800 Registered Members....

But that sure is a BIG 'silent majority' out there....

 

I agree with you there Martin. BIG silent section. They should get involved. We dont bite well not always

 

We should be like the movies and TV and put more sex and violence on the forums ! Maybe we could get Carl to pose nude and that would get more people to write !

 

I dont know bout that one TA, but i don't think my generation is interested in history anymore, there's been a slow degradation and ignoration to history today and it's not right but sooner or later, history is gonna live again, it's made every day. I don't know why people would sign up though and not write, if your going to sign up then why not write. oh well.

 

Indeed!

We got quite alot of good stuff here so I´d expect more people to get involved!!!

I think if EVERY member thought of just ONE special article or the kind for every week we could make this a really wonderful site ( it is already but we could make it bigger!!). I intend to make a special reply ( often 2-3 hopefully ) every time I visit the Forums.I bet everyone has at least one question that has not been answered and I think information requirements are as good as data passed on here!!

 

OTF has a point, I mean there is very little apreciation of history these days amongst my generation, though at least in Britain more and more people are going on to do it at University. What I find annoying is how peoples ignorance of history influences their lives, for instance when asked whether he would join the army and fight if Britain went to war (WW2 style rather than Iraq) he responded 'why should I, whats Britain ever done for me?' I found this comment particularly ironic as he is Jewish and his family migrated to Britain in the 40's.

As for why people come on the forum but don't post, well lots of people make one post and then leave, many just log on but have problems posting and a fair few log on for the sole purpose of irritating people and making a mess (Hassan etc). Sad but true I am afraid.

 

I agree. When I told my parents I was going to University to study history and focus on Italian History 1900 onwards all I got was a blank stare. Then they both wanted to know why I would "waste" 9 years for a Ph D in something that not many people care about.... *shrugs* I don't know. Alot of people think it's boring, which could be some of the explination as to why there isn't a whole hell of a lot of posting. I know that some people go on here, register to add one post and ask a question (often for an upcoming paper) and then get all of our help and then do no more posting. That makes me a little upset...but there isn't really anything I can do about it.

DUCE

 

Thats good to hear, a Phd in history no less, very impressive. I think the correct answer to anyone asking why one would want to 'waste' 9 years studying history would be to say something along the lines of 'because I want to know who I am, who you are and as much as possible about our civilisation. The reason no one cares is because they are ignorant'.

That is another thing that irritates me is that there are people out there who are actually proud of their ignorance. It REALLY peeves me off!

 

It's good that we have 800 registered members. I think many people registering are only doing so because they feel that that is the only way to see any posted fotos.

Also, I noticed that TRF has I think 6,000 registered members but--as with any other site--the vast vast majority are silent. The new Militaria Collectors forums are doing VERY well for a site that just launched about two months ago. I was one of the first 30 to register there and now there are almost 200--that is amazing in itself.

I also think that there has to be a consistancy on fresh itmes and articles--or people will get tired of seeing the same things mentioned and either quit or go elsewhere.

I also recon that some of the lack of participation also stems from the VERY petty jealousies that come from another forum that feel as if another site is a threat.

Just my two cents worth.

 

I agree Stefan (on the whole ignorance issue).

Yeah, as to the whole PhD thing....finally decided to go that far a few years ago. I've always been interested in history, but after meeting a few vets I knew I wanted to go all the way. It's my personal goal to be equivalent to Herwig, just on Fascist Italy. It's going to be a life long project

DUCE

 

I have often thought about going for a Phd, I would love to have one, just can't really afford to spend that long at university. Also, I plan on joining the army, they will sponsor me for a degree but not a Phd. So, basically 3 years on a degree course (ideally doing a dissertation on something really obscure related to WW2) and then Sandhurst. Actually I would rather like to do a Ma in military history and see what happens.

 

It's great to see that so many people is part of our comunity and is very sad at the same time to see that only a few of them actually do something.

I've been disappointed to some extent by seeing my students just do not caring about learning History... But I am a very special teacher and I just allowed them to express their opinion about the modern world. I was astonished. I just couldn't believe such ammount of stupidity and insane arguements. Most of those students don't know a thing about History but they feel free to support globaliphobia even if they don't know what it is nor what it means!

But I'm glad that this site exists and that I can chat with you, wise people!

And about an university degree, I don't think I need it. I'm just not the guy made for studying... Besides, I didn't need a degree for teaching! Even if Dr Friedrich would sound nice... it isn't for me...

And let me tell you, Ducetta. How extraordinary that you are studying that! I bet that we will see a very good work about fascism in the years to come thanks to you! Actually we are so much overwhelmed by studies about the nazism but we forget about the older and less brutal fascism. (I've have a book to recommend you, by the way. I hope it's in English).

And Stefan, your plan is also great. I am always amazed about the professors of Sandhurst. One of my favourite telly programmes is "In the line of fire" and every battle they show is very well researched and Sandhurst academics are just SO GREAT. I am looking forward to see Stefan being interviewed as they are.

 

Duce, I applaud you for such ambition. It sounds a bit stiff but I think it is great that you have the drive to go for a PhD and that you already know the subject too. I always had one eye on an academic career, but never really got around actually doing it....other priorities . But I do see myself going down that path as well some time in the future. Good luck to you.

Stefan, War Studies do have my warm interest. I was checking the internet the other day and several English universities teach/give such a course. In Holland you have to go to the Military Academy, I guess. I would love the idea to have a PhD in War Studies and Teach at Sandhurst. That would be great. I am past the age that I myself can become a warrior, but teaching is something I can take up later as well.

And Fried....In highschool the teacher who inspired me most of all was my history teacher. Not just because of the subject, but also because of his approach to us and the subject. Many of his lessons did not follow the usual format of study, read books, test and repeat. Many classes were actually fullfledged discussions in which he showed how things happened in the past had their influence in todays world and how things in the past repeated itself today. Very interesting and inspiring. I am sure, with your passion on the subject, those snot-nose kids with their insane arguments and ignorance will be thoughful citizens by the end of the year! It takes the same to become a good teacher or getting a degree; knowledge of the subject and passion.

[ 23. September 2003, 01:31 AM: Message edited by: Stevin Oudshoorn ]

 

Freddy, just keep an eye on your schedule for 2020, particularly for 'Fascist Italy, a new perspective' by Dr Ducetta followed by 'Line of Fire: how the mongols mullered everyone' with yours truley. I reckon we should be in that slot just between 'Big Brother 30,653' and 'Im a celebrity, please shoot me and put me out of my misery, please!'

 

Excellent Post Stefan!

Actually, the paper I am working on now is pretty much a "brief" narrative history...brief being used in the lightest sense. It covers pretty much everything from Italy 1900-1915, Italians in WW1 (the failures in almost every battle), Post WW1 and the Failures of Liberal Italy (how it affected the people), Rise of Fascism (March on Rome etc), the Mateotti Crisis, Idologies (Racism in Fascist Italy, Italians in WW2 (with a specific section on the Navy and Fascist Expansionism 1935-1940), the downfall of Fascism in Italy, and Fascist Italy today (NeoFascism).

So I have my work cut out for me. I figure if this is good enough I could use it as either my thesis, or a basis for my thesis *NERD!* lol. But I enjoy it. The section on Rascism is already pretty long, so I need to cut out some... Ah well. We'll see.
OH! and I'm finally working on that website with my other paper...I'll post the addy here as soon as everything looks good and the links all work at the same time.

DUCE

 

*bows

What are you doing at the moment? I mean are you in 6th form (12th and 13th grade or something like that) doing the equivilant to A-Levels or are you heading for Uni already? I am in my second year of A-Level, did Italy last year (a module, I an not sure of the dates but i think it covered 1919-1925) and it was reasonably interesting, I must say the whole Mattiotti crisis was fascinating, people may take the mickey out of Il Duce but to come out of that stronger than before is fairly impressive. Now we have moved onto WW2 and 'reform in Britain, 1830-1930' (yay, political reform in Britain, the only nation in Europe not to have a revolution of some sort, joy).

 

By the way, Ducetta, here I have the book I must recommend you (I do hope there's an English version of it), which has excellent accounts of fascist Italy, comparissons with other authoritarian and totalitarian régimes as well as many, many texts by the authors of fascism, its enemies and supporters. A really supperb work.

"Los fascismos europeos" (the European fascisms) by Elena Hernández Sandoica, Madrid, 1992.

 

I start University next year, but am doing a University transfer course now (basically a Uni course that has less students per class)

but unfortunately I couldn't find the book....yet.

DUCE

 

Stefan - you should think about the Phd I'm applying for an Mphil next yearb then taking some time out then coming back to write a thesis. Doing a Phd gives you the chance to go in depth on a subject of your choice. I would consider it. There is still a lot to write on WW2 as more and more information is unearthered from various state archives lots of new information is becoming availble which starting to disprove many of the old theories about the war.

 

It is probably worth thinking about, maybe after my term in the army. We shall see, though I am beginning to look more at war studies since I met someone currently at Wolverhampton earlier.