New sub forum for younger members

Karda said:
I think your forum idea would only serve to segregate people more. To make them feel more singled out and alienated, thus not fostering a sense of community.
It's not so much that areas are run as a "loose ship" as it is that certain members are allowed to troll and post as they please while others are repeatedly hammered for posting in the same manner. Myself, I have no further interest in moderating another subforum beyond the one I do now.
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I've been a few places with a dumb questions thread or sub forum has done very well. The only people who feel singled out are trolls who find they're not welcome.

In most of them you'll find long time members posting questions that they felt if they asked elsewhere they'd get the gears over not being born knowing the answer.

As always YMMV.
 
I'm under 18, but I don't think I need to be ushered off to a kiddie forum. ;) I like knives just as much as you do, and (at least I think) I typically keep out of trouble, should I not be allowed to discuss my hobby with the rest of BFC regardless of age?
 
Maybe you can, but you are not the world.

Not every teenager is an idiot and not every adult is mature but by and large that's how it shakes out.

Most adults can tolerate some teens when they are preaching the gospel based their limited experience or complaining how unfair their parents are but catch the right one on wrong day and there will be hurt feelings all around.

And as noted before; this would not be a mandatory section to close off the youngins, new users would still see the same access as now. This would be a fence to keep the saltier folks at bay.
 
I think every forum should have an adult section (35 and up) and a kiddie section! Make everyone submit proof of age before letting them join!
 
I do t think many regular users would frequent such a subforum, and that it would be very underused. I know that I would avoid it... General is taxing enough as it is sometimes.
 
“He drew a circle that shut me out-
Heretic , rebel, a thing to flout.
But love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle and took him In !"

From the poem "Outwitted"
-- Edwin Markham
 
This forum has been around for 17 years. Not only has it survived, but it has grown, and it has thrived, just the way it is. And many people are happy to be here just the way it is.

If you look at this forum and see only problems, perhaps you should consider the possibility that the forum doesn't have a problem, but that maybe YOU are the one with the problem.

To a great extent, a forum is what it's members choose to make of it. If you believe this forum has shortcomings, then do what you can to make it better by being a more productive member, and as such, serve as a positive example for others.

If you see what you consider to be shortcomings in other members, take the time to try and guide them in the right direction. Be a POSITIVE influence for them. This can take patience and effort, but if you're not willing to exert a bit of patience and effort, and offer guidance, then in my opinion you have no right to complain about the behavior of others. Criticism is easy, but patience and tolerance will always yield a greater reward than criticism and condemnation.

I was taught- Instead of cursing others for their failures, teach them, guide them, and do what you can to try and help them succeed.

I don't agree with everything about Bladeforums, but the way I look at it, no one is forcing me to be here. If I don't like how this place is designed or operated, I'm free to leave and never come back. Bladeforums got along just fine before I showed up, and it would get along just fine without me. If people find fault with this forum, perhaps they should consider such things for themselves.

Bladeforums is a very friendly and inviting place, eager to welcome new members. It is a true community where people of all types are encouraged to participate, share, and learn. But if a person is unhappy here, if they are bothered by perceived faults and the failures of others, then perhaps this forum is simply not the right fit for them, and perhaps they would be happier elsewhere. After all, the internet is a big place, and people should spend their time where they will be the most happy.
 
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Kids that join BFC now must act like adults, period

Adults that act like kids deal with Mods, period

BFC is fine, we do not need a kid sub group. Kids that come here do so to be part of a grown up knife community. Kids who love knives want to learn about knives, that is why they come here. Kids that want to interact with other kids to talk knives have Facebook to do that.

And Facebook is welcome to entertain all the juveniles it wants, not here, here is for grown up peoples...................................
 
Morrow said:
We could do a better job of policing the General forum and stomping on those who seem determined to be disruptive at every turn. This is however an adult-oriented site and younger knife enthusiasts (or potential enthusiasts) should spend a little more time getting a feel for the site before posting. This would certainly help to avoid to "garden hose" approach to questions we tend to get.
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FWIW, I think Morrow nailed it here. ----^
GD has pretty much gone feral since I started reading BF back in 2008. I for one would like to see less noise and more actual knife discussions.
 
evltcat said:
FWIW, I think Morrow nailed it here. ----^
GD has pretty much gone feral since I started reading BF back in 2008. I for one would like to see less noise and more actual knife discussions.
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We are doing this actually. A few supermods and myself agreed to sift through more post and start shutting down, prune, and warning as necessary. It always starts as a polite request. This is all much to the displeasure of a limited few that believe there is only one way to skin a cat. So far the former method works much better than a barrage of infractions and warnings.
 
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Danke42 said:
Maybe you can, but you are not the world.

Not every teenager is an idiot and not every adult is mature but by and large that's how it shakes out.

Most adults can tolerate some teens when they are preaching the gospel based their limited experience or complaining how unfair their parents are but catch the right one on wrong day and there will be hurt feelings all around.

And as noted before; this would not be a mandatory section to close off the youngins, new users would still see the same access as now. This would be a fence to keep the saltier folks at bay.
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No.

Firstly, "kids" cannot be shunted away for their "protection", yet at the same time be expected to learn and mature into adults. Yes, certain areas, like Whine and Cheese, aren't exactly wholesome fun for the family. But who are we kidding here? This is the internet. Have you read any comments on youtube? Been to 4chan or reddit? And then there's the obvious 500 pound gorilla in the room, porn. It exists, and they'll find it.

I'm not a parent, so I really have no right to speak on raising kids, but from my perspective, it's pointless to try to "protect" them from adult content, whatever that means. They'll find a way. A 13-17 year old boy is more intelligent, imaginative, creative, determined, and devious than anyone else alive. Doubt those words? Think about your own youth. I think it's better to educate them rather than try to make them oblivious (when they're not, especially in this day and age of instant information - if only I had that kind of internet access when I was that young...).
't
 
RevDevil said:
We are doing this actually. A few supermods and myself agreed to sift through more post and start shutting down, prune, and warning as necessary. It always starts as a polite request. This is all much to the displeasure of a limited few that believe there is only one way to skin a cat. So far the former method works much better than a barrage of infractions and warnings.
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I see your point and I agree that it's usually better to start with the polite request and some constructive interaction if there is a problem instead of just goin' Cuisinart on them. Unfortunately there are some members that you just can't reach this way. They're either oblivious, or just don't care, and all they wanna do is disrupt everything anyone else wants to talk about. Those are the ones I'd like to see the warnings, infractions, and Ban Hammer hit hard and fast.

Thank you Rev, and the other supermods for sifting through, preserving conversations where you can, and shutting down what needs to go! :thumbup:
 
evltcat said:
I see your point and I agree that it's usually better to start with the polite request and some constructive interaction if there is a problem instead of just goin' Cuisinart on them. Unfortunately there are some members that you just can't reach this way. They're either oblivious, or just don't care, and all they wanna do is disrupt everything anyone else wants to talk about. Those are the ones I'd like to see the warnings, infractions, and Ban Hammer hit hard and fast.

Thank you Rev, and the other supermods for sifting through, preserving conversations where you can, and shutting down what needs to go! :thumbup:
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No problem, that is why we are here, that and I love knives as well. Just as in face to face interactions, being polite goes a long way, if that does not work then there are always alternatives. I don't like seeing a good discussion get derailed or trolled. Some humor and joking is fine by me, as I too enjoy joking around and lightening the mood as it were. What makes the process more efficient is for members to anonymously report posts or threads that are in need of review. This way we can act swiftly and recover any discussion before it sinks too far into the mud.
 
wolfmann601 said:
Kids that join BFC now must act like adults, period

Adults that act like kids deal with Mods, period

BFC is fine, we do not need a kid sub group. Kids that come here do so to be part of a grown up knife community. Kids who love knives want to learn about knives, that is why they come here. Kids that want to interact with other kids to talk knives have Facebook to do that.

And Facebook is welcome to entertain all the juveniles it wants, not here, here is for grown up peoples...................................
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^^^
Nailed it, Ira!

RevDevil said:
No problem, that is why we are here, that and I love knives as well. Just as in face to face interactions, being polite goes a long way, if that does not work then there are always alternatives. I don't like seeing a good discussion get derailed or trolled. Some humor and joking is fine by me, as I too enjoy joking around and lightening the mood as it were. What makes the process more efficient is for members to anonymously report posts or threads that are in need of review. This way we can act swiftly and recover any discussion before it sinks too far into the mud.
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Without you Mod's, RevDevil (and the selfless work you give to this forum), BladeForums, would be a disaster!
 
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