Ill-Informed Discussions.

[imbibehour]

I have no interest in pointing fingers at anyone but I have been shocked at how ill-informed some of the discussions are on this board. I don't blame the people who I know know better for not jumping in because we all get tired of debunking the same myths and misconceptions, and correcting the same factual mistakes. I suggest that many participants here would be well served by reading and watching, and certainly writing and recording, fewer blogs and podcasts, and perhaps even making fewer posts here, that all seem to recycle the same ignorance. Instead read a book, or WHISKY Magazine, or Malt Advocate, or The Bourbon Country Reader. I hate to say it, but the web alone will not make you a knowledgable whiskey enthusiast (assuming you want to be). Either the answers aren't there or it's just a bitch to find them amidst all the crap. Too much talking, not enough learning. And don't play ball on my lawn.

Well I haven't been on here in weeks so it can't be me :grin:

Actually this is a good resource here but I think there are two problems when it comes to finding factual information and part of that is site searching on forums doesn't always work, and thus you see the same posts all the time. The mods here HAVE to stick with this and just deal with the idea that people are going to post the same stuff and answer.

Secondly, and I am probably going to take some heat for this but here goes:

Kill the acronyms.

Seriously. This is one of the few forums I've been in that is just incredibly acronym dependant that I've ever seen (and I am talk about ALL Internet forums I've been in). Everyone is doing it on here.

The reason I say this is because this really makes it harder for new users to get an understanding of what is being discussed. When that happens it makes it look like this is a secret club with a special language that you can't understand. Yes you made a list, but it's a pain when I read something, then I have to go to another browser window and open it up and scroll through a list (which mind you doesn't have everything cause I am sure nobody is really maintaining it now) and find out what bourbon/whiskey people are discussing. I've managed to remember many of the acronyms on here already but if I go away and comeback, or people talk about one that I haven't heard of lately it's frustrating. Think about thatfor a brand new user how hard that might be when they sign up.

Sorry to get off topic there but I think it makes a difference in communicating and discussions.

Now on the subject, I haven't posted a bit on here but I've been busy,and when I do I look for relevant feedback. Much of it has been very helpful and not "smarmy". It actually made my Applejack video just a pinch better by adding some extra notes on a comparisonsI did recently.

[kickert]

Seriously. This is one of the few forums I've been in that is just incredibly acronym dependant that I've ever seen (and I am talk about ALL Internet forums I've been in). Everyone is doing it on here.

You obviously haven't gone to DaiperSwappers.com. Here is their abbreviation list:

http://www.diaperswappers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=202944

Anyway... I hear what you are saying, but I don't exactly agree. The point of SB.com (as best I can tell) is not to serve as a resource for people looking to learn about whiskey. Instead, it is a place where people come to discuss whiskey (and in the process of course they learn). The emergence of acronyms is just something that happens when people are discussing a topic.

I tend to think that is just something that comes with the territory. And while I remember having to learn a bit in order to be able to participate, I don't think SB.com is any worse than the other forums I have been a part of. The thing I think takes the most getting used to is learning first names. I have never been on a forum where so many people refer to each other by their first name instead of their handle. That can make it tough to follow along when you don't know who is talking to who, but again it is a natural emergence that has come because people here actually know each other... something I don't see as much elsewhere.

[GOCOUGS2002]

Kill the acronyms.

Seriously. This is one of the few forums I've been in that is just incredibly acronym dependant that I've ever seen (and I am talk about ALL Internet forums I've been in). Everyone is doing it on here.

If you think the acronyms here are bad, don't join the armed forces. There are 17,640 recognized acronyms; thats not counting all the ones we make up on a daily basis.

There is an acronym list sticky on the new to straightbourbon subforum; when I first joined I printed it out so I could follow the discussions, after a week I was well versed in the bourbon geek "language".

[pepcycle]

So, I hear we have some plumbers in the house tonight - big plumbing convention in town this week - so I thought I'd make a special joke, just for you, the plumbers, so here we go. If you're not a plumber, please sit tight, laugh along anyway, the joke is hilarious even if you don't get it. Because you're not a plumber. But if you ARE a plumber, you'll love it. So, here we go. Big plumbing joke. (deep breath) So, these two guys are working on a golf course reticulation system (chuckles) and the first guy says to his buddy 'George, I can't get this flange backed off.' Well, old George looks over and says 'Jeez Pete, you need to use a 3/4" gangly wrench on a Hobson spigot'. (snicker). Pete says 'I am, pass me yours, maybe mine's broken'. So George... (guffaw).. George passes his tool across .. (snort).. and then Pete says 'GANGLY wrench? I thought you said DANDY wrench!!'.. (paroxysms of self induced laughter)...(looks offstage as if in response to a director's cue) ... Sooooooo, folks, there's a big plumbing convention starting TOMORROW apparently...

[imbibehour]

If you think the acronyms here are bad, don't join the armed forces. There are 17,640 recognized acronyms; thats not counting all the ones we make up on a daily basis.

Oh I know... I worked for DOD as a contractor for many years...

[ErichPryde]

Sourcing the abbreviation list will seriously help. The acronyms here are pretty intense, but in my limited experience they've been just as bad elsewhere (like the Honda forum I used to frequent).

[BBQ+Bourbon]

Well I haven't been on here in weeks so it can't be me :grin:

Actually this is a good resource here but I think there are two problems when it comes to finding factual information and part of that is site searching on forums doesn't always work, and thus you see the same posts all the time. The mods here HAVE to stick with this and just deal with the idea that people are going to post the same stuff and answer.

Secondly, and I am probably going to take some heat for this but here goes:

Kill the acronyms.

Seriously. This is one of the few forums I've been in that is just incredibly acronym dependant that I've ever seen (and I am talk about ALL Internet forums I've been in). Everyone is doing it on here.

The reason I say this is because this really makes it harder for new users to get an understanding of what is being discussed. When that happens it makes it look like this is a secret club with a special language that you can't understand. Yes you made a list, but it's a pain when I read something, then I have to go to another browser window and open it up and scroll through a list (which mind you doesn't have everything cause I am sure nobody is really maintaining it now) and find out what bourbon/whiskey people are discussing. I've managed to remember many of the acronyms on here already but if I go away and comeback, or people talk about one that I haven't heard of lately it's frustrating. Think about thatfor a brand new user how hard that might be when they sign up.

Sorry to get off topic there but I think it makes a difference in communicating and discussions.

Now on the subject, I haven't posted a bit on here but I've been busy,and when I do I look for relevant feedback. Much of it has been very helpful and not "smarmy". It actually made my Applejack video just a pinch better by adding some extra notes on a comparisonsI did recently.

When I started reading SB.com the abbreviations were difficult to understand. I started searching for the terms, and signed up as a member. Truthfully, I might not have become part of the SB community if it weren't for the need to understand the terminology. As far as I'm concerned, it would be great if people who don't care enough to research the basic language would move on.

Anyway, if you're an active member of this community, you will know the language.

[fishnbowljoe]

It took me a while to learn all the abbreviations when I joined. My head was spinning a little at first, but I adapted rather quickly. Besides, it's a heck of a lot easier than typing out some of the names. Joe

[BBQ+Bourbon]

That's cool. I just heard about this great little distillery in Templeton, Iowa, that was started by Al Capone and has a system for making ten-year-old whiskey in about 15 minutes.

That's actually true, but it only works because of the Texas grains that are unique to that area.

[barturtle]

Kill the acronyms.

Get over it. Every hobby/job/culture has its own language that must be mastered for maximum enjoyment. If you don't care enough to take the time to learn it, it's not our problem.

And it's my list. However, I don't have the moderator access to do the updates, nor do I want such access. It gets updated when it gets updated. Daily updates on an ever changing language is impractical, changes get noted when a significant number of acronyms are added or changed and come into standard and regular usage.

If you don't like it you can go start your own whiskey board, everyone else is doing it.

[humchan2k]

This, I like....good shit, Sku.

[cowdery]

As the wise fool said, "a kind word never broke a tooth."

[fishnbowljoe]

I sure wish there was a smiley that was missing a tooth. :grin:

And yes, I admit that sometimes I'm ill informed. Get over it. :slappin: Joe

[craigthom]

The reason I say this is because this really makes it harder for new users to get an understanding of what is being discussed.

The problem Chuck brought up, though, wasn't with people asking questions; the problem is with people answering questions with wrong information, like those who don't know that all Jack Green comes from barrels low in the warehouse. I know it's true because I heard it from a tour guide.

[CorvallisCracker]

Kill the acronyms.

Seriously. This is one of the few forums I've been in that is just incredibly acronym dependant that I've ever seen (and I am talk about ALL Internet forums I've been in). Everyone is doing it on here.

OMG! You're not saying we're so bourbon geeky as to be GAFL candidates, are you? YMMV, but I disagree.

I sure wish there was a smiley that was missing a tooth. :grin:

My BFF Joe wants a smiley missing a tooth? My BFF Joe gets one!

[imbibehour]

Man this thread really de-railed...

I don't know want's scarier, plumbers jokes, someone getting worked up over a suggestion or

the fact that kickert knows about a website called diaperswappers :skep:

[Josh]

Man this thread really de-railed...

I don't know want's scarier, plumbers jokes, someone getting worked up over a suggestion or

the fact that kickert knows about a website called diaperswappers :skep:

Kickert's a stay-at-home dad and a user of cloth diapers for his daughter, as am I. I've been to that website, but it says it's for moms so I guess I can't join.

[imbibehour]

Kickert's a stay-at-home dad and a user of cloth diapers for his daughter, as am I. I've been to that website, but it says it's for moms so I guess I can't join.

man I said it once and I'll say it again.. there is always a web forum for ANYTHING... :cool:

[kickert]

Kickert's a stay-at-home dad and a user of cloth diapers for his daughter, as am I. I've been to that website, but it says it's for moms so I guess I can't join.

There it is...

And trust me... those "mommies" are intense. I have taken exception with their gender-exclusive terminology on the site, but it is often a loosing battle.

[imbibehour]

There it is...

And trust me... those "mommies" are intense. I have taken exception with their gender-exclusive terminology on the site, but it is often a loosing battle.

I feel for you man, lets all start a petition and get kickert IN!!!

Bourbon afficionados and fans demand addition for member to diaperswappers be heard

man there's a World Weekly News headline right there somewhere.

[CorvallisCracker]

man there's a World Weekly News headline right there somewhere.

Oooo, I have some bad news for you.

[fishnbowljoe]

OMG! My BFF Joe wants a smiley missing a tooth? My BFF Joe gets one!

Now that's funny. :slappin: :slappin: :slappin: :slappin: :slappin: Nice one Scott. Joe

[darkluna]

Get over it. Every hobby/job/culture has its own language that must be mastered for maximum enjoyment. If you don't care enough to take the time to learn it, it's not our problem.

And it's my list. However, I don't have the moderator access to do the updates, nor do I want such access. It gets updated when it gets updated. Daily updates on an ever changing language is impractical, changes get noted when a significant number of acronyms are added or changed and come into standard and regular usage.

If you don't like it you can go start your own whiskey board, everyone else is doing it.

Acronyms can be an obstacle to understanding for sure, but so can spelling. I've always been partial to the idea of using the full name/phrase/whatever in a sentence and then relying on the acronym on future references.

[cowdery]

Maybe we should merge with the diaperswappers. This site could use more women and they could probably use a drink.

[imbibehour]

I need a drink right now reading all of this...