Fresh Start - Lets Try Again

Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith

Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith

ilmarinen - MODERATOR
Moderator
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Aug 20, 2004
Messages
38,498
The recent thread on the photo posting rules has spiraled downward.
I want to start again.

First, I want to apologize for sounding harsh and judgmental. It was not the way to handle this.
Second, I want to thank all the great folks who have made Shop talk the #1 place for learning about knifemaking. I don't want any changes there.

The notice was mainly to let a handful of people know about this rule. It wasn't meant to change anything that most folks would ever notice. Most everyone who has been involved in the discussion has the membership level needed, anyway.

So, Lets Try Again:

WIP ,BBQ, KITH, etc. community threads are not subject to this. If the photo of the knife/tool/etc. you post in those threads is pertinent to the discussion - IT IS OK FOR YOU TO POST PHOTOS.

Photos in threads asking advise, and from those newer makers who are showing their latest build are good too - IT IS OK FOR YOU TO POST PHOTOS.

New makers and those who don't sell many knives don't need to read any farther - IT IS OK FOR YOU TO POST PHOTOS.

Photos of knives in threads started by an established maker that are for no purpose but to display a newly made knife should be posted in The Gallery or one of the Knife discussion sub-forums anyway. If posted on BF by a full time maker who is only a registered user or basic member, I might send a PM or email with a question.

 
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Has there been some clarification to the situation with Brian, and has there been any effort to encourage people like Chuck to continue contributing?

I'm not trying to restart the fire, and I didn't post in the previous thread since I didn't want to fuel it, but I think a lot of us are concerned with creating a hostile image or atmosphere to those guys that have a lot to offer, who don't have any use or desire for what membership may give in return.

May I suggest some sort of honorary membership level for certain "outstanding" contributors of the boards that exempts them from the posting rules? These type of people are why I pay for my membership, why the information that makes it worth having for me, as a not-for-profit maker, exists.

I also don't see any reason they shouldn't be able to post their work in the gallery, when we're talking about knives that are already sold from multi-year backlogs by makers that aren't soliciting more work because they don't need to. That's the sort of inspiration many of us need.

If the seriously talented long time pros stop contributing membership will lose it's value to me. I'm not here to hang out with people at the same level as myself, I'm here to learn from those that are more skilled than me. No offense intended, just making it clear that I put my money where my mouth was when I paid for various membership levels, and I'll stop as soon as it ceases to hold value.

The ability to promote my wares and use the market is the least valuable piece of membership for me. That may change in time of course, but for now, that's how it is.

Apologies, I know you're not wanting more of the same Stacy. I just want to make sure something is being done to encourage the real "talent" to keep contributing. If we lost a few great contributors to stop a few bad apples from abusing the forum, the forum loses in the end. Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease.
 
Thanks for the clarification.
It's pretty obvious when someone is promoting their wares.
 
Thanks for the clarification as well. I think I understand some things more fully now, so it has been a valuable conversation to me. I hope it works out for everyone. See y'all out there in the Forums.
 
I think that the vast majority of advanced, experienced and/or successful smiths, are really just trying to help. It would be to our discredit to take their efforts as purely self promotional... or to theirs to take advantage of the forum.

I think it would be great to see more WIPs and tutorials from them reguardless of membership level,… make them feel more welcome, appreciated and part of the community.

I don't think any further "official" action is necessary, but just for us to try and do what we can to help.
 
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This is the struggle with "Communication" on the internet, if this would have taken place in a conference room where we can all see facial expressions, hear voice inflections and so on, there would not have been a issue and it would have been covered/solved in about 3 maybe 5 minutes.

"There Now we can all be friends again" quote from Doc Holiday in Tombstone.
 
Explanations without condescending name calling make the message easier to discuss.

I for one am very appreciative of all knifemakers sharing their work here if they are a paid member or not.

Thanks guys you are appreciated.
 
Another thing we might keep in mind is that,.... the next time someone Googles or searches for "Fresh Start-Lets Try Again" this thread is going to pop up and send traffic to Bladeforums... same with any number of odd "Shop Talk" topics.

It's really a cyber symbiotic relationship. ;) LOL
 
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R.Rock said:
This is the struggle with "Communication" on the internet, if this would have taken place in a conference room where we can all see facial expressions, hear voice inflections and so on, there would not have been a issue and it would have been covered/solved in about 3 maybe 5 minutes.

"There Now we can all be friends again" quote from Doc Holiday in Tombstone.
Click to expand...
Just promise that you won't shank me in the stomach after you put your guns on the poker table.:)
 
I think we should keep in mind that posting pix under the "exceptions" is a "privilege".

Let's try not to abuse it... don't want to lose them.
 
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