Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith
ilmarinen - MODERATOR
Moderator
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2004
- Messages
- 38,508
Fellow Shop Talk Forumites:
As most know there has been a lot of discussion and suggestions about changes in Shop Talk. Some are good, and some are not possible withing the structures of Bladeforums. Thanks for all the input.
We are working on making some changes that will clean up and make Shop Talk a better forum for all of us.
Some changes aren't really changes. They will be stricter enforcement of the rules on posting. Others will be to group certain things in one place.
1) Conduct - I think no one wants a Nanny State in Shop Talk, but at times the mods have to step in and say, "Now Children...." What I will do when someone makes an unkind, argumentative, or totally unnecessary comment is delete the text and replace it with "MODERATED". That should be a sign to not repeat it. If you have a question about why it was done, send me an email or PM and we can discuss it.
2) Chit Chat - If you have a side question or comment that isn't really needed in a thread, send an email or PM to the person and keep the threads cleaner.
3) Profiles and Enablement - If you don't fill out your profile and don't enable email or PM, no one can contact you with a question or comment. No profile info may prevent a question from getting the best answer. If a problem arises in a post or thread from these members, as moderator, I will either make a post and lock the thread, or make a post and ask you PM/email me. I can always unlock a thread later if there wasn't really a problem.
4) Content - This is SHOP TALK. Read the forum description at the top of the page. If a thread isn't about these topics, it will get moved or locked. In rare occasions a few threads will be left up temporarily for the good of the forum, but those will be exceptions, not rules.
5) Videos and Links. - Shop Talk is for posting questions and answers and about things you do. I started a VIDEO and YOUTUBE LINKS sticky. Any knifemaking related videos can be posted there. Give a brief description and post the link. Try to keep comments down. No need for posting "Cool Video".
6) - Registered Users - I know a lot has been discussed in the past about why some folks stay registered users. For whatever reason, understand that a payed member area is for paid memberships. If you are a registered used, it wasn't made to keep you out. If you want access to post in those areas, it only costs $10 a year for a Basic Membership. If you choose not to become a Basic member, please just let it be, and not complain that you can't go there. If you can't let it go at that, send Spark a message in Tech Support, don't argue it here.
7) - New sub-forum. This is still being discussed and nothing is set up yet. If it gets started, we will all discuss how it should operate. Until then, thanks for all the suggestions, and the owners and operators of Bladeforums are considering it.
8) - Annoying people and posts. If someone annoys you, or a post annoys you, JUST DON'T REPLY....... It is that simple.
Hit the back arrow and read another thread. If someone always bothers you, use the "Ignore" function, and you never have to see their posts. Again, DON'T REPLY AND AN ARGUMENT OR HURT FEELINGS CAN'T HAPPEN.
9) Civility - We are all a bunch of different types here. Some are more genteel, and some are more rustic. Lets agree that we won't always see eye to eye, or say things in the same way. If someone makes a statement that is a bit wrong or mis-said, either politely mention it, "I think you meant ABC instead of XYZ...", or just let it pass. The moderators often take care of minor errors, anyway. Also, try and post/speak with some civility. A bad idea can be disputed without posting, " You are an idiot.....".
10) Let the Moderators Do Their Job - There is a moderator in Shop talk pretty much all the time, and a section called Tech Support for getting with the Super Mods. You can report any thread you have doubts about one of several ways. You don't need to reply/post in the thread. You don't need to reprimand a poster for their bad comments...the mods will do that ( especially if you report it).
A- Send me a PM/email and tell me what you saw. A link to the thread and a post # is helpful.
B- Report the post by clicking the triangle in the lower left of the bottom of each post. This will open the report window to the super mods.
C- If there is a bigger problem, or you think something was handled wrong, you can always make a post in Tech Support.
11) Posting Replies to Questions- We all love to post in Shop Talk. But, if a question is asked, the poster really wants someone who knows the answer from personal experience to answer it. If you have made a bowie, and the question is about a bowie...post away. But if all you know is what you read or saw online somewhere, let it pass. if no one answers in a couple of days, maybe then would be a better time to post. From new maker to old pro, we all have something we do well that is of value to the group. Let one of those people post when you aren't the one with the skill asked about.
12) Banning and Points - As all know, this isn't my style of moderation. But it has been pointed out that some take advantage of this and bend the rules. I will give points when necessary, and ban members by recommending banishment to the Super Mods. In most cases, I will always try to send a PM or email and talk it out first.....assuming you have enabled these
I still believe that most differences can be discussed/debated easier than being fought over.
Thanks to all the great folks in Shop Talk. I know you will occasionally hear that Shop talk sucks, and that it has a bad reputation, but that is 99% sour grapes from someone who has a beef . This is a great place, and can be even better if we all work at it as a team.
As most know there has been a lot of discussion and suggestions about changes in Shop Talk. Some are good, and some are not possible withing the structures of Bladeforums. Thanks for all the input.
We are working on making some changes that will clean up and make Shop Talk a better forum for all of us.
Some changes aren't really changes. They will be stricter enforcement of the rules on posting. Others will be to group certain things in one place.
1) Conduct - I think no one wants a Nanny State in Shop Talk, but at times the mods have to step in and say, "Now Children...." What I will do when someone makes an unkind, argumentative, or totally unnecessary comment is delete the text and replace it with "MODERATED". That should be a sign to not repeat it. If you have a question about why it was done, send me an email or PM and we can discuss it.
2) Chit Chat - If you have a side question or comment that isn't really needed in a thread, send an email or PM to the person and keep the threads cleaner.
3) Profiles and Enablement - If you don't fill out your profile and don't enable email or PM, no one can contact you with a question or comment. No profile info may prevent a question from getting the best answer. If a problem arises in a post or thread from these members, as moderator, I will either make a post and lock the thread, or make a post and ask you PM/email me. I can always unlock a thread later if there wasn't really a problem.
4) Content - This is SHOP TALK. Read the forum description at the top of the page. If a thread isn't about these topics, it will get moved or locked. In rare occasions a few threads will be left up temporarily for the good of the forum, but those will be exceptions, not rules.
5) Videos and Links. - Shop Talk is for posting questions and answers and about things you do. I started a VIDEO and YOUTUBE LINKS sticky. Any knifemaking related videos can be posted there. Give a brief description and post the link. Try to keep comments down. No need for posting "Cool Video".
6) - Registered Users - I know a lot has been discussed in the past about why some folks stay registered users. For whatever reason, understand that a payed member area is for paid memberships. If you are a registered used, it wasn't made to keep you out. If you want access to post in those areas, it only costs $10 a year for a Basic Membership. If you choose not to become a Basic member, please just let it be, and not complain that you can't go there. If you can't let it go at that, send Spark a message in Tech Support, don't argue it here.
7) - New sub-forum. This is still being discussed and nothing is set up yet. If it gets started, we will all discuss how it should operate. Until then, thanks for all the suggestions, and the owners and operators of Bladeforums are considering it.
8) - Annoying people and posts. If someone annoys you, or a post annoys you, JUST DON'T REPLY....... It is that simple.
Hit the back arrow and read another thread. If someone always bothers you, use the "Ignore" function, and you never have to see their posts. Again, DON'T REPLY AND AN ARGUMENT OR HURT FEELINGS CAN'T HAPPEN.
9) Civility - We are all a bunch of different types here. Some are more genteel, and some are more rustic. Lets agree that we won't always see eye to eye, or say things in the same way. If someone makes a statement that is a bit wrong or mis-said, either politely mention it, "I think you meant ABC instead of XYZ...", or just let it pass. The moderators often take care of minor errors, anyway. Also, try and post/speak with some civility. A bad idea can be disputed without posting, " You are an idiot.....".
10) Let the Moderators Do Their Job - There is a moderator in Shop talk pretty much all the time, and a section called Tech Support for getting with the Super Mods. You can report any thread you have doubts about one of several ways. You don't need to reply/post in the thread. You don't need to reprimand a poster for their bad comments...the mods will do that ( especially if you report it).
A- Send me a PM/email and tell me what you saw. A link to the thread and a post # is helpful.
B- Report the post by clicking the triangle in the lower left of the bottom of each post. This will open the report window to the super mods.
C- If there is a bigger problem, or you think something was handled wrong, you can always make a post in Tech Support.
11) Posting Replies to Questions- We all love to post in Shop Talk. But, if a question is asked, the poster really wants someone who knows the answer from personal experience to answer it. If you have made a bowie, and the question is about a bowie...post away. But if all you know is what you read or saw online somewhere, let it pass. if no one answers in a couple of days, maybe then would be a better time to post. From new maker to old pro, we all have something we do well that is of value to the group. Let one of those people post when you aren't the one with the skill asked about.
12) Banning and Points - As all know, this isn't my style of moderation. But it has been pointed out that some take advantage of this and bend the rules. I will give points when necessary, and ban members by recommending banishment to the Super Mods. In most cases, I will always try to send a PM or email and talk it out first.....assuming you have enabled these
I still believe that most differences can be discussed/debated easier than being fought over.Thanks to all the great folks in Shop Talk. I know you will occasionally hear that Shop talk sucks, and that it has a bad reputation, but that is 99% sour grapes from someone who has a beef . This is a great place, and can be even better if we all work at it as a team.
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