One of the things I most enjoy about hanging around the Yard [color:"red"] is the lack of pretentiousness that exists here.[/color] Perhaps it's because the Yard hasn't had time to develop a culture that thinks that the way it used to be is better than the way it is now. Perhaps it's because the affordability of the products produced here discourages [color:"red"] elitism[/color]. Perhaps it's because Dan & Patti are welcoming to newcomers and participate actively in the chat rooms. Or perhaps it's because those who are attracted to this place are [color:"red"]more interested in supporting each other than impressing each other. [/color]
Before I totally let this go...
I've bolded what probably got under Rat's skin. Got under mine a little too. For those who don't visit the Busse forum all that often, bld522 has been outspoken there lately about his dissatisfactions with the way things work, particularly with the Busse Company Store. He doesn't specifically say "Busse" in the above post, but the nod is there implicitly for folks who have watched him post on BF in the past week. Frankly, I'd rather bld522 at least have the cojones to name names and own up to what he means. Reading across forums, it sure looks like he got his feelings hurt in a recent thread on Fire Wardens and he came over here to lick his wounds and take a passing shot at the Busse folks. That's just not cool. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbdn.gif" alt="" />
I don't think that pitting the sister companies and users of their knives against one another is very beneficial to the community as a whole. I enjoy coming here and talking knives, but I also like to chat with the Busse users and collectors. I'd like to feel that the different knife users have something to say to one another rather than feel like they're separated by "pretentiousness" and "elitism."
bld522, to suggest that your statements are NOT making certain comparisons is just plain disingenuous. One need go no further than the above-mentioned Fire Warden thread to see what I mean. Instead of keeping the argument there, seems you wanted to come over here and make a backhanded stab at the people with whom you were disagreeing. Again... not cool. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
I agree with what Rat said earlier. If you like this forum, then shout it as loud as you like. However, please don't go dissing other people, even by insinuation, just because you don't like the way they get their knives.
It seems you're trying to spread the same kind of "us versus them" mentality that is beginning to infect Bladeforums. And I, for one, don't like it. I'd prefer that we all try to get along.