Ideas for the forum?

[fletty]

I was looking at a few older posts and even recent ones and I came to the nasty realisation that there seems to be a deep undercurrent of agro on the forum.

A basic lack of civility.

Woodworking should be a sport of serenity and joy. A joie de vivre. Group sharing, knowledge passing and wisdom, all driven by the simple desire to make a bit of wood bend to ones will. To add beauty and art to the world.

Maybe it's me!

As I rush (slowly) towards my second attempt at retirement I have been reminded and bought back to Earth by the words of my family warning me of the social peril of Old Man's Disease ...more commonly known as 'grumpy old man'. Until this very post, I have steadfastly avoided 'grumpy old man' politics, I am ashamed to say that I have watched 2 fabulous contributors leave the forum because of anonymous and unrepresentative comments made by others and the forum has been much the poorer for it. I have heard all sorts of conspiracy theories, mutterings about some undefined 'they' who are taking over the club/woodshow/forum/World and I now recognise that it is a sad, but not unavoidable fact of life, that some grumpy old men will take advantage of the anonymity of a forum to express their inner 'grump' and usually with the "lack of civility" noted by Evanism.
I sincerely hope that I will not succumb because our hobby should be one of joy and, if I do succumb, it expect YOU my woodworking brothers and sisters to (hopefully) gently pull me back into line!
i would also like to take this opportunity to thank Neil, Ubeaut, sponsors, advertisers, moderators, contributors and lurkers for making this World and hobby a better place!
I will now order one of the foil lined forum caps to stop THE GRUMPYNESS from seeping in!
fletty

[Sawdust Maker]

...
I will now order one of the foil lined forum caps to stop THE GRUMPYNESS from seeping in!
fletty

business opportunity

anti-grumpy foil lined caps in forum colours

[Evanism]

Be calm. Sent a few ideas off to Neil, but they were all considered previously.

I've dug deeper and there are 3 more, perhaps 4. At least one should stick.

[Euge]

That's Evanism, for I know not who this "Evan" is

I received a couple of emails from Mr Ubeaut and he asked me to outline them. I wrote up a fairly comprehensive description for 4 of them. I have 3 more.

One must remember this isn't my site!

I was just hoping to add more utility and features useful to members. Some are ambitious, but big ideas make good things..... Sometimes.

Hi Evan,

I sense what you are struggling with. Is this forum created and run primarily to serve its members? I would ask WHY would a wood (worker, turner, wood molester, supplier or even scientist) etc) JOIN and participate in discussions on any wood forum?

Most probably would say they joined to share what they know and to learn more skills, gain ,new ideas, to grow, become better, in their field of interest. Some may do it for accolades. Others seem to do it for fun social needs, for humour, others may even deride those whose 'style' or manner they dont like or disagree with.

Speaking for myself, I joined to help reduce my large stocks of rare and wonderful woods I've accumulated. In doing that, in my own way, I felt was a need to offset selling opportunities by offering some help and advice on trees and woods, albeit not woodworking.

Some do it to sell what they have ... tools, raw materials, finishes, products etc.It provides low-cost exposure to buyers / users, so offers some advantages. It is also awkward (eg the auction system). But I am syill new to the forum and its still rather new.

Differences of opinion on topics do arise, some based on opinionated conjecture, others from wrestling with false facts (unsound beliefs). A willingness and openness to learn while exercising mutual respect is a skill we must or should all learn when dealing with others, on forums and in person.

A few viewss that come to mind

Euge