Spyderco Forums

Since I'm quite new here, I can't really say if there was a change. Since I got here via Google and just reading the threads about the items/topics I searched, I have found this page as full of people who are informative and quite helpful. Perhaps, my view is also really skewed because I've been in boards with a lot of bickering. By the way when I first saw "CF" I had to pause.....oh it's handle material... and think as to what that acronym meant :)

Of all the time I've spent on forums, this one takes up 80% of it. I haven't experienced much anger or really bad verbal behavior. Actually, the worst example I can think of was on this forum. Many months ago somebody had a post saying Spyderco fans were so shallow minded and didn't like other knives and a bunch of stuff like that. He used a lot of vulgarity and cursing also. Other than that everything is fine most of the time it seems to me.

The main negative thing about other forums is that the people there aren't as eager to help someone who obviously is less than knowledgable about a given topic. It may be knives in general. Sharpening is another thing that a lot of people have been helped with here. Especially me. Every time I've had questions about something there have been several who tried to help. Just as much help has been given to many others as well. Let me rephrase. Not being as eager to help others is not really "negative". It's just not as positive. I'd like to say I have appreciated all the help I've gotten since I started reading here and asking for help.

As far as verbal abuse on forums, I think I'd just not visit if I see people just being a bunch of jerks. I think if I were to participate I'd probably end up looking like just another jerk. Of course everyone here knows I would always be right. :) Modest too. :D

As a newbie to a few forums I think that there is a tendency for older established members to be a bit intimidating unintentionally I add.
For those of us whom are lacking knowledge it can be daunting asking questions as they may seem silly or rhetorical but I find that I have received a warm welcome.
There will always be people whom feed off belittling others and people who join with an attitude but that's prevelant in all areas of life.
I think although specifically in this forum because it's fan based loyalty can become a cause of tension and folk taking offence but unless a post is blatantly inflammatory then yeah criticism should be respected as somebody's opinion.
Also the thing is keeping threads fresh it can get repetitive with all due respect so that's why off topics are in place.
One issue I think adds to these forums is that in the interest of presenting the community and the 'outsiders' view of weapon/tool knives it is important to behave in a dignified manner as it is at least in the uk an area where we are judged solely on the fact that in the wrong hands .... Etc etc although in the us it's different a cultural thing .
It does nobody any favours to have several threads that turn into a *****ing comp despite the rights and wrongs to a point I think it's better to sometimes agree to disagree but this is just my opinion.
Thanks. Bk

The times they are a changin. To me the social media revolution has changed
the way that people communicate. I am not sure if it is good or bad, but different.
Like anything else, there are positives and negatives. Much of it is up to interpretation.

What is discussion or disagreement to one, might be combative to another. I have much
respect for JD Spydo and know that he is one of the most passionate people around here.
He has great knowledge and like Deacon and others, has been around for a long time and
can comment on changes. So, I think about his comments about a negative swing in the
forum more than I would someone else.

I too have seen some comments that I thought were overboard and quick to judgement.
I have seen many moons pass (just had to thow that one in) and see a change in our culture.
In general, I am not particularly fond of where it is going, but I always try to take a positive
look on everything. I am talking about people in general, not about the people on this forum.

Therefore, you get a cross-over and the way of the world leaks into every facet of life. People
aren't as courteous as you wander through Walmart or hit the highways. I see more single
pointed out car windows now than I used to, and probably yield a few more back than I used
to or probably should for that matter.

However, through it all, I still think that this is as civil a place as there is. I'll try to keep plenty
of firewood cut and remember to pick up some marshmellows for Evil D.

Take care all.

Blerv wrote:If you feel a few folks are vying for control please speak your minds.

I want to control EVERYTHING!

I MUST control EVERYTHING!

please?

Ken

kbuzbee wrote:I want to control EVERYTHING!

I MUST control EVERYTHING!

please?

Ken

Ken's a monster! Chase him to the clock tower with torches and pitchforks! :D

Like any "family" there is always going to be some arguments. You just have to let it go and move on. If I walked away every time something wasn't all happy and nice I would be a hermit living in a cave.... and eventually arguing with myself. :D

Blerv wrote:Ken's a monster! Chase him to the clock tower with torches and pitchforks! :D

Good luck with that, Blake...

A. I'd probably not even notice...

B. If I did, my movement to the clock tower would be so slow, no one ELSE would notice.

I'm just say'n

Ken

Tank wrote:Like any "family" there is always going to be some arguments. You just have to let it go and move on. If I walked away every time something wasn't all happy and nice I would be a hermit living in a cave.... and eventually arguing with myself. :D

Or a volleyball! :)

kbuzbee wrote:I want to control EVERYTHING!

I MUST control EVERYTHING!

please?

Ken

No . . . That's what wives are for.

Monocrom wrote:No . . . That's what wives are for.

Game. Set. Match. :)

Yep, what Blake said....

Monocrom wrote:No . . . That's what wives are for.

You are so right, my friend.

Ken

Blerv wrote:Or a volleyball! :)

Spaulding! Where are you? Spaulding!!!

Ken

Usually the things that can create dispute, however minor, I don't read because it has to many of those word things in it.
People wonder how I can remain neutral in all topics, the secret is I am to simple to notice. Don't think I have seen a fight here (The ones that were short enough to read)

Hi Folks!

I'm obviously new to Spyderco Forums, but I've been rolling over a lot of Knife Forums, for a long time. And I mean american Forums, europeans Forums, like 3 - 4 different languages, way different cultures.

And also must say that I've been on those many Forums as an User, as a Moderator and as an Administrator as well.

I have to say here that Spyderco Forums must be the most 'User Friendly' community I'm aware of. For anyone who visit Spyderco Forums with a question there're a lot of members here who are going to help and try to find an answer. And that is not common on the web, not at all.

Trying to understand the reason why there is a global pattern of antisocial behavior on many virtual communities I've found that such a phenomenon have been studied by experts for some time, because the very same people who will try to attack you on the web usually are the role model citizen on your average community, pay their taxes, go to church on sundays, give a lot of their income to charity and stands as the best parents possible.

So where is the explanation for such a radical behavioral change?

AFAIK, there are a couple of theories trying to explain it. If you have the time I invite you to take a look at them. It is not only about this particular Forums community, it's about the way it seems ALL the virtual communities are going right now, so there is a lot of concern for all of us:


- Online Disinhibition Effect:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_dis ... ion_effect


- Social Science for the Internet Age:

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19

Welcome aboard LC and thanks for your thoughts and those links :)

It seems like a nice place to me and I totally get what you are saying.

In the five years I've been here it's been a pretty mellow group.

Given the reality of being able to immediately post something while experiencing strong emotions there are always going to be rants and attacks, but it is pretty minimal here compared to most forums.

There were times, in the past, when I enjoyed this Forum more..........but it just may be me :D , an old retired fart. :cool:

gull wing wrote:There were times, in the past, when I enjoyed this Forum more..........but it just may be me :D , an old retired fart. :cool:

People get this way with a lot of hobbies. There are times i can't stand to look at my Mustang, and then times i miss it so bad it hurts. There are times when i look at this stack of knife boxes and wonder why i have them all, then 10 minutes later i'm browsing the catalog for the next purchase. Forums go hand in hand with that since they're an extension of the hobbie. I'm on a few Mustang related forums, and all of them have had moments where i took long breaks from posting because of the idiots running ramped and such, but i've always found a reason to come back.

IMHO, Hindsight is 20/20 vision as is nostalgia. Like Evil said stepping away and coming back one may realize a bunch of interesting folk have infected the forums. Perhaps that's due to not knowing them as well as those remembered from the past.

Just playing the advocate. As stated I'm obviously pretty new here compared to some of you sages.