Thanks Nathan,
You hit it on the nail though and I can be quite standoffish. Also I find at times its hard to know exactly what to post about. Rarely ever start threads and usually just add my two cents worth but I'll see if I can think of anything interesting to share maybe even an article or something. You'll have to let me know next time you're in the midwest, I'd definitely like to visit with you again.

Thank you Jason what a great topic to bring up. I know Jason and a few others have said this, but education is the answer. I myself cannot believe what I read out there, it is very scary because sadly this is what's teaching the new and younger people. Some of it actually makes me sick when I see others running with it, holding onto that bit of false information as if it were fact. My area is the Japanese sword and it has taken a long time to gain the knowledge that I have. For those of you who do not know me, I am a Japanese sword polisher. I can say I still learn new things to this day. I think that we all can say we still learn something new all the time, it may not be every day,week or month but we do.

Rick, I could not have worded some of the issues you touched on any better. I think it is safe to say that some of the smiths out there would be more than happy to answer questions you may have. That is if the question is not totally out there and just plain nonsense. That is how we learn; that is how we filter fact from ficton. Nathan, I do aplaud you for the actions you would like to take. Creating a good environment over all is what is needed. I hope more people with the right knowledge speak up more now. I know I will be doing so.

Hi Rick, check your e-mail!

* Rick,

Did you get my email from about two weeks ago re: my Chinese jian? I'll try PM-ing you here...


*

Quote:

Ruel remembers those days as he was a regular poster on the old forums.

Ah, those were the good old days, weren't they, Joel? Back then I had both the money to be buying swords and the time to be talking about them!


* Over time, I find my attitude becoming more like Patrick's -- for better or worse! ;) I enjoy talking to newbies about swords: Not as an "expert" to a "novice," but simply as a matter of sharing mutual interests by pooling ideas. You can learn something from everyone. However, I have increasingly less tolerance for people who are willfully ignorant, ie. those who refuse to apply any critical thinking to what they (think they) know. And increasingly, too, I find it harder not to call such people out on that willful ignorance.


* Nathan, I've sent you a PM also. :)