Post Covid choir lockdown has seen a sudden burst in new male choristers . One younger man with a higher range has been nabbed by the female tenors, all of whom looked suitably chuffed. The other guy sat next to me .
Jamie , still bursting from his yearly obsession with Eurovision , announced loudly that we were going to learn this year’s Icelandic entry IN Icelandic and I heard the new man mutter “ oh bollocks “ under his breath. It was a euphemism for what have I got myself into ?
I think he enjoyed the session.
Anyhow I think we sounded better than the original to be fair .
I’ve talked before about the power of singing in a choir and tonight I was reminded of the special camaraderie shared voices generate .
The good humour and the kindness especially .
The younger man sang rather well, and it was lovely to see many of the choristers going up to him at the end of the class to tell him so.
The face to face kindness and good humour I mentioned have reminded me that some of the negative and indeed nasty blog comments received recently have really been inappropriate and unfortunate………and bad habits of internet life.
And I’m tired of them and it..toxic and sad as the whole experience has become
Don’t let them get you down, if you do, they’ve won. Choir sounds great, singing is so good for the soul.
ReplyDeleteI’m ok just tired xx
DeleteInteresting your comments about the feeling you get from choir John. i sand in choir (or played for them for many years) and yes they do generate a good feeling I agree. I also agree about the way blogs have tended to go lately. But please don't stop participating will you? You are one of the main reasons for my continuation. I turn first to you every day - and at 90 in October your friendship is so impotant to me. x
ReplyDeleteThat last comment is from Weaver of course.
ReplyDeleteDear pat, you have been a good friend to me and many others here in blogland
DeleteI’m not going anywhere …I’m just tired of the negative parts of the net x
I' ve never understood why people generate meanness. There are enough bad things happening anyway, at a world level, but also to individuals. No one needs to add to the sum total of misery. I get that they're unhappy themselves, but trying to make others feel worse is never going to help.
ReplyDeleteYou are halfway 'round the world from me and yet I care about you. I enjoy reading about a different way of life and look forward to your daily journal writing. Please -- don't every stop. Sending my love. Gail, in Northern California USA
ReplyDeleteJust as a regular reader and commenter, I am also fed up with the negative, nasty commenters! I would think there has to be a way to block them ... What the hell got under their skin to turn them so nasty?
ReplyDeleteBecause of them, I have considered giving up on your blog, John. At the moment, they seem gone or they are lurking ... So I shall remain and continue to enjoy your triumphs!!
I envy you and your choir. I hope the internet toxicity won’t ruin blogging for you. You’re an exceptional story teller, have fascinating stories to tell, and you’re an inspiration — farts, skid marks, stained T-shirts, and all.
ReplyDeleteYour comment made me smile!
DeleteNew members of the choir will add to the dynamic and it is always nice when everyone is welcoming.
ReplyDeleteNegative blog comments are to written off as: someone has gotten a bee in their bonnet or simply is having a bad day and you became the target through no fault of your own. As others have suggested, you could block said individuals if you choose. Alternatively, you could put them on notice and if it happens again, block them. Having zero tolerance for being treated poorly is in your interest and only fair.
Ive been
ReplyDeleteSorry-that was me-My I pad is quite sensitive-and by coincidence the people who have been a negative in my life have excused themselves when I have confronted them;"You are too sensitive "- NO they choose to target kindly people- In real life I block them x
DeleteAre you considering activating the comment moderation function on your blog? That's the only way to block mean or ugly comments from appearing on the blog, just refuse moderation and delete them beforehand.
ReplyDeleteCurse upon the meanies.
ReplyDeleteLove that the choir has new members to help you all benefit. Friendships at their finest! Or to be friendships. Glad you sounded so good.
I moderate comments now. It was just enough...
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you can regroup and enjoy the camaraderie of making beautiful music. I would activate the comment moderator. This way you can delete nasty comments before they appear on your post. It still hurts but WIPING them off your screen can therapeutic. I am a weight loss life coach. This week after receiving a question (in the form of a violent statement!) from a new member, I wanted to ask her WHO she attacked a week ago before she joined my online Weigh-Less group. But I didn't. I will to try and help her to shed the weight (which obviously is making her feel iffy) and we may have a decent relationship in time. Jo
ReplyDeleteThis isn't the place to advertise your business
DeleteIt's wonderful to sing together, harmonize together, and to welcome new voices it's the group! What a lovely way to spend your evening!
ReplyDeleteHugs!
I'm a little surprised by the choice of this song, it doesn't sound to me like a 'natural' choir song; and in Icelandic too. Are there no Welsh songs you could sing. Myfanwy?
ReplyDeletep.s. I must have missed your nasties. I note that U know who is back and being negative again as usual.
DeleteI find most of the negative comments rather ridiculous. These people are desperately looking for something nasty to say.They are unhappy and want to make other people unhappy, too.
ReplyDeleteHilde in Germany
I will never understand why people seem to thrive on being rude and argumentative. You are a pleasant read every morning. Chin up!
ReplyDeleteI agree with others that the only answer may be to moderate comments as it appears that most of the satisfaction for those commentators seems to be in having a platform to air their nastiness. It's much easier to attack someone online rather than in person.
ReplyDeleteChoir is a much needed lift at the moment. I feel that kindness, tolerance and laughter are very precious.
I'm so glad choir gave you a lift. I didn't watch any of Eurovision, so will have to Google that song. It upsets me when I read some of the nasty comments. Disagree - fine, but insult or belittle - NO! Please take heart, John, in knowing that the overwhelming majority of your readers love what you write, and enjoy a bit of light banter with you. One of the highlights of my day is to see what you are up to - even if it's just a coffee at Y Shed or walking the girls. xx
ReplyDeleteLearning to sing the Ukrainian Eurovision winner in their language might have been a better idea, and got a more favourable response - and YOU'd be a shoo-in as the one delivering the 'rap' section with red cap pulled right down almost over your eyes!
ReplyDeleteI can't think of a choir that would be prepared to have me!
ReplyDelete( Anne Bee ) I’m in a choir here in Sheffield. We’ve lost two members to Covid and numbers are depleted anyway due to some elderly and vulnerable members still staying away. I do agree there is a great feeling of camaraderie when a group of people who know each other quite well come together to sing.
ReplyDeleteI moderate all comments on my blog now, yes it's a bit time consuming but it does stop me and my readers having to put up with idiots and whingy whiners!! Delete button pressed and off they disappear without the pleasure of seeing their drivel in print or getting anyone to argue with.
ReplyDeleteThere is a YouTuber I follow who is also on Instagram and TikTok and she has just pointed out the difference in the two platforms. While Instagram is still mostly polite and encouraging the comments she receives on TikTok scream of nasty entitlement and negative opinions on everything she says and does. Some people are just out to try and drag everyone down to their level.
I moderate all comments on my blog, mainly to delete weird spam posts. I skim and delete and do not pay them any mind. I love your recent photo of the sulking Dorothy, she is a beautiful soulful dog and disapproves of you going out to work. If she knew your work provides dog food she might revise her opinion.
ReplyDeleteI would turn comment moderation on, remove anonymous posting ability and consider posting without comments enabled for a bit if that doesn't solve the problem.
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame that Google/Blogger makes comment moderation so hard. There are a lot more options on Wordpress to solve these kinds of issues. :)
He won't turn Anonymous off because for all he says he enjoys the attention it results in from his followers. In fact he revels in all kinds of attention.
ReplyDeleteI won’t turn anon off as many valid commentators cannot comment otherwise
DeleteArsehole
DeleteStop pussy footing around. Where there's a will there's a way.
Delete'Anonymous' truly has no sense of irony!
ReplyDeleteThere are many different people who comment on this blog in the name of Anonymous.
ReplyDeleteYes, admittedly there are many people who comment as'Anonymous', but those with manners tend to add their name! To keep your identity secret is a tad childish!
ReplyDeleteYour identity is hidden and you have no profile. You are very judgemental. It is not your blog.
DeleteMy experience has been that if they aren't going to get any attention, the low-lifes don't bother leaving a comment. Comment moderation would be a lot bigger hassle for you than it is for me, alas, as you have so many reader friends. However if you ever do decide to do it, I'd still read and jump through all necessary hoops when wishing to leave a comment. Your entries would be worth it -- every one -- you lovely man, you.
ReplyDelete-Kate
PS it has been snowing -- big fat flakes -- all morning.
It would be very easy for John to stop Anonymous comments but he has no desire to do so because he enjoys the attention it brings him just like that which you have given here today.
DeleteXx
ReplyDeleteI am in the US and it says the video is not available because the uploader did not make it available in this country. Do you know how to fix this? If you have the time, that would be perfect. Thank you.
ReplyDelete