ABS Forum???

Originally posted by Keith Montgomery
Brett, I hope you don't mind me commenting again, but I just wanted to let you know that I think what you suggesting is a very good idea. I am not sure of the viability of adding sub-forums to the Custom Knife Forum, but if it is something that Spark would do then I think it would work out very well. It would also be a good way to breath life back into this forum.
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That sounds like a wonderful compromise! Just have sub-forums for more specific aspects of a larger forum.
 
I don't pretend to know the solution to this problem, but when i first came to BF, I spent most of my time in the general forum. I also spent a lot of time in the spyderco forum, because that was where my interst in collecting was at the time. A few months later, I started hanging out in the custom forum, I was fascinated by custom knives, and I loved the pictures, and the discussion. Then I started hanging out in shop talk, all the time. I don't post much, but I read the forums at least an average of an hour a day. I no longer read much in the general forum, because it doesn't interest me. I no longer visit the spyderco forum either. And lately the custom forum has gotten to be very slow, and boring. I think with the fact that only paying members can post pics, That anyone should be allowed to post pictures in the custom forum again. I agree that purely commercial posts suck, and I agreed with the idea of cleaning up the custom forum, but I think as long as the maker doesn't post the same knife in the for sale forum, or say ITs for sale, or list a price, That it would be great if makers could post pictures in the custom forum again. I really enjoyed the discussion about individual knives and makers, that used to take place, and doesn't anymore. I think this thread as totally gotten of track from where it started, and I think this proves that the general consensus is we want more pictures and more traffic in the custom forum.

Now as Far as the ABS forum is concerned, I see it like this. The more subforums there are, the better, to an extent. Eveyone can go where there interests lie. If we divide everything up too small, no forum will have much traffic, but I think the way it is right now an ABS forum would work out fine. I also think a tactical knife forum would be fine. There is a demand right now for an ABS forum at least from a few people. So lets give it a try. I haven't seen anybody ask for a tactical knife forum so I don't see a need for one right now.

IF there is an ABS forum, I would appreciate it if it didn't concern itself with shoptalk style questions, but that is just me. I also think that if the rules for posting pics for makers is the same on that forum than it will die out pretty quickly. I agree with Kit, and others, that what people are asking for in an ABS forum is basically the old Custom forum, and what they are really asking for as very little to do with the ABS.

AS far as posting pictures on several different forums, it always kind of bugged me. I would much prefer a link to one consolidated thread rather than several threads with a pic of a knife, and everyones comments spread out over several threads. Also it seems to be a waste of bandwith. I have no solution to this problem maybe someone else can figure something out.

Sorry for any typos, and I am sorry for the fact that this may be a rather disjointed reply, but there have gotten to be a lot of subtopics on this thread. I don't have any time to proof read this, but I feel strongly enough about this to post, which doesn't happen much.
Kyle Fuglesten
 
Anthony,
You got to quit using all those big words. It took me longer to look them up than it takes me to visit W&C :)

Brett & Kyle,
I appreciate your comments.
 
This has been a very interesting thread and I can see both sides of the issue. Nick had a very insightful post that pretty much spells the whole thing out as far as a maker participating on the forums. As Jerry said, the internet can be is a double-edged blade for a maker who participates in a public forum. I have seen some of the finest people I have met get flamed. (In most cases unsubstianted and not deserved). I have also seen misunderstandings get way out of hand.

Of course from the point of view of a collector it would be great to see more makers in here, but knowing quite a few who do not, I more than understand why they don't.

There are usually two reasons that I been made aware of. The first is time and the second is dealing with controversy. A lot of makers just want to make the best knife they can, teach and learn their skills to and from others without dealing with some of the negative aspects that come up from time to time on the internet venues. (BTW if the letter to Keith was from the person I think it was from, I don't think it would be easy to pick a maker who is more giving of his time in teaching others (xcept' for maybe Kit. :)))

I also long for the old days of our Custom forum. In all honesty, it was more difficult to moderate then, but it was a better forum. We had folks getting their customers to bring threads about their knives to the top along with plenty of other abuses and a lot of pettiness behind the curtains. We had folks who only used this place as a marketing tool for themselves. (At least that was all they ever posted.) During the periods when we were abandoned by those types we had an excellent forum with makers, collectors, a lot of fun, information and pictures of some awesome work.

Let’s see if we can turn what we have around. It will take us as members to reinforce (in a positive way) the behaviors that are appropriate here. If the Mods have to go it alone, what we want to see will be harder to sustain.

edited for clarification. You folks know I can not write that much without a bunch of screw ups. ;).
 
The interim solution is to merely allow knifemakers who have paid for the privilage to be allowed to post pictures in the CUSTOM forum.

Who cares if thy are trying to sell the knife? Whats the difference in where the post is located?

The $$$ to post in the Gallery is the same price to post pictures in the "Makers for sale" forum.
 
Considering that makers are the blood of the forum, what about allowing makers to (1) post knife for sales without having to buy a subscription, and (2) allow them to post pics in any forum?

Plus, I would really like to see all the custom for sales consolidated under a unique forum. It would be easy to set up rules that say" you must post as "for sale by collector", "for sale by maker", and "for sale by dealer".

JD
 
Joss,

Knifemakers may be the blood of these forums but I disagree that they should be allowed to advertise with a basic membership. Here they have access to thousands of enthusiasts and would easily be able to pay their membership fees with the smallest fraction of their sales.

BF.C is a great resource but it's up to it's members, knifemakers and collectors alike, even the lurkers who don't contribute much but find a wealth of information here, to help support it.

-Jose
 
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