What’s up with the ‘Tell FWW how you (pick your topic)’. What’s up with this all of a sudden? Has FWW lost the ability to come up with ideas for story content? Do they have a sudden dearth of wood working competence on their editorial staff that they need to mine the Knots forum for technique and story content? Did anyone else beside me note that John WW is no longer on FWW staff? Does that go for the rest of the wood working writing talent they’ve had on staff, leaving only journalist majors that know more about english and sentence structure than they do wood working?
Inquiring minds want to know…
Replies
*LOL*
Damned if they do, damned if they don't.
A couple of recent threads lambasted the editors for their lack of direction, and begged them to consult the readership of this forum for new ideas and supporting expertise.
Now, when they make some steps in that direction, they get complaints about not doing it all themselves.
I'd hate to be an editor.
Oh?! I didn't see those threads. I guess you're right, can't win for lose. My mistake. But I'll tell ya, they've taken that direction with gusto!
Hi jeff,
I for one feel really good about it and I probably voiced my opinion as one of the loudest too. If we feel that the quality of FWW needs a boost, then I think we should be flattered that they are polling us for inputs.
As to your remarks about their grammar expertise with little or no knowledge about woodworking, maybe that's a good thing. We can help them fill in the gaps and everyone wins!
I am not criticizing your comments, just attempting to present a different possibility for ya. Have a great day.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
John's move was announced in the FWW.com pages some time ago, he is now working at Yestermorrow Design/Build School in Warren, Vt
Let's give the editors a break, eh? The are responding directly to requests from several Knots members to seek reader input. At least we know why they're asking the questions. It's the "polls" that get under my skin, slightly, occasionally, when I'm feeling grumpy.......... ;-)
I guess my second post was not enough.MY BAD. I did not see the posts referenced directing the editorial staff to take content direction from the Knots forum members. Had I known of this, I would not have started this thread.
Jeff,
Surely being a journalist (formally qualified or not) doesn't exclude being a woodworker, perhaps even a very good one. In fact, all those who have contributed excellent FWW articles over the years may perhaps be adjudged very good at both, whether they had formal qualifications or not?
The Internet has made a big difference to how many people regard and use information. In the past most of us were passive consumers of information with a few who provided it. We had many real teachers and experts but also a number of tedious self-appointed Authorities and Gurus. Now we all have an opportunity and the means to provide information to each other as well. Is this not a better model than the authoritarian one, assuming some kind of standard-setting for, and testing of, the content?
Nor do articles submitted by ordinary readers displace more exacting and informed articles from those real experts, the traditional articles still seen in FWW (despite the claims of the nostalgists that the "fine" is being watered down).
Since the FWW website has developed I personally have used Taunton information resources a lot more and, consequently, learnt a lot more, at a dizzy pace. Much of what I learnt in the past 24 months came from (or was intigated by) FWW readers, via Knots.
Whilst the website content may still be in early evolution, with a few misses as well as the many hits, I feel it has a great future. I hope to contribute a tiny bit. Perhaps you might consider a contribution too, in the new reader's blog? Give it a whirl an see how it feels.
Lataxe
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