I stumbled here after finding a link on the now-comatose CMJ board, is that where everyone else is from? And what's Obner's relationship with Hipinion? I've seen it mentioned here a few times. And where did that board come from? I had only heard of hipinion until a few months ago when I actually visited it. My impression was that it was like ground zero for the "indie scene," but that notion was killed when I noticed there were only few hundred registered users. But I guess it's notorious or something?

Have I created some kind of mythology in my head for these boards? Do these questions make any sense? Am I insane?

There’s too many men
Too many people
Making too many problems
And not much love to go round
Can’t you see
This is a land of confusion.

This is the world we live in
And these are the hands we’re given
Use them and let’s start trying
To make it a place worth living in.

Hipinion = disgruntled Pitchfork

Obner = disgruntled CMJ

Dude, that's what makes it indie.

Obner came about when CMJ's messageboard kept crashing. It was decided to form a separate messageboard and invite everyone over to join. The term "obner" is a typo from our beloved LMAO TSE TUNG who one evening was quite intoxicated and enlightened us with the fact that he had a boner. Hence, he will always be THE OBNER.

If I'm not mistaken, Hipinion's history comes from Pitchforkmedia's former messageboard, which basically went through the same evolution Obner did.

There are only a few hundred users at hipinion because:

a.) it was hacked early last month and the admin had to dump everything and start from scratch

b.) there are at least two other spinoffs of hipinion peopled by people who thought it was getting suckified.

Alright, thanks!

But a lot you guys (obner, hipinion) know each other outside of the forums, right?

We know each other either: 1) because of the proximity we live to each other; 2) we've visited the cities in which other members live in and made arrangements to meet; or 3) we like stalking.

There's also the fact that quite a few of us have known each other online for a few years and have thereby formed friendships.

But, I prefer stalking...that's why they made me a moderator.

I know no one, except through the occasional PM.

I could say it's because I live in northern Maine and have little way to hang with any of these people.

But truthfully it's because I'm completely a fraud and am actually this person:

i got a huge fucking kick out of this. we don't even talk about music dude it's all beer and fart jokes!

hey spoon, which sites are the spin offs?

I'll root around when I get a moment and look. I forget what they're called
since I've never visited them. Not Exploding Plastic. That's another Pitchfork spinoff. There's (I think) two that were started by hipinioners in the last few months.

i'm still waiting for the reunion of the genesis of obner

Mister HaqDiesel set ths whole place up.
Yay, Haq.

That would probably work pretty well, considering Phil Collins's head and all.