More and more recently I find myself reading through an entire thread only to find that the purpose of the thread was self promotional. A poster has a desired end and purpose including an announcement of sorts and the forum, and everyone participating in the thread is essentially just being used to showcase someone's effort to self promote.......
This upsets me to no end and I feel as if I have been conned........
We often have threads that are designed and approved by Lance and Brock to be promotional in nature and since the purpose of these threads is not veiled and is pre-approved we all can choose in advance if we care to read them or not. Our choices are not taken from us - we have full free will. And we may even choose to purchase some pretty cool products too if we wish.
But what I am speaking of are threads where someone solicits what has the look and feel of an honest discussion only to eventually lead to an announcement of sorts or a showcasing of their wares or IP (intellectual property) that is in fact a promotion.
I am NOT speaking of a thread where someone wants to show off a guitar that they just completed and that they are understandably very proud of - you folks rock!
Why Are We Here: It's not my sandbox so-to-speak but I greatly appreciate the OLF and I am very quick to let everyone know that this wonderful forum has done more for my own building than any and all other sources combined.
I see the OLF as a place to learn. To ask questions and to receive answers and if you feel confident that you can answer questions with safe, sound, best practice, do-no-harm advice jump in and do that too. Give something back if you are able. And if you have a plethora of questions, for now, know in advance that you are helping many others by asking these questions and that this is in and of itself a contribution to the forum too. Without the folks who ask the questions we would not exist.........
I have also learned that the more guitar building that I do - the less I seem to know...... What I mean is that as we become more experienced it also becomes obvious to us, at least to me....., that I have FAR more to learn - things that I never even imagined would be issues that I need to become knowledgeable about in time. The learning never ends and in a very big way this is probably the real attraction to guitar building for me personally.
This is why I would like to see more honest guitar building discussion and less self promotional threads and posts please. I also would like to see threads titled more in line with the actual topic. Members should be able to tell at a glance from your thread topic what the thread is about so that we may decide, in advance, if we want to peel back the onion and read the thing....... And if your thread is titled in accordance with the real meat of the thread it will be easier for others to find in the archives as a result of a search on key words.
It's been a year since I last went on the nut here and I am not looking for any pats on the back for not getting all emo for a year - that would be self promotional......
![[headinwall]](./images/smilies/headbangwalluf8.gif "Mad")
so forgive me please for asking some folks, and you know who you are, to consider my requests and help to keep the OLF a place of sharing and learning and not self promotion.Thanks
clinton