User:MFTP Dan


 * I'm around, but not editing consistently.

About myself

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Biography
My name is Daniel A. Sanford. I am known on Wikipedia as MFTP Dan (typeset  mftp dan ), formerly DannyMusicEditor ( danny music editor ). I was born, raised, and currently live in Erie, Pennsylvania (former featured article). Aside from being a former musician, I'm nothing special, just a Wikipedian specializing in articles relating to music - particularly in the broad alternative area, but also in heavy metal. I have ADHD, which I credit for being partially responsible for not only landing me here, but keeping me here. I registered under my original name in late 2013 but actually became active around February 2014.

I was a recipient of Precious on March 26, 2023, the same day my first featured article appeared on the front page. I have two featured articles and over 30 good articles to my name. I topped 25,000 edits on November 6, 2023, 10 years and 4 days after creating this account. I reckon if I had been active in the first half of 2020 I might have gotten there sooner, but alas were it not for COVID-19 closing my university I might not be active at all today. I adopted my current username on March 29, 2024.

Musical fanatic
When I was in the fourth grade, I learned to play the viola in my elementary school's instrumental program. Starting in the fifth grade, I began taking private lessons to improve my skill, and I've taken them with four different teachers. I was involved in many youth programs related to music, including a junior program of the Erie Philharmonic. I kept at it for nine years, but never found true satisfaction or enlightenment in playing the viola alone. My heart belongs, for the most part, to rock and roll and not classical music, and I could not find this passion with my instrument. I've said for a while that I want to learn to play guitar at some point, and I have one now, but I've touched it like...twice... 😅

I can find something to like about virtually any type of music. I say virtually because there are some exceptions. Subgenres that spark my interest include:

Alternative variants
 * Alt rock, obviously
 * A lot of Indie rock, but there's also a lot I don't care for
 * Indie pop
 * Pop punk
 * Punk rock
 * Electronica
 * Indietronica
 * Grunge
 * Post-grunge
 * Britpop
 * Dream pop
 * Gothic rock
 * Emo
 * Post-Britpop

Rock variants
 * Hard rock
 * Blues rock
 * Progressive rock
 * Southern rock
 * Punk rock
 * Gothic rock
 * Emo
 * Post-hardcore
 * Alternative metal
 * Nu metal
 * Alternative rock
 * Heavy metal
 * Christian rock
 * Hardcore punk

Metal variants
 * Straight heavy metal, obviously
 * Nu metal
 * Alt metal
 * Thrash metal
 * Groove metal
 * Metalcore
 * A little bit of post-metal
 * Progressive metal
 * "Djent" (shouldn't be a thing, but I like the music that's described that way)
 * Christian metal
 * Gothic metal
 * Country metal
 * Death metal, deathcore and melodeath (picky)
 * Sludge metal

There are a few genres which I have particular dislike for: Most of your typical radio pop, black and unblack metal, most death metal and deathcore, crust punk, grindcore, noise rock, and true screamo (usually). I mean, when I'm feeling really experimental, I'll play hip hop, but usually the only things that drive me there are emo rap, political rap or hardcore rap. My favorite country music consists of Alabama, Garth Brooks, Zac Brown Band, Alan Jackson, Billy Currington, Cole Swindell, Brantley Gilbert, Luke Combs and FGL - anything else is either a home run or a strikeout, metaphorically speaking. I also find most CCM a bit bland and fenced-in musically; electric guitars, the instrument I believe is God's greatest musical blessing that he allowed man to create, do not generally feature prominently in this type of music, especially not the distorted kind I have come to love the most in rock and heavy metal. If you're looking for a genre I haven't listed, I have no feelings of really like or dislike toward it. My favorite song? I don't have one. Whatever I happen to be playing on Spotify is often one of my favorites. My favorite song title, however, is "Someday, in the Event That Mankind Actually Figures Out What It Is That This World Revolves Around, Thousands of People are Going to Be Shocked and Perplexed to Find Out It Was Not Them. Sometimes, This Includes Me." by the Chariot. I have many favorite albums, but right now, it is A Day to Remember's Common Courtesy, which as it turns out is my most recent GA. I saw them live in Buffalo, New York this past June! Incredible experience, it also got me into Militarie Gun and to better know Four Year Strong. Did you know the latter band used to feud with ADTR? And now they tour with them. Wild.

So who am I outside of this?
Nobody special. I graduated from McDowell High School in 2017 with a guy who would go on to make a song with Travis Barker, so I thought that was pretty cool. I graduated from Penn State University's Behrend College with a bachelor's degree in communication in 2022. I love Pittsburgh-based sports teams, excluding the University of Pittsburgh (go State!). I am blessed to have grown up watching four of the greatest talents to have ever played for Pittsburgh: Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Ben Roethlisberger; I prefer hockey to football, but have a deep love for the latter, too. Not big on baseball. Next time the Bucs are in the playoffs I'll watch 'em though.

Other than that, I enjoy playing videogames. Over the years, The Elder Scrolls, NHL, Call of Duty, Halo, Overwatch, Valorant, League of Legends, Pokémon, and various RTS games have entertained my interest among others. Although I don't go out there enough, I enjoy the outdoors, and particularly love hiking in the summer and hunting for turkeys in the fall. Yes, I like guns - take enjoyment in shooting pistols, shotguns and rifles when I get the chance to go to a range. But it's an expensive hobby, so I don't do it often. Speaking of expensive hobbies, I am an avid Magic: the Gathering commander player as well, but I don't play CEDH.

Finally, I believe in the Lord my God above me. I go to church almost every Sunday. I may perhaps a weak-hearted believer, at that, to some people, and to that I would probably accept that judgment. I do my best to believe in the Bible's teachings first, but sometimes this gets me into trouble, especially considering I have a hard time living by it myself. But I believe nobody is perfect, and even those with hearts of evil may be changed by the Spirit. But my specific religious beliefs and any political beliefs associated with them are a conversation to have with anyone outside the confines of Wikipedia.

Anyway, yeah, that's about it for me. Glad to meet you!