The Smiley Smile Message Board

Starting this to move the comments/suggestions discussion from another thread into a dedicated topic. This can or will be moved to the "Welcome" sub-forum when necessary. Please feel free to contribute and discuss. The idea behind this is essentially to consider any improvements or address any issues in light of several posts mentioning the board being viewed as something other than a welcoming place to talk Beach Boys, solo activities, and music in general. Suggestions and comments welcome!

I like the site very much. I have depression, but this site really helps me have something good to focus on. There are only a few things that I would like to see changed. The search function being one of them. It's hard to navigate. Also, I would like to see a change in the color scheme. I hate to be nitpicky, but that's what I have to suggest. :)

Add a 24hr ban to the ban policy.  That's how it is on other forums I'm on and it seems to work pretty will.  Gives the offenders some time to cool off, but not be kept away for a while.  Keep the 7 day ban for more serious offenses.

I accidentally stumbled across this site when I was searching for gay porn. I googled "beach" and "boys" but wound up here and becoming a fan of the Beach Boys instead. Is there a way you could put "not gay porn" on the website's description?

Also, could you pay the posters on here with cash? So far I have posted over 1000 messages and am still waiting to be paid. Nobody has even asked me about my direct deposit information (routing #, etc.) so I have been hiding from my land lord and my ISP. My wife wants a new car but I told her to wait until I can post a few more unnecessary comments in any thread with a subject that I am not yet familiar with. Here's to Sunflower, whatever it is (I think it may be the name of a boat that they used to sail in).

Thank you again for a great message board. Is there a way to change the default language to French? I don't speak French but it would sound so cool when I speak of Les Beach Boys. Ils me font péter et se sentent heureux. Even though my French is not very good, I can't stop talkin', talkin' 'bout American girls.

http://youtu.be/-pZYWQUe8FA (http://youtu.be/-pZYWQUe8FA)

Love those American girls! Thank you. I think you still owe me money. How much do you pay per post?

That's really great to hear Mr Tudball

What about a sub-board to discuss boots? I know discussions aren't banned but for those if who who wallow in such stuff it would be a neat resource to alert others to new releases, discuss availability (within accepted limits) and even rate various releases.

Edit: and hopefully setting it aside would reduce the chances that some folk would be offended by such discussions…

Oh, and maybe insist that folk post under their own names, which might result in a little more of the civility that was discussed in the thread that inspired this thread. I hold out no hope for this "want", though! :)

Oh, and could someone develop an app that alerts smartphone users to every new post? We should be able to select which of the sub boards we receive notifications about, and it must be retro-fitted to work on iPhone 3.

Reinstate the "ignore" button.

When are we allowed to pin the tail on this jackass?

I get the message… I'll try to post less!


;D

I thought there was already a place to do this

.

Apologies if this is the case… looked around but found nothing that stood out - all pointers appreciated!

Generally speaking I think that the board is in good shape. The vast majority of posters are respectful towards each other and I see very few insults or examples of trolling going on. If anything I think it is the posters who are `on the defensive` that can derail threads.

In the movie thread, for example, there were stacks of complaints there about other posters and Debbie Keil being run off the board when, as admin has confirmed, this was not the case at all. Lots of thread space wasted for nothing.

In the new album thread, far far more space has been taken up with people complaining about other people`s views than has been taken up with any negative feelings about rumours/track listings/song snippets etc. Plus we even have the nonsensical notion put forward that because a few people did post something negative there is some sort of conspiracy going on against Brian.

I think it`s the `how dare you say that` posts that give far more importance to trivial posts than they deserve when, in reality, members of a message board are never going to agree and that`s the way it should be.

For what it's worth, I am in the "err in the direction of civility" camp vs. "thicken your skin."   I admit I am overly sensitive and conflict-averse, and just want everyone to get along (let's be friennnnds).  But here's a question to ask in addition to "how would we like to be treated by other posters": how would we treat Brian Wilson himself if he posted here?*  Would we just tell him to toughen up, like Murry would?  If he said he wrote a song, for instance, would we argue that he didn't? Would we tell him that we think "Be My Baby" sucks and "Gettin' in Over My Head" is the worst pile of excrement we've ever heard, rather than we didn't care for them?  If he mistakenly said Sunflower was released in 1971 instead of 1970, would we mock him ::), or gently correct him if it were a material point?   Would we be a little bit conscious of his sensitivity and appreciate his presence enough - and the vulnerability it took to create and release his music, or even just to post - to be honest but respectful in our comments?  And why wouldn't we treat everyone with the same respect?

Of course we all have different, often strongly held opinions, and by and large the tone here is respectful and I very much enjoy and value this forum (and spend way too much time here).  Sometimes the bickering, the endless "who killed Smile/who killed C50" thread derails and sometimes harsh statements are a turn-off.   I remind myself that even the people who made the wonderful music that brought us all here don't always get along very well.   But there are plenty of places we can thicken our skins and enjoy fighting and being nasty to each other if we so wish - plenty of websites, freeways, political talk radio stations, courtrooms, Ukraine, Iraq, the list is almost endless.  I come here for celebration of the goodness that is Brian Wilson/Beach Boys music, the people who made it, and the people who love it.  How lucky we are to have this music, Brian Wilson still creating music, and this board!

* Yes, and KNEW it was him and not "wifeandmanagers" or "handlers" et al, et al

I'd tell him to treble up, sing from your heart and surge.

Maybe not in that precise order, of course...

:lol

Is there? On the SmileySmile board?
I've never seen any sub board to review and discuss boots.

And going back to the original poster who we're quoting, I second the suggestion on sub board for boots!
We can have one on each boot and discuss variations of the boot such as Dumb Angel Rarity versions, SOTs, live boots, etc.

sure, whatever you say

You can discuss bootlegs where- and whenever you want. Either in the General On Topic, or the Media section. As long as you don't offer or request them. There isnt't a specific place on the Review section though. We could make a subpage for that, but be aware that there are many releases, so to create a specific topic for each bootleg would be a lot of work.

"surge"? I looked it up in the dictionary, but still don't get what you precisely mean. Sorry...

The whole sentence is a somewhat arcane tip of the hat to Murry's groundbreaking production methods on the early sessions. ;D

Didn't Stephen Desper relate a story about Murry even in the later years like 1968 coming into the booth to "mix", grabbing Stephen's shoulder and squeezing it yelling "surge here!" as a key point in the song would come up?  ;D

Andrew, I'm a genius too.

I like the fact that this board has people on it that really care about getting the facts right.  The Legendary AGD and Jon Stebbins to name two. Most other boards that I've been on are just "f*** Mike " boards or believe all the myths that the Beach Boys FAQ book bust. I think that I have been pushed to do a little research before asking a question on this board.  Although,  I wasn't always sure where to go to find accurate answers,  I have since learned of AGD's website and Stebbons books, etc. I appreciate the fact that this keeps the level of topic and discussion up to high standards, but can be intimidating to new fans, or new board members that don't understand the difference between a myth and documented facts.  I am thick skinned and am still here, but maybe not so for others.  Not sure if there is a way to be more balanced in that regard. Personally,  I love this board and can't think of much I don't like.

 ;)

For a guy who really cares about getting his facts right, I'll betcha a copy of his upcoming Dennis Wilson book that he also likes his last name spelt right.  ;D

I didn't say I cared!  ;D I was between jobs when I rushed through it. I'll correct it.

I fixed it. I hope he didn't see it  :shrug

If he cares about his last name, then he probably cares about his first too. Jon.

He saw it. I hear he's planning a postal party...

I really like the honesty and vibe of this post, thank you for adding your voice to the discussion.

I point this out because it's been close to what I've felt about this board in general for a long time, that it is already a great place to get the facts, to get the real story, to get the input of people who have had direct contact with these situations and stories we've all read about or have had (and still have) close friendships with band members and their associates.

This, to me, is really what sets this board apart. You come here looking for information, not only do you get that but you get it in some cases directly from those people who were *there*...and if not that direct, people who know and have spoken with those people firsthand. Invaluable information, from some of the better sources in terms of history you could hope for.

I'd like the board to be thought of in that way, and if there is anything I can do to contribute and move that kind of direction forward, count me in 110%. That was my motivation behind starting this suggestion topic, it troubled me to see that the board's reputation or image was less than positive in some circles.

Mind you, if some in those circles are holding a grudge because there are facts posted here that dispute if not destroy the mythology or some other less-factual version of events past or present, then hell yeah, I'd be miffed too if I were the huckster selling my cure-all tonics from town to town only to have someone following me around blowing the whistle on my selling sugar water instead of the cure-all medicinal tonic I was hawking to the townsfolk.   ;D

But seriously, there are some very valued, appreciated, and valuable in a historical way people who choose to post here and share their experiences with fans. I think there should be a certain level of respect given them, I think what they say as firsthand participants and witnesses should be weighted more heavily overall if for not many other reasons besides the fact they were actually *there* while 99.9% of us were not, and I know that opinion of mine has upset and even offended some posters in the past but that's just how I feel having studied and researched any number of topics. When you can hear history of any kind coming from a person who was actually there, it becomes personal rather than facts on a page.

Again, anything which can be done to promote, improve, advance, etc. this board, let's talk it over.

Thanks again to everyone who has added suggestions and comments so far, your words are very much appreciated.  :)

THat's funny!  :)

Break Away. End of part 1, 2nd verse.

Wow! It's a good thing I'm not facts or spell checking  ;D

Concerning mythology,  some people might get stubborn with their opinions because they have heard the myths from the Beach Boys themselves!