I thought the thread title was kind of catchy, it was also more than a little "tongue in cheek".
The discussion is good, don't you think?
Bottom line is with things in the knife business changing in the blink of an eye, adaptability is no longer a good quality to have, it is absolutely necessary at the leadership level.
I could become as involved as time allows, but if the body of leadership does not see a need to adapt and change, then my efforts would be wasted and there is only so much life that each of us are allotted.
Would like what time I have left to be used wisely and with concrete results.
Best Regards,
STeven Garsson
It is a good discussion. I agree that we all only have so much life. That is why I like to focus on doing rather than criticizing. A bladesmith and former Marine and English Professor, and now uber-successful businessman, Dave Stephens quotes Theodore Roosevelt as his sign-off to forum posts.
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly."
What I mean from this is, there are several talented people right here. If you want a change, make it.
I actually just joined the ABS because there is a wealth of talent and information present, and an air of sharing of information. I have only been around the knife community for about 8 years, and I learned from Fogg and J.D., also. Kevin Cashen taught me to forge, at Ashokan (you should all attend). They are all ABS members, too.
Karl Anderson has taught me a great deal in the past few months via internet, and my good friend Matthew Parkinson is testing for JS at Blade this year.
My point - I am too new to see the clouds of the past. I am not saying that they don't exist, because I have heard about them from Dan Mariagni and Don Fogg and others. BUT, there is a serious spirit of empiricism and sharing in the current crop of ABS folks. At least, there is in the ones I know.
Honestly, I do not know enough to comment on what the organization could have done to encourage or embrace collectors as well as smiths. Maybe you have a good point, there. It seems like it is to me, but I am new.
take care,
kc
