The meaning of posting on NMB

[zanilu]

I can speak only for myself of course.

 

I follow this board to educate myself by reading the posts of more experienced people.

After a while I started to value the post of some people over those form others mainly by the knowledge and consistency of judgment they showand how they deal with criticism. Always polite but firm in their opinion when needed.

 

Childish behavior has no place on this board and, in my view, belittle the person who does it. I find it also extremely irritating. If you are not grow enough to withstand criticism you should better not post.

 

When I post something on the board I know perfectly well the I will expose myself to criticism and ridicule. But I personally value more corrections and information I can get than my own ego. I got some sharp comments to my posts but in the end I learned a lot.

 

In the last few days I have seen a some childish behavior that irritated me and reduced the pleasure I always had following this board...

I you made one of those post please meditate on it.

 

I already wasted too much of your time...

 

Regards

Luca

 

P.S. Brian if you think this post inappropriate please do not hesitate to delete it.

[Robin]

I agree with you completely.

 

When on the receiving end, criticism isn't always nice, but it's invaluable to avoid future mistakes...and so it's very helpful.

Sticking to ones own truth...against all odds...is silly and pointless.

When you're a collector....you only do harm to yourself with it, but when you're a seller...you harm others and in the end.....also yourself.

 

The "other topic" dragged on much too long and it wasn't enjoyable, but it's good to see bad stuff revealed. 

What's nice is nice...or even nicer and I learn from what I see and read about them here. I also learn from the rotten apples...valuable lessons that save money, frustration and embarrassment.

Even a blind mole like me could see that one was wonky as can be, but on Facebook I often see people hit the like button when there's (yet another) fake on their screen.

More should find their way to this place...truly helpful.

 

Thanks to those willing to pass on their wisdom. Highly appreciated.

 

Robin 

[Surfson]

Dear Fellow Nihonto and Tosogu Enthusiasts,

We do better as a group when we separate our egos from the ideas that we are discussing.  It also means that if somebody criticizes an idea, we shouldn't take it as a personal attack.  Being right about something should be less important than finding out the best estimate of the truth.  Healthy disagreements can be a wonderful source of information and amusement.  (I'm thinking how much I enjoyed the mostly friendly "argument" about whether old iron or newer soft metal fittings were the best.....).  

 

The internet, in many realms, provides a great deal of anonymity, which unfortunately sometimes leads to a loss of civility.  I would just remind all that we are a very small community and we are not anonymous here; posters should therefore approach their words and statements with the same care that we might use in a conversation in person.  I know many of the people that post here personally, and all posters should pursue the dialog with the attitude that they are a member of a finite community of people that are recognizable.  

 

Positive reputations take a very long time to build, but negative reputations can be formed very quickly with thoughtless, mean or petty attitudes or remarks.  

 

I think that I am not alone when I say that the NMB is a fabulous, forthright, honest and informative forum that is enjoyable to read.  Let's keep it that way!  

Cheers, Bob