Official Luthiers Forum!

I recently received a typical blackmail/spam email that claimed to have my “password” and have planted spyware on my computer. It said it had a history of porn sites I visited and was blackmailing me on threat that they would “embarrass me to my work and family friends”.

Not only do I not visit any porn sites, but the only name and “password” they had were the ones I use on this site. Clearly this forum administrator did not keep our information secure, and he either didn’t know or he chose not to inform us that he had been hacked.

My point is that as much as I would like to analogize this forum to a cordial meeting of luthiers at the local rec center it is nothing of the sort. The Internet is an ugly place where you expose yourself to considerable peril. Using your real name, like posting your real email, makes no sense to me.

The trade off is that you have people expressing opinions forcefully with little or no knowledge and even less experience. There is no way to vet their advice behind the anonymity of their handle. But, truthfully, that is what the Internet is. Caveat emptor. Whether it is advice about guitars or your favorite conspiracy theory website, it is up to you to use your brain verifying and cross checking what you hear.

I understand that is not a popular view and few people bother. But it is what the Internet demands. There is always someone willing to tell you exactly what you want to hear. Whether it is that an ebony fretboard makes a guitar louder than a rosewood fretboard or that some group whose politics you disagree with eats babies for breakfast. It is up to you to separate the truth tellers from the BS artist.


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I visit a lot of forums on a daily basis, but I only use my real name in 2 places - here, and on the Studebaker Drivers Club forum. Why? Because I actually know people in both worlds and want them to be able to find me quick.

However, on several other forums I use a screenname (different one on each forum), but if asked - I will provide my real name. And as evidenced on this forum - I'll answer anyone - but look out! If I'm grumpy, I'm likely to unload with prejudice, but if I'm in a good place - I'll help out if I can. Sometimes both ways in the same thread. I rarely hold back, and am even wrong once in a great while.

I'm just happy to see some action on this forum in the last week. Sometimes the OLF is a boring place. If it takes a little controversy or bent feelings to get posts on the move - so be it.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince