Thread: Darkside

I think on this Bulletin Board it originated from Driver and Derek in WA.

Perhaps Derek had a Darth Vader Avatar or Col (Driver) had a photo of something like Darth Vader.

I have also heard the term used outside this forum in other woodworking circles so it possibly wasn't invented here but certainly promoted.

Some woodworkers who are not hand tool users have indicated that you need powers from the other side to tune planes etc hence the reference to Dark Side.

Prior to that hand tool users were called Neanderthals on this Bulletin Board.

In general, it comes form the line "Use the Force Luke" by Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan was a Jedi Master from the Light Side of the Force, the opposite of the Dark Side.

It is term not entirely limited to this forum alone.
It fits in with other terms that refer to 'old ways' of doing things being the 'Black Arts'.

That didn't answer your main question... I don't really know who started using it on this forum to describe the hand tool operators

it sounds better than neathandral used on some us sites

Originally Posted by echnidna

it sounds better than neathandral used on some us sites

And wot's rong wid us neeandatuls??

its 2 harrd ter spell

I'm not sure of the original source of usage on this forum, however back in the distant past of the internet, before broadband and pretty web browsers there existed the rec.woodworking news group. Certain contributers to that news group with a power tool fetish were highly inflammable and enjoyed nothing more than insulting other members who were interested in the use of hand tools.

The terms Neanderthal and Galoot became common insults to hand tool community and were eventually adopted as badges of honor by the internet hand tool users. Becoming interested in hand tools was then commonly referred to as being seduced by the dark side, as Cliff says, pilfered from the Star Wars genre, which was rather much newer at the time )

The Neanderthals begat the moderated oldtools mailing list as a hand tool friendly hangout. I believe oldtools to be the source of several other terms I've seen used in these forums such as SWMBO.

An interesting time can be had googling galoot neanderthal and oldtools.

Just say, that feels like another life,
(With apologies to PL)

Originally Posted by Fuzzie

....other terms I've seen used in these forums such as SWMBO.....

That came from Rumpole of the Bailey.

Who in turn got it from the novel She

Rumpole used the term "She Who Must Be Obeyed", I hadn't seen it abbreviated to SWMBO elsewhere at that time. Within the group Rumpole was attributed as the originating source of the saying, interesting in itself when you consider the group membership was mainly American.

If you google SWMBO or SWMBOette, oldtools will most likely be your first hit.

Originally Posted by m2c1Iw

What was the origins of the term "Darkside"?

The question is prompted after watching Andrew Denton's interview with Jane Goodall in which she describes the interaction of chimpanzees as having Darkside and Noble qualities.

Thought it was because after a day in the shed using handtools your knuckles dragged on the floor ;-}

Welcome to the real Darkside

My accountant uses darkside whenever he is going to do something on the wrong side of legal...

Retraction:

I really should think before I type. Back in '99 I believe the term darkside was applied to the power tool using community by the enlightened hand tool using brotherhood.

Just goes to prove one shouldn't waste work time trolling forums ;-)

Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together.... -- Carl Zwanzig

There are always at least 2 sides to every story.

"May the force serve you well" Palpatine