Have to be honest WW, you just used a word I had not heard before, so like all good scholars, looked it up and it now nestles in my volcabulary along with a lot of other odd stuff.
Which is, in part, the point here. As Low says, just because this is a GF forum, that is not the only reason you may come here. Goldfrapp news, new music, appearances etc are the icing on the cake but with any 'appreciation' platform, there are going to be long periods where the thing in question will be dormant, or comparatively so, as now. Will and Al are in the studio and apart from a little snippet now and again, it will be quiet for a time.
In between those times, we fall back on the relationships we build with other people who come here. We learn about them, their situations, likes, dislikes and we pick up snippets of the specialist knowledge that we all have in our own lives. Volcabulary is a perfect example here, especially with people from different countries and continents.
In any 'forum' such as this, there will always be those who perceive themselves as the originals, the first amongst equals, those who view themselves as the main fans and to be in the know. Always has been and always will be. Closely associated with them are the supporters of those positions, those who also view themselves to be in the elite group but do not want to be top dog but happy to closely associate with that/those characters to enjoy the 'benefits' . That structure exists everywhere, otherwise you have a vacumn at the top and there is always a top. This is not an insidious power thing as such, as here there is none, but any society you can name has such a hierarchal structure.
I suspect that the Goldfrapp game has gone to another place, at least for now, hence why a number of previous regulars are currently missing. Either that, or they have given up on the Frapp, which I very much doubt. Some pop back here occasionally, to check the estate but not post. Think of that as the gamekeeper popping in occasionally to check it is not getting too overgrown here.
As for a lack of vituperativness (thanks WW) in comments, perhaps those that are left here are the more mature intellects that enjoy the odd verbal joust and exchanging views, discussing certain doctrines within a loosely woven Goldfrapp environment.
@Pet. I hope you keep popping in and exchanging your wisdom with us. It is a lesser place without you, as it is any of you who continue to grace these posts.
It doesn't mean it has to be all stuffy and intellectual and we cannot still have fun. As for the above views, they are mine and I could, of course, be blowing smoke out of my arse !

Urban_Tribesman said:

Always has been and always will be.

I don't care for beliefs of that sort, really.

In other words, courtesy and manners are not required on a website?  It reminds me of road rage.  Clearly one of the reasons that road rage exists (believe it or not, there is a brilliant cartoon movie from the 50's (40's?) with Mickey Mouse and Pluto that describes the effect briliantly) because people feel anonymous.  I will also note that it is really easy, in text, to be more offensive than one thinks.

Urban_Tribesman said:

there is always a top.

Another viewpoint I am more than willing to attempt to topple.  In fact, I came back to this site to continue the thoughts on the potential benefits of the web.  For the first time in our history, mankind has the chance to finally start frittering away at the hogties of the pinheads that think they are so damned imporant that they are willing to attempt to hold sway over everybody else.  At first, it seems likely it will be the crumbling of the power of the critic nitwits, maybe other middle men.  But, I hope, someday, mankind will wake up to find that not a single person in the world requires or desires to lead or be led (by the nose, is usually the case).  I've probably made that point before (I do tend to repeat myself).  But, I think it is an important point.

Urban_Tribesman said:

I suspect that the Goldfrapp game has gone to another place, at least for now.

But, that's the point, which you so eloquently mentioned earlier.  It was more than that in the past.  It settled down between CDs some but not like this.  And, what's left of it still is a community of people, as you say, swapping lies and insights.  Well, maybe, it will start buidling back up, as it seems to have done, in a small way, over the last few days.  There sure were some brilliant personalities in the past that I miss dearly, though.

Urban_Tribesman said:

As for the above views, they are mine and I could, of course, be blowing smoke out of my arse !

Oh, geez, and I was so ready to hear "and not the views of this establishment, the management, or artists involved".  I guess I watch too many movies.

Urban_Tribesman said:

Hey, WW, I didn't align myself with the perceived top dogs, or agree with that type of strata, just saying it was one I have perceived in other similar environments.

I certainly wasn't implying you did.  And, in fact, I certainly expected you didn't.

bump.  It seemed the only thing to do as the list is too long...

Hey frapp-kids!
Lots of "missing" folk, I guess? Good to see some of you are still hanging out here.

Nothing much in the musical Frapp pipeline currently (that I'm aware of anyway). Alison posts some lovely photos on twitter (and instagram I believe).

I'm not too sure which (veteran) GMBers visit here these days, so a little recap of what myself and a few others are up to gig-wise in the coming months in case anyone's interested. Let us know if you might be at any of these too :-)

May: 'Bat for lashes' gig in Brighton (only 600 capacity!) I'll be there and also Keith, Laura and ThatHurt.

June: PJ Harvey gig at Eden, Cornwall. Myself + DCBaxter and HellsBells going.

October: Frapper meet-up #2 :-) About 12-15 folk already lined-up to meet.. once again at Laura's pub/caff in Brighton. I'll update with date etc nearer the time.

Take care, ta-ra!

Anyone heard from Banana? He posted a while back in the mental health thread and I've been worrying about him.

I'm sure he's lounging in a hammock on the Florida Keys, or something.

Welcome back Hells... :-h