12:36pm

Yes, some of the off-topic threads were fun. I remember enjoying watching such classic shows like Toddlers and Tiaras and having a great time discussing it. 

I do think some people became too sensitive about stupid things from that board.  Like there were some genuinely funny threads that I personally didn't think were offensive,  like Tazber's Animal World threads with the gifs. But, someone got mad and got it deleted,  if I recall. Now we get political thread after political thread with the same trolls ruining interesting discussion. 

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 8:18pm

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

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 9:08pm

I believe this whole message board needs a complete revamp. What about creating more sub sections? Could have a news section, previews section, reviews section, seating views/question section, stage door section etc etc etc. Could also do the same for off topic and divide it into tv/movies, politics etc etc etc. 

I enjoy reading this forum and come here almost every day but the format of these message boards is just terrible. I visit some other message boards that aren't Broadway related and their setups are way better than this place and there is no way they have the amount of revenue this place gets so it shouldn't be a money issue. 

Updated On: 3/8/17 at 09:08 PM

[bwayrose7]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 9:13pm

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!

[Whateverjsays]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 10:01pm

I joined here a few months ago, I've been an avid theatre fan since I was 15 (I'm 25 now) and I've never really had friends to discuss theatre with so I figured this would be the perfect place to interact with people that share interests. I will admit I've been a victim of asking about the stage door a few times, but I love the conversations where I'm just soaking up new information. I do get tired of the 'which musical is better?' Or the 'where should I sit' posts. 

 

Im hoping the board goes back to being a pool of knowledge

[Eris0303]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 10:10pm

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.

[luvcaroline]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 10:19pm

BroadwayJoe, I think that's an excellent suggestion. I frequent several sports and music boards, and one thing that makes them enjoyable is being able to visit the sections that I'm interested in. I hope the moderators consider this suggestion, especially on the off topic board (I know right now which section I would never visit on that board!)

I started reading Broadway World years before I finally signed up. It's the first board I ever became interested in, and it's still my favorite. I also live far from NY, and I still love keeping up with all that's going on in theatre. I too want to express my thanks to everyone who contribute here regularly, and I'm looking forward to many more years of enjoyment!

 

 

 

 

[rebeccmam31]

Posted: 3/9/17 at 5:50am

"(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. :)

 

[TheThreadMaster]

Posted: 3/9/17 at 9:57am

I have been reading broadway world chat boards for around a year now and just recently like a week ago decided to make an account. However I always feel as if what I say has to be absolutely perfect otherwise I'll just get attacked. 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/9/17 at 10:04am

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.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/9/17 at 10:29am

doodle!  Happy to see you again, even if it is for a topic such as this.  HUGS!! XOXOXO

[Babe_Williams]

Posted: 3/9/17 at 12:24pm

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. 

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 3/9/17 at 12:35pm

Thank you for starting this thread ljayy. I've had a similar feeling recently. I miss reading several of the users who have taken to only the occasional post. I don't mean to sound elitist, but I feel many of the new posters just run in with reckless abandon and create some absurd threads, and don't bother to use the search feature. I lurked for a long time before I felt I actually had real opinions to add to the mix. 

The preview threads used to be such a wealth of information and opinions prior to a shows opening. Now we're lucky if we get 3 or 4 legitimate reports. But I'm thankful for posters like Wizzer and yourself who still share your thoughts often.

That being said I do still love this community. As someone who can only get to the city a few times a year, I appriciate the insight on here (even if you now have to dig through the crap to find it).

[dwwst12]

Posted: 3/9/17 at 12:41pm

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.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/10/17 at 11:25am

dwwst12 said: "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?"

As long as the latter group does a search first to make sure they're not repeating a question, then sure!

TBH I am really annoyed at the number of "pick this for me" threads. Even though I know most of the ones asking are well-meaning. Can't you make up your own minds? Or read older threads about the shows you're considering? You know yourself and your tastes better than we do!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/10/17 at 11:29am

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

Pick your own damn shows!

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 3/10/17 at 11:30am

Not only are we expected to pick the shows, but we're expected to pick the shows based on literally no information.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 3/10/17 at 1:07pm

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. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/10/17 at 1:25pm

This is problematic EVERYWHERE.  My town (where I teach) has a "pinboard" page on FB.  People ask all sorts of questions.  The ridiculousness of many of these questions has made me realize: no one can make a grown up decision anymore; two people REALLY like telling everyone their business.

 

 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 3/10/17 at 1:30pm

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