[TheForge] Blacksmiths in space!

[Bruce]

Gang,

Over the past few years I've been visiting Reddit blacksmithing sites
(subreddits).  There are lots of real requests for information, but the
"amusing" ones are the guys who start with zero knowledge (like maybe their
"education" was from Forged in Fire shows) and proceed to ask the most
ridiculous questions.  That alone would not be a problem, but virtually the
same questions occur time after time from different newbies. I do what I
can to set them straight, and my efforts are often rewarded, but other
times it's an uphill battle.

As far as in-person training, I find that teaching a person to swing a
hammer "properly" (i.e., effectively) is often (usually) the first
problem.  Related is the fact that some guys just don't get it that a 5-lb
hammer is not the best one to use all the time.

The big issue locally is a drop-off in membership and attendance.  I see
lots of interest online, but little in person.  Either of two things may
have precipitated this:  the pandemic (a significant contributor) and our
switching to an emailed newsletter (simply for economic reasons).  Then on
top of that is that I resigned as newsletter editor because I just had "too
many irons in the fire" and was getting insufficient assistance from
others, and nobody picked up the gauntlet.  Our Board is meeting
(virtually) tonight, and this will be prominent in the discussions.

Bruce
NJBA