OPEN INVITATION TO ALL COHEN FANS

Post by **jarkko** » Fri Feb 07, 2003 12:35 am

We wish to invite all Cohen fans to participate in the creation of a FAQ
about Leonard Cohen. While there are many websites dedicated to
Leonard, the one thing that has been missing is a comprehensive FAQ.

We think we all can agree that Leonard deserves a very thorough FAQ
that encompasses his entire career. Those of you who seriously discuss
Leonard and his work could contribute a great deal to the development
of an interesting and entertaining FAQ.

A special section of The Leonard Cohen Forum of The Leonard Cohen
Files has been created for the discussion of the questions and answers.
Here you can first submit questions. These questions can be discussed,
expanded upon, and then later answered. Questions will also be listed
at a separate URL, so that we can have an overall picture of what areas
are covered and what sections of Leonard's life and career still need exploration.

We expect this to be a long-term project to be worked on over many months.

We want this to be pleasant and fun and not work for anyone. So, no
major time commitment should be required. Just visit the forum
regularly, add some questions, expand on what others have added, and
enjoy.

If you are interested in participating and serious about contributing to the
FAQ project, please email Jarkko (ja@nebula.fi) and indicate your Forum
user name. You will then be given access to the section of the Forum
where the FAQ discussion is occurring. If you have not yet registered in
the Forum, please do so (http://www.leonardcohenforum.com/).

At least for the time being the FAQ Forum (a section of the main forum)
is visible only to those who have volunteered to participate.

(HINT: After registration on the Forum, it's a good idea to stay logged-in
(don't hit log-out when leaving). This way the software keeps you
logged-in all the time (from the same computer), and the useful
option "view posts since last visit" is also available when you come back
to the front page!

So, you'll be able to easily see what questions and answers have been
added in the FAQ section since your last visit.)

Note that you cannot see the FAQ Forum section before all steps have
been taken (you have completed the Forum registration, informed us of
your Forum user name and we have given you access rights).

We hope that you will consider joining us in this endeavor to honor
Leonard and spread the word about his music and poems. Thank you!

The FAQ, when ready, will be available to ALL Cohen sites, and all who
have been participating will be credited.

Jarkko
The Leonard Cohen Files

Marie
Speaking Cohen

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Fri Feb 07, 2003 2:56 am

This is a very fine idea, Jarkko and Marie. Thanks.

Andrew McGeever · Post by **Andrew McGeever** » Sat Feb 08, 2003 4:09 am

Dear Jarkko,
Please explain to me...what is a FAQ ?
I would be interested in replying, if I knew what I was replying to.
Confused, as usual,
Andrew.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Sat Feb 08, 2003 4:24 am

Dear Andrew,

If Jarkko doesn't mind, I'll answer. You [like me] aren't up on all the terminology in computer/Internet world. FAQ stands for Frequently Asked Questions. When you joined this site, there was a way to get to the FAQs regarding membership here, etc. There still is....somewhere, somehow. AH! There it is, at the top of my screen and, hopefully, yours. It's the first icon on the left, with the "?" inside the box, in the lineup of how to get to other aspects of the Forum.

Post by **jarkko** » Sat Feb 08, 2003 11:26 am

Yes, thanks to L for explaining the idea. FAQ is a good way to
tell a new-comer the basics. We have learned during the years
that the same questions are repeated on all Boards and Forums
from time to time, and we webmasters have answered some of the
most typical questions hundreds of times.

Now we are creating a Cohen FAQ - a number of common questions
about Leonard's career, life, and work - with well thought-out (I hope)
answers. The FAQ pages will be available at many Cohen sites and
hopefully help people interested in his work to learn something about him.

Right now we are posting questions, and later it will be time to formulate
the answers. Anybody interested seriously in this process please follow
the instructions above!
Jarkko

Linda · Post by **Linda** » Sun Feb 09, 2003 9:37 pm

A while back was there a section for guestions that we could ask and LC was going to answer some of these questions at some point in time?

Post by **jarkko** » Sun Feb 09, 2003 10:14 pm

Indeed - we collected a set of questions before the Ten New Songs was released, and the idea was that Leonard would produce the answers during the summer 2001. He found the questions very challenging and wanted to take the time he needed to answer them. Unfortunately Sony had organized an incredible number of interviews with Leonard for the international media, and after giving some 300 interviews in various countries Leonard was certainly quite exhausted, decided to stop with the promotion and move on. We (Marie, Patrice, Christof & me) did not want to press him, so, sorry to say, we never got the answers.
Jarkko