Opinion: Is it poor taste for a production knife company to post in General Knife Discussion??

My gripe is moderated manufacturer forums that have zero interaction other than advertising. I like when a company uses the forum to solve problems. There is one forum in particular that I never see anything but moderated promotions.
 
So long as they have a manufacturers sub-form, I don't have a problem with them posting in General, or any other relevant sub-form, especially if the post is in relation to one of their products, started by someone else.
Posting in General or anywhere other than their sub-form to announce a new model or something would not be cool, just like a supporting dealer posting in General, Traditionals, Bali and Autos, etc. they are having a sale isn't cool. Fortunately, I have not noticed much, if any of that.

As for the "Market Research" threads, I ignore them. Just because they are there does not mean you have to open or read them.
The worse of those are the non-paying members talking out their arse about starting to make knives and "what _____ do you want?" and "what do you think of my design?" For some reason they seem to go away when their thread is closed or they get too many negative replies.
 
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I’ll go ahead and say i dont like them, as it comes off as fraud to me.


Overall, as long as people keep responding to their threads, I guess its fine. If people enjoy it then who am i to say they shouldnt have that opportunity.

Theres more to be said but i wouldnt want to offend anyone.
 
Just adding to a discussion is fine in the general forum, that is being part of the community on this forum, but when they start promoting themselves, even in a subtle way, watch out. Such discussion should be kept in their sub forum, where they can discuss their philosophies of product designs and function.
 
One thing that I think worth mentioning (might have missed someone else already mentioning it) This forum in particular and forums in general don't have the same "format language" of other, faster moving social medial platforms. So if someone takes an instagram/facebook approach, its going to feel very out of place. We've had that happen with normal folks, not dealer/rep/mfg. which is why most people learn to not just hit an emoji as a whole post. In the case of Kizer, given time I think that whoever is running their social media side of things will find their vibe. Nothing wrong with someone getting a chance to learn.

As for telling anyone where they can or cannot post, I think its already pretty clear. The "cultural pressure" and the mods will let people know where their voices are welcome and where they are not. For those who have only been here for a few years, there are several makers/dealers that have had a troublesome past here. But they make their choices, and the forum makes its. Like it or not, some just didn't have the time or crayons to deal with the hate they got here, and some possibly get a bit more leeway as a professional courtesy. Its always worth remembering that there is a human behind that screen name, and for every "anonymous brand rep" (of which there are actually very few) there are guys like Sal and Ethan who spend time here to assist the community. If something gets to a point where it really needs to be dealt with, Spark can pretty much pick up the phone and sort it out that way. Its not like he's restricted to PMing someone.
 
I think it's in poor taste to make a thread like this in the first place. They pay to be here, just like us, and the threads recently havent been about their knives alone, instead they have fostered discussion about other knives too. OP seems to just continue to be rude about this issue.
 
glockfire said:
I think it's in poor taste to make a thread like this in the first place. They pay to be here, just like us, and the threads recently havent been about their knives alone, instead they have fostered discussion about other knives too. OP seems to just continue to be rude about this issue.
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Sharp & Fiery said:
From the gerber thread...
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Just a little clarification about the “they pay good money to be here” comments.
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You may want to get your facts straight before you post some untrue comments. Both about “paying” and about me being rude.
I have been respectful in this thread I believe.

Thank you for an opinion that didnt help anything. Yes, that is sarcastic, and deserved.
 
Sharp & Fiery said:
You may want to get your facts straight before you post some untrue comments. Both about “paying” and about me being rude.
I have been respectful in this thread I believe.

Thank you for an opinion that didnt help anything. Yes, that is sarcastic, and deserved.
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Yet again, you are rude. We know you are directing this thread at one company that you've already been vocal about. Then you make a thread in general KNIFE discussion about your FORUM woes to vaguely complain about them. That's rude.

ETA I have no intention to further this childish discussion. I've said my piece in reply to your query.
 
As its been pointed out before, manufacturers do not pay to be here. They are only required to provide a moderator for their forum.

I don’t think its a big deal, starting threads and asking questions as long as it doesn’t become blatent advertising only. I trust the moderators to know which is which and to deal with it properly. If you see something sketchy, report it.

Besides, if they raise interest in their brand and people are encouraged to buy, most I think will visit their favorite dealer to do so rather than buy direct, so in that respect it is generating sales for the paying dealers here. That sounds like a good thing.
 
glockfire said:
Yet again, you are rude. We know you are directing this thread at one company that you've already been vocal about. Then you make a thread in general KNIFE discussion about your FORUM woes to vaguely complain about them. That's rude.

ETA I have no intention to further this childish discussion. I've said my piece in reply to your query.
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First time rude in this thread...and with good cause. You attacked me personally. Please quote posts in this thread where I was rude.

This is meant for opinions. Freedom of the press, as so many posters here have pointed out.
 
My opinion is that not so surprisingly every thread about "chinese knives" gets overheated quickly. I mean, if this was not about Kizer... Not much heat expected if Ethan Becker, or Buck or even Ernest Emerson (he's done it, by the way) would pull such a move. If it is non insisting (like a passing on nudge & fun), I couldn't possibly take issue with it. But what Kizer does here looks like skirting somehow the rules to broaden out into GKD because their own Subforum doesn't pay off as much as they expected. Strictly personal opinion. And I didn't get rude, as much as I ken, of course.
 
herisson said:
My opinion is that not so surprisingly every thread about "chinese knives" gets overheated quickly. I mean, if this was not about Kizer... Not much heat expected if Ethan Becker, or Buck or even Ernest Emerson (he's done it, by the way) would pull such a move. If it is non insisting (like a passing on nudge & fun), I couldn't possibly take issue with it. But what Kizer does here looks like skirting somehow the rules to broaden out into GKD because their own Subforum doesn't pay off as much as they expected. Strictly personal opinion. And I didn't get rude, as much as I ken, of course.
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Not so.

The Emerson threads get almost nothing but flack. Especially so because they rarely, if ever, include knife content.
 
herisson said:
My opinion is that not so surprisingly every thread about "chinese knives" gets overheated quickly. I mean, if this was not about Kizer... Not much heat expected if Ethan Becker, or Buck or even Ernest Emerson (he's done it, by the way) would pull such a move. If it is non insisting (like a passing on nudge & fun), I couldn't possibly take issue with it. But what Kizer does here looks like skirting somehow the rules to broaden out into GKD because their own Subforum doesn't pay off as much as they expected. Strictly personal opinion. And I didn't get rude, as much as I ken, of course.
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I don't think this is about Point of Origin at all. I think EE actually had some threads/posts edited or deleted. This is a valid question to ask and apparently some members took notice of threads or posts that I had missed. The end result is that Moderators HAVE removed and/or edited content posted by Kizer.

No big deal. I agree that the Kizer rep may be more used to the flow of conversation that happens in a FB group or an Instagram page. This old school forum works a little differently. You have to give more thought to a written word response and can't just emoji the joint up. There's little tolerance for what might be perceived as spam. Likewise, a manufacturer rep has a greater burden to avoid the appearance of advertising, especially when they have a sub forum for that type of activity.

I'm willing to give any manufacturer a chance to post in GKD and join in the chat. Hopefully Kizer has noticed this thread, makes an adjustment and continues to share knife stuff with us.
 
glockfire said:
Yet again, you are rude. We know you are directing this thread at one company that you've already been vocal about. Then you make a thread in general KNIFE discussion about your FORUM woes to vaguely complain about them. That's rude.

ETA I have no intention to further this childish discussion. I've said my piece in reply to your query.
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That's all well and good but in the end you were wrong here, glossing over that fact and are now getting in a personal argument.

Kizer doesn't pay to be here and paying members and dealers/makers do. I pay to not see ads and for the right to sell (plus pms and to support this community). Kizer's threads contained ads against the rules. Dealers aren't allowed to post ads outside of the designated sections, nor are makers/service providers. Kizer can make discussion threads without ads, no problem. Kizer can make threads with ads in their sub, no problem. There are rules here and Kizer wasn't following them. I will agree that this thread doesn't really belong in GKD, more appropriate for GB&U but there is a reason why people post things in GKD: to get more eyeballs. I don't think this thread is rude. It's factual and pertinent.

I've said it before above, would folks be okay with every manufacturer posting threads like these in GKD? Think about it, every week, every manufacturer posting a thread asking a rather general knife question (Kizer's first thread was"Why do you like knives") with some thinly veiled self promotion. That would get tired awfully quick and seriously detract from actual knife content and questions.
 
glockfire said:
Yet again, you are rude. We know you are directing this thread at one company that you've already been vocal about. Then you make a thread in general KNIFE discussion about your FORUM woes to vaguely complain about them. That's rude.

ETA I have no intention to further this childish discussion. I've said my piece in reply to your query.
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Listen, a guy who has 223 posts in the like, 12 years he's been a member here can maybe take it down a notch. S&F has respectively shared his personal perspective, and here you are essentially saying he shouldn't be allowed to do it. The only thing in poor taste is your commentary.
 
I want to be very clear...I do not have anything against Kizer. Was this thread started because of kizer’s activity in GKD? Yes. I know the rules here at BF. If I wanted to “attack” Kizer, I would have posted in GBU. But that is not my intentions. The Kizer thread got me thinking...what if every company posted a thread everyday in GKD?
This is what prompted my opinions thread. Hence why no Brand was named by me.

I have zero problems with Brands answering threads posted in GKD. My opinion is that Brands shouldnt start “self-serving” threads in GKD.

Thank you to everyone who posted their opinions as well. Some of those posts got me thinking, and I respect all opinions, save one.

ETA: Yes, I did post a question and made a statement in one of the Kizer threads. They handled it pleasantly, and to my satisfaction, and I bowed out of that thread without making a stink. Respectfully.
 
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