So Pete14 is here?

mmatthew

I have been in self-imposed social media isolation for a while now and I logged back on his week. Admins feel free to delete this thread if irrelevant 😛

I hope everyone including my dear friend Pete14 is doing great and in the best of health, success and happiness. God bless you all!

CyberGene

mmatthew I just announced to my Facebook friends that I am going to deactivate my FB account tomorrow, so yeah, I know where you're coming from, but on the other hand I am just abandoning (maybe temporarily) Facebook only, I'm fine with forums 🙂

Otherwise, yes, @Pete14 is here, he was banned once more on PW but is now back both here and there 😀

All is good, how are things with you?

HZPiano

So mmatthew is here (again)?

I've been wondering about you…

Cheers and nice to 'see' you again!

David B

mmatthew Admins feel free to delete this thread if irrelevant 😛

That would defeat the entire purpose of this forum. 😎

Welcome back.

Pete14

mmatthew

Thank you, Comrade!

We’re doing pretty well ‘round here (and growing by the minute).

Good to see you back,

Pete.

David B

CyberGene yes, @Pete14 is here, he was banned once more on PW

Pete gets banned on PW as often as you and I go to the store to buy a carton of milk. 😀

God Bless,
David

David B

CyberGene I just announced to my Facebook friends that I am going to deactivate my FB account tomorrow,

My wife left Facebook a year or so ago for privacy reasons. Do you have similar concerns or is it just a break from social media?

God Bless,
David

MacMacMac

So I guess that Pete-fourteened is a new verb that means banned?

CyberGene

David B Do you have similar concerns or is it just a break from social media?

No, it’s more for the sake of my own mental health… There’s an ongoing political crisis in Bulgaria and the polarization between people is enormous. I can’t help but keep arguing with friends and I feel that I’m getting frustrated, enraged and disgusted with people that I know, and certainly they are with me. It’s a widespread issue and I see people insulting themselves so much… What’s funny is when we see each other it’s totally different. I find social networks to be harmful to human interaction. It got really bad with Covid but then it was the Ukraine and now our local situation. People can’t just argue, they mock other people’s opinion, they dismiss, they are self-entitled. I decided to cut it all.

MacMacMac

I deleted facebook three or four years ago.
Its usefulness was declining, the advertising was on the rise, and the final straw was their selling data for harvesting.
I had my page deleted and my account closed. I'm not going back.

mmatthew

CyberGene Right there with you CG. I see a need to discuss issues, for sure, at work or on the internet, but it's impossible to do so, in good faith.

At work, it's different although they keep saying safe space etc. etc. no one talks at all, for fear of being judged one way or the other. The same folks take to social media, for a while it goes OK, and then it's all hell unleashed, no one is sparing any one.

It's disappointing and disgusting. We don't need moderation, just common sense and good faith.

David B

CyberGene No, it’s more for the sake of my own mental health…

It's good that you're aware of that and have the discipline to adjust your behavior to improve your quality of life.

God Bless,
David

HZPiano

CyberGene I find social networks to be harmful to human interaction. It got really bad with Covid but then it was the Ukraine and now our local situation. People can’t just argue, they mock other people’s opinion, they dismiss, they are self-entitled. I decided to cut it all

Great observations and decision. There are some newer 'faces' on PW again who also 'communicate' in less than desirable ways. What a huge loss of valuable energy to all.

I've been on LinkedIn and Twitter for work reasons, but haven't used those platforms anymore since over ten years ago. Never been on Facebook (created an account once but didn't actually use it). I read on Talkbass and Basschat occasionally but never post there.

So I'm a happy Clacker and am still on PW a bit (out of… nostalgia? Boredom? Who'll say). And that's it.

Cheers and happy preservation of sanity and energy,

mmatthew

So lovely to hear and get back in touch with you all.

I had privacy concerns with Google and Facebook for a while. I took some time to delete all my history, app and web connections in Google and FB. I deleted my FB account. I deleted everything in Google except my email account - it's a little hard to get rid of. For the past 6 months, my browser has been in incognito mode. I am remembering all my passwords and logins. In case I forget, I am taking the extra few minutes to retrieve password. I even deleted my LinkedIn where I had 700+ connections, and created a new one and established connections only with those I have either seen, talked or worked with. I had a bunch of Twitter accounts - all gone, except one. I had 3 Insta accounts, and now only one for my photography stuff.

I always felt as if Google and FB were standing behind me as I used the internet. Every site I went to, seemed to have ads from my Amazon purchase history, recent websites, even based on history from years back. The wife then had a scared where some hacker emailed her her passwords and demanded money. The wife also went through everything I did to protect ourselves from trouble.

Now, no more saved passwords, histories, photos, CC data - nothing. It's so relieving, and I can feel confident in being able to remember passwords and other important information. The only place I feel safe (as of now, is in the Apple universe). Ever since I turned incognito on, on browsers and adjusted privacy settings with Apple across all my devices (location, app data etc.) - I feel a little safer. I know I will never be 100% protected, but I believe I have taken enough steps.

The other benefits is from distancing socially on the internet forums (bar this one :-)) where it is impossible now to have a meaningful exchange of opinions. I am guilty of contributing to that as well, but I have quickly learned and slowed down. Even WSJ which I have subscribed to, for years has become a notorious place (the comments section) that the good comments get lost amidst the name calling and hate speech.

HZPiano

mmatthew

Wow what a story and great course of action.

Cheers and let's stay safe and critical,

mmatthew

On the piano front. It's been 15 months of bliss with my N1X. I am only a beginner though, so obviously I am underutilizing what this instrument can do. I'm also probably the only N1X user not using VSTs :-) I take 5 seconds or less to put the instrument in max string and damper resonance, lightest touch, and brightest sound. Listening to that CFX sound setup thus, over open ear headphones is sooooooo sweet. That simple setup (which normally people would complain about, incl. me) is now a force of habit that after power on, my hands do it involuntarily.

I also took a new piano teacher for in-person classes post pandemic. Boy that made a world of difference. My teacher is not shy to grab my hands or elbows to demonstrate correct position etc., and also to look at my face when giving instructions or listening to my feedback. Super happy!

CyberGene

mmatthew I'm also probably the only N1X user not using VSTs

Nope, I haven't started Garritan CFX for some time now because I only use it when recording. And I've only been practicing and playing for myself lately, which I do with the onboard sounds 🙂

MacMacMac

In the 60s we were told that TV violence begets trouble youths and violent adults.
I wonder whether 21st century web-board angst will produce similar results?

Pete14

HZPiano So I'm a happy Clacker and am still on PW a bit (out of… nostalgia? Boredom? Who'll say). And that's it.

Let’s be clear about something, I, too, am a Clacker and ‘still on PW’ as part of a mission, “we come in peace.”
I have infiltrated their main headquarters and regained the trust of their most-upper-level agents (James & Gombessa).

My Second-In-Command, EssBrace, skipped town, and is, as of now MIA; however, my ‘explosives-guy’ (Drew-r) informs me that we are now ready to blow up the place (waiting on ‘clearance,’ and final orders from the boss: CG).

Keep in mind that I’m a soldier and not a hired assassin, therefore, I will not kill innocent civilians; and I’m ready to disobey orders, even from CG, until I can get visual confirmation that we are ‘clear’ (civilians relocated to PC).

James & Gombessa will be given the opportunity to surrender (we could benefit from their expertise) if they agree to renounce PW and pledge allegiance to PC (I’ll personally keep an eye on them); however, if they refuse, they will go down with the PW ship!

mmatthew

Pete14 Let’s be clear about something, I, too, am a Clacker and ‘still on PW’ as part of a mission, “we come in peace.”
I have infiltrated their main headquarters and regained the trust of their most-upper-level agents (James & Gombessa).

See this is why a forum needs someone like Pete14. A loyal, caring and funny member, on whose bad books you DON'T want to get on 😀

Do you mean Kawai James? I have had some battles with him in the past, but I like the guy. Hopefully they cross over to this promised land!