What's happend to the civility at BladeForums?

I completely understand what you are saying. Unfortunatley not everyone is going to hold to the idea that we should be "respectful" of each other, I think some of this has to do with age, and much of it the human condition (pride, selfishness, ect.) Not much different than the real world. If someone wants to "bash", cause problems, if you can, walk away (so to speak). No matter what you say, right, or wrong some people just enjoy trouble. As irritating that it may be, try to ignore them.

Despite the people who enjoy trouble we do have many that are very helpful, and respectful. I was on the forum about 1 1/2 ago or so (wasnt on for a long time and completely forgot my forum name, ect, had to start over) and except for many new people conditions havent changed all that much. with more members though the dynamics are going to change more. I do understand your frustrations though (comp-letely).
 
I have noticed a decline in hospitality. Things used to be more family like. That decline is of course due to the larger number of members. I read some good advise when I first came to BFC that went something like this: "Think about what you want to say, then type. There is no prize for the most amount of posts."
That advice is just as relevent now as it was in November 1998.

Regards,
Doug
 
Originally posted by armlessbandit
well honestly, i havent seen anyone flaming, can ytou give me an example? ( what happened in the wtc forum)
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To be honest, I didn't really take really bad "hits" on the WTC thread so much as people mis-quoting my posts and taking them out of context. Although I did feel some "heat" from RV. But nothing I would take personally or hold a grudge for.

However, I was perusing the "Sebenza" thread which was of the nature of "What's so good about Sebenzas?" To me that's a fair and legitimate question.

Some of the replies towards people were downright rude. They were in the vain of (just paraphrased):

- "You don't know what you're talking about. The more I read your comments (directed at some other guy), the more I think you don't know what you're talking about..."

Another person replying was taking digs at another and telling them in a condescending manner to go get a better job so they can afford a Sebenza.

The worst part was that one of the guys getting flamed was a poor newbie with only 15 posts to his credit and probably asking what seemed like a sincere question.

Like I said, maybe I'm being too sensitive and, as someone said, it's just a consequence of the growth of BladeForums. When you get a lot of people -- with different opinions, beliefs, age levels, etc. -- talking about a subject they have passion for, there's going to be some emotion about it I guess...At least it NEVER gets boring around here!

FTC

P.S. Yikes, I forgot to include The General (and probably a whole bunch of others) when I acknowledged my teachers at this forum.
 
Posted by Full Tang Clan:

What's happend to the civility at BladeForums?
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Your question above is very very subjective and too generalized. Especially considering that you were talking about a specific thread. . ."What's so good about Sebenzas?"

A single "not nice" post or a few "not nice" posts within a single thread (or several threads) doesn't adequately paint the feelings nor sentiment of all the forumites.

And there is a huge difference, on how something is perceived, between spoken words Vs. written words. Without voice inflections and physical gestures. . .it's very hard to tell when someone is trying to be funny or serious. We have to rely on "smilies" and those don't always convey the true meaning of writtin dialogue.
 
From a newbie with something like 12? posts under my belt I feel its not my place to say much. I signed up to Bladeforums after lurking for awhile cos its a good place to learn about knives and related stuff and generally people seem really helpful and informative. You do come across some threads which seem to of gone a bit hay-wire. No offence to anyone who posted but the thread about knives and pitbulls on the PT forum is a recent one that seemed to get pretty nasty very quickly. You just dont read them anymore as I'm interested in knives and stuff not insults. Maybe a new forum where the sole subject would be slagging off your least favourite forumites is the answer.
 
Posted by donn:

Maybe a new forum where the sole subject would be slagging off your least favourite forumites is the answer.
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It already exists. . .it's called Whine and Cheese and is located in the Community Forum.
 
Originally posted by Full Tang Clan
T

Another person replying was taking digs at another and telling them in a condescending manner to go get a better job so they can afford a Sebenza.
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Guilty as charged. :( I'll need to stop having that third glass of wine while doing some late night forum perusals .... although what ticked me off was the idea that every once in a while, someone takes first blood and challenges the Sabenza community knowing full well the controvery that is sure to erupt. Architect said it best when he took the time to list historical (hysterical?) threads all about the same stuff ...
 
I don't see it as a lack of civility more as simple inconsideration. The world is full of it and BF is no different.
For example,,if you list a knife "for sale" and then don't regularly monitor for responses or questions,,that's inconsiderate. That knife may be what someone else is dreaming of and they've parked their self in front of their computer waiting for those magical words "you've got mail".
Taking the time to think about the other guy when you're making a decision, whether you're in your car or on the net, will go a long way towards improving everyones attitude. :)


Phillip
 
I see nothing wrong with calling someone on clear lies or bad info that is just wrong. If anyone thinks this is rude witch some do, I think these forums will become just another junck site. Many will not call someone on bad info because of the slak they have taken or seen others take. These forums are full of great info with people who know more about knives than I or many of us ever will. I sure would like to see it stay a great place to learn. Sometimes it is hard to tell the good info from the bad, but at times I do call someone on info I know is clearly wrong. I see nothing wrong with that and at times I can be rude but I am rude in person aswell.
 
Originally posted by Boink
Guilty as charged. :( I'll need to stop having that third glass of wine while doing some late night forum perusals ....
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Hey Boink,

Sorry I wasn't trying to single you out. But it takes both class and guts to stand up and say, "I did that." You're alright in my books! :)

FTC

BTW, yeah I can see it can get emotional when you feel passion for your hobby. No one better ever put down the Spyderco Native in front of me or it's all out war! ;)
 
db, there is nothing wrong with telling someone that you think they are wrong in something they have posted, but it doesn't have to be done in a rude or belligerent way. Just because you are that way in your everyday life doesn't make it any more acceptable.
 
Back in 1998 this place was on fire. New ideas, discussion, friendships being made and cliques were being formed.

From about 1999 to 2001 this was the PLACE TO BE, at least from the tatical standpoint, as I think Bladeforums had the best Tac forums online. We had a lot of people who could seriously contribute to a fourmuite's knoledge about the usage of edged weapons, firearms, tatics and the like.

Sure, in that time we had trolls like chariot who tried to play Don Rearic and got himself crushed like a beer can, another one was Old Knife Guy who pissed off James Keating so much that he just gave up and left(which, i might add was a grevious loss),and bladewiz, the guy who coppied all the JSP knives and the v-gar.

Of course, who could forget TTO, who brought a lot of the forum's feelings toward trolls to a head, and who really lanced that blister to let all out our feelings on that subject.

I believe it has gotten uncivil here due to the familiarity of the posters here, the troll population which varies up and down, and the conflicts of personalities. Plus their is a lot of hostility reguarding USN and SDF.

I think after the troll wars and the leaving of some long standing people on the forum in late 2001-early 2002 BFC, for better or worse is a different place than it was in 1998.

And dam it, I miss the old days of 1999 on the fourms.
 
Have you kissed a newbie today? When's the last time you welcomed a new member to Bladeforums? it's not a big deal, it may even sound corny, but it doesn't hurt to start people off here with a welcome, and hope that tells them this can be a friendly place.

I find myself forgetting sometimes, but I try to answer the occasional newbie question, even if I'm not all that interested in the topic anymore. (I just swore off Sebenza threads tonight :D)

Personally, I think we went through a bad period a little while ago ... I drifted away just to get the insults out of my system. But if you do hit a thread that's getting rough, leave it. Leave it right away, because you aren't going to learn anything that's worth getting aggravated. It's like trolls ... we handle them pretty well now ... we laugh and ignore them -- right? (Please !! :rolleyes: )
 
Originally posted by Full Tang Clan


P.S. Yikes, I forgot to include The General (and probably a whole bunch of others) when I acknowledged my teachers at this forum.
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:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: Now you are in trouble!:D You learnt from me? Nope hope you you now!:p

Seriously though, when I first started at BF I was excited and eager to learn and express myself. I could not find it, but my Busse vs Taloniste was a class example of what not to do or say in public. Yes it was an honest question with good intentions, but it excited all the wrong people and my "in your face" questions upset a lot of nice people that became... Not nice people behind a keyboard. I still to this day stand by my intent, but understand that the way I went about it was crass, insensitive and with the finese of a drunk bull elephant trying to do the fandango in a tutu!:p

As was said here, some things cause trouble, my thread had Busse, Talonite, CLiff Stamp, (and knife testing in general)a lot of big knifemakers... It was a case of light the blue touch paper and watch the newbee get burnt... very unsporting but hey, knives are not my lively hood and a lot of people are defending an income. Hard to justify when Moderators pour fuel on a fire, but we are all human and I understand the rage and have forgotten the anger poured my way. I hope others have forgiven my ineptitude in expressing my sincere desires.

As Londo was told, "If you cannot say what you mean, how can you mean what you say?"
 
Keith,I try not to be belligerent, but I am direct and some believe that to be rude.
 
Originally posted by GigOne
It already exists. . .it's called Whine and Cheese and is located in the Community Forum.
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I read whine & cheese. It's a bit tame for the sort of forum I was thinking of :D
 
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