Watered-down W&SS

[Iboschi]

Well said on all counts Esav Benyamin!

 

[d_filgate]

Well, one of the reasons for stagnation is because you can't point people who are new to the search feature because they have to pay for that.
I don't begrudge BFC for charging for memberships with certain privs, etc., being able to sell stuff...but the signature line and search features, having to pay for them seems a bit much to me really.

When I went from Gold to Basic, I lost search capabilities.
Every other forum I'm on has search capabilities free.
So I go to them, and don't come on here very much anymore.
That way, if I have a stupid question, I can search it out on the other
forums, instead of looking like an tit on here and having somebody ragging
my butt for asking what they consider to be stupid questions.

My $.02

 

[banana-clip]

This is one of my favorite forums and I love all the gear pics, gear reviews, knife reveiws and outdoor pics.

I've learned a bunch of great info on here and I hope to share some of my knowledge when I can.

Some of the threads are comical too.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

When I went from Gold to Basic, I lost search capabilities.
Every other forum I'm on has search capabilities free.
So I go to them, and don't come on here very much anymore.
That way, if I have a stupid question, I can search it out on the other
forums, instead of looking like an tit on here and having somebody ragging
my butt for asking what they consider to be stupid questions.

My $.02

Please don't think I'm ragging on your butt for making what I consider to be a stupid comment but ... have you read this thread? At least three posts have told you how you can search very well on BF without a paid membership.

 

[dawsonbob]

Please don't think I'm ragging on your butt for making what I consider to be a stupid comment but ... have you read this thread? At least three posts have told you how you can search very well on BF without a paid membership.

And, if those weren't enough, Bushman5 just came up with a new search thingamajig. It searches not only here, but several like forums, too.

Esav, if you don't think this should be here, you can delete it.

Here's the url: http://www.google.com/cse/home?cx=008309328843264645198:5rembwpatuk

 

[d_filgate]

Please don't think I'm ragging on your butt for making what I consider to be a stupid comment but ... have you read this thread? At least three posts have told you how you can search very well on BF without a paid membership.

Point well made.
My apologies for that comment.

 

[Iboschi]

I have to say, the google+bladeforums search isn't that amazing. I can search for a thread (knowing right where that thread actually is and using a specific quote from that thread) using terms that ought to nail it right away and that google engine doesn't find it. Using regular google seems to give better results for whatever reason. The BF search seems like it would be incredible as people who have that feature can throw up great results when asked in no time.

 

[tholiver]

Why would you want to bump a thread that people aren't replying to I try hard to not bump up threads where the discussion has slowed or stopped

Well if someone does a really good tutorial on something its sad to see it get buried on the back pages because even though many people do read it they sometimes don't post a reply because they feel they have nothing to add. So this good thread goes unread by many members because it quickly gets buried/bumped by newer but not necessarily better threads.
Once a thread migrates below the first page it often gets forgotten. And as many people here are in a wide range of timezones the thread disappears before they are aware of it.
Really the ranking by reply system does not reward a thread based on its actual content. An informative thread can be bumped by a more controversial one simply because it encites more enflamed replies.
Look at the recent thread on whether dogs on the trail should be leashed or not leashed. That burned up the place and turned into a insult-fest.I'm sure there were quite a few threads that got bumped to the lower pages because of that threads "popularity".
All i'm saying is number of views should factor in some how to the ranking of a thread. But maybe this is something that can be worked out on the software end.
Or maybe we just need to bump stuff,lol.

 

[BlackHills]

I agree with the general sentiment that things haven't gone downhill here. I thought it was going that way a few months ago but that just may have been because there were more posts that didn't interest me.

However, I can understand the need to take a break. It's easy to feel like you're getting 'burnt out' and sometimes a little time away is what's needed to recharge.

 

[Bushman5]

lets drink!

 

[Don Rearic]

cant have reviews on gear without having the gear..........

also the anti gear primitive types need to realize that some of us use gear and that they (anti's) are not superior to us because they don't use gear. Cavemen had gear too.......so did your flint and steel "bushcraft" types hundreds of years ago.

just saying,.

You brought up a point that is very good. When I bring it up, it pisses people off. A few months ago in here, someone was bitching about "not being a slave to technology" and was talking about fire bow and drill which IS technology. This guy, I cannot remember his name, but he is not stupid and used to post wonderful responses but for some reason a little piece of logic made him get his ass up on his back big time.

If you could give a LMF Ferrocerium Rod and striker to a "caveman," do you think he would chunk it in the weeds or the drink or see THAT thing and carry it?

This is what I am talking about, the hobbyist versus other people. I would be lying if I said this was not my "hobby" but I'm not a hobbyist about it with hardcore sets of rules, regulations and whatnot governing my gear choices. I'm not dogmatic or religious about it. SOME ARE. If they read this, they will get pissed. It's not said to "troll," it's just an observation that I believe many will see as a fact.

 

[Don Rearic]

Please don't think I'm ragging on your butt for making what I consider to be a stupid comment but ... have you read this thread? At least three posts have told you how you can search very well on BF without a paid membership.

I have read the entire thread. Has that Google search function become better in the last 12 months or so? Not to be combative, but it was a POS that I left in the dust the last time I tried it.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

I use Google (and Yahoo) without a BF reference and I use them with site:Bladeforums.com which are easier for me than remembering or bookmarking the Google-search-on-BF. But any search is a matter of art to some extent. Developing a feel for how-to makes it all come together.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Well if someone does a really good tutorial on something its sad to see it get buried on the back pages because even though many people do read it they sometimes don't post a reply because they feel they have nothing to add. So this good thread goes unread by many members because it quickly gets buried/bumped by newer but not necessarily better threads.

This is a big forum problem. Sometimes people can't find their own threads because they haven't subscribed to them and one day away pushes them a couple pages down.

I wish there were a semi-sticky function where I could make a thread stay at the top of the first page for a week without actually sticking it.

Here's a perfect reason to use tags: mark a thread like this tutorial, fire (or traps or whatever).

Here's another possible way to get responses. Break up a long post or tutorial into several shorter posts or save some of the pictures for after a few responses to reignite interest. People will be more inclined to respond to a shorter post within a series than an encyclopedic exposition, I think.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

And, if those weren't enough, Bushman5 just came up with a new search thingamajig. It searches not only here, but several like forums, too.

Here's the url: http://www.google.com/cse/home?cx=008309328843264645198:5rembwpatuk

Good pointing that out.

 

[Mannlicher]

Gold Membership is what? $25 a year? We brag about blowing 6 times that on an extra knife. Geez

 

[kgd]

Here's another possible way to get responses. Break up a long post or tutorial into several shorter posts or save some of the pictures for after a few responses to reignite interest. People will be more inclined to respond to a shorter post within a series than an encyclopedic exposition, I think.

Yes, I think this is a good idea but requires inertia for it to take hold. For example, pitdog and I can have just one walk thread for a given week and just post pics to the same thread instead of starting 3 threads in a week. I'd be certainly willing to do that to keep thread traffic down!

I'm not sure where all the hard feelings on gadgets are coming from....Yeah there are lots of folks who love primitive and there are folks who love battery operated socks. There are the 'ultra-light' and the sumo-packers. Each group likes to taunt and tease the stereotypes of the other. As Esav says, its just beating the table not so much each other.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

I'm not sure where all the hard feelings on gadgets are coming from....Yeah there are lots of folks who love primitive and there are folks who love battery operated socks. There are the 'ultra-light' and the sumo-packers. Each group likes to taunt and tease the stereotypes of the other. As Esav says, its just beating the table not so much each other.

To me, these are artificial conflicts. For one person, or side, to post about their success and pleasure in reducing what they carry within the requirements of the seaaon and environment, is intelligent and interesting.

For those who prefer to pack extra toys and have no particular problem hauling it all around, fine. But don't rain on someone else's parade -- start a new thread about it and leave the ultra-lights to explore their interests in peace.

Some of the controversy is just kidding with each other, and that's great, but some people get seduced by the kidding and get overwrought for no good reason. Let's not do that.

 

[Chinpo]

Is there some way that we can group all the threads labeled "Review" together, so that they don't get lost? Some sort of review sticky?
Even with the search function, it proves difficult finding them a week or more after their first posting. These reviews, that people spent time, energy and (Sometimes) money on, seem to just get lost to the ages.
As for the tone of W&SS recently, it doesn't feel that different to me. There have always been very useful posts and there have always been "less" useful ones. That's the nature of forums. I still see a lot of great reviews and topics for discussion posted here.
The more experienced & knowledgeable posters need to lead the way and set an example for the newer members. Topics and reviews by these members would set the standard for newer members, who are perhaps not sure of what this sub forum is all about.

 

[LMT66]

Other than a few hot topic threads here and there, I don't feel things have gone downhill here lately. Every forum has up and down times, twists & turns, crash & burns, threads going off topic. View what appeals to you and makes your time here worthwhile. If something makes your BP rise or angers you, don't read the thread any further.

On a side note, don't take away things that aren't strictly skills related. I lurked here for a while before posting and the gear reviews and dayhike/ camping photo's kept me coming back and still do and I learn from other choice in gear. This is W&SS NOT W&Primitive Survival Skills although I enjoy both types of topics when posted. They both feed off each other to educate me more.
I have learned a great deal here by just lurking but am in no way confident enough to go out bare bones and live for a week without a lot of store bought items to sustain me. Others here are folks that could walk out the door with the clothes on their back, a knife and tin cup and probably be just fine for however long they are out.
If anyone feels one way or the other is not appropriate for this forum, it may be time for them to take a break.

It's the holiday season and many folks are couped up with family events or forced in from the recent sustained bad weather. The economy sucks and many here are out of work.
If your burned out, take a break but don't eliminate gear reviews, new knife photo's, whether it's a production knife or a custom knife maker, dayhike photos, knives stuck in trees photo's or bad fuzz stick and simple firesteel photo's. You may be left with about 8 guys here if you do.

If anything is to go, and go fast, it's the Dog's and Leashes & Kid shoots Bear on Porch type threads or any other topic that nothing good will come of. No offense to certain newer mods here on W&SS but interupting a mediocre thread and informing posters that it is going off topic while you let a Dog/ Leash or Kid shoots bear on porch thread go on 25 pages and raise everyones BP's makes no sense to me.
It's not hard to pick the ones worthy of locking up fast, out. They are few and far between but the damage they do lingers.