[TheForge] Re: TheForge Digest, Vol 14, Issue 42

[Ed Thomas]

> Message: 4
> Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2005 22:42:10 -0800
> From: Peter Fels And Phoebe Palmer <artgawk at thegrid.net>
> Subject: [TheForge] Help a sinking ship?
> To: artgawk at thegrid.net, Sponsored by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID: <423E6CC2.50201 at thegrid.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
>
>
> Keenjunk has gone down recently with unfortunate consequences. It hurt
> the blacksmithing community and narrowed the educational resources
> available.
> Abana's purpose to a great extent,is to support the  accessability of BS
>   knowledge...thus ABANA's purpose suffers the loss as well.
> Last time I visited, ABANA's website was near mortibund, despite a
> substantial economic investment.
>
> Anvilfire is teetering on the edge of collapse.
> Anvilfire in it's present form is an invaluable resource for
> blacksmithing, it's forums are active, it's Iforge "demonstrations" are
> straightforward and extensive and the site has a great deal of other
> material.
> It was built up over the years, primarily by the efforts of crusty old
> Jock Dempsey. He has put his heart and a fair part of his life into it.
> He is towards the end of his economic resources, about to loose his shop
> and Anvilfire isn't self supporting yet despite the huge # of hours he
> puts in as editor, web master, programmer, Guru, photo editor and so on.
> He needs secretarial help and bookkeeping, i think,first, new puter
> equiptment and enough time so he can swing a hammer and earn a few bucks.
> For the good of the art/craft, we need to set aside the egos involved
> and make sure that Anvilfire survives...no, thrives.
> I think that ABANA should stop defending it's institutional territory
> and contribute substantially to Anvilfire's support....quickly...
> Doing so would be an extremely cost effective way to effect ABANA's core
> intent....and be the best thing for blacksmithing in general.
> In my mind I can see a bunch of chests puff out and lower lips pout out
> at this proposal....Hey folks, time to go for a larger overview on this
> one......Respectfully,   Pete Fels
>
>

Keenjunk, under new management, is thriving just fine as "forgemagic", with
the same look and feel.  Iforgeiron is back online and has a FAR superior
format to both anvilfire and forgemagic.   I personally find anvilfire to be
clumsy and dated, and a bit arrogant.  I almost never go there except in the
usually vain hope of getting info on a calendar event.  I think the idea of
ABANA supporting such a board is an affront to those folks who set up and
maintain the official ABANA board.  The traffic on the ABANA forums is not
high as you said.  Perhaps it would be higher if you would encourage posting
on the ABANA board instead of diluting the wealth by going elsewhere...
especially while using an ABANA resource; this email exploder.  I don't
appreciate encouraging the squandering of my ABANA dues on such a mismanaged
enterprise as anvilfire.  If you like the board, give them your money, not
mine.
Ed Thomas