The only thing I'll disagree with is about the criticism. If I'm making the scales for you, or if I ask you, specifically for your thoughts on a certain design, fine. I'm prepared for whatever you have to say. If not, keep your mouth shut. One man's trash is another man's treasure, and what I like, you may not, and vice versa (gotta love the run-on sentence ) Unasked-for criticism is rude and stupid. Believe it or not, not everyone wants to know what you think, or considers your opinion as important as you do. This wasn't meant to pick on anyone. Just my philosophy on it. (Obviously this only applies to a person's craftsmanship, and their attempts to honestly add to the hobby we all love...politics in the off-topic is a totally different manner ). Good things should be shouted from the mountaintop...negative things should be handled quietly.

A long time ago, I read a tale from one of my knifemaking heroes, Ed Fowler, and he told the story of meeting a couple of his knifemaking heroes and asking their opinion of his knives (he was a new maker at the time). One of his heroes dismissed him, and criticized them mercilessly. Another (Bill Moran) took his time and found some good things to say, even though (by Ed's own admission) they were pretty rough. This good constructive criticism laid the foundation for his interaction with other knifemakers, and didn't kill his spirit. It made him want to improve, instead of getting defensive and trying to defend the undefensible, causing hard feelings and possible lost friendships. And Ed is, today, recognized as one of the premier makers of the "high performance" knife. (And I've heard amazing things about some of Ed's knives...one customer claimed one of his cleaned 132 harvested animals in a processing plant without sharpening)

Again, this only applies if you've been asked for your opinion, or if you've actually spent your money to play. Certain discussions require opinions and whatnot, but too many guys who've never made anything feel free to criticize another's work. Didn't your momma ever tell you that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything? Or is that just a Southern thing? I think most guys grasp this concept, but there are always a few squeaky wheels.

I think we're all guilty of saying things we regret in a flash of pique or anger, but as a group of supposed gentlemen, we should earnestly try to limit it.