I had almost forgot my password because the only time I revisit this forum these days is when I receive a message from somebody that a thread like this has involved my name again. Let me say that the only reason I am posting here is that some revisionist history needs to be cleared up, which is really ironic since all of this forums history is still there in writing; kind of like the mystery of folks not understanding written rules.
Let’s be clear, I was not reprimanded or disciplined in any way, but I broke the rules, rules that I was unaware of due to an absence, but they say ignorance of the law is no excuse. I posted a picture of my work without a paid membership, the knife was sold and I take no orders, but I mentioned that it would be at the Blade show. When I learned of the violation I felt awful as I had never knowingly violated any rule on this forum, and BF still has my most humble apologies for that violation.
I really want it known and on the record that I did not leave because of the rules, I am a big boy and can follow the rules like anybody else. I don’t expect special treatment or anything free and if I feel a forum is worth supporting I will give as much time as I can to it expecting nothing in return. Heck, I don’t even expect thanks or gratitude as it is my choice to contribute. But I do expect to be treated with civility and a modicum of respect and therein lies the real problem.
From 2003 to 2008 I happily posted more information on this forum than any other, those were good times back then, and can safely say I never tried to, or ever did, sell a thing doing it as I feel that is tacky on an educational forum. But then a personal assault the likes of which I have never before experienced began when certain folks decided that my technical posts were a threat that needed to be silenced. This is when I realized how little value my contributions were to the staff of this forum when the endless harassment was allowed to continue for months (posting song lyrics, and pictures of circus freaks is valued contributions? Really?). That final thread was not to inform me of the rules but to launch yet another blast of personal attacks (it has been conveniently edited by those who lack the fortitude to stand by the things they initially wrote). While I did not have a Knifemaker membership, I did pay for a Basic membership in order to give something back, but when it reached the point where I could not participate at all without being attacked I quit paying, just how much should I pay for something I cannot use, or for the privilege of being insulted daily?
Karda, you are being set on pretty hard in this thread and I commend you for your patience, keeping this thread open is a good display of P.R. and listening to the folks. But it pains me to say that I have to get it off my chest that the debated last straw in my departure was unfortunately you sir.
“…I myself find it hard to believe that notable makers with enough money to have a website, attend blade show and other such advertisement do not have a measly $60 to spend on a membership to the largest knife forum on the internet…”
From the final thread in question.
After all the years I spent helping anybody I could on this forum the ultimate insult came from a member of the staff calling me a cheapskate for not buying a membership that I could not even use due to their unwillingness to enforce the rules governing basic decent behavior.
The advertising/membership rules here would not keep me from coming back, the rules are the rules and I wouldn’t have any problem following them. But if you are going to ask me to pay to be someplace you need to offer a place that I would at least enjoy being at. A person is not “thin skinned” for not wanting to hang out in a place where they have to watch their back every minute when they have better things to do, they just have some common sense, or a modicum of self-respect. There are more than a couple of sites out there with a professional enough approach to make it a pleasure to contribute, there you will find me and some of the other guys that are being referred to here.
P.S. in all sincerity please let me know if I have not stripped all inappropriate references from my profile as I am not certain as to how clean I have scrubbed it.
