Replies

1. 
   RalphBarker | Nov 22, 2010 11:37am | #1

   thanks

   Thanks for the update, Gina.

1. 
   9619 | Nov 23, 2010 07:09am | #4

   Ralph,

   Have you ever wondered what life on the Titanic was like in the days before it hit the iceberg,  Or how about life in GM in the early 2000s, or life with the Romanovs before the revolution,  or ................

   I believe we are NOW in a very historic situation.  I think those of us who survive should make a plan for reunions every 10 years to commemorate the Golden Years of Knots.

   Do you think this would have happened if FWW had stayed B&W?

   Is this attributable to the fact the liberal politicians put flouride in the drinking water?

   It is good to try to see the humor in the situation we are facing.    Failure to see the humor could make one angry.  

   Have you seen the movie "The Last Samurai"?      Do you remember the Emperor of Japan?  I can picture him as in charge of Knots at this time.

   I get inspiration from movies.   Did you see "The Day the Earth Stood Still"?      Do you remember the famous line "At the precipice we change."            THis movie gives me some last vestiges of hope that Knots can survive.   

   You should go over, (IF IT IS STILL POSSIBLE) to the thread about "Is Knots dying?"   and look at the brief response that Napie sent to me.     It captures the feeling of those who left Knots, and are not coming back.    

   I suggest that Chris Schwartz buy Taunton and revamp the FWW/Knots side of things.  He can sell off the other pieces to pay for revamping Knots.      I suggest that Tom Lie Nielsen and Rob Lee be put on the Board of Directors of the new Taunton.  They don't accept excuses. They make things go well.  It is an interesting attitude.  I like it.  

   The Knots software problems are not PROBLEMS.   They are symptoms of the problem.     Non-swimmers should not be hired as lifeguards.

   REMEMBER THE OLD DAYS!   -- the days when Boss Crunk was in full swing  --  when Adam Cherubini waxed as eloquently as he dresses, when people really ranted and got things off their chest without being given a three month "timeout" from Knots,   before KNots put little hammers next to the names of a few of the inmates' names and asked them to keep things sanitized,  when Forestgirl tried to control the behavior of those she found offensive, when Lataxe roared on about saving Knots from the TROLLS,  when a long thread was over 200 posts,          and on and on and on.   

   Oh well, back to the shop --  gotta finish up those two chairs and give them to my wife for upholstering in time to give to the grandkids for Christmas.       I have heard rumors that the FWW shop didn't make the staff wear dustmasks for a long time.  It was only after that that things went downhill.  SO WEAR A DUST MASK.      

   Have fun,

   Mel,

   PS  I hope you don't read any anger in this message --  just DEEP DEEP sadness and disappointment at where we have come.   I am one of those who remain, and who hope that Taunton will put some people on this issue who can see that the software problems are not the PROBLEM, but only one of the SYMPTOMS.    A good hospital doesn't let Boy Scouts with the appropriate merit badges do surgery.      Rearranging the chairs on the deck of the Titanic may be a comforting thing for the staff to do just before it sinks, but it doesn't stop the sinking process.   My suggestions above are in my "style".  They are meant to provoke thinking and the will to improve, not to throw stones at lifeguards who were hired but can't swim.

1. 
   RalphBarker | Nov 23, 2010 09:55am | #7

   Well, Mel

   I think it's more complicated than flouride in the water.  ;-)

   Although some of the people who have abandoned Knots were excellent contributors, there were others who added to the "flavor" of the old Knots with their debates, but not much of substance. I don't think that many appreciated the situation FWW/Taunton was in with the old over-priced contract using software that was no longer supported. Under those old contracts, it was common for bandwidth alone to cost thousands of dollars every month. And, since the old software was no longer supported by the vendor, it only made sense for Taunton to switch to a new system at the new, less-expensive rates for Web services. That said, I don't think the conversion was handled well by the tech folks. The new database didn't align with the schema of the old one, so a lot of member data, for example, didn't make the transition. And, there were features that should have been simple to implement, such as in-line images, that (apparently) just weren't considered.

   I also think that a lot of the people who complain about losing the "old Knots" expected Taunton to maintain the old structure regardless of what it was costing. That's unrealistic. It's like a teenager demanding their alloowance continue unchanged, even though Mom and Dad's income has been downsized. Taunton has a business to run, and has to make decisions based on financial considerations. Knots, in my opinion, is an important part of FWW's public relations effort, but the expense level associated with maintaining it needs to be reasonable.

1. 
   9619 | Nov 23, 2010 10:35am | #9

   Ralph,

   I am very aware of the Taunton situation with the old Knots, and why they needed a new system.   Don't tell anyone, but I have some good contacts, and I do understand that Taunton is in business to make money.   

   IMHO, they made two PHENOMENAL mistakes.

   1) they didn't put someone in charge of finding and instituting a new system who was capable of making a smooth transition.  They needed someone who not only understands the systems and software issues, BUT ALSO the "PEOPLE ISSUES"  of how to keep customers around while the change is made.   

   2) Their focus on keeping everything "Nice", and keeping the nasty guys in check backfired BADLY.     Send me a private message with your private email address or your phone number and I will give you some info that you may not be aware of.  It would not be good to write it down here.        This place did fine with self policing.  When someone got out of hand for a short while,  the crazies did some shouting, and then things calmed down.   There was no need for active policing, which did a lot of damage, which they certainly didn't intend.      

   I think you understand that my attributing the problem to flouride was just humor.   I don't respect people who don't take responsibility for their actions or inactions.   Results are what count.   The results of actions and inactions on the part of Taunton are TRAGIC.     There could have been a bump in the road, followed by a much better place than where we are at.  I respect those for focus on EXCELLENCE.    I don't see a focus on excellence for KNOTS.     I EXPECTED to see high ranking management step in and send messages on Knots to let us know of their intentions, and their actions.  I EXPECTED high ranking management to be involved in the MANAGEMENT of the process of change from the old inefficient and costly system to another, in such a way that customers remain loyal and happy.     High level management, and even mid level management didn't show up on Knots.   I neither see nor hear of any indication that they are much interested.     

   Water seeks its own level.   Knots is doing the same. I would respect Taunton management more if they just showed up here and said that KNots is not important to them, and they don't intend to make it competitive with other woodworking websites.  

   In any case, the damage has already been done.    Nothing being said or done here will make any difference.  The chances of folks coming back, or of Knots gaining a new group which is as good as the old group is not very good.    Anything is possible, but I wouldn't bet on it.   On the other hand, I am not going anywhere.  This is an interesting sociological phenomenon to observe.   

   Have fun.   Now it is time to return to the shop, and do some more woodwork.

   Mel

2. 
   alanplanesaw | Nov 22, 2010 10:35pm | #2

   So, how do we get to the other sections of Knots Forum?

   Alan - planesaw

1. 
   user-64052 | Nov 23, 2010 02:46am | #3

   when they get it fixed

2. 
   GEide | Nov 23, 2010 09:34am | #5

   For now...

   For now Alan, go "home," it's the link at the top of the left nav: http://forums.finewoodworking.com/forum

   That'll take you to a list of all the forum folders.

3. 
   RalphBarker | Nov 23, 2010 09:59am | #8

   links at the top

   I've always used a combination of the Back button in the browser and the links near the top of the page to navigate to the various sections:

   Home › Forums › Fine Woodworking Knots › General Discussion

    

    

   How depends on what I've done, and where I want to go

3. 
   GEide | Nov 23, 2010 09:52am | #6

   Image issues fixed

   I just updated the post above to note that the image/avatar issues should be fixed.

4. 
   Don01 | Nov 24, 2010 09:29pm | #10

   Impaired?

   This has been one pathetically long road to sobriety! 

   Don