A Topic for Actual Discussion

Yes, a topic for Actual Discussion. Please do not post on this thread that you think my knife is super cool and neato burrito. Please post only if you want to discuss the topic and have an actual thought or comment on it.

And here is the topic.

What types of posts should be considered proper and appropriate on threads in ths forum when someone posts a picture of some knife they made or acquired?
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My take on this subject is that if a maker posts a knife that he made for discussion on this forum that they should welcome both positive and negative reviews which should help improve the quality of their knife making.

When a collector posts a photo of a knife that he acquired on this forum, it usually means that he is happy with the purchase and wants to share the photo with others. This does not mean that we should not discuss the good and bad points of the particular knife. It might help the collector in future purchases, but we should try to respond in a manner that is not insulting to the collector.

I think that STeven's recent posts reflect that.

I agree that this is a discussion forum, not a knife photo gallery. We can all benefit from good discussion.

Jim Treacy
 
Kohai999 said:
When I started posting on BladeForums about 10 years ago, this forum was more like it is lately...pleasant...pastoral..not much controversy, except when (Cliff) He Who Shall Not Be Named(Stamp) came charging in like a myopic rhino....and then I started posting the truth as seen through my eyes....and it swirled around a BUNCH of stuff....and changed some of the direction and tone of this forum, some for good, some for bad.

I thought then, and still think that we should discuss the design, the knives, AND the people involved. Sometimes, a maker has far to go before they "get there" and this is fine as long as the price matches the work AND the aftermarket value...and that can be discussed to death, but the discussion is still important...because there are many very valid and differing views on it.

Sometimes, the maker is a thief, a liar or a conman, and that deserves to be discussed here too. I have always thought that if people have the information, they should share it, for the betterment of all, and put individual considerations aside.

My posts back then were a lot more witty and sarcastic, a lot nastier and they hurt people's feelings....and sometimes business. As the decade passed, and a great many shows attended, some makers teared up in front of me, or just plain related how hurt they were that I would make sport of them or their knife, they had their heart and soul wrapped up in it, you see.

The feelings of the makers was never considered in the choice of words....and that is a great fault of character that pops up sometimes to this day. If a decent man is making what Ed Fowler calls an "honest knife", it isn't very sporting of me to not consider his feelings in that knife. If I comment at all any more, I try to be very specific about the issues I identify as a problem, and leave out some of the "witty" commentary. While it may not be as amusing(it isn't:D), it is also a lot more fun to go to shows and sit with a maker or collector and chat, rather than feel eyes burning holes in the back of my head, and a lot more balanced for everyone concerned if I take my "gritty" observations face to face.

For a lot of makers, this is a serious, full time business....sometimes it doesn't get treated like that.

For a lot of us collectors, it might as well be a business, the time that we spend at it....be honest with yourself, Bob, Martin, Peter, Roger, Kevin most of you professionals who have been at this a while......the numbers are big.

I'm trying to get to a place on BladeForums where I can speak like I do to my customers....not lying, not pulling the punches, but ALWAYS being respectful, courteous and professional.....I'll save the mockery and shenanigans for the phone calls and hanging out in the hotel room.:D

Saw the Dalai Lama speak a few weeks ago, and he said that "without respect, there is no trust, and without trust, we cannot cooperate and make the world a better place".

That concept resonated with the entire room of roughly 5,000 people, and the applause was thunderous. The words are very true and apply to the microcosm of BladeForums as well as the whole world. If we approach the discussion of the design, the knives and the people with respect, we may be able to reach the next generation and have our words and experiences heard and shared.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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When I read your post I kinda threw up in my mouth a little bit

Please go back to being a Jackass it is a lot more amusing :)
 
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lol Joe :)

strikes me that the majority of people would rather read other people's critiques than supply em themselves, cuz I just do not see many people offering up more than positive comments.

This says to me that more people are more interested in looking at knives and encouraging posts that include pictures of them, than they are concerned with providing lucid feedback to people who need/want it. They value the balance of ensuring that those who don't need/want critical feedback are kept interested in sharing their work/collections with them.

I'd peg the ratio of those who want critical feedback at 10% to those who are sharing freely at 90%. Many people might not want to run the risk of being critical, with odds like that. Some people are willing to risk at those odds, and observing this is interesting for people who wouldn't do that. It's like watching gambling, only reputations and friendships are at stake.

I'm fine with all that, I like giving 'attaboys' like most of you, and feel, like some of you have also stated, that I have few qualifications to bring to the table when it comes to critique. When I do, I'm nice about it, so it's not very interesting to read for others who might otherwise be drawn to drama, (let's face it, we DO love our intranetz drama, don't we?:)). So long as it's interesting to the person who asked for it, it's all good.
 
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Lorien said:
I'd peg the ratio of those who want feedback at 10% to those who are sharing freely at 90%.
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I disagree.

If only 10% of folks wanted feedback then 90% of folks would close their threads immediately after posting their picture(s).

No, they WANT feedback. It is just that they only want POSITIVE feedback. This must be why the world is filled with so many "Yes-Men."

I would peg the ratio of those who want positive feedback at 100%, and those who will accept negative feedback or even a teensy-weensy critical remark without getting their feelings all hurt or getting mad at someone or feeling they must defend their knife or that their livelihood is being threatened at . . . well, much less than 100%.
 
good point. I fixed my post.

Just wanted to add, that I greatly appreciate that the topic of 'discussion' is being discussed. I truly hope that we are entering an Age of Discussion, it certainly seems as though this microcosm of society is nurturing that as a guiding principle, I hope it catches on in the big picture. For too long, has important discussion occurred only behind closed doors...
 
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I go away for a week and STeven is quoting the Dalai Lama.

Here is a quote from ptgdvc to pass back along the cosmic highway to the Dalai Lama,

"Honesty is the best policy, IF you want to advance the art."

PS

Please remind the DL that respect and trust are earned, not given.

You may now return to your regular programing.
 
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ptgdvc said:
Please remind the DL that respect and trust are earned, not given.
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He's a frikkin Lama, Peter....I'm sure not going to inform His Holiness, recipient of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, of what our views may be.

He seems to think in order to be human, we MUST all respect other humans, that it is not an option.

I may try it.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
STeven, don't sell yourself short. Your wisdom is powerful and your vision is clear.

With Respect,

ptgdvc
 
I read this thread with interest; good opinions by all.

And, I find STeven's insights characteristically insightful and worthy.

Thanks for the thread, Ken!

Coop
 
Lorien said:
+2:thumbup:


I tend to appreciate threads which are started that ask for honest feedback, and I'll happily share my opinion and try to be helpful in those threads. It would be great if collectors posted their knives and asked for opinions, but that rarely happens, so I can only assume they're posting these knives with the intent to share only. Makers tend to be the ones who ask for feedback in here, and it's good to be honest with them.

I find it interesting that many of the people who bemoan the lack of discussion, often tend not contribute their opinion to threads where the OP actually asks for feedback. If the OP opens that door to all, he or she ought to expect everyone to feel welcome to walk through it, regardless of opinion.

All feedback is positive, if feedback is sought after. If feedback isn't sought, and sharing is the goal, then negative comments might not be appreciated and could lead to a discontinuation of sharing for sharing's sake. Sometimes there just isn't an agenda- there is just a simple and honest desire to share.
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I find no surprise that some don't feel comfortable sharing their opinions and critique, however enjoy reading others. I enjoy offering critique and always try to be courteous and mention positive aspects of the knife along with negative. I haven't seen many pieces (if any) that are all right or all wrong, so there's no trouble covering both sides of the coin.

I certainly don't offer critique on all knives posted here as I don't have all day to spend on this forum as some do. I tend to concentrate on the type/style knives that interest me and I feel qualified to critique. I'm pleased at how often I'm contacted after I critique a maker's knife and thanked for my contribution. This often occurs after my more critical opinions.
 
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