Member-Only Access

[nickao]

Something obviously happened we are not aware of and must have been Matthews breaking point. Wow, I leave the forum for two days and what changes!

I have no problem with it as it's Mathews  forum. I know at least 3 woodworking forums where this is the case. And most every forum prohibits looking at pics and definitley posting without registering anyway.

This is the only forum where the administrator always asked the participants what they wanted and it seemed strange to me to begin with. Maybe now instead of 3500 people just reading while 20 people are posting will change. I would rather have 50% of the amount of people reading if the participation number grew in percentage. Too many people are just looking and not participating. The membership numbers have not increased that much, but the amount of guest reading has. And I for one was terribly hurt by the lack of donations. I think now the donations received will be more in the line with the future bandwidth of this forum.

Matthew asked us nicely to step up and enough people didn't. For the people that are members and did not donate, what did you really think the ramifications would be if you did  not donate? This is still better than requiring a donation isn't it?

Nickao

 

[dltflt]

I'm with Brice, Matthew has to have a good reason for making such a drastic change.  I will say that I would not have joined if I could not test drive for a short time.

 

[Dave Rudy]

Have to agree with many others -- a remarkably bad idea.

 

[Tezzer]

Matthew, do the right thing.....explain yourself or quit this daft idea.

Schwanker

Schwanker, do the right thing and out yourself

 

[nickao]

Everyone,
Up to this point, the forum has been fully accessible by both members and guests (except for photos).

Starting Monday, May 12, the forum will be accessible only to members.  Visitors without a forum account will not be able to browse the boards.

This means that all visitors will be presented with a sign-in box before seeing the forum posts.  If a visitor does not have an account, he or she will be prompted to obtain one.

Thanks everyone,
Matthew

This is a big error. Apart from taking a high handed approach for (possibly) the first time, you have failed to explain your thinking.

You know very well that Festool owners are, by definition, hungry for knowledge and up until now you have catered for us.

Now you are looking like Robert Mugabe (or E ba gum, an old English northern expression of disquiet).

Matthew, do the right thing.....explain yourself or quit this daft idea.

Schwanker

Now that is not the best first post I have ever read. If it took this may 12th thing for you to sign up and be a member and participate, then I think it just worked.

 

[Ned]

Schwanker,

Your nom de forum is a direct insult to Matthew Schenker.  I don't care how you decided on it or what your intention was.  I urge you to drop it and choose some other name.

Other than that, good first post and welcome to the forum.

Ned

 

[joraft]

Guys, lets hear what Matthew has to say first before we start getting out the torches and pitchforks...

I agree, Brice. It's hard to form any final opinion about this without knowing more about what's behind the move.

And as was said earlier, the most puzzling aspect of this is Matthew's abrupt approach (and then silence), it seems so completely out of character for him, especially with such a major change.

John

 

[monte]

Everyone,
Up to this point, the forum has been fully accessible by both members and guests (except for photos).

Starting Monday, May 12, the forum will be accessible only to members.  Visitors without a forum account will not be able to browse the boards.

This means that all visitors will be presented with a sign-in box before seeing the forum posts.  If a visitor does not have an account, he or she will be prompted to obtain one.

Thanks everyone,
Matthew

Something just occurred to me, Matthew is asking that everybody sign in with a forum account to browse.

He's not necessarily asking people to pay to browse, just to sign in.

so what's the issue??

I believe you could have an account without being a forum supporter as I was in my lurking stage.

Just an observation.

 

[nickao]

Exactly he is not asking anyone to pay. To me, lurking is like listening in to a conversation while the  people speaking are not aware. Why is not okay to listen in on people talking, but it is totally expected by so many to be able to read posts on the internet without letting others know you are there. It's the same thing really. My biggest issue on other forums were people taking others ideas and presenting them as their own. It is so simple to do when you are a lurker. But once signed in its pretty obvious to know who stole an idea. This is one of many things that is better then allowing anyone to read without at least making some kind of sign in.

Some forums require you use you real name. To me that is far worse than just asking the common courtesy of joining and providing a user name. Thats all it is providing, a user name. No money, no email required, really your actual identity never even need be given if you do not want too. This is not a big deal. People against this are saying it will limit growth. Well what the heck does it matter to them that the forum grows or not?

Nickao

 

[Per Swenson]

I don't think that's it.

In America, Festool is far from a mainstream brand or tool.

Some people in my circles consider Festool a overpriced imported brand,

a elitist tool better suited to the well off hobbiest,

useless in the construction industry. Yup tool bigots.

Though I joke about keeping my competition in the dark for selfish reason's,

In the spirit of the brotherhood of carpentry I try to my best to change  this myth.

Reinforcing the elitist image does not help my cause of enlightenment.

Per

 

[nickao]

Okay explain, what is it? This is Matthew's private forum. Are you saying you care if Festool is brought to the masses. I do not give a crap about the company as a whole or who knows about them. You darn well know Per, carpenters DO NOT share their secrets on site. It is a very rare case that they do(at least for me here in the Midwest learning the trade).

Giving a user name does  nothing negative to this brotherhood of sharing at all. We will still share. At least we will be aware with whom we share. This forum shares info more than most and definitely more than on a job site.

Plus, on this forum no one throws a hammer at you when you do something wrong, I have quite a few old timers give me a toss or two. I would think anyone would sign up for this wealth of info that usually in the trade is difficult at best to get. The internet has opened up woodworking to the masses.

Lurkers, register it's worth it.

 

[Per Swenson]

What is it?

That was pretty much explained on the first page of this post.

As for secrets, Nick, don't be silly.

If I can help a brother carpenter put food on his plate, or make his day easier,

make him laugh even, I have just done the next right thing.

Which is by the way how I live my life.

Per

 

[nickao]

Are you kidding me. When I went through the trades I could only learn by watching, no old timer would tell me anything. They did not want a younger, stronger person gaining quick experience. I had to pay my dues, that's how it was done. To this day I see great carpenters not showing anyone anything on site.

I am surprised you never witnessed this in the field where the trainees and new guys are given the crap for the first two years and barely helped. The sink or swim technique.

Maybe that's just here in the Midwest or local to where I live, but I did not think so.

Anyway, I still think there is no big deal about becoming a member to read the posts on a private  forum. Matthew can reject anyone for any reason.

Nickao

PS I was asking in response to "I don't think that's it" in your last post, first line. What is it?

 

[Per Swenson]

Except for the first sentence. "He is not asking anyone to pay"

I disagree with everything after words.

"I don't think thats it" was my polite way of saying so.

Nor do I wish to see this thread reduced to bickering about stuff beyond our control,

so I am going to stop now.

Per

Exactly he is not asking anyone to pay. To me, lurking is like listening in to a conversation while the  people speaking are not aware. Why is not okay to listen in on people talking, but it is totally expected by so many to be able to read posts on the internet without letting others know you are there. It's the same thing really. My biggest issue on other forums were people taking others ideas and presenting them as their own. It is so simple to do when you are a lurker. But once signed in its pretty obvious to know who stole an idea. This is one of many things that is better then allowing anyone to read without at least making some kind of sign in.

Some forums require you use you real name. To me that is far worse than just asking the common courtesy of joining and providing a user name. Thats all it is providing, a user name. No money, no email required, really your actual identity never even need be given if you do not want too. This is not a big deal. People against this are saying it will limit growth. Well what the heck does it matter to them that the forum grows or not?

Nickao

 

[nickao]

But bickering threads always have the biggest read numbers have you ever noticed that.

I have tried to get people on the project contest thread many times, but the numbers just do not increase like when there is friction. I just bumped the contest thread lets see if we can get the numbers up on that thread, bickering may be the only way to do it 

nickao

 

[Michael Kellough]

Though I joke about keeping my competition in the dark for selfish reason's,

In the spirit of the brotherhood of carpentry I try to my best to change  this myth.

Reinforcing the elitist image does not help my cause of enlightenment.

Per

I knew it! Red neck my foot, you're a dadburn liberal! 

 

[Per Swenson]

About this quote below.

Sure that attitude is prevalent in some circles.

That doesn't make it right or continuing it because it was done to you

is not a sign of adult behavior.

Besides I have abandonment issues and need all the friends I can get. ;D

Per

Are you kidding me. When I went through the trades I could only learn by watching, no old timer would tell me anything. They did not want a younger, stronger person gaining quick experience. I had to pay my dues, that's how it was done. To this day I see great carpenters not showing anyone anything on site.

I am surprised you never witnessed this in the field where the trainees and new guys are given the crap for the first two years and barely helped. The sink or swim technique.

Maybe that's just here in the Midwest or local to where I live, but I did not think so.

Anyway, I still think there is no big deal about becoming a member to read the posts on a private  forum. Matthew can reject anyone for any reason.

Nickao

PS I was asking in response to "I don't think that's it" in your last post, first line. What is it?

 

[nickao]

Now that's funny Michael  ;D Per I will not abandon you. I can flame you if it will make you feel better.

 

[Per Swenson]

Michael,

My Daddy calls me a card carrying commie 10 degrees to the left of Ghandi and Che,

and sez all the time "If they only knew."

And I always say, "Daddy. Che loved guns too"

I guess Y'awl outed me now

Per

 

[monte]

a liberal behind the mask of a redneck?

hurry up with your videos Per.

better than Saturday Night Live.