Beckerheads get a pass?

Shotgun

Shotgun

Joined
Feb 3, 2006
Messages
8,250
james terrio said:
Humans do not live by bread or blade alone... we must also quench our thirst. The "rule of threes" tells us that 3 days without water is a very, very dangerous thing. (Some would say that three days without beer can be pretty dangerous, too... but I digress.)

I know many of you rascals have a great deal of experience and trial-and-error invested in this topic; thus, I ask you all to indulge our curiosity by sharing your expertise.

So! Please share your favorite dehydration-defeating libation containers here.

Whether it's a favorite beer mug or shot glass, a canteen/water bottle you like to take on short hikes, a "Camel-Bak" type rig or a rainwater-collection system and 1,000-gallon cistern you've set up in your backyard to get your garden through times of drought... let's see 'em!

Pics are strongly encouraged, of course. :)

I'll be posting some pics of my faves whenever I get around to it... in the meantime, I cede the floor.
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The quote above is from just one of the current off topic threads running in the Becker forum.

The Becker sub-forum has at least 4 mods and yet none of these off topic threads get moved. Why does the Becker forum get a free pass on off topic chatting? Does the quote above or do cast iron skillets have anything to do with Becker? I know of at least one thread that was started in the spyderco forum to show off a spyderco knife in food prep and was immediately moved to the food forum. Yet the Becker forum is allowed to essentially be it's own forum where any topic under the sun can be talked about. It USED to be that showing a picture of a Becker knife, regardless of having nothing to do with the topic being discussed, was accetable for whatever reason as it was deemed to have "Becker content." However, even that pretense has been abondoned for some of the off topic threads which you can see above. The reason I ask is because I believe cliques kill social groups through hive mind thinking and an "us vs them" mentality.
 
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It's the Becker forum...they can do what they want.
 
At what point does a clique turn into a social group?

There's nearly 400 Beckerheads.

What do you mean by hive mind thinking? Beckerheads are an incredibly diverse group of people with varying opinions about everything.

The thing that brought me there was an appreciation for Becker knives. What keeps me there is the friendships I have developed, and the sense of community that exists there.

Why does it matter if someone starts a couple off topic threads in the subforum they spend the most time?

In short, why do you care?:confused:
 
Shotgun said:
The quote above is from just one of the current off topic threads running in the Becker forum.
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I'm sorry if my thread offends you. I've met Ethan and several of the Beckerheads and broken bread, shared gear and knives, and camped out with them. It's my understanding that discussions about camping/outdoor gear are welcomed in the Becker Forum... in fact, that thread was the final qualifying factor in my getting a "Beckerhead Number".

I'm pretty sure if Ethan or any of the Becker Forum mods - or the SuperMods who oversee the entire site - have a problem with my posts, they'll let me know. Thanks for your concern.
 
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I don't think it offended him, atleast that's how this thread came off to me. Seems to me like he's only wondering why it's permitted. In other sub forums off topic chatter gets a thread moved or even closed, yet in the BKT subforum not only is a off topic post accepted but entire threads which have nothing to do with BKT are just open for discussion. For example that thread would never be aloud in the "general knife" subforum, it would get moved [possibly to] gadgets & gear or somewhere else most likely with a stern warning against using the general knife forum for knife related topics only.
 
Seems like cooking is "Becker content." I hear Ethan Becker had something to do with a cookbook. ;)
 
Cereal_killer said:
...For example that thread would never be aloud in the "general knife" subforum, it would get moved [possibly to] gadgets & gear or somewhere else most likely with a stern warning against using the general knife forum for knife related topics only.
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To me a Manusfacturer Forum is entirely different than General. Its for like-minded individuals to chat. For instance, If I wanted to go on about how I don't like Beckers (I like them, by the way)...the Becker Forum wouldn't be the place to do it. General would.

If one wants to talk about cast iron fry pans...of course General isn't the place. But the Becker forum is...they are into it. Seems like its their party.
 
Granted, it is the Becker Knife and Tool forum, but the designer of the knives has had a diverse and rich history, that covers knives, food, soft goods, climbing gear, and even stainless steel cups.

Its Ethan's forum and we try to keep his forum like his house, cluttered with people, good times and his interests.

Ethan has one of the oldest subforums on here, because him and Spark go way back.

We have a diverse group of guys and gals from all walks of life and from all over the world, we like to use whatever device we can to get folks on the forums, buying memberships, and having fun. Sometimes its the knives......sometimes it ain't.

Moose
 
Cereal_killer said:
I don't think it offended him, atleast that's how this thread came off to me. Seems to me like he's only wondering why it's permitted. In other sub forums off topic chatter gets a thread moved or even closed, yet in the BKT subforum not only is a off topic post accepted but entire threads which have nothing to do with BKT are just open for discussion. For example that thread would never be aloud in the "general knife" subforum, it would get moved [possibly to] gadgets & gear or somewhere else most likely with a stern warning against using the general knife forum for knife related topics only.
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Comparing manufacturer or hosted knifemaker forums with the General or any other forum under the "Knife Specific Discussion" category is apples and oranges. Manufacturer forums are supposed to have moderators (names given by the company) to run their forum how they see fit. Some manufacturer forums have active mods and others do not. We tend to leave the forums with active mods alone. Sometimes we need to step in and take action in a manufacturer forums because the mods are not very active.
 
Morrow said:
We tend to leave the forums with active mods alone.
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Wonder twin powers... ACTIVATE.

Shotgun said:
The reason I ask is because I believe cliques kill social groups through hive mind thinking and an "us vs them" mentality.
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I may be off base, but I'm sensing some lingering resentment.

Whatever the case, I started the cast iron thread because Ethan loves to cook on cast iron, and he's a Cordon Blue trained chef with a pretty well known cookbook. He has also designed pack gear and climbing gear. He is active in wilderness skills circles, including a yearly visit to PWYP. On another note, I started the "Move Your Butt" thread because of an increasing interest among the Becker folks in motivating themselves toward some fitness goals. Part of being a competent outdoorsman involves fitness, and that's something that often gets overlooked.

I've probably started a few other threads that the OP would deem "Off Topic," but I did so in the spirit of camaraderie for the posters in Becker AND in general support of Bladeforums. The consensus among the Becker mods has been: the more vibrant a forum we can create, the more people we can get interested in Becker knives, but also in knives in general. I would argue that the Becker subforum is well-moderated to reflect the interests of Ethan Becker and to serve the interests of its regular posters. If people don't like the topic of a given thread, no one is forcing them to click on it.
 
Lets keep in mind that other manufacturer forums do the same. Stopped by Busse lately? :) Hosted knifemaker forums do the same. It's a way of bringing a diverse group of potential customers together, and finding how interested they are in what the manufacturer or maker can provide.
 
it's Ethan's house

come on in and stay a while. talk the talk. shoot the shoot.

just don't muddy the rugs or shit on the furniture, and we're all good

we're open to questions too. openly on the forum, or one on one if you feel like it.

ultimately, it's up to Ethan in my opinion. got a question? ask him too. it's his house. and he will answer it.
 
I dropped by the Becker forum on a whim .... looking for more knife related information. Had never even heard of a Becker. Honest.

Started wandering around the forum, reading everything ESPECIALLY the off-topic stuff. Learned a lot. Still learning. Ran across what turned out to be a great deal on a pile of Beckers. Had I not been constantly drawn to the forum by the various off-topic and semi-off topic threads, I probably would not have bought them.

I "think" I've made a bunch of new on-line friends and acquaintances. I am now a Beckerhead and have way more Becker knives than a less knife addicted man has knives. Probably enabled Ethan buy a few pounds of bacon.

I spend a LOT of time in the Becker forum. That's because there is a lot of activity there to draw me. I still participate in several other sub-fora, i.e., General, Knife Law, Knife Throwing, Bernard's World, Kabar, and the Exchange to name a few.

Someone mentioned that there are over 400 Beckerheads. There are probably more than that many "Beckerheads in Training".

"Our" madness works. Come join the madness. 1000 Bs and BITs can't be wrong. :D:D:D
 
Snark = SNide remARK -- refers to some threads in the Becker forum

Completely off-topic catch-all thread - restarted every 1000 posts (or there-about). Multiple thought/comment streams - kinda like a non-real-time chat
examples tonight include but not limited to::
-blow off steam about work - stuff you can say here but not to the "bleep" at work
-Beckerheads' preferred/desired handguns
-condolences/well-wishes for our sick/ailing friends/family (not snarking but real messages here)
-snow shoveling attire
-alternate brand knife collections
-food
and so on...
search the Becker forum for threads with 'snark' in the title for past collections of wisdom or lack there-of.
The thin-skinned should wear asbestos underwear. :D:D
 
jimh0220 said:
I love the forum. Would someone just tell me what snarking is?
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zzyzzogeton said:
Snark = SNide remARK -- refers to some threads in the Becker forum

Completely off-topic catch-all thread - restarted every 1000 posts (or there-about). Multiple thought/comment streams - kinda like a non-real-time chat
examples tonight include but not limited to::
-blow off steam about work - stuff you can say here but not to the "bleep" at work
-Beckerheads' preferred/desired handguns
-condolences/well-wishes for our sick/ailing friends/family (not snarking but real messages here)
-snow shoveling attire
-alternate brand knife collections
-food
and so on...
search the Becker forum for threads with 'snark' in the title for past collections of wisdom or lack there-of.
The thin-skinned should wear asbestos underwear. :D:D
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All this time, I thought it involved a two-pound hammer and clean underwear.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Lets keep in mind that other manufacturer forums do the same. Stopped by Busse lately? :) Hosted knifemaker forums do the same. It's a way of bringing a diverse group of potential customers together, and finding how interested they are in what the manufacturer or maker can provide.
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The Hogs don't go off topic. Lol.
 
My impression is that the Becker forum is for general supporters of the Becker line of knives and other goodies. Negative comments don't seem to fit very well and I have made some thinking it is more of a general Becker knife "what's your opinion" kind of place... Probably one of the reasons I am not a beckerhead. I recommend the line a lot.

Just recently I was reading and "The Joy of Cooking" cookbook came to mind. I found my copy and did some google searches. Low and behold, Ethan Becker is the grandson of the orginal author. This is one of THE most purchased cook books in America. Thought that was really cool and figured if I didn't know, certainly some of the newer or younger participants there would or should know about this association. So I found an old thread on the subject and "refreshed it".... I don't start new threads often. I figure if an old one works, use it.
 
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