I don't think forums are irrelevant. However, the relevance of BladeForums has slipped. Too many good knifemakers have been made to feel they are not welcome here in Shop Talk. The result is a smaller knowledge pool which attracts fewer knifemakers.
The primary focus of Custom & Handmade Knives subforum is forged knives and classic (Loveless) collectables. Knifemakers who do not work in these categories are ignored and go away.
These are two examples of why BladeForums is less significant than it used to be.
Here in Shop Talk there have been many discussions regarding marketing, pricing, financial success, etc. This last weekend there was a knife show in Las Vegas. Many successful knifemakers were there. The prices were amazing. Two examples of successful knife sales are a folder sold for $29,000. Another folder sold for $9,000. There are many other examples of knifemakers having excellent sales. None of the knifemakers post here.
I think forums should actively recruit successful knifemakers to post on the forums. If successful knifemakers actively post, other knifemakers and collectors will be attracted. There is much knowledge that could be gained. A knifemaker who sells a knife for $29,000 knows what they are doing. Why not ask them to participate?
The alternative is to keep this place the way it is and continue to have the same success.
Chuck
Irrelevant.... No
Slipping .....No
I think James touched on a few good reasons why older established high dollar knifemakers don't post. Their busy focusing on their business and have little time for foruming, they don't need to advertise because in many instances, they are backlogged with orders.
Some may only choose to post where they themselves can control the content and swiftly delete negative input. In a forum such as shop talk, they can't do that and anyone talking BS, being manipulative or any of a myriad of poor behaviors is quickly called out.
I don't believe that anyone has been made to feel unwelcome here. The instances that I have seen have largely been the result of that persons own actions in, again, a myriad of poor behaviors. The forum doesn't ask much....be friendly and polite, follow the rules as posted. Pay for a membership if you wish to advertise. It is unfortunate that some knifemakers feel that their information and presence absolves them of the very things in place on these forums to keep them fair and peaceful. If only some knew just how many noted knifemakers have told me that their knowledge is of such caliber that Bladeforums should actually be paying them to participate!
I believe Stacy has done a quite admirable job in a forum and field with sometimes controversial topics and personalities. He's a pretty understanding, fair and smart fellow, who if anything if more lenient than he needs to be. If anyone is made to feel unwelcome by him, again it is largely a matter of their own doing.
As for the Custom & Handmade subforum. It is a funny animal, long frequented by a clique of posters/customers with a small area of interest. These posters seldom post outside of that forum. All knifemakers are welcome to post there and they need to bear my previous sentence in mind.
The way to change the dynamics of that subforum or even this one is participation. By their numbers alone, if knifemakers wanted that forum to be what it could and should be, their participation is necessary despite what a clique of resident posters with narrow interest may say... or not say.
As for reqruiting? I don't believe that is going to happen by Bladeforums. You either want to participate or you don't. You either want to properly participate or you don't. The Owner doesn't wish to reqruit and staff here is largely tied up in the day to day running of the forums with little spare time. Just as customers actively encourage manufacturers to participate, as knifemakers it is up to you to encourage your peers or those you admire to do so.
As I've stated many times previously. A forum is what it is, and is largely a product of what those that frequent and participate in it make of it.
