All About Pocket Knives

Do you think the atmosphere of (I see as) camaraderie and bonhomie we have here on AAPK is seen by new members and non=members as cliquish and tends to make the forum unapproachable thus inhibiting membership growth or activity by new members?

I think the forum is very welcoming. The camaraderie would be obvious and it is something I would think would be expected in an atmosphere like this. Also desirable. From what I gather, other forums can be kind of "edgy"?. Don't really know.
How could you not enjoy this place.

Joe, I wrote that from a positive perspective as it relates to AAPK. I think there is a great deal of camaraderie and bonhomie and personally I enjoy that atmosphere. The poll is pointed at speculation as to the attitudes of prospective members, inactive members and the glasses through which they see AAPK. Maybe I've asked the impossible question or asked it in such a way as to be impossible to answer.

ONLY IF YOU GO, IN CHATROOM

FEEL LIKE EVERYONE IS STARING AT ME

IT DARK AND LONELY TOO

One of the "truisms" about this site when a new member joins is those who reply..."welcome to the friendliest knife site on the net."

I feel like I'm at home and nobody judges me by the underwear I wear

cato wrote:ONLY IF YOU GO, IN CHATROOM

FEEL LIKE EVERYONE IS STARING AT ME

IT DARK AND LONELY TOO

... and it smells funny in there too. That could be because I left a damp cheese sammich underneath the velvet Elvis painting a couple of years ago.

Cato. I don't know how to break it to you buddy but we don't have a chat room anymore.

just a deserted old shack down by the seashore - that smells like an old cheese sammich.

Best site to be a member.
I had to Google "Cliquish"to see what you was talking about.
Now I am a day older and a bit wiser.

Grant

Seems good to me. The other forms I've read on (never joined) everyone seems to be terrified of their post being deleted or getting banned for being off topic.

Jerry, of course you were being positive. I may have given kind of an awkward answer.
For me, this has been the greatest learning experience on knives.
And, I should add, how to interact on a forum. This is my one and only forum experience.

Jerry .
I was on another forum and having trouble with my keyboard and could only type in upper case letters and was told by a Administrator to stop shouting in my posts. (it was not against the rules ,so he was just pushing what he wanted.)
On this site we are all about the knowledge we can gain and give . .
The moderators on this site are some of the best a site could have.

Grant

When I first started reading this forum a few years ago I think it did seem as if everyone knew each other. Some folks here use real names, which I have never seen on any other site. I was a bit hesitant to just barge into discussions until I lurked for a few months. Then I realized how friendly and welcoming everyone really is.

I too was guilty of lurking for a while after I joined but it was for me to read and understand how things worked. Once I started posting questions I've always felt I was accepted and have many cyber friends on the AAPK forum!
I also have joined several other knife forums but seldom visit them 'cause this place is home .
Treefarmer

It is a great site to read and learn. They have alot of very knowledgeable people on here that will give a person good facts and help. We do have an old Marine that's a little windy but still is a great wealth of knowedge. ftd

I don't know how a site could be any more friendly or helpful. I never see the kind of snarky, rude responses so prevalent on other "social networking". However having said that I've often been curious regarding the staggering number of folks that have registered on AAPK but never posted, or only made a handful of posts. Are they scared off by something? Would really like to see their knives, hear their stories, learn from them. If you're out there lurking, come on in - the water's fine!

Ken

Even though I haven't been here very long, in my opinion this is one of the most welcoming (and useful) websites I have come across. I think it really adds something positive to an already enjoyable hobby.

This question would be best answered by new members but I don't think there is any site even close to as friendly.

Since I been active on this site I have noticed quite a few new members that just sign up looking for a quick fix of information on a specific find, heirloom, or inheritance. These members get the information they are looking for and disappear. Sometimes they get the answers they want and sometimes they are disappointed that their knife isn't worth a gazillion $$$.

I have also seen new members that have a genuine interest in knives. Some don't lurk but just jump in and find the water is fine. Some might lurk for a while but once they figure out that we are all here for the same reason they stick around to share and learn.

Unless someone comes around looking to make trouble I don't think they'll find any here.

Wayne

fergusontd wrote:We do have an old Marine that's a little windy but still is a great wealth of knowedge. ftd

Ferg, I think it's rude to talk about Dale like that. Or is it Philip (Treefarmer)? (Can't be Mike, He's too young)

Back before my failing health, i was on here alot. Everybody really is as nice as they seem. My advice to new members is dont be shy. Jump in with both feet because this really is the best knife forum on the net.

AAPK is awesome!!

My Two Cents ( little long,maybe 50 cents??)

I have always enjoyed this site for being friendly and "chatty" , yet very knife knowledgeable** ( other sites are, as mentioned "" overly moderated"" for off topic.ect --somewhat ""snobbish maybe"" ) AAPK has always been sorta ""laid-back"" & ""user friendly"" in my time here

this site has always been more like a family type atmosphere, that shares, real names, stories, life happenings,knife swaps, hunting & fishing tales, giving someone a "bomb" (aka gift), for no reason*, helping a one time visitor find a knife value*, posting photos or explaining how to post to others* and all the other camaraderie that goes on around this place -- ****sorta like the retirement group of guys that meet every morning for breakfast / coffee, at Hardees or McDonalds to chat & solve the worlds problems*****

If I got the numbers right,we have 11,751 members -- aprox. 400 or so made at least 100 post ( stuck around) -- and about half of those are no longer active ?? I think all sites have these type numbers ?? -- We do have some very knife knowledgeable folks,that just chime in,when they only have some knife info to share ( I love these guys,cause I always learn something new !!)

something must be good about this site,cause at 2:30am. EST,as I type, there were 13 registered members, 1 hidden & 94 guest, viewing or reading this site**** --- I have slowed down, posting myself, but read everyday to see what is happening in the AAPK community ( my friends for life*) __ I too welcome all the lurkers ( new folks) to jump in & post away -- we all can enjoy this great site and the hobby of knives ""together"_________________________ have a great day my friends, Monk

Number 1 knife site on the web.

Donald

Well - easy answer for me as I am fairly new to the site, and I am clipping some of this from another thread posted not long ago..

I jumped in feet first in the forum and haven’t stopped (lots of questions and posting a contribution when I can) – and the best part – AAPK is no doubt one of the friendliest forums on the internet - it’s true and not just something that guys say when new folks join (and I am not just blowing smoke up your you know what )– believe me I have made lots of friends through this forum who have been extremely helpful - online in forum posts, through email/messaging and some in person as well -– you made me feel at home, are extremely generous with your sharing of knowledge as well as giving me great advice – and encouraging me too …

I've been on other forums for many years (in other areas - dare I say fly fishing related) and this site no doubt is top notch!! ...

Cheers
Lee

I think the approach of the Mods and Admins on most forums (knife, motorcycle, military or otherwise) mirror that of management/ownership. Another thing I've noticed as I flitted about amongst some of the other forums, I got the impression that the members of other forums think theirs is the best on the net and God bless 'em each and every one, it probably is for them.

Speaking of Mods & Admins, quick; name four Mods or Admins without looking it up (counting Bryan, there are nine). How many of you who are not a Mod or an Admin were successful. The first one that popped into your head was probably Dale (orvet) who is the chief cook and bottle washer Admin on AAPK and usually does most of the heavy lifting. You may have gotten Dimitri (Miller Bro's) who works arm in arm with Dale but stays back in the shadows a little bit. How about Phil (Philco)? I'm sure some of you grabbed onto his name. He's had to bark a time or two. That's three. Any more? How about our recently returned Gary (gmusic)? Who knew Gary is a Mod? PA Knives? Hukk? Tank? A fella named Vince Roberts who hasn't logged in since May of 2010. I'm willing to bet most don't even know how to find the list of Mods. Why? Because we hardly ever need a Mod on this forum. Heck, for a while there was a Mod on the list that was Dead and had been for quite a while. That's how badly we need Mods on AAPK.

Anyone know what that little red exclamation mark is for that's in the lower right corner of each and every post? Ever notice it? It's to report a post to the Mods/Admins. Yeah, so seldom need it I forget it's even there.

I think it all starts with Bryan the owner of AAPK and his lazzais faire attitude towards the forum, then filters on down to the Mods & Admins. Leave it alone and it will work it's self out. Only get involved if things look like they're going to get real snarky (which they almost never do).

As I shut my sewer (as the Drill Instructors used to call our mouth), I'd just like to say one more thing.

Bryan, Mods & Admins. Thank you for your service to AAPK. Thank you all for giving us a congenial atmosphere in which we can hang out and gab about our favorite topics.