dsutton24
Gold Member
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2018
- Messages
- 2,045
We've all seen them.
"This xyzt knife is a reliable and stylish addition to any collection. The stainless steel blade is durable and the manual opening mechanism provides easy access when you need it. The knife's brown color and plain edge give it a classic look that is perfect for any outdoor adventure..."
They stick out like a sore thumb. They tell you nothing about the knife whatsoever, but other than their style they don't raise any of the old alarm bells. Chances are the seller isn't a knife guy. It might be one of those folks who troll through flea markets and thrift store looking for things to resell at a profit. It might be whatever a Boiler Room operation is called these days, dozens of people working to unload a container full of knockoff goods.
In recent years you have seen more and more "pic is description" merchandise descriptions. I always look at those as basically a crap shoot. If the photos are good enough I just rely on what I've learned about the subject and decide whether or not to take a chance. It's hard enough not being able to handle an item. Figuring out what you're buying from online photos is an art in itself.
<warning: soapbox>
And the counterfeits are out there. The number one tip you see is something like, "Why would anyone counterfeit a $20 knife when he could (whatever)?" just doesn't work any more. Please! Stop spreading this one around. It makes perfect sense, but it's at least twenty years out of date. They counterfeit toothpaste and Sharpie pens, for heaven's sake. If you don't believe this, go to the auction site and search "Buck Portable 110'.
<end: soapbox>
Anyway...
AI is a fact of life, and right now you can spot it a mile away. It's fun, it's funny. But, look at how much it has improved just over the past year or so. AI will continue to improve. The writing style will evolve beyond the vague, cookie cutter prose to something that is more conversational. It will also become compelling and persuasive. And the information will have an agenda. You just bought a thousand knockoff Case knives? You create an AI project that will appear to give them provenance going back decades. A hint on one forum then another. An apparently old reference to a catalog from the past. A mix of articulate, authoritative information, casual chatter, and even a little controversial or spurious content. Bam! Instant credibility.
The majority of the folks living today have had the Internet in their lives. A lot of these folks have an alarming lack of skepticism. There was a thread recently where someone came along looking for some reference materials on Traditional knife patterns. I poked around briefly on the web and didn't find anything I liked, and then just fell back on Levine's and the old materials that are long out of print. I'm not going to wade through a thirty minute video when I can find what I need in thirty seconds of reading. But then again I'm very old and can be a pain in the neck.
I guess this is the point. How do we make sure that good information is out there for someone who is interested? If your concentration is on whatever you can buy today, then no problem. There's a ton of information out there of a quality commensurate with your twelve dollar knife. Suppose, though, someone wants to make a logical step. How does my knife compare to something that was carried by my Grandpa? What choices did he have when he walked into a hardware or sporting goods store? Why would anyone pay big money and search for years for the same knife that can be had today for twenty bucks?
As wonderful as this place is it has its limits. It certainly figures largely in search results.
Is there a way to make sure good information that is relevant to the question asked is out there?
"This xyzt knife is a reliable and stylish addition to any collection. The stainless steel blade is durable and the manual opening mechanism provides easy access when you need it. The knife's brown color and plain edge give it a classic look that is perfect for any outdoor adventure..."
They stick out like a sore thumb. They tell you nothing about the knife whatsoever, but other than their style they don't raise any of the old alarm bells. Chances are the seller isn't a knife guy. It might be one of those folks who troll through flea markets and thrift store looking for things to resell at a profit. It might be whatever a Boiler Room operation is called these days, dozens of people working to unload a container full of knockoff goods.
In recent years you have seen more and more "pic is description" merchandise descriptions. I always look at those as basically a crap shoot. If the photos are good enough I just rely on what I've learned about the subject and decide whether or not to take a chance. It's hard enough not being able to handle an item. Figuring out what you're buying from online photos is an art in itself.
<warning: soapbox>
And the counterfeits are out there. The number one tip you see is something like, "Why would anyone counterfeit a $20 knife when he could (whatever)?" just doesn't work any more. Please! Stop spreading this one around. It makes perfect sense, but it's at least twenty years out of date. They counterfeit toothpaste and Sharpie pens, for heaven's sake. If you don't believe this, go to the auction site and search "Buck Portable 110'.
<end: soapbox>
Anyway...
AI is a fact of life, and right now you can spot it a mile away. It's fun, it's funny. But, look at how much it has improved just over the past year or so. AI will continue to improve. The writing style will evolve beyond the vague, cookie cutter prose to something that is more conversational. It will also become compelling and persuasive. And the information will have an agenda. You just bought a thousand knockoff Case knives? You create an AI project that will appear to give them provenance going back decades. A hint on one forum then another. An apparently old reference to a catalog from the past. A mix of articulate, authoritative information, casual chatter, and even a little controversial or spurious content. Bam! Instant credibility.
The majority of the folks living today have had the Internet in their lives. A lot of these folks have an alarming lack of skepticism. There was a thread recently where someone came along looking for some reference materials on Traditional knife patterns. I poked around briefly on the web and didn't find anything I liked, and then just fell back on Levine's and the old materials that are long out of print. I'm not going to wade through a thirty minute video when I can find what I need in thirty seconds of reading. But then again I'm very old and can be a pain in the neck.
I guess this is the point. How do we make sure that good information is out there for someone who is interested? If your concentration is on whatever you can buy today, then no problem. There's a ton of information out there of a quality commensurate with your twelve dollar knife. Suppose, though, someone wants to make a logical step. How does my knife compare to something that was carried by my Grandpa? What choices did he have when he walked into a hardware or sporting goods store? Why would anyone pay big money and search for years for the same knife that can be had today for twenty bucks?
As wonderful as this place is it has its limits. It certainly figures largely in search results.
Is there a way to make sure good information that is relevant to the question asked is out there?
