Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on October 30, 2013 at 12:06

Rants are encouraged and now I have a much better idea on how to scare you!

If you will permit let me explain: Again I have been here a long time and seen many things over that time period.  As we know another Knife Forum not a Community, They have basically the same thing a place where members ask questions about the vintage knives they have bought or inherited. They get answers but the Forum instituted a charge for answers. Guess what, all those folks, countless numbers, joined iKC to ask a question. Upon getting an answer they went back to posting on a Forum, many times without so much as a thanks!

I am all for doing research, its one of the fun things to do when you look and learn about vintage knives. But what to do about a person joining, getting an answer to their question and never posting again?

And the other problem is most folks shy away from this because it may be outside there expertise. So what you get into is a very small number of community is involved  in the research despite some others having the books and tools to do so. Its just something they don't feel comfortable doing.

So my response is geared toward that. What to do? Because of a change  somewhere else we are left with something to reconsider. I am not proposing a charge nor is one being considered. However I ask the question, a member joins and asks a question, you or a group try to find the best answer you can. The member is never seen again. What do you do?

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Permalink Reply by Steve Scheuerman (Manx) on October 30, 2013 at 12:41

LOL...my Halloween scare right there. *grin*

To me, it sounds like a case of punishing all for the acts of a few (or a bunch), but even still...it's what we do, isn't it? If folk vanish afterwards, that's their loss in my eyes. I still learned something looking up their knife, other members learned something by reading the post or helping with the research, we further the reputation of the site by remaining friendly and helpful, and every now and again, said person will turn out to be someone who stays and contributes to the community. It may be a bit more work for us to help folks that just take off without a thank you, but we can always choose *not* to look up the date of that blade or the company that made that knife. I see it as a way of skimming the cream off the top, and that cream turns out to be our members!

If people wanna be rude and just use this site for a bit of free help and then vanish, well...not a whole bunch we can do about it without making everyone feel it. Turn the other cheek, so to speak. I think it speaks highly of our character and our members that our proverbial door is still open, even with experiences like that under our belts. And if this open door policy skims us even 1 contributing member, and dare I hope, friend...then it's worth it to our community. Quality over Quantity every time, in my books!

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Permalink Reply by John Bamford on October 30, 2013 at 14:04

As a new fella here I hesitate to give my opinion, but as it is a positive opinion here it is . I have tried a lot of the various forums over the last few months since I found that there are other people interested in owning knives. I won't mention any names but I haven't found another site as friendly as this one some of the other places do not seem to be welcoming to people who don't have a lot of knowledge. I agree with Manx that this site is pretty good as it is and I haven't thought that the advertising was intrusive. I had one message that appeared to be spam so I ignored it everything else seems good ,so thanks a lot to all of you for your efforts .

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Permalink Reply by Steve Scheuerman (Manx) on October 30, 2013 at 14:13

Hey John! Please don't hesitate to add your opinion! Jan *did* ask for them after all. *grin* And new or not, you are more than welcome to comment! We are just mainly spitballing ideas on how to deal with certain matters, and the more folks that add their thoughts are the more solutions we can choose from for the good of OUR community! Thanks for chiming in!

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Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on October 30, 2013 at 15:09

Good points all Manx and Thank you

Steve Scheuerman (Manx) said:

LOL...my Halloween scare right there. *grin*

To me, it sounds like a case of punishing all for the acts of a few (or a bunch), but even still...it's what we do, isn't it? If folk vanish afterwards, that's their loss in my eyes. I still learned something looking up their knife, other members learned something by reading the post or helping with the research, we further the reputation of the site by remaining friendly and helpful, and every now and again, said person will turn out to be someone who stays and contributes to the community. It may be a bit more work for us to help folks that just take off without a thank you, but we can always choose *not* to look up the date of that blade or the company that made that knife. I see it as a way of skimming the cream off the top, and that cream turns out to be our members!

If people wanna be rude and just use this site for a bit of free help and then vanish, well...not a whole bunch we can do about it without making everyone feel it. Turn the other cheek, so to speak. I think it speaks highly of our character and our members that our proverbial door is still open, even with experiences like that under our belts. And if this open door policy skims us even 1 contributing member, and dare I hope, friend...then it's worth it to our community. Quality over Quantity every time, in my books!

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Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on October 30, 2013 at 15:12

Thank you John we all greatly appreciate opinions. Just a word on spammers...we have been fighting spammers for a long time and they got really bad about a year ago. I have had members quit because of it. All of us involved in approving new members use several techniques to stop spammers...but every so often because of greater sophistication one gets through.  Thanks for ignoring it and please let one of us know right away!

John Bamford said:

As a new fella here I hesitate to give my opinion, but as it is a positive opinion here it is . I have tried a lot of the various forums over the last few months since I found that there are other people interested in owning knives. I won't mention any names but I haven't found another site as friendly as this one some of the other places do not seem to be welcoming to people who don't have a lot of knowledge. I agree with Manx that this site is pretty good as it is and I haven't thought that the advertising was intrusive. I had one message that appeared to be spam so I ignored it everything else seems good ,so thanks a lot to all of you for your efforts .

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Permalink Reply by Steve Scheuerman (Manx) on October 30, 2013 at 15:16

All good points, Steve! That's what a discussion is for. *grin* Hopefully we get some more! Opinions are never wrong...just facts...lol. Between all of us, we'll have this worked out in no time!

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FeaturedPermalink Reply by Craig Henry on October 30, 2013 at 16:25

It also makes me feel good that we all can get together and discuss things like this without it turning into a free for all fight! I like calm discussions. Something you don't get on some forums around and about the net.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Scheuerman (Manx) on October 30, 2013 at 17:01

Yet another reason our site is so unique! And sorry Craig...if we were gonna free-for-all fight, then I *would* charge money!! LOL We could make some great royalties from that! *grin*

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Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on October 30, 2013 at 18:00

Goodness I love working with all of you. John B, you opinion is very valuable!  

It amazes me how often I hear about about us when I am on the road.  Folks tell me all the time, hey I have heard of you guys...you dont have a bunch of arguments LOL!  Well that always makes me proud, so thank you John B for joining in and for just for being here with us.

I dont know that there is a solution to folks that join and then go back to a forum that charges for answers.  (by the way I didnt realize anyone does that)  Hog will tell you, I dont go to the other sites unless someone asks me to look at something.  I tried those before I came here. Maybe they will come back when they decide we are the friendlier site, willing to help.

But the folks that join just to advertise to you all?  That is on the way out

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Permalink Reply by Guy Fleetwood on October 30, 2013 at 18:19

 For Knifemakers to sell their knives only area:

Fixed - folder - kitchen - etc - fee to club 

The seller must show pics of knife to be sold - specs - price  - shipping - payment

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Permalink Reply by Sue OldsWidow on November 2, 2013 at 12:30

I think as a group , we are constantly trying to find out more INPUT to our collections,or individual business's associated with Knives.

Any knife manufactures that would advertise with us, and or their associated products for knifing/or other Group related items would be of great benefit to our members. This would also help our site continue to be financially stable for years to come.

I personally would like to see the Chapter Presidents of the knife clubs around the states join and start a group for their specific knife groups..adding to other opportunities of our group community to network and be associated with ALL that is out there.

Sue

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