thoughts about bladeforums

[jim guy]

what is your thoughts about bladeforums? I dont want to offend any members here thats also on BF, but Im not real fond of the site. Ive traded with a couple of guys on there that are nice. I just dont like the general vibe of the place, too many people on there seem too up tight and serious about things.

[Neil]

As Mike LotS puts it "we aim for that pub after work atmosphere here"    Everywhere is going to seem a little uptight after MTO

That's the nice thing about the internet though, its big, you get to hang around where you feel comfortable, there is something for everyone.

[John]

There's no bladeforums just MT.O   

[sappyg]

i like BF ok. there are a lot more people on there so it's bound to feel 'up tight'.... i have to admit that i don't post there much relative to other forums and i have only recently joined.
i wish they had a kershaw and case forum.

check out the 'whine and cheeze' sub forum. that is more of a free for all kind of atmosphere. WARNING.... material there may be offensive to some... or all

[Grant Lamontagne]

I'm not a member of BF.  I tried to join when they first started up, and at the time all I had was a Hotmail address and they weren't accepting people with those.  I sent Kevin a message asking if they'd let me in since he knew me (I'd been a member at KF way back when Kevin owned that) and he refused.  I guess i kind of took offense to that, and as a result I've never really gone back there.  Still, I have nothing against them- they are obviously doing something right, being one of the biggest knife related forums on the web, and having been in business for well over a decade now. 

Especially now that I have my own forum to maintain, I find I'm not hitting any of the others as often as I'd like, even Knifeforums, which I have been a member of almost since the beginning.

With the amount of forums out there, all you need to do is find one with the info you want, and the atmosphere you are comfortable with.  Many folks like BF, many prefer KF, EDCForums, British Blades or USN.  And many more frequent more than one of those forums, but the thing to remember is not to get all worked up about it, because you do have the choice.  If something bugs you, it's a simple matter of just spending a little less time there in the future.  But, if you are more into knives than multitools, then those forums probably fulfill your needs more than Multitool.org, or vice versa.  Of course, I was the other way- I was more into SAKs and eventually multitools, which years ago were looked down upon as the redheaded b*stard stepchildren of the "real" knife industry, so I started this place.  I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's a forum, not a serious choice- in fact, it's not a choice at all- you can move freely between them all as they suit your needs.

Def

[Fisting_Chili]

For the majority, I've felt very unwelcome there.  I've posted a number of times with questions and have been treated rude almost every time by somebody.  I recently asked about that Buck 112 with the rounded scales I have over there and received a number of good answers.  One person, who really seemed to know his stuff, asked for more pics (clearer, closer, more detail stuff) and so I obliged.  After I did that, the thread went dead.  No responses, nothing.

So after waiting over a day, with no responses, to comment, I finally added to the thread and posted a simple "Where'd everyone go? Lol " 

I received a response from somebody saying "Everyone had a good look, made some remarks and decided what you had and moved on to something new."    Now I know the internet and the typed word cannot convey tone (which accounts for many, many misunderstandings), but that just struck me as a little condescending.  Reading it back to myself now, I am not so sure and may have let other negative interactions there skew my view of the message.

Aside from that and some other frustrating interactions there, i've also met some very nice and helpful people who really know their stuff!  I is a very valuable knowledge base that I'm glad to have available.
Just my 2 cents

[Pacu]

I've tried out BF, EDCF, and a couple others. Good info but here is home....until oscarfish.com comes back from the dead

[cerbera147]

For EDC type info and gear reviews etc. EDCF is quite good. Even though their new software has screwed up old picture and thread links 
While I have never experienced it directly I have seen some snipey comments there 

I also frequent British Blades and some other UK bushcraft forums but as Pacu said MTO is home 

It truly does have 'that pub after work atmosphere here' 

[Fisting_Chili]

For EDC type info and gear reviews etc. EDCF is quite good. Even though their new software has screwed up old picture and thread links 
While I have never experienced it directly I have seen some snipey comments there 

I also frequent British Blades and some other UK bushcraft forums but as Pacu said MTO is home 

It truly does have 'that pub after work atmosphere here' 

I wish I lived closer to others, so we really could hit the pubs.  Would be a blast

[Andreas]

I have absolutely no experience with BF and hadn't heard of them before I saw this topic, but I generally dislike big forums. In my experience, they can very easily get corrupted if it's a forum for niche products and they have manufacturers pay them to promote certain items, or they might get so bureaucratic about moderation and following rules that it becomes unlivable for normal people.

[jzmtl]

I only use google search with it for info on knife I'm interested in, other than that I don't touch it.

There's a lot of "forum norm" you have to follow or you get banned, browse through older thread and you'll see many many people with thousands of post gets banned for no apparent reason. You are expected to bash cold steel whenever the name is mentioned and all their stuff are crap. Everybody also loved Ontario right up to the point RAT cutlery separated and posted the sob story about how they were bullied by Ontario, then suddenly Ontario became the red headed stepchild and their product are all crap now.

And as a newbie expect to be bashed, called names and your mother insulted. I talked back and got slapped with some bogus charge of "making racist remarks" and -50 points. (marcinek on knifeforum isn't any better in that regard).

[Fisting_Chili]

I only use google search with it for info on knife I'm interested in, other than that I don't touch it.

There's a lot of "forum norm" you have to follow or you get banned, browse through older thread and you'll see many many people with thousands of post gets banned for no apparent reason. You are expected to bash cold steel whenever the name is mentioned and all their stuff are crap. Everybody also loved Ontario right up to the point RAT cutlery separated and posted the sob story about how they were bullied by Ontario, then suddenly Ontario became the red headed stepchild and their product are all crap now.

And as a newbie expect to be bashed, called names and your mother insulted. I talked back and got slapped with some bogus charge of "making racist remarks" and -50 points. (marcinek on knifeforum isn't any better in that regard).

-50 points?  didn't even realize there WAS a point system there....

[Zack]

I know the thread you are talking about Jim, as I saw it this morning.  That moderator can be a bit of an A$$ at times.  I only really hit the trade forums there, since more people frequent them, and I can usually find some new interesting pieces to add to my collection.  I just keep my nose down, I do hate they won't change my email address though.  I used my work email address to signup not really thinking anything of it (dumb).  Now I can can't change my email address, because I no longer have access to that account, and the IT manager is breathing down my neck from my former work saying messages are clogging their bandwidth.  I don't really care either way, but it is annoying since I know they can do it from the back end of the software.

This is my home, BF is kinda like a pawn shop I visit on the way home from work.

[Zack]

I only use google search with it for info on knife I'm interested in, other than that I don't touch it.

There's a lot of "forum norm" you have to follow or you get banned, browse through older thread and you'll see many many people with thousands of post gets banned for no apparent reason. You are expected to bash cold steel whenever the name is mentioned and all their stuff are crap. Everybody also loved Ontario right up to the point RAT cutlery separated and posted the sob story about how they were bullied by Ontario, then suddenly Ontario became the red headed stepchild and their product are all crap now.

And as a newbie expect to be bashed, called names and your mother insulted. I talked back and got slapped with some bogus charge of "making racist remarks" and -50 points. (marcinek on knifeforum isn't any better in that regard).

-50 points?  didn't even realize there WAS a point system there....

Yeah they hand out infractions like candy, especially to new comers.  Yellow ones are warnings, red ones are violations.  100 points and yyour gone.

[Fisting_Chili]

I only use google search with it for info on knife I'm interested in, other than that I don't touch it.

There's a lot of "forum norm" you have to follow or you get banned, browse through older thread and you'll see many many people with thousands of post gets banned for no apparent reason. You are expected to bash cold steel whenever the name is mentioned and all their stuff are crap. Everybody also loved Ontario right up to the point RAT cutlery separated and posted the sob story about how they were bullied by Ontario, then suddenly Ontario became the red headed stepchild and their product are all crap now.

And as a newbie expect to be bashed, called names and your mother insulted. I talked back and got slapped with some bogus charge of "making racist remarks" and -50 points. (marcinek on knifeforum isn't any better in that regard).

-50 points?  didn't even realize there WAS a point system there....

Yeah they hand out infractions like candy, especially to new comers.  Yellow ones are warnings, red ones are violations.  100 points and yyour gone.

That is kinda bull*colorful expletive* in my opinion.  I once posted in there w/questions on my balisongs and the moment I mentioned being open to trades (because another member broached the subject, not me) I was railed on by the moderator for being in the wrong forum for trades, not having read the sticky post at the top of the page, etc....  Man...lighten up all.  Simple mistake w/no "intent" of going outside the forum rules.

Still, that said, I've also met some really cool folks there that I respect.  So overall, its a normal online forum.  you get the good and the bad.

This place is not the norm.  All good.

[Millhouse]

I am a member on Bladeforums, but I only really hang out in the Wilderness and Survival section which is quite friendly.

Then I found this place, and it is 'home'.

[WhichDawg]

to me forums are like people and groups, they are all different and it's best if you learn each individual style and system.

I like BF, I've learned lots of stuff there and made some nice online friends. I understand they are big and have a lotta people do deal with and threads get repeated often, so things can get redundant. (Benner has reminded me of this here a couple of times, gawd bless his itty bitty heart! )

I don't think it's fair to say negative things about someone or a place/forum who can't respond. I think it makes a cool, relaxed place like here look bad a little, but that's just me and I doubt Grant cares, because he is cool and relaxed 

as for KF I know "Marcinek" (even before he became a Mod) and think he's a great guy, super friendly who tries to do his best, but you can't please everyone all the time and I'm sure he knows this.

I try to learn each place and make friends and learn what I can and share what I can and not take things too personal

[jzmtl]

as for KF I know "Marcinek" (even before he became a Mod) and think he's a great guy, super friendly who tries to do his best, but you can't please everyone all the time and I'm sure he knows this.

I'm sure it's fine if you are one of his buddies, but if you are not and the said buddies play bash the newbie on you don't take it, they you get penalty while other guys get off scot free.

Same goes for BF, you have been on both places for a long time, so you don't know what someone new is being treated, which is quite a lot different than you.

[Sean]

With the volume of people on there it works both ways for me.  I've been a member there for
years but haven't posted all that much.  The times I have, I've found helpful, and the majority
of them great.  However, not the caliber of people you see here on MTO and some of the
other forums I belong to. 

Funny, I was just logged on to BF in the Spyderco section and and a Poster started a thread...

"My Para 2 has a little (and I mean little) bit of blade play. I heard somewhere that it was because of the new bushing system. Should I tighten down the pivot screw and then see if it doesn't have any blade play anymore? Thanks"

the immediate response was...

 "Yes.
...
Why are you even asking this?"


 

[sawman]

I used to be a member on BF and KF and I lost interest not since returning to either.  MTO is the only place I'm aware of that addresses my specific interests and has friendly people.

[sappyg]

LOL... i was just there and did a search on the topic. my question was answered w/o creating a redundant post or thread.
i did notice that the spiderco forum was moderated by sal. it is  a little hard to take that seriously for me but all in all it seems objective. still... seems out of place. i guess spiderco pays for the right to moderate it's forum there.
make a poorly thought out post or thread on a forum like BF or CPF and you will get eaten alive. heaven forbid if you did'nt use search. one guy on BF reported doing spine whack tests on slipjoints. the dog pile quickly followed.
i've never seen anyone get banded that was'nt asking for it though. i can't remember ever seeing a thread locked on MTO but it's a common occurance on other forums. they (BF for example) just seem to attract more malcontents. the 1st threads i check when i go to those forums are the locked threads. usually you can see it coming.

 

[Freudian Frog]

I think it's kind of interesting that knife forums probably attract a slightly different crowd than a multitool forum.
I've always appreciated design more than stabby pointy things.

[redawg]

I used to really enjoy going to Bladeforums, back before they got rid of the Kershaw sub-forum.  Once that disappeared, I kinda quit going there very often.  I've noticed there and certain other forums crucify new guys for asking some commonly asked questions.  The search function is great, but I thought the point of a forum was for people with common interests to discuss those interests.  Can't say it has happened to me, its just something I've found to be somewhat rude.  Bladeforums Multi-tool sub-forum is how I ended up here.  It's the "pub after work" atmosphere that keeps me here.

[markn951]

All these horror stories remind me of a few old forums I used to frequent. As someone had said before, the bigger a forum is the worse it gets. I was part of a great little guitar forum back, oh probably 2-3 years ago. When I started out it was the same type of atmosphere as here, chilled out and friendly. I made friends there that I would accept into my home any time. I'm STILL friends with some of them. However, as time went on, the forum got bigger and bigger, to the point where most of the old guys, the founders of TGF, had left, and the ones who remained were just so pissy and hard on administration it was getting ridiculous. There was a "karma" system there, where you could vote someone +1 or -1 every 4 hours. When I started out, for a few months I think I had something like 40 or 50. That was pretty normal, no one really took it seriously because everyone was friends and no one would ever down-vote someone. We were like a brotherhood or something. By the time I left I think i had -200 something, and had been temporarily banned multiple times. Nothing changed with me, my posting, or my personality, yet by the time I had left pretty much every post I made was met with rudeness or a reprimand. Everything I said was always met with negativity. It was really heartbreaking to see a forum I loved so much go down the crapper, but I abandoned ship before it sunk completely. At this point I don't think there is a single TGF veteran still frequenting the forum there.

After TGF I was pretty lost and alienated in terms of forums. I tried out shortscale.org but they were even bigger than TGF on it's biggest day. From the moment I first posted I was met with rudeness and hostility.

Seriously, MTO is like an oasis on the internet. Over these past few months I've seen kindness and friendliness I didn't even see in TGF's golden days. Thank you guys.   and  

TL;DR I love MTO, you guys are awesome, other forums suck!

[sawman]

An oasis indeed.  For some reason MTO keeps attracting some of the very best people from all around the world 

[Paul]

I tried many years ago to join but like Grant I only had a Hotmail account which they did not accept - their loss 

[Grant Lamontagne]

We tried the Karma system for a short while here as well, but it didn't last long.  It just served to upset people over what I really felt was nothing.  Guys had hundreds of +'s in just a few days, then would obsess over one -.  Other guys would just go around and "smite" other people for the fun of it, and in the end it really just seemed kind of stupid.

Anyone who knows me knows I think feedback in general is kind of lame, and this "instant feedback" in Karma just caused rifts as people tried to find out who took a whack at them and tried to "smite" them back.

Good to be rid of it in my book!  Guys can find all kinds of things to fight about, we don't need to give them more!

Def

[Sean]

I'd never heard of this kind of feedback before I guess it's on some of the forums I belong to but I've never
bothered to really check it out which is just as well.

[ICanFixThat]

My somewhat simple evaluation of Bladeforms, I may have posted there once or twice.

Very knowlegeable people very into using knives. I see the atmosphere as a counter/alternative to certain parts of Knifeforums which has a lot of 'vendors' who don't really appreciate you speaking your mind unless you're praising them.

So I think they serve a good purpose and are a nice alternative for some.

I'm more into multitools and we have MT.O, so no time to visit there.

[jekostas]

After getting my account banned* at BF, I'm quite glad for this little corner of sanity...

*I did it on purpose