[StitsVobsaith]

can I change my vote? Originally I voted for "Forum members should have to use their real names." but after critical thinking, some reading inspired by Mr. Hurwitz, going over the posts again and a good conversation I would like to vote for "Usernames or aliases are okay."

[fount_pirat]

Right on Morgs. You've pretty much outlined my argument for me. I'd only add that if this seems "unfair" (as it no doubt will to the "everybody on the internet is equal" point of view) then it only reflects the unfairness of life. Is it "fair" that CJBS chose not to offer me a gig as a leader at this year's festival? Man I have no idea. I suspect that in making these decisions Ken and Co. try to be as scrupulously "fair" as possible, yet their choices are absolutely driven by politics and multiple, conflicting agendas. That's life. They were actually very nice about it, Ken e-mailed me and apologized for the 'oversight.' I'm cool with that. I've got no shortage of performing opportunities in other parts of the world, and I fully intend to approach CJBS again next year, and to keep an ongoing dialogue with them, and every other presenter I possibly can. Vancouver feels very pleasant this time of year, after the blast furnace heat in New Orleans.

I've been trying to see this from Yodi's perspective. Some time back he/she made a post to the effect that age did not necessarily equate with wisdom, and I would certainly agree with that. But youth does not necessarily equate with insight either, and 'new' things are not, in and of themselves, better than old.

I'm no stranger to the feeling of being shut out. This does NOT disappear with age. I'm sometimes tempted to feel that YOUNGER players are given unfair advantage...grants and bursaries I'm too old to be eligable for, mentorship opportunies with older players (a lot of the players 'older' than me are dead) the attention of record companies desperatley searching for the next 'hot, young player' (sounds like gay porn, doesn't it). But whenever I start feeling this way, I tell myself I'm being silly. The world is the way it is. It's up to me to figure out how to make the best of it.

When I was in university, I occasionally came under the tutelage of people I thought were assholes, or for whom I had no respect. But I knew that, even if I personally thought they were jerks, they probably knew more music than I did, simply because they'd been doing it longer, and I would have been a fool to let my personal feelings get in the way of learning what they knew.

The whole process of socialization in any real community always starts with being on the outside. Young players coming onto the scene are always going to feel shut out to some extent, I know I certainly did, and this was made doubly difficult for me because I wasn't even 'young.' I was in my late 30s when I started addressing the jazz repertoire in a serious way. No one would hire me either. My solution to that was to create my own performing opportunities and projects, and to front my own bands. Then, in the fullness of time, I started getting calls as a sideman as well. I still don't get as many of those as I might like, but I've come to understand that this is a combination of the instruments I play ( being a horn player is very different than being a rhythm section player) and the social circles I move in. THAT'S where the politics come in, and yes that can sometimes be hard, but like Ken Lister says, "a thick skin and an open heart." Human society is very complex. Negotiation and mediation are always happening. That's why it's important to never write anyone off. I may be of no importance to you today, but I might be in a position to make a real difference in your life a year or two down the road. That's why we need to try to stay civil, and develop friendships and social connections. If that's a "clique" then I plead guilty. Cliques are only bad if you're not in em.

[sFs4aOok]

I find the arguments for allowing anonymity reasonably persuasive but I can't help being saddened by it.

Nonetheless, anonymity ain't for me. I refuse to participate in on-line "communities" where it is unsafe for people to know who I am.

[Peapeuddedbaw]

Brian this is a great idea. Regardless of my opinion about the topic - it's only right that people get the opportunity to agree or disagree and in discretion no less. You just click on the button and vote what you believe - voting like this is the only time anonimity makes sense to me.

[foltdan]

I thought about this for a couple days. I think my bottom line is this:

1) Everybody has the right to an opinion, anonymous or not, wherever and whenever they are.

2) If you choose to give your opinion anonymously, you can't be expected to be taken as seriously as somebody with a real name, let alone somebody like Campbell who is at the top of the game. Period. End of discussion. Yodi, your opinion simply is not as valuable or important to me or anybody else here, based on the simple fact that you choose to cloak your "opinions" in anonymity. No offense, but that's just the way it is, and it's up to YOU (not us) to deal with that fact. Either reveal yourself, or accept the fact that you're not taken seriously.

3) If you choose to be anonymous, you have to expect that people are going to question your credibility, based on the fact that anybody anonymous can say whatever they want.

So basically what I'm trying to say is that inasmuch as everyone has the right to an anonymous opinion, there is a serious credibilitly deficit that comes with being anonymous. A deficit that can only be overcome with actual meaningful, insightful discussion, not just mindless, moronic swiping at people endlessly.

[NerbuitW]

There were 3 new registrations within about ten minutes, all from the same domain, and all looking like made-up addresses (junk@, junk2@, etc.) This is not a contest nor are we voting for prime minister here. I'll probably do nothing based on the results. I'm just trying to get a feel for what current members here think about this issue. Getting people to register in order to vote is pointless and counterproductive.

[fount_pirat]

Hey Brian,

How about that new Dave Koz album,;-)

[NerbuitW]

With all respect Morgan (and I know who you are, you rascal!), this question has been beaten to death. It's been interesting to see how people feel about the username issue but the fact is there's nothing I can or want to do about it, aside from encouraging people to either use a real name or, at least, put it in their signature. But it's their option.

Not sure it's been mentioned but even if we were to insist on so-called "real" names - how would we know if a name was real, just because it looked real?

I'd be happy to see this thread (or threads) die a natural death. There's so much great music happening. Can we talk about that?

Onward!

[NerbuitW]

Some people here feel (and I'm one of them) that if members of this forum were required to use their real identities discussions might be on a higher level, with fewer personal attacks and more carefully thought out opinions and that in some sense a posting with a real name has more validity. Others feel that anonymity encourages freer expression. What do you think?