What causes the periodic ballyhoos... from a Yellowneck perspective

Matthew Gregory said:
By the way, what the hell is a Yellowneck?
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I'm a Japanese Redneck.... owned Chevy trucks most of my life, hunt deer, shoot guns, do a mean two step with a lady, love my grits, eggs and sausage all mixed together, drink sweet tea, worship Bear Bryant, ALABAMA Football games are a National Holiday, ROLLL TIDEEEE ROLLLLLL.... quit chewing tobacco a couple years ago... I'm a YELLOWNECK!!!!
 
Glad you're back Will.......chew is really hard to quit, almost have to start smoking or something.
 
To everyone that posted in this thread, and many who didn't, Thanks for keeping us real. Integrity is the backbone for those who strive to be the best they possibly can. Alot of people here really try to push us to be the best we can by encouragement, and that shows true integrity. To take time out of their busy schedules and look over the work done by others, and offer encouragement, That is what these forums are about...And thank you to all who continue to make this happen, I applaud you.
 
Will Leavitt said:
I'm a Japanese Redneck.... owned Chevy trucks most of my life, hunt deer, shoot guns, do a mean two step with a lady, love my grits, eggs and sausage all mixed together, drink sweet tea, worship Bear Bryant, ALABAMA Football games are a National Holiday, ROLLL TIDEEEE ROLLLLLL.... quit chewing tobacco a couple years ago... I'm a YELLOWNECK!!!!
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That's a hoot, Will. Reminds me of a comedian whose name I forget - if you didn't se him, you'd swear by his voice he was a Mississippi backwoods cracker, but he's second generation Korean immigrant.

To the topic itself: Honor is, in my opinion, a dying concept, or at least it's suffering from a protracted illness. I don't mean to say that honorable people don't exist, it's just that our society as a whole doesn't seem to laud or even value those who act honorably. As a previous poster said, "Nice guys finish last." And as long as we value what we "finish" with, the emphasis is on the outcome, and not on how we get there. As a result, society seems to extol the virtues of what one HAS rather than on how one ACTS. I think it says something that we have had TV programs like Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous, and not Lifestyles Of The Quiet And Humble.

I'm at a point in my life where what is in my brain when I close my eyes at night is so much more important to me than what's in my wallet on the nightstand. What I mean is this: I would rather be a poor GOOD man than a rich dishonorable man. Not everyone feels that way, but I happen to believe that there is a bigger *something* out there that I hold myself accountable to. Maybe it's God, maybe it's karma, maybe it's just the concept of Good vs. Evil...I don't know what to call it, but it makes me want to do the right thing, and I feel bad when I don't.

As to flame wars on the Internet, it's ubiquitous. Go to any forum and you'll see people saying and doing things they never would do or say to someone in person. It's the anonymity of being behind a keyboard that removes the filters that would normally make us behave with some semblance of decorum.

I have no fix for that. I just try to take everything I read with a grain of salt, and if I anger someone, I try to rectify that. Try :) No one is perfect.
 
Makermook said:
That's a hoot, Will. Reminds me of a comedian whose name I forget - if you didn't se him, you'd swear by his voice he was a Mississippi backwoods cracker, but he's second generation Korean immigrant.
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Probably Henry Cho.

That dude was funny.

What's that clickin noise?
 
Makermook said:
That's a hoot, Will. Reminds me of a comedian whose name I forget - if you didn't se him, you'd swear by his voice he was a Mississippi backwoods cracker, but he's second generation Korean immigrant.

To the topic itself: Honor is, in my opinion, a dying concept, or at least it's suffering from a protracted illness. I don't mean to say that honorable people don't exist, it's just that our society as a whole doesn't seem to laud or even value those who act honorably. As a previous poster said, "Nice guys finish last." And as long as we value what we "finish" with, the emphasis is on the outcome, and not on how we get there. As a result, society seems to extol the virtues of what one HAS rather than on how one ACTS. I think it says something that we have had TV programs like Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous, and not Lifestyles Of The Quiet And Humble.

I'm at a point in my life where what is in my brain when I close my eyes at night is so much more important to me than what's in my wallet on the nightstand. What I mean is this: I would rather be a poor GOOD man than a rich dishonorable man. Not everyone feels that way, but I happen to believe that there is a bigger *something* out there that I hold myself accountable to. Maybe it's God, maybe it's karma, maybe it's just the concept of Good vs. Evil...I don't know what to call it, but it makes me want to do the right thing, and I feel bad when I don't.

As to flame wars on the Internet, it's ubiquitous. Go to any forum and you'll see people saying and doing things they never would do or say to someone in person. It's the anonymity of being behind a keyboard that removes the filters that would normally make us behave with some semblance of decorum.

I have no fix for that. I just try to take everything I read with a grain of salt, and if I anger someone, I try to rectify that. Try :) No one is perfect.
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Ain't nuten wrong wit Mississippi backwoods crackers
 
Yeah... I'm a cracker... Ritz cause they're buttery and kinda yellow :)

Most likely Henry Cho, he's from Tennessee and is married to a lady from Arab, Alabama.

Chew.... errrrrrr I have a pack a day smoking habit I'm breaking now. On the other hand I chewed tobacco from 8 to 38 years old.
 
I guess I have missed most of the drama that is being referred to here, can't say that I'm sorry about it. I come here for knowledge, support and because it allows me to connect to others through this craft, which is otherwise a pretty lonely pursuit (or has been for me). The knifemaking community here has many good people who can and have made many good things happen. That there is also drama is probably unaviodable, but it's not what I came here for and not what I plan to take with me when I sign off this morning. Its a forum, I say read what you like, say what you feel, and leave anything that dosen't appeal. Think of it as grocery shopping. If that product really offends you or grosses you out, then why would you put it in your cart and take it home with you? Leave the crappy stuff sitting on the shelf and we won't have to smell it as much.
 
Justin King said:
That there is also drama is probably unaviodable...
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That's not entirely true. There are plenty of places on the web where drama is strictly verboten and will get you booted, and your posts deleted quick as a wink. It's entirely up to the folks who run the forum/chat room/news board or whatever.

EDIT: it's sort of like the example of which letters to the editor get published; there's plenty of responsibility to go around. I don't think it's enough to just say "well, there are lots of ignorant, angry, confrontational people in the world and it's our duty to just ignore them."
 
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james terrio said:
That's not entirely true. There are plenty of places on the web where drama is strictly verboten and will get you booted, and your posts deleted quick as a wink. It's entirely up to the folks who run the forum/chat room/news board or whatever.

EDIT: it's sort of like the example of which letters to the editor get published; there's plenty of responsibility to go around. I don't think it's enough to just say "well, there are lots of ignorant, angry, confrontational people in the world and it's our duty to just ignore them."
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I get your point, James, but I actually prefer some dissention to a gated-community/police state feel, which is where we get when the mods feel that they have to check our behavior as if we were elementary school children. I prefer to pick and choose which posts to read, take to heart, or reply to, than have the mods pick through them first and decide which ones are appropriate for me to read or respond to.
I am not implying that we should all ignore trolls and other folks who breed dissent on the forums, but I am learning not to give them control over my feelings, and not to get emotionally invested if I do respond to them. I think it is important to recognise whether you are throwing water on the fire, or just more fuel.
 
Justin King said:
I think it is important to recognise whether you are throwing water on the fire, or just more fuel.
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A skill set I have yet to get a firm hold on !

I hate forums where everything is moderated,
We are people, we fight, bicker, and discuss.
Human nature.
 
Well, I guess it depends on how you define "drama". Certainly a ladies' afternoon tea with everyone holding their pinkies out and pretending to be nicey-nice wouldn't be much fun either! (not that I've ever been to one... and there's a reason for that, too ;))
 
james terrio said:
Well, I guess it depends on how you define "drama". Certainly a ladies' afternoon tea with everyone holding their pinkies out and pretending to be nicey-nice wouldn't be much fun either! (not that I've ever been to one... and there's a reason for that, too ;))
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The ladies would be in shock if you hung your "pinkie" out while having tea.:eek:
 
I suppose it was inevitable that this came down to a "free speech" discussion. Americans simply can't avoid that. In other forums I've participated in (and moderated), people have asserted that the constitution gives them the unalienable right to say whatever they want to say, whenever and wherever they want to say it. I'll probably start a war by saying it, but that just is NOT true.

I realize that many folks like having the choice of seeing the vittriol (and other entertaining diversions) that such a wild west approach provides. I also realize there are people who are totally put off by that sort of dialogue. At some level the moderators and administrators have to decide what the right level of freedom of speech is for this forum. Trust me when I say from experience, there is no level they can choose that will please everyone.

So while you might prefer either the "gated community" or the "wild west", most forums are somewhere between the extremes. A balance is struck that enables the forum to satisfy as many folks as possible, while still achieving certain business goals.
 
Yep, stand on the street, you are free to say what you want.
Come to my house, live by my rules.

This is Sparks house, and we live by his rules.
 
Will Leavitt said:
Kevin,
I'm honored that you spent your valued time to craft such a thorough answer to my poor attempts at trying to get everyone to calm down and understand what's happening and what will happen to this forum. Most people on this forum do not have enough time on BF to understand the loss of knowledge that departed in the aftermath of our arguments...
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That is because I have been around long enough to see it happen and your input was much more concise than my meandering attempts at articulating a dozen different frustrations in a way that will not merely foment more trouble.

Matthew Gregory said:
...Nice guys don't finish last, Kevin. That's just our way of justifying our position to ourselves. It hurts to say it, but I'll finish last because I'm a loser in the eyes of the majority - that same majority I've done everything in my life to distance myself from, anyway...
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It is familiar saying so I used it as is, perhaps it would be more accurate to say- the jerks in this world are too often rewarded. Sorry Matt I have seen the ugly inside of this business, and others, for too many years for you to convince me otherwise. I have seen too many gentle, honorable souls with real talent and integrity trampled on by crowds running to adore obnoxious jerks who know no behavior or lie is too outrageous for those masses not to gobble it up. I may very well be in last place, but I certainly don’t paint myself as a good guy, that is for others to decide. My position could very well be due to my own shortcomings but I feel no need to justify either way, I do however feel that a guy who is pulling ahead by leaving footprints on the backs of others could use a little more integrity. But they don’t need it as long as the crowd is so busy cheering that guy that they don’t even notice, or care, that they tripped, pushed and took back alley shortcuts around the real runners to get there.

Failing to recognize the above would be a pair of glasses with a much deeper rose tint than believing there was a once a utopian like forum. There was no golden age here, but there was a time when you could just freely share your thoughts with a friendly and respectful community, instead of pausing over the “enter” button, wondering why you are subjecting yourself to the inevitable grief.

What is my excuse then? Perhaps my fragile little ego requires validation from positive feedback from others who I try to help and I am just too stupid to know when to quit when I can no longer be of help. Since part of what I have been saying is looking to ourselves, I can own up to some of my own shortcomings. I must admit that I probably have been here too long, as I have spent so many years fending off attacks I didn’t see coming that I have become too defensive to let the small stuff roll off my back. The guys who were smart enough to just move on before it got to that point probably did us all, and themselves, a favor
 
trypper and Fellhoelter are both right. And that's my point, re: who edits the newspaper? If the recent monkey fiasco had taken place in the room I used to run, he'd have been out on his ear in a heartbeat; here he was allowed an extremely long leash with which to hang himself. That's fine, but it doesn't mean I'm always going to sit and chew on my tongue when people are throwing mud around, either. Whether that's "troll-feeding" is in the eye of the beholder.

I've been accused of being a classless troll (and far worse) myself, simply for asking for straight answers to honest questions... again, I guess that depends on who you ask and what they have to hide.
 
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