Benchmade Proper

Status
Not open for further replies.
KBA said:
In a nut shell we are a culture and society living in a bubble here on the forum and sociological theories apply.
Click to expand...

This is a forum, where people from all over the world, and from all different walks of life, spend a relatively small amount of time posting on a (tacitly at least) pre-agreed subject - traditional knives as defined in the sub-forum guidelines. There are no constraints on the time we spend here, other than those we choose to impose upon ourselves, or that our actual lives impose upon us. To focus discussion and keep things polite, there are certain rules or guidelines here, we are asked not to discuss religion or politics, to use family-friendly language, and to keep our discussions to traditional knives (as defined in the sub-forum guidelines). While those guidelines are clear, some of them are often ignored, and usually without any great sanction. Importantly, we are part of a much bigger forum, and members may post elsewhere as and when they please, without any stigma. If they want to go and curse everything under the sun or look at scantily-dressed members of the opposite sex, there are places on this very forum where they can do so. Likewise, if they want to discuss self-defence or the latest assisted openers, there are places on this forum where they can do that. They can move between this sub-forum and those sub-forums fluidly and without interference or sanction from anyone in this sub-forum. So rather than being a culture, society, or bubble, I would argue that we are at best a microculture, or at the most sub-culture, within the overall culture (or subculture) of Bladeforums. Unlike most subcultures, nobody here is going to denigrate us if we start hanging out elsewhere, we don't have a dress code, any initiation ceremonies, really we're just a bunch of folks who appreciate traditional knives, and spend some time discussing them. But there are those forum guidelines, they give us a focus and parameters to the sort of knives we talk about, they’re what makes this sub-forum distinct from other sub-forums. I’ve posted in many parts of Bladeforums, and the sub-forum guidelines were agreed long before I started posting here, without them this place would not exist. As long as I’ve been posting here, there have been people carping about the guidelines, asking to know why they can’t post about pocket-clips or frame-locks, or their Sebenza (which they can, just not here – though that often doesn’t stop them), and there are people who want to mess around with traditional patterns, switch the blades around, etc. That is not being radical or innovative in my opinion, they’re not making a stand against tyranny or conservatism, no more than the guy who joins a motorcycle club and then turns up on a Vespa, or joins a chess club, and then wants to play draughts. Now at first, that kind of thing might raise a laugh, but it becomes tiresome, someone is going to have to say, “Brother, this is a MOTORCYCLE club!” Or “If you want to play draughts (checkers), join a draughts club.” To constantly challenge the guidelines here, for the most part, does not make for interesting discussion, it simply means extra work for the unpaid guys who moderate this forum, and are part of our community, which is what this place really is. Genuinely innovative design is rare in my experience, but I genuinely enjoy seeing great design, and there’s a place for it here. There are some knives however, and some discussion, which in my opinion, is better posted in General (or elsewhere) than here, which allows more free-ranging conversation, maybe that knife WOULD be better with a pocket-clip or a thumb-stud. The fact that this sub-forum limits discussion on certain aspects of non-traditional knife design, and that some knives don’t fit in here as well as they would elsewhere, is not the jackboot of tyranny crushing free-thinking. Most of us KNOW what a traditional knife is and what isn’t, don’t we really, honestly, and in 30 years time, pocket-clips and thumb-studs, may or may not be more common than they are today, but they will still not be traditional knives.
 
Jack Black said:
This is a forum, where people from all over the world, and from all different walks of life, spend a relatively small amount of time posting on a (tacitly at least) pre-agreed subject - traditional knives as defined in the sub-forum guidelines. There are no constraints on the time we spend here, other than those we choose to impose upon ourselves, or that our actual lives impose upon us. To focus discussion and keep things polite, there are certain rules or guidelines here, we are asked not to discuss religion or politics, to use family-friendly language, and to keep our discussions to traditional knives (as defined in the sub-forum guidelines). While those guidelines are clear, some of them are often ignored, and usually without any great sanction. Importantly, we are part of a much bigger forum, and members may post elsewhere as and when they please, without any stigma. If they want to go and curse everything under the sun or look at scantily-dressed members of the opposite sex, there are places on this very forum where they can do so. Likewise, if they want to discuss self-defence or the latest assisted openers, there are places on this forum where they can do that. They can move between this sub-forum and those sub-forums fluidly and without interference or sanction from anyone in this sub-forum. So rather than being a culture, society, or bubble, I would argue that we are at best a microculture, or at the most sub-culture, within the overall culture (or subculture) of Bladeforums. Unlike most subcultures, nobody here is going to denigrate us if we start hanging out elsewhere, we don't have a dress code, any initiation ceremonies, really we're just a bunch of folks who appreciate traditional knives, and spend some time discussing them. But there are those forum guidelines, they give us a focus and parameters to the sort of knives we talk about, they’re what makes this sub-forum distinct from other sub-forums. I’ve posted in many parts of Bladeforums, and the sub-forum guidelines were agreed long before I started posting here, without them this place would not exist. As long as I’ve been posting here, there have been people carping about the guidelines, asking to know why they can’t post about pocket-clips or frame-locks, or their Sebenza (which they can, just not here – though that often doesn’t stop them), and there are people who want to mess around with traditional patterns, switch the blades around, etc. That is not being radical or innovative in my opinion, they’re not making a stand against tyranny or conservatism, no more than the guy who joins a motorcycle club and then turns up on a Vespa, or joins a chess club, and then wants to play draughts. Now at first, that kind of thing might raise a laugh, but it becomes tiresome, someone is going to have to say, “Brother, this is a MOTORCYCLE club!” Or “If you want to play draughts (checkers), join a draughts club.” To constantly challenge the guidelines here, for the most part, does not make for interesting discussion, it simply means extra work for the unpaid guys who moderate this forum, and are part of our community, which is what this place really is. Genuinely innovative design is rare in my experience, but I genuinely enjoy seeing great design, and there’s a place for it here. There are some knives however, and some discussion, which in my opinion, is better posted in General (or elsewhere) than here, which allows more free-ranging conversation, maybe that knife WOULD be better with a pocket-clip or a thumb-stud. The fact that this sub-forum limits discussion on certain aspects of non-traditional knife design, and that some knives don’t fit in here as well as they would elsewhere, is not the jackboot of tyranny crushing free-thinking. Most of us KNOW what a traditional knife is and what isn’t, don’t we really, honestly, and in 30 years time, pocket-clips and thumb-studs, may or may not be more common than they are today, but they will still not be traditional knives.
Click to expand...

You missed my point. Im done with the whole forum.
 
Jack Black said:
This is a forum, where people from all over the world, and from all different walks of life, spend a relatively small amount of time posting on a (tacitly at least) pre-agreed subject - traditional knives as defined in the sub-forum guidelines. There are no constraints on the time we spend here, other than those we choose to impose upon ourselves, or that our actual lives impose upon us. To focus discussion and keep things polite, there are certain rules or guidelines here, we are asked not to discuss religion or politics, to use family-friendly language, and to keep our discussions to traditional knives (as defined in the sub-forum guidelines). While those guidelines are clear, some of them are often ignored, and usually without any great sanction. Importantly, we are part of a much bigger forum, and members may post elsewhere as and when they please, without any stigma. If they want to go and curse everything under the sun or look at scantily-dressed members of the opposite sex, there are places on this very forum where they can do so. Likewise, if they want to discuss self-defence or the latest assisted openers, there are places on this forum where they can do that. They can move between this sub-forum and those sub-forums fluidly and without interference or sanction from anyone in this sub-forum. So rather than being a culture, society, or bubble, I would argue that we are at best a microculture, or at the most sub-culture, within the overall culture (or subculture) of Bladeforums. Unlike most subcultures, nobody here is going to denigrate us if we start hanging out elsewhere, we don't have a dress code, any initiation ceremonies, really we're just a bunch of folks who appreciate traditional knives, and spend some time discussing them. But there are those forum guidelines, they give us a focus and parameters to the sort of knives we talk about, they’re what makes this sub-forum distinct from other sub-forums. I’ve posted in many parts of Bladeforums, and the sub-forum guidelines were agreed long before I started posting here, without them this place would not exist. As long as I’ve been posting here, there have been people carping about the guidelines, asking to know why they can’t post about pocket-clips or frame-locks, or their Sebenza (which they can, just not here – though that often doesn’t stop them), and there are people who want to mess around with traditional patterns, switch the blades around, etc. That is not being radical or innovative in my opinion, they’re not making a stand against tyranny or conservatism, no more than the guy who joins a motorcycle club and then turns up on a Vespa, or joins a chess club, and then wants to play draughts. Now at first, that kind of thing might raise a laugh, but it becomes tiresome, someone is going to have to say, “Brother, this is a MOTORCYCLE club!” Or “If you want to play draughts (checkers), join a draughts club.” To constantly challenge the guidelines here, for the most part, does not make for interesting discussion, it simply means extra work for the unpaid guys who moderate this forum, and are part of our community, which is what this place really is. Genuinely innovative design is rare in my experience, but I genuinely enjoy seeing great design, and there’s a place for it here. There are some knives however, and some discussion, which in my opinion, is better posted in General (or elsewhere) than here, which allows more free-ranging conversation, maybe that knife WOULD be better with a pocket-clip or a thumb-stud. The fact that this sub-forum limits discussion on certain aspects of non-traditional knife design, and that some knives don’t fit in here as well as they would elsewhere, is not the jackboot of tyranny crushing free-thinking. Most of us KNOW what a traditional knife is and what isn’t, don’t we really, honestly, and in 30 years time, pocket-clips and thumb-studs, may or may not be more common than they are today, but they will still not be traditional knives.
Click to expand...

Well said jack I couldn't of said better my self . I personally like both moden and traditional knives . And I go to what ever forum it's appropriate to talk about them . Some time there are knives that skim the edges of both . such as the knife beginning of this thread which makes for some very interesting discussion . Do I like this knife " not particularly I never been a big fan of marcarta . And nothing to do whether it is or isn't traditional . And if I'm not that sure about a knife that I'm posting in traditionals . I will post it and if it's accepted then all well and good but if it's not accepted and it gets moved then that's all good too and no hardship . I still get to talk about my knife and many other knives to :)
 
R.c.s said:
Well said jack I couldn't of said better my self . I personally like both moden and traditional knives . And I go to what ever forum it's appropriate to talk about them . Some time there are knives that skim the edges of both . such as the knife beginning of this thread which makes for some very interesting discussion . Do I like this knife " not particularly I never been a big fan of marcarta . And nothing to do whether it is or isn't traditional . And if I'm not that sure about a knife that I'm posting in traditionals . I will post it and if it's accepted then all well and good but if it's not accepted and it gets moved then that's all good too and no hardship . I still get to talk about my knife and many other knives to :)
Click to expand...

Thanks my friend, that's a very worthy attitude :thumbup:
 
KBA said:
You missed my point. Im done with the whole forum.
Click to expand...

Brett, let me know where you want to go to discuss knives, that is where I want to be. I know a lot of long timers have moved to Facebook, maybe its time for me too.
 
Jack, I agree with most of your post. However, I think that you're only looking at half of the picture. I agree that people that show up and post outside the guidelines of this forum are tiresome. However, where we differ is in that I find people that view themselves as inner gatekeepers with a higher standard of what is "really" traditional equally tiresome. We saw this when Mike put out the 77 barlows with the wharncliffe blade. We saw this when Greg put out the Trestle Pine line. We see this in the Lionsteel thread. We're seeing it again here. There is a group of people that throw the rules out the window and declare that a knife is unfit for this subforum or the traditional moniker simply because it's not a knife that they prefer.

I don't see how it's any more respectful to declare that the rules are not strict enough than it is to declare that they're too strict. Too put it more bluntly, I don't see a difference between kamagong declaring his knife with thumbstuds and a clip traditional and you declairing the Benchmade not traditional. They're flip sides of the same coin. You agreed to the same rules as the rest of us, and those rules say that the Benchmade is a traditional.

What it boils down to is if you start a motorcycle club and say that all motorcycles are welcome but no other vehicles are you can't then complain about motorcycles you don't like being in the club. It's easy to vilify the person showing up on a Vespa due to the fact that he's not part of the group. However, the crotchety old man sitting in the corner saying that crotch rockets aren't "real" motorcycles is committing the same sin despite the fact that he's a friend and valued member of the club. I see both behaviors as equally troublesome.
 
It does look a bit off but being a Benchmade you know it will come sharp. I would also prefer a flat grind but I have several of their knives with that grind and they do work quite well.

I'll probably pass on this one with the s30v but if it comes back around with m390, s90v or one of the other "super steel's", I'm in!!

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
 
I'll probably wish I stayed away from this, but here goes.

Speaking as a moderator for this forum, I'm tired of those that argue on either side. If the thread is still here then Frank or I, or more then likely both us, feels the knife is traditional enough, as defined in the guidelines. We understand there's some grey areas. The worst thing we do is comment in the thread or move the post offline if we feel something doesn't belong. The final call is ours, whether you or I like it or not.

It's really very simple. If you like the forum and don't mind the guidelines, join in the fun. If you don't like the forum or the guidelines, feel free to move on down the road.

This thread has gone so far off topic there is no possible return. Stick a fork in it, it's done.
 
What Gary said echoes my thoughts on the matter.
And was said more politely.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top