Lost opportunity?
- Thread starter Wayland
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I think the base problem excluding cost, is the size of market. This is compounded by cost and getting time off. Am I right in saying that the course did not go ahead last year either, due to lack of numbers? So this is not a new problem. I see both courses are being run separately. Did the basic course fill quicker than the advanced? With each time it's run, the potential numbers that might go on such a course is likely to reduce. Is there that much repeat business? From such a small customer base, 80% of work comes from 20% of your customers. This is always going to be a problem with a specialised nieche market further reduced by being aimed at a small group within that market.
Cold turkey and chips
Cold turkey and chips
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I was thinking that. Perhaps the reason I haven't read Wayland's comments in the way that some others have is that I have been at about half a dozen meets when he has been there and I can 'hear' him saying his comments in his calm, reasoned way.
In fact - as it happens - I posted something on this general point only on 12 December, post 24 (Wayland started this 'Lost opportunity' thread on 23 December):
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=82945&p=1006889&highlight=#post1006889
(don't know how to link directly to an individual post)
Where I said:
"One way communication was quick and quiet but gave poor results. - like some e-mail/forum discussions when somebody starts to get upset because someone has said something in a way that was open to different interpretations."
I wanted to make that point because some time ago I was on the receiving end of such 'different interpretations', so I have some idea of what it is like.
Apart from the guy that got himself banned, I don't think this conversation has been vitriolic.
Most points have been raised in calm fashion and most make perfectly reasonable points. I have no problems with that.
It is interesting that some take a general comment and react as if they are aimed specifically at them. Perhaps it is a side effect of the medium.
We sit, most often alone, typing into a computer which promptly broadcasts our thoughts to a wide and diverse audience which, for the most part, reads those thoughts alone.
I guess, by the same theory that says an infinite set of monkeys with typewriters will produce the works of Shakespeare some day, that occasionally those thoughts will strike a chord in someone which may seem personal and that sparks a reaction.
Or maybe that was just typed by a monkey in a dark room...
Most points have been raised in calm fashion and most make perfectly reasonable points. I have no problems with that.
It is interesting that some take a general comment and react as if they are aimed specifically at them. Perhaps it is a side effect of the medium.
We sit, most often alone, typing into a computer which promptly broadcasts our thoughts to a wide and diverse audience which, for the most part, reads those thoughts alone.
I guess, by the same theory that says an infinite set of monkeys with typewriters will produce the works of Shakespeare some day, that occasionally those thoughts will strike a chord in someone which may seem personal and that sparks a reaction.
Or maybe that was just typed by a monkey in a dark room...
woodspirits
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
He he...
I'm off out for a few days now so you'll all just have to play nicely on your own for a while now.
I'm off out for a few days now so you'll all just have to play nicely on your own for a while now.
wayland said:
I think this is the problem. When we are in a group, most of the time we can tell by body language & tone wether its a specific dig, a moan, or just a general comment, what is meant. The odd times we do take offence, our response(at least to begin with) is measured, so it will take a while for it to turn into a slanging match.
On the interweb on the other hand, we can see a statement, mis interpret it and instantly start jumping down throats, within seconds. Yeah, it was dumb that the guys 1st post was so in your face, but it could just as easily come from a more established forum member.
As a slight tangent, I find it helps to read any questionable post a couple of times before responding, and then read the reply out load before hitting the post button. And if it still sounds bad, or the innitial post has me riled that much, leave it an hour or two before replying. If I go away and watch a bit of telly, and I'm still peeved, then maybe its justified getting a terse reply.
Total newbie, joined an already heating thread and trolled, repeatedly ?
Yeah, he got banned.
Toddy.......and no, it wasn't by me, but I can fully appreciate the reasoning behind it.
He was very open with his thoughts in a couple of posts to Wayland, he was a new member, he got banned. Over the top reaction in my opinion, perhaps a weeks suspension would have been more appropriate but hey ho, such is life.
forestwalker
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Soeone mentioned UKP2000, which oresumably would be kit for UKP1000. I do not see UKP1000 kit as needed, definitely not kit uopgrade for that. A sleeping bag (or double two "3 season" ones), a bivy (3 m of poplin from the fabric store, at most one hour with Mrs Husquarna or Miss Singer), an anorak or somesuch (what is the surplus rate for the Swedish army one?), boots (ok, one migth have to pay UKP120 for those). The only thing there that is special is the boots, but even they would make "you" the envy the next time the UK gets a bit of snow, while waiting to see if the buss might come. The rest is kit that might come in handy whern doing winter camping in the UK (ok, the M90 parka might be overkill, but will work).
As to boots, I just bought a pair of http://www.skramtraskskon.com/?page_id=4&shopp_pid=17 Wool felt with a rubber bottom. They extremely ligth, i particular when compared to my Nokian wellies (http://nokianjalkineet.fi/en/boots-outdoor/tuura-en/ but http://nokianjalkineet.fi/en/boots-outdoor/kaira-en/ is better for expedition wear).
But for some reason winter courses are hard to fill. I know that some years the Swedish Surival Guild one had not made numbers either (hmm, SEK 4500, near Åre this year).
As to boots, I just bought a pair of http://www.skramtraskskon.com/?page_id=4&shopp_pid=17 Wool felt with a rubber bottom. They extremely ligth, i particular when compared to my Nokian wellies (http://nokianjalkineet.fi/en/boots-outdoor/tuura-en/ but http://nokianjalkineet.fi/en/boots-outdoor/kaira-en/ is better for expedition wear).
But for some reason winter courses are hard to fill. I know that some years the Swedish Surival Guild one had not made numbers either (hmm, SEK 4500, near Åre this year).
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I think people are missing the point big time.
You could never get an antler handled Woodlore for £520
You could never get an antler handled Woodlore for £520
I think people are missing the point big time.
You could never get an antler handled Woodlore for £520
But why would you want one when a 10 quid mora cuts just as well and a (INSERT HOBBY MAKER NAME HERE) Woodlore clone is 'just as good'.
I'm a newbie to the forum and bushcraft. In a year or two when I have more experience and have accumulated some better kit and assuming I'm working then I may well be up for something like this course.
Getting my first winter camping experience from tomorrow at Comrie Croft for the new year. According to the forecast it's only just getting down to freezing. Fingers crossed it gets a bit colder.
Getting my first winter camping experience from tomorrow at Comrie Croft for the new year. According to the forecast it's only just getting down to freezing. Fingers crossed it gets a bit colder.
But why would you want one when a 10 quid mora cuts just as well and a (INSERT HOBBY MAKER NAME HERE) Woodlore clone is 'just as good'.
Because I want one and don't want another Mora
Is there a better reason?
I agree the price for kit quoted seems huge to me. Surely if your post count is in the 1000s you are likely to be reasonably experienced and therefore taking the opportunity when it arises to get outdoors. Therefore most people should already have most of the gear they need. A trip to decathlon or some careful eBay activity should fill in the gaps.
Wayne I agree the price for kit quoted seems huge to me. Surely if your post count is in the 1000s you are likely to be reasonably experienced and therefore taking the opportunity when it arises to get outdoors....
I read a sailing/cruising forum where a member who has not sailed past the marina entrance in 7 years to my certain knowledge, posts on everything from sea conditions off Patagonia to the price of Greek diesel in the Cyclades...
I read a sailing/cruising forum where a member who has not sailed past the marina entrance in 7 years to my certain knowledge, posts on everything from sea conditions off Patagonia to the price of Greek diesel in the Cyclades...
