I agree with Joe, WIP threads are very educational for newer collectors. For example, I can explain to a collector what a frame handle is, however it's much more productive to direct them to a WIP showing one being constructed.
I assume the moving of the threads yesterday was the result of a complaint from someone who doesn't care for them. I really enjoy them myself and would bet many here do.
Having said that, as has been discussed here, the 'custom & handmade' forum over the last 12-18 months does seem to be changing a bit from a custom knife discussion forum to a place where knifemakers promote their knives. So even though I don't agree, I'm not surprised to see the moves yesterday.
We often see threads posted to the C&H forum that should go in the knifemaker's forum. For example the current thread 'Off Topic Knife Shows', where a knifemaker is asking what's required to sell knives at a knife show.
This sums some of it up. No disrespect or slight intended to anybody. But the Custom & Handmade forum does seem to be less about the discussion of the Genre "Custom & Handmade knives" by the regular "membership" as intended and has instead been taken over and turned into a place where knifemakers show off their work, works in progress and threads such as "look at my new shop", "check out my new website"....etc...etc....
The C&H forum is actually for the general membership to discuss knives and is not really intended as a forum for all of the above by knifemakers, while the forums that are actually intended for these subjects by knifemakers remain under/un-utilized:
1) Knife Maker's Gallery
A place for KnifeMaker members to show off their pieces.
2)Hammer & Tongs
Knifemaking Knowledge & Discovery. Share your works in progress, ask questions, and continue the traditions.
The purpose of having these subforums is organization. Organization helps the flow of information and knowledge by making said knowledge easier to find by those that seek it. By special interest people clogging up other forums with every little aspect of a myriad of subjects it creates confusion and fosters and "clique-ish" mentality that does not usually foster good will and promotion of that forum or the site in general. If clique-ish posters are not willing to make a few clicks of the mouse to go to another forum to see works-in-progress and other such things, then their knowledge is truly limited by their own accord.
All posters should be cognizant of the numerous forums and subforums and what they are there for. All posters should be placing their topics in the most appropriate subforums. Not posting just where they are most comfortable...or where they feel they will get more exposure or cater to a subforum specific group of posters.
What is the solution? I myself am not entirely sure, but the situation can be greatly helped by the members/posters being aware of the subforums designed for specific topics and using them as intended. Instead of acting in self interest, posters should think about what is good for the site and organization. Acting in deference to others as to what and where they post to be fair to everyone else. When moderators allow things for one set of people, they must allow for all.
If a myriad of knifemaker topics is what is wanted, perhaps the best solution would be that the Hammer & Tongs subforum be dissolved and the Custom & Handmade forum be removed from the general forums and installed in it's place.
Another part of the problem is that the site has Members: 237,005 with at present Active Members: 19,538 with at present 2 sometimes 3 supermods overseeing the site out of 8 supers and approximately 5 or 6 forum specific mods out of the many we have that actually participate in their forums or actually moderate them when they are here. Then we have moderators that do not or have not learned to properly use the control systems at their disposal, have not kept themselves up to date as to the rules or forums changes....Etc. This puts a strain on those that are actively participating and moderating, creates disorganization, confusion and overall and thru time a less enjoyable experience for mods and posters alike.
Still another part of the problem is that while some are willing to start a thread complaining after the fact, there are many posters unwilling to report offenses, improperly placed threads and a myriad of other things under the mantra that they don't want to "rat" or "be a tattletail".
This ideal does nothing to serve the community and is not communal thinking.....it is convict/inmate thought. Without people helping a community right wrongs, they are indeed, by their actions and thinking, fostering a community of unfair, untoward and even sometimes criminal behavior and are not acting in the best interests of the community as a whole.
I disagree that "It aint Broke", for it surely is broke when forums remain unused because certain groups of people act in self interest and promotion instead of whats good, right and fair to the site and it's members as a whole and when a tiny group of moderators are left to deal with such a large group of posters and having to deal with a myriad of offenses, real and perceived by both sides and with the sometimes aggressive and nasty responses they get from some.
Overall, I think we can and should make this site as good as we can, to make it as good as it can be. Hopefully thru honesty, civil discourse, a bit of understanding and acting in fairness to everyone we can do so.
