Rasikas.org - 2011 and beyond

kssr · Post by **kssr** » 22 Dec 2010, 20:58

With the type of unrestrained mud slinging among members, it is only a question of time before it reaches an irrevocable climax.

Moderators and a select group of senior members should look at important functional features like:
- Who is the owner of the site
- Who is bearing the costs of running the site. (I suggest that it is a broadly shared responsibility)
- Who has the power to close the site. Can this single person do this? (I suggest that it must be under a multi level password system such that at least 3 persons are needed to take any fundamental decision on the site)
- Identify important functions which are essential for the survival of the site. Each of these functions should be under the multiple key system.

I personally enjoy enormously in partcipating in this forum and I am sure there are hundreds of rasikas who participate by contributing and/or following the threads. I took for granted that this is a mature group. More or less it is so. But I suggest that the present mods do not take things for granted and put in place a proper admistrative set up . I hope everyone including todays mods would like the forum to survive, irrespective of the presence or absence of one or other individual member or moderator.

If action on these lines are not taken the forum will close. It is not a pleasant thing to say. But you will understand that it is true. Alternatively, we can also fall back upon the universal thathvam that "anything that has a beginning necessarily has an end"

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 22 Dec 2010, 21:41

kssr
While you may have raised few points that were too dear to me , at this time we need not stir those. The main admin srkris may be in his honeymoon. The moderate VK is travelling from chennai to ahmedabad for a few days and then flying out to US . Very likely both srkris and VK are not going to see any of these posts for atleast a week .As such let us not worry on this closure, the best thing is to focus on new topics and posts .We just need to post more posts in new topics to bury that bad experience . Time and again new posts is only a cure to all this aberrations.

hariniraghavan · Post by **hariniraghavan** » 22 Dec 2010, 22:00

I agree with you Rajeshnat. Post new topics to bury and ignore the bad experience.
Harini.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 22 Dec 2010, 23:18

kssr,
Though you are a fairly new member, your participation has been active and you have had several positive things to share with the rest of us during this time.
Rajesh is right. I will go one step further and ask this: do we need this thread at all? If the end to Rasikas is to come, we will worry about it then and perhaps learn to accept it too! I don't see it coming. We have seen many a mini Tsunami here, and they were not worth worrying about. I just think that much of the energy that goes into stirring up issues aids us in our drifting away and away from our aspirations for music.These fires and furies tend to die out on their own. If we find folks acting impulsively and saying things which they did not mean to convey, what's the point in stokingsuch issues up? Supposing they say they didn't mean it all in the first place, where do we stand?
Most of us know that our admin is just married and is perhaps on his honeymoon and is not aware of what's happening. Vasanthakokilam is still on vacation. Rasikas is not a company and the moderators are not full time employees here. The janitorial work a moderator does comes out of his willingness to spend his own time to maintain Rasikas. It is a thankless job. If they keep quiet, they are thought to be indifferent or if they act, they are considered interfering!
It's a responsibility and how many of us are willing to take it up? Even if I had known the ropes, I would hesitate. When a few left Rasikas dissatisfied, how many of them started a new organization like Rasikas? It's all work and no play!

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 23 Dec 2010, 09:17

Hey Guys!! Don't shut down the site--I may be late for the party(I am always late ) so it is not fair that you guys should talk of shutting down the site just when I have started to follow the "threads" in various topics(slow learners like me should be indulged!!!).

Anyway seriously though let's acknowledge that Music and musical tastes are subjective and long time listeners like myself do sometimes carry a chip in our shoulders,say some intemperate things and the rift threatens to widen needlessly.
I see no hatchet but let's bury it anyway!!!!!!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 23 Dec 2010, 09:46

Ramesh,
I am with you. Hatchets? What hatchets? Unless we hatch them.
All that is needed I suppose, is (and I consider myself not superstition-ridden!) an imaginary drushTi parihAram of a fiercely drawn pumpkin over the imaginary portals of Rasikas, to ward off any evil eye

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 23 Dec 2010, 12:53

I have been busy with concert hopping and travel and so could not spend much time with the forum. I will write more once I get back to my base towards the end of this month. In the mean time, just a quick note: however controversial and heated one of our threads had become, there is no danger to the site. May be this thread is the metaphorical drushTi parihAram for all the good vibes that we felt at the rasikas meet.

More on that and other things later...

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 23 Dec 2010, 13:19

Thank you for your words of encouragement and optimism, vk. They show that, indeed, we do not need to be concerned, and that there is no need for this thread, and there is no worry.

I too have shared kssr's worry over the past few days.

There is something to be gained from this. It is that we should not take the site for granted. We have, as members, no more rights than house guests, which is what we are. Where a forum like this is concerned, there are certain bottom-line realities. Somebody has to own and to continue to pay for, the domain name; somebody has to provide or hire and pay for server facilities; somebody has to maintain the server and software on a regular basis. According to my understanding, that person is skris.

If we visit a house where there are regular meetings of friends and regular good discussions, does that give us any rights to the property? No, it does not --- and if the host should decide that he needs solitude or, for whatever reason, cannot continue to support our regular meetings, then we have to live with that. I think that many of our members forget this, despite the fact that we have lived through the disappearance of other forums in which we have taken part.

Let us accept VK's reassurance and be happy, but let us learn not to take skris for granted. We are his guests.

laks1972 · Post by **laks1972** » 23 Dec 2010, 23:14

kssr wrote:With the type of unrestrained mud slinging among members, it is only a question of time before it reaches an irrevocable climax.

That will be a sad ending and I pray that does not happen

Why don't we invite one or two moderators of sangeethapriya discussion group to give a helping hand in moderating rasikas.org ??.

With their way of enforcing discipline, this forum can be run smoothly.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 24 Dec 2010, 00:41

I appreciate the thought, but it is not a matter of ability: it is a matter of choice.

Do remember that (always allowing for the fact that nobody can please all of the people all of the time) for every major upset there are months and months of ordinary business.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 24 Dec 2010, 01:02

at any rate by 2012 the world is going to end accoding to Nostradamus..
so why worry..

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 24 Dec 2010, 01:14

Is that the latest estimate since the last date, supposedly predicted by Nostradamus, passed safely?

A friend of mine used to say not to worry about Armageddon --- because it had already happened and what we are living in is the result!

ksrimech · Post by **ksrimech** » 24 Dec 2010, 02:03

cmlover wrote:at any rate by 2012 the world is going to end accoding to Nostradamus..
so why worry..

or the mayans?

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 24 Dec 2010, 03:29

ksrimech wrote: or the mAyans?

Krishna - the answer to that should be: mAyavanO, tUyavanO, nAyakanO, nAn ariyEn....set to kalyANi

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 24 Dec 2010, 08:41

Ravi,
KalyANamAna SoRkaL (auspicious words indeed)! and that mAyavanO tUyavanO, enRum nammaik kAppAn. He will take care of us--and of Rasikas too. Happy Christmas! Peace on earth!

venkatakailasam · Post by **venkatakailasam** » 24 Dec 2010, 09:41

Useless postings, gossiping, mutual acriminations , mutual compliments occupy most of the threads
Which once used to set example of how a discussion forum has to function-really sorry state of affairs!!
I wonder whether it is possible to restore it to the forum which it was once in spite of confidence

indicated by Shri VK at #7 23 Dec 2010

Above I posted in another thread also.

Vijayakumar · Post by **Vijayakumar** » 24 Dec 2010, 12:03

This site has been of great value and help for many based on the discussion threads. please do continue to have this site.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 24 Dec 2010, 13:31

venkatakailasam, I do agree that we can do without criminations of any kind, and I would urge the moderators to simply delete any personal attack by one member on another. The terms should be that the team's decision is final, and that no discussion of moderation is allowed.

However, a little bit of nonsense is necessary to maintain the human face of the forum.

Of course, I can understand if you should read my post and think, "Well, he would say that, wouldn't he?" :$

gobilalitha · Post by **gobilalitha** » 24 Dec 2010, 14:35

I will undergo a fast unto death, if rasikas.org isclosed. Lalitha says'do it, at least you will shed a few kilos' gobilalitha

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 24 Dec 2010, 15:09

Do it according to the example given by a certain public figure, who I will not name... between breakfast and lunchtime.

But, better still, let there be no reason for you to do it at all!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 24 Dec 2010, 17:16

GBL,
We are old and have the old habit of kidding around too here. Laughter is the best medicine for us folks--of course, in small doses...
Some young ones join in, and at times infect us with their humor as well

semmu86 · Post by **semmu86** » 24 Dec 2010, 21:01

Nick H wrote:Do it according to the example given by a certain public figure, who I will not name... between breakfast and lunchtime.

Good one Nick

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 24 Dec 2010, 22:26

STOP PRESS!
We have info based on reliable sources that GBL has already started on his fast - in fact, he has been doing this for some time now! i.e. from 10pm to 6am every day!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 24 Dec 2010, 23:06

We need to put Pratyaksham Bala on your trail. He is a good sleuth, it seems.

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 24 Dec 2010, 23:09

Ekadasi in the night?

Pratyaksham Bala · Post by **Pratyaksham Bala** » 25 Dec 2010, 05:48

arasi:
Thanks.
Now that the nauttykurinji mystery is solved(?), I can take up this GloBaL assignment!

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 25 Dec 2010, 06:01

PB, good one.

gobilalitha · Post by **gobilalitha** » 25 Dec 2010, 07:35

I am achieving what I want.some jokes in the midst of fiery battle of words to the extent of almost carrying swords in their hands . gobilalitha

vs_manjunath · Post by **vs_manjunath** » 25 Dec 2010, 08:58

vasanthakokilam wrote:I have been busy with concert hopping and travel and so could not spend much time with the forum. I will write more once I get back to my base towards the end of this month. In the mean time, just a quick note: however controversial and heated one of our threads had become, there is no danger to the site. May be this thread is the metaphorical drushTi parihAram for all the good vibes that we felt at the rasikas meet.

More on that and other things later...

We all love ' rasikas.org ' to grow in strength day by day; week by week; month by month; year by year.

Would love to attend a powerful Global Rasikas mtg in Dec 2011 wishfully sponsored by artists !!!

kssr · Post by **kssr** » 25 Dec 2010, 14:35

I see that srkris is back as he has swiftly acted by freezing the "rasikas meet" thread for obvious reasons. I hope that he sees this thread. I hope that he understands the importance of broad basing the responsibilities of such a growing site. In reply to my suggestions at the beginning, there have been three categories of responses A.wishful thinking B.begging the admin and C.agreeing to the inevitable (guests cannot own the house, etc.,)

The correct solution to my doomsday prophesy is for the admin to be broadminded and institute an 'organisation style' participative management instead of maintaining a propreitary ownership. This will help increase the longevity of this wonderful site.

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 25 Dec 2010, 15:07

Kssr, thanks for raising this topic. Can you email me to put forward your thoughts more articulately? Perhaps the site does need more hands to work on. If a lot of people think they have invested their time and efforts to this website, and feel entitled to have a say in its future, I respect that.

It cant be bad to do some brainstorming, but it can happen offline among those that are interested. We don't have to involve the entire forum. So I request people who have ideas to email me, and we will decide how best to form a group and take it forward.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 25 Dec 2010, 17:22

I tried, but got the message "Form Invalid".

Have saved the text until this is sorted or an alternative email given.

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 25 Dec 2010, 18:13

Oh, you could try admin AT rasikas DOT org till that's diagnosed and fixed.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 25 Dec 2010, 18:23

Thanks. Done: You Have Mail

kssr · Post by **kssr** » 26 Dec 2010, 11:13

srkris wrote:Kssr, thanks for raising this topic. Can you email me to put forward your thoughts more articulately? Perhaps the site does need more hands to work on. If a lot of people think they have invested their time and efforts to this website, and feel entitled to have a say in its future, I respect that.

It cant be bad to do some brainstorming, but it can happen offline among those that are interested. We don't have to involve the entire forum. So I request people who have ideas to email me, and we will decide how best to form a group and take it forward.

srkris, Thanks for your response. Hope you had a great time on your honeymoon. Wish you both our most sincere best wishes for a very happy married life. All other things are secondary.
First of all, my raising the issue on this string is not a sign of no confidence in you. You are doing an excellent job and I stop here, as I do not like to flatter, although you deserve it.
I have no idea whatsoever about the management of this site and how it works. I also do not know which aspects are alterable and which ones not, as per the rules of the website provider.
What I do know however is that this site has become an important part of many rasikas' daily activities, incl mine. Also it has now grown into a very big movement. Thirdly all of us greatly desire continued success and achievement of the site in the coming years.
Under these circumstances it is only prudent to look at the bottlenecks and the possibility of these bottlenecks choking the site permanently and avoid such a situation. (Remember it has happened in the case of other similar sites)Hence my suggestions in the opening post.
As the organisation grows, there has to be changes. Just compare a money lender, and State Bank of India. More or less they do the same job of collecting money at low interest rate and sell the money at high interest rate. It is enough for the moneylender to have a single key to his safe whereas SBI cannot follow the same model.
It is for you in consultation with some senior (not necessarily in age) mature, like minded members and put a system in place. All 5000 members wish that my great grandchildren and your grand children ( I know there is a generation gap!), will still be in touch through rasikas. Kindly work hard and take action towards this and we will sit back, relax and enjoy the site

In case you think that I can be of assistance in any way, please feel free to inform me.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 26 Dec 2010, 12:09

Absolutely agree. Let me also repeat that these upsets, though they may be bitter at the time, are just moments in the entire life of the forum. They pass.

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 31 Dec 2010, 01:37

Thanks KSSR, I acknowledge that I have received some emails, many of them quite lengthy, and I am going through them. I will respond to each of you.

kssr · Post by **kssr** » 31 Dec 2010, 10:21

srkris wrote:Thanks KSSR, I acknowledge that I have received some emails, many of them quite lengthy, and I am going through them. I will respond to each of you.

Although you had asked me to write by email, I had written on this string itself. I thought that there may be many young IT men in this forum who can probably help you in strengthening this fabulous site.

Thanks for the great year you gave all of us in 2010 and wish you the very best of luck in 2011.

venkatakailasam · Post by **venkatakailasam** » 31 Dec 2010, 14:44

I am providing the status of two sites as obtained from the net:

A) Of Rasikas.org : http://hqindex.com/rasikas.org

B) Of Sangeethapriya.org : http://www.doloop.com/www/sangeethapriya.org

The membership A) 5344
B) 3569

If I remember correct A was started in 2007 and B was started in 2004 ( corrections welcome)
There are donations collected by B where as to my knowledge for A there is only expenditure which is met by our
srkris!!

Of course, there is difference in operations-While A is a discussion forum while B does service by providing free downloads.

Any how, it cannot be a one man's show in meeting the expenditure and we , the members have to voluntarily help srkris
How this can be done can be arrived at by discussion

venkatakailasam

eesha · Post by **eesha** » 31 Dec 2010, 21:14

Reg the post of venkatakailasam:

sangeethapriya has 2 discussion groups.

The Yahoo group has 3568 members as of today
The Google group has 3210 members as of today
Total 6778 members

There are some common members. So it can be assumed that sangeethapriya has around 6000 members

As rightly pointed out, the purpose and the ature of service differ vastly between these 2 sites.
A site such as sangeethapriya can not be afforded by 1 person. Unlike rasikas.org which is a discussion based site, sangeethapriya demands lot of bandwidth, diskspace , server speed etc. Also a site such as sangeethapriya is more prone to attacks, leeching, bandwidth stealing and all such evils which requires the site to be fortified, leading to higher costs. So there is no apples-to-apples comparison possible with rasikas.org

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 31 Dec 2010, 23:21

"it cannot be a one man's show in meeting the expenditure and we , the members have to voluntarily help srkris
How this can be done can be arrived at by discussion" - agreed; but srkris shall and should keep the proprietary veto and management rights for rasikas.org.

venkatakailasam · Post by **venkatakailasam** » 31 Dec 2010, 23:34

srkris shall and should keep the proprietary veto and management rights for rasikas.org.

This cannot be in any other way. We have to relive him of financial burden.

venkatakailasam

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 01 Jan 2011, 03:14

May I suggest that we change the title of this thread to something more posiitive and upbeat... it being the New Year and all!

Rasikas.org will not close, it is bigger than all of us now.

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 01 Jan 2011, 03:27

May be "Rasikas.org' in 2011 and the years to come?

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 01 Jan 2011, 08:49

YES, CHANGE the subject. How dreary!

Pratyaksham Bala · Post by **Pratyaksham Bala** » 01 Jan 2011, 10:51

Now the heading is positive.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 01 Jan 2011, 14:16

Excellent new title

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 01 Jan 2011, 19:11

Credit goes to mahavishnu for the prodding and Punarvasu for the idea. It is only appropriate... mahavishnu, the preserver and Punarvasu, the renewer of the brightness and riches!!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 01 Jan 2011, 20:26

Very happy to see the new title.
Ah! The cuckoo sings again after all the concerts and travels.
Shoveling that snow in the driveway would be a good work out too

If you envy my enjoying warmer weather here in India, hear this: I'm hit with a miserable cold

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 01 Jan 2011, 20:37

And I'm hit with a severe case of withdrawal after my trip to Chennai.

Get well soon, queen!