LouieB surpasses Tweedy's Gurl - for old timers only.

[Sweet Papa Crimbo]

There is a Facebook page, but I don't think it's a group as such. Lots of random posts on there, like "Good show last night, Jeff." "When are you guys coming to OKC?" and whatnot.

That's what I was afraid of.

People aren't going to another mass heavily attended forum to share with many different people.

It's simply a narrowing of the circle.

[Beltmann]

I don't quite get how people say facebook and twitter replace forums like this.  Seems like all the stuff there is typical stuff by fans directed at the band ("come to XYZ!") and not a discussion among fans about the band.

 

Well, your description fits the official Wilco page on Facebook, and that's surely no substitute for VC.  But many of the posters here are friends with each other on FB, too, and that's where some good discussion often happens, between individuals or a small group of acquaintances.  I suppose that's a narrowing of the circle, which has drawbacks.  The FB vehicle isn't always conducive to the mass exchange of ideas, and yet I'm not sure FB is designed to serve as a substitute for larger forums.  While VC is a large circle, FB isn't just a tinier version of that circle; rather, it creates concentric circles, all spinning simultaneously.  That's a key distinction, because that system ends up encouraging substantially different kinds of interactions.

 

That said, I personally prefer the more open, denser forum of a message board thread, and I miss the days when many posters here would offer lengthy, lucid mini-essays in threads about politics, art, movies, VW ads, etc.  I don't see that being replicated on FB, and that's a loss only because it hasn't been sustained here.  In an ideal world, both vehicles would prosper, and we'd enjoy the unique benefits of both systems of interaction.

[mountain bed]

As far as message-board style on a FB page I'd say the Dead Tour Vets page comes closest for me.

[LouieB]

I don't see that being replicated on FB, and that's a loss only because it hasn't been sustained here.  In an ideal world, both vehicles would prosper, and we'd enjoy the unique benefits of both systems of interaction.

If you are like me and only Facebook on your iPhone, you have to get really proficient at the one finger typing to get out any lengthy discussion.  I am sometimes amazed at how much I do write like this, but it is tough.

 

LouieB

[awatt]

I miss this place.  Hardly here at all anymore.  Always loved listening to a webcast live and commenting while in this place. 

 

I think either you LouieB or Beltmann sent me a great Whiskeytown unreleased album once that I've cherished since receiving. 

 

Lots of good people here.

 

[Beltmann]

I miss this place.  Hardly here at all anymore.  Always loved listening to a webcast live and commenting while in this place. 

 

Good to see you, awatt.  Is it still All Wilco All The Time for you?  Interesting that you bring up live webcasts and the old VC "streaming parties."  Those were always terrific fun, and some of us revived the tradition a few weeks back.  It was kind of surreal doing it here at VC like old times, while simultaneously doing it on Facebook--the latter actually provided far more lively interaction, and within multiple circles of friends, so that we were bouncing between the various strands that only occasionally intersected.

[kidsmoke]

Nice to see you, awatt!

[awatt]

Yes, yes, yes.  Still so utterly and absolutely All Wilco All the Time.  I'm surprised myself at the longevity of this musical love affair. 

 

Hi to you too kidsmoke.  I need to spend more time here...

[mountain bed]

Good to see you, awatt.  Is it still All Wilco All The Time for you?  Interesting that you bring up live webcasts and the old VC "streaming parties."  Those were always terrific fun, and some of us revived the tradition a few weeks back.  It was kind of surreal doing it here at VC like old times, while simultaneously doing it on Facebook--the latter actually provided far more lively interaction, and within multiple circles of friends, so that we were bouncing between the various strands that only occasionally intersected.

AWATT! 

 

As Beltmann said, that was a fun time bumping back and forth between VC & FB during that stream. 

[LouieB]

 

 

I think either you LouieB or Beltmann sent me a great Whiskeytown unreleased album once that I've cherished since receiving. 

 

 

 

That would be Beltman I would assume, since it was not me.

 

Lou

[Rooney]

I approve of this thread.  Well done sir!!

[aricandover]

I approve of this thread.  Well done sir!!

 

I approve of this post. 

[Sandoz]

Rooney!

 

Anyhoo, I agree there are many factors for why us "old timers" fell off the face of VC. Mostly life (i.e. family, work) but also other venues of communication (such as Facebook). Various small FB groups may or may not exist   . I joined VC in ~2002 to find a bootleg of a specific show (that I've still never found!), ended up here all the time when I was up late on-call at the hospital etc. It used to be a handful of members, and we got to know each other well (first on line, then eventually in person). For many of us, I think it just got too big and less intimate. At that point, several of us had become "real" friends, not just handles on a message board. One of the best weekends ever was in 2003(?) when tons of VCers flew to Chicago for that run of Wilco shows at the Auditorium Theatre.  We all met in person, we became even closer, then we ended up hanging out at the bar with most of the band until the wee morning hours. Followed by breakfast in Greektown. And holy crap that was 10 years ago.

 

I still love Wilco like nobody's business. I moved from Chicago to the west coast 9 years ago, now I have 2 kids who love them too, and I have made some unbelievable lifelong friendships from VC. Moving away from VC certainly doesn't mean I've fallen out of love.

 

RE: the theory that the decreased activity was directly related to Jay Bennett's death, I completely disagree (at least for the VC folks who I know most closely).  Our activity had already significantly waned before his death.

 

I'd like to add that I ran into tongue-tied lightening (Drew) completely unexpectedly at Solid Sound. We hadn't seen each other since Irving Plaza in 2004. I cried tears of joy!

[tongue-tied lightning]

[Sweet Papa Crimbo]

Rooney!

 

Anyhoo, I agree there are many factors for why us "old timers" fell off the face of VC. Mostly life (i.e. family, work) but also other venues of communication (such as Facebook). Various small FB groups may or may not exist   .

I guess that is the death rattle of every Internet group...the more people that get involved, the more the 'core' withdraws.

 

Well, I've cast my lot with this board, whether the cool kids post here anymore or not.

[Guest Jules]

1-format change on the website in 2009.

2-removal of separate Umm section to take away the fun random b.s. stuff.

3-silly "rules" enforcement like this is some kind of family establishment.

[NoJ]

1-format change on the website in 2009.

2-removal of separate Umm section to take away the fun random b.s. stuff.

3-silly "rules" enforcement like this is some kind of family establishment.

 

That format change in 2009 was a humdinger!

[Guest Jules]

you're damn right it was!!!

[tinnitus photography]

3-silly "rules" enforcement like this is some kind of family establishment.

 

yeah... these seem like the second coming of North Korea

http://viachicago.org/topic/38190-via-chicago-rules-and-regulations/

[Guest Jules]

I said enforcement.

[ction]

In all seriousness though, this place went to shit when I stopped posting on a regular basis. And, of course, when Gary died :/

[JUDE]

 

RIP G

[tinnitus photography]

I said enforcement.

 

but the "rules" were singled out in quotations, as if implying disdain.

[Guest Jules]

Just calling it like it is.

[tinnitus photography]

clearly.