Roger,
I don't think that it is so much a matter of you having thick skin as it is a matter of you having an extraordinarily fine eye for and knowledge of the knives that you ( we) like to collect.
You have the ability and the resources to defend your position ( in terms of your likes and dislikes) and it is unlikely that you will question any purchasing decision you have made based on any critique that has been posted on this Forum. I don't think that this is necessarily the case for every one that visits here.
There has certainly been an expression of unhappiness from a number of participant's here ( and non-participant's-both on and off the Forum) as to the direction and tone that some of the posts here have taken.
My suggestion- a sub-forum for those that feel it is necessary to have an opinion on or a critique of every knife that is posted here. I believe that it was Groucho Marx that said "I like a good cigar- but I take it out of my mouth every now and then."
Paul
Not so Paul - as I indicated in an earlier response I HAVE lerned from critiques offered (both on and off-forum) and have modified choices I make accordingly. In short, I have learned from the comments and feedback of my fellow forumites. That doesn't mean I accept and adopt every criticism offered, but if something said does make me re-consider a decision (along the lines of Coop's example),
I consider that a positive, not a negative.
Put another way, if a fellow forumite were to do something so egregious as to suggest (borrowing from Buddy's example) that a more contoured handle might offer either aesthetic or functional benefits, and if - here's the key - I found that upon reflection I agreed with him, my reaction wouldn't be "That bastard! He rained on my parade!!"
Rather, I would be grateful to that person for the knowledge and insight gained. I an thankful for your comments about my eye for and knowledge of knives - but those weren't acquired (such as they are) in a vacuum - and could not have been acquired in an artificial sunshine-forum where we say nice or say nothing.
I oppose any change to the custom forum because it is a
discussion forum that by and large works exceedingly well. While there are some very vocal critics - some of whom have valid points to raise - that which they criticize forms the exception rather than the rule. This is best exemplified whenever examples are requested for the boorish elitist abuse that some claim to be prevalent. Near as I can figure three have been provided: the "deal-breaker thread" - which many makers indicated was actually quite positive, the "Don Cowles thread" which many have commented upon as an example of inappropriate conduct - and Buddy's example of the John White thread, which I maintain is an example of good, candid respectful discussion by maker and collector. I hasten to note that while Buddy decried this as utterly horrible, the maker in question - who has been participating quite a bit on the forums of late (to the great appreciation of many) raised no complaint himself.
To those who claim an epidemic of abuse, all I can say is show me. If it is so prevalent, it should not be hard to find. And while you're at it, count up the total positive non-objectionable threads. I suspect you will find the resulting ratio informative.
To those that want to hive off a separate "critiques only forum" I say this - why not instead have a "no critiques allowed" sub-forum. That way, participants could effectively be restricted to charter members of the mutual admiration society who spread joy and high-fives and are content to do so (and nothing more) day in and day out. A knife posted there could be shielded from discussion - ar at least shielded from anything but praise. If this sounds like your idea of food place to spend time, then lobby for it and maybe the site owner will agree. But there's no need to take away the only knife
discussion forum that we have here.
Roger
PS - For all those condemning the abuse of collectors by makers, there has been a maker here in these threads consistently engaged on openly mocking individual collectors, casting sweeping negative generalizations about collectors, imputing improper and selfish motives on the part of collectors - and yet none of this behavior has been the subject of comment by the "let's muzzle those boorish collectors" lobby? Strange, that.
