The Logic Off Topic list

>tried to convinced them different, but people do not seem to be able to 
>understand what Off topic means 

Well On topic conversations frequently drift Off topic. Thats human being 
for you. At some point, these things should be taken to the OT list. 

>> Yes, these armchair historians are responsible for my
>> unsubscribing to the OT list as well. So much tripe!

Some people's tripe is others' menudo (the mexican soup made from beef 
tripe). This list and the OT list are an interesting international group, 
and provide a forum for a great deal of divergent opinions and 
communication - and thats a good thing isn't it? There are people from 
all over the world with valuable input (and misconceptions). However, the 
subject was brought up recently if the OT list should be limited to 
music, or anything. If you feel strongly only music should be discussed, 
then maybe that be voted on.

>als so fed up with this bashing and the mock CNN'ers in this group 
>tried to convinced them different, but people do not seem to be able to 
>understand what Off topic means 

There was a lot of quibbling with the minor details but not the main 
point. Nick wrote that music is a necessity of life, but you can live to 
100 years old without music, but you won't live more than 60 days without 
food, and even less without shelter from elements and safety. And if 
thats too abstract, think of it this way. When the economy turns down, 
and people have less money, the first thing they cut back on is 
entertainment - dining out, movies, CD's, clubs,  and concerts. They 
don't cut back on food, rent, electricity, car repairs. (In economics 
these are inelastic and elastic demands - meaning the demand for some 
things respond to price increases while others don't).

How is this relevant here? Because everyone on this list who makes their 
living in full or part from music would be affected by a downturn in the 
economy - perhaps even to greater affect than the general population. 
Less money going to clubs, means bands have less money to go to a studio, 
etc.

>> > yes; it's hard to even know where to begin in responding to this.
>> > So Japan didn't have a flourishing art/music culture until the last
>> > 20 years "when they got rich"?

No, thats not what I said. Of course, there was a long and flourishing 
culture (along with a long history of military shoguns and conquest). I 
have interacted with a lot of Japanese for the last 15 years, and been to 
Japan three times, and there is really a change. Right now as we speak, 
there are thousands of Japanese here majoring in art and music and 
whatever strikes their fancy. However, you'll find few Taiwanese, 
Vietnamese, or Chinese majoring in the arts - instead you'll find them in 
the Engineering and Science departments - just as there were many 
Japanese in the 50's and 60's. Its a matter or priority, and things like 
art and music come lower on that list compared to other things.

Quibble with the details if you like, because none of these situations is 
black and white, but rather detailed in many shades of gray, but all of 
us - pro or amateur - are producing "icing on the cake" of society, not 
the main course.

GAmoore@a... wrote:

> think of it this way. When the economy turns down, 
> and people have less money, the first thing they cut back on is 
> entertainment 
Not all music is entertainment.

> Its a matter or priority, and things like 
> art and music come lower on that list compared to other things.
There is a difference between studying and playing.

> but all of 
> us - pro or amateur - are producing "icing on the cake" of society,
> not the main course.
Work songs.

Kool Musick
Keep Musick Kool