Good thread topic, thanks for posting this!
Here are a few of my thoughts on the subject -
Innovation will always be welcomed by some, attacked or ignored by others. Some people are gonna have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo, or at least in slowing change / progress down.
Secret Sauce is permissible. If you are a professional in the industry, its almost a given. Everyone gets to share what they want, and keep to themselves what they don’t. Sometimes guys who say very little reveal a lot with photos. I say study the photos, take what you can get from it, and be thankful for the opportunity.
I also say, if you are NOT a professional in the industry, then, when it comes to your own work, why not tell all? I always try to give thorough descriptions of the boards I make, with dimensions, fin diagrams where applicable, lots of photos, follow up, etc. I’m not trying to be an expert, just like to share anything I think might be of interest to others, and I like it when others do the same.
Its not nice to trash someone’s party, or thread, but its pretty hard to do if you are being completely ignored.
We’re pretty lenient on rules, we are after all just a forum for surfboard people. But as probably the most “hands-on” moderator here I can say threads that get out of whack can get edited, shut down, moved to E&B, locked, etc. However, I also gotta say I think the majority of posters here do pretty good at following the rules without a lot of intervention.
Anyone can make the forum a better place by giving commendation where due, or answering a question (no matter how many times its been asked), or posting a project. When you do the opposite, give an insult, ignore a question you know the answer to, or just don’t post your projects, you bring the forum down a little, IMO.
One of the biggest dangers to any online forum is when individuals or groups of posters begin to take on a sense of entitlement, i.e. begin thinking its “their forum”, they can dictate what’s acceptible to post or not post, throw insults at other posters, and the like. Its a public forum, but it takes place on private property. Unless you’re the property owner, then its best to refrain from the entitlement syndrome, IMO.
The forum is far from perfect, but look at the world around us (its kinda messed up). All things considered, this is still one of the best places online to learn about surfboard design and construction, and to talk shop with other surfboard people.
I say if you want a better Swaylocks then post up some photos, share what you know, tell us what you did, spread some stoke, give a compliment, and just try to ignore the people that bug you.