ILF Secret Santa 2015 - No gift yet? Email me!

[ShaunNecro]

As long as I can include a 8x10 of myself in a banana hammock, I'm good to go.

Alright so I read this and the first thing I thought of was taping a picture of you in a banana hammock over 10" speakers in an ampeg 8x10 cab, and then as you play the bass the pictures of you resonate back and forth in a hypnotic and seductive way.

Needs more throbbing jwar.

[PanicProne]

First of all, thanks to everyone who answered me on the "please explain the concept a bit more"-request a few pages back. I haven't decided if I want to participate yet, I know I don't have enough posts, but I'll get to that. But in case that discussion is still ongoing:

Being a motherly/"have-to-make-sure-everyone-feels-good-all-the-time-and sometimes a bit too serious"-character, here are some random thoughts about the whole secret santa-thing (besides it being a great idea obviously), perhaps especially about people being below the 500-post count (like me) that I wanted to throw out there.

(Warning: I talk a lot about myself here but I'm really not that full of myself, it was just easy to have myself as the example, rather than someone else...
Oh crap, I've just said "myself" three times in one sentence. Maybe my ego is too big afterall...)

At first I thought the idea of the post-rule felt a bit elitistic to be honest. Using myself as an example, a lot of people have been on here for quite a few years, coming and going and despite not having that many posts definitely feel at home here and recognize other members by name/signature/pedalboard. One could really argue that a lot of the people with many posts come down to a style of posting containing a lot of (in lack of explaining it better, with no negative bias btw!) "just trolling/bullshitting and pasting memes" or whatever you want to call it.

There are many ways to participate in a forum. Personally I've never been much for goofing around (that doesn't mean I don't enjoy reading/experiencing the positive mentality on here!) too much. Most of my posts have been "proper comments" (or at least I'd like to think so) and maybe that has turned out to so that I don't have the post count to be able to participate, even if I wanted.

Anyways. The post count-rule definitely makes sense when it comes to the stalking. It's brilliant that so many want to participate and send gifts to others. However, It's hard to really complete the stalking mission if there's not a lot to go by. Perhaps the rule should be specified a bit more? Like average number of posts in the last year or so? That would make more sense as what you like tends to vary a lot over time etc and that eventually also would affect the "gift situation". That'd would also be more fair then "not-having-enough-total-posts-but-you-happen-to-know-someone-who-has-and-can-vouch-for you". At the same time, "security", as far as people not ending up disappointed or feeling ripped off, must be the main priority. There are already enough stinkers on the web.
Also, should there be an "upper level"-limit too, for people who've already tried/owned every damn pedal in the world? I mean, how fun is it to put effort into finding someone a gift and sending it only to get "cool, but I had this a while back but sold it cause it wasn't my thing" as a reply? (Being slightly pessimistic here, I know! =D )

You see where I'm coming from? Not expecting a reply to this, Just a few random thoughts that I thought I could throw out there.

[PanicProne]

Oh yeah. I expect at least someone to make fun of me for that long overly ambitious comment. I'd be disappointed otherwise. Bring it!

[D.o.S.]

Ahem.

The post count 'rule' (which isn't just for this, most of the tourboxes, etc. have them) has, for ILFSS always been more related to stalk-ability in practice than any sort of elitism. Like, you've been here for 5 years, which means that (as pointed out) you've got a good feel for whomever you're likely to stalk. But if ILOVEFREEANDCOOLSHIT2015 signs up and their two posts are in this thread and the TBD Wishlist thread, that's totally antithetical to the concept, at least to my mind.

If you can take an honest look at the list of participants and have some idea of what you'll send for 95% of them before you start stalking, that's another thing.

[PanicProne]

Just to clarify, I was not trying to say anything in a negative way or accuse anyone of anything. Just trying to look out for everyone and vent some thoughts.
And yes. Absolutely. I agree 100%.

[colin]

There's another good reason for a post count minimum, in my mind at least. I feel like I've gotten to know lots of you guys over the years, even though I've never met a fellow ILFer in real life. So I feel like I'm sending gifts to buddies, not strangers. But that wouldn't be the case with some of the low post guys with whom I've never had any interaction.

[CyaNitrate]

As long as I can include a 8x10 of myself in a banana hammock, I'm good to go.

Sign it and it for sure would have a permanent spot on my guitar room wall.

[DRodriguez]

Screw that, I want his banana hammock on a custom printed pickguard.

[CyaNitrate]

....I could make that happen..have you seen my avatar?

[Iommic Pope]

I so want jwar for my SS.
Back off, bitches!

[odontophobia]

I so want jwar for my SS.
Back off, bitches!

Can you make copies of the 8x10? I really want one.

Actually, can Jwar just send out some Christmas cards?

[CyaNitrate]

Yes! That would be excellent.

[aens_wife]

There's another good reason for a post count minimum, in my mind at least. I feel like I've gotten to know lots of you guys over the years, even though I've never met a fellow ILFer in real life. So I feel like I'm sending gifts to buddies, not strangers. But that wouldn't be the case with some of the low post guys with whom I've never had any interaction.

If you want to frame it like that, then it does sound like a cool kids club. I joined this to make the community a better place. I am going to dip into my xmas fund to do this, meaning less for someone else in my immediate friends and family group. There are plenty of people on here I don't know very well, and lots who don't know me. I would hope that this SS thing allows people to get to know them better and make the community tighter. That is kind of the point.

[Iommic Pope]

I so want jwar for my SS.
Back off, bitches!

Can you make copies of the 8x10? I really want one.

Actually, can Jwar just send out some Christmas cards?

Yeah, that's a much better idea.
More jwar for everyone.
Spread him around like butter on pecs.

[neonblack]

There's another good reason for a post count minimum, in my mind at least. I feel like I've gotten to know lots of you guys over the years, even though I've never met a fellow ILFer in real life. So I feel like I'm sending gifts to buddies, not strangers. But that wouldn't be the case with some of the low post guys with whom I've never had any interaction.

If you want to frame it like that, then it does sound like a cool kids club. I joined this to make the community a better place. I am going to dip into my xmas fund to do this, meaning less for someone else in my immediate friends and family group. There are plenty of people on here I don't know very well, and lots who don't know me. I would hope that this SS thing allows people to get to know them better and make the community tighter. That is kind of the point.

I really have only turned one or two people down for it this year, and it was mostly because they had less than 100 posts and had been signed up for just a couple months. Im trying to let as many people as possible join, but I definitely felt like the couple people I turned down needed to sit it out. Nothing personal at all, and everyone has been cool about it.

I'm really trying to stay on the sidelines with the debate and let it work itself out but I felt like the discussion would have just gone around and around so I made a decision.

I don't really think it should be a popular peoples club or anything and it should definitely be something to bring us all together in our mutual love of signal destruction. I remember when I first joined, how stoked I was about the Secret Santa, not because of free stuff (cause it really isn't free if you're doing it right) but because Holy Shit, these people seem like genuine friends. I love that and it made me want to be a part of the community. Not for the gift orgy, but because of the togetherness. So I can definitely understand wanting to be a part of it when you're a new guy. And I don't necessarily think it's because of the prospect of cool fuzz, because you could just buy yourself a cool fuzz. I think these guys, even the ones I turned down, just want to be a part of this awesome group of people. And I hope they stick around, keep posting, see the awesome results of this, and get stoked for next Xmas. And just get stoked for ILF in general. I've never been as involved in any internet forum as much as I am here. Hell, I'm more involved here than i am in a lot of real world stuff. Home, Work, ILF, Sleep.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, let's remember the spirit of the season, keep the cheer levels cranked, and spread the good vibes.