Is APC dying out?

[spectra1]

Humm precisely nothing.....probably, or maybe something I cant remember. I'll let you know when it come back to me.

[SharkWhisperer]

Humm precisely nothing.....probably, or maybe something I cant remember. I'll let you know when it come back to me.

Enthralling answer. You don't even realize that you write/sound like an average 12-year-old?

 

Perhaps stay quiet, young child, until you can contribute constructively. You seem to be wasting electrons in posting nonsense.

 

The thread is: What are the strengths and weaknesses of the APC forum?

 

Anything else that you choose to spout related to your pyro expertise is also welcome. We are interested in what you know, spectra; guessing not a lot...

Edited February 13, 2020 by SharkWhisperer

[SharkWhisperer]

Refund his money and ban? I'm sure we could all pitch in and make up for the lost donation.

You're like the baby jackal, hesitantly nosing in for a taste of baby warthog blood after your mama & daddy made a kill. Becoming emboldened but still a cautious lil pup.

 

A good, safe position, young man. Now stand up for yourself for once.

 

Tell us, please---what exactly do you do in pyro? What is your area of expertise?

 

What do you bring to the table?

 

And, most importantly, what is your opinion regarding the topic of discussion-THE VALUE AND LIMITATIONS OF APC?

 

Please share.

Edited February 13, 2020 by SharkWhisperer

[Mumbles]

First, I appreciate you all who appreciate what we do here. As I've said multiple times, I like both APC and FW. I feel like we fulfill complimentary aspects in the hobby. I like certain aspects of both forums. Being mostly open and available to the masses is something that has always been important to me and the spirit of the forum. There have been several important players in getting to where we are. If you're interested in a little history, try to find a post I made a few years ago for my 10,000th post. I think it's just called 10,000th post.

 

That said another thing that has always been important to me and the spirit of the forum has been somewhat cordial interactions. I try not to run anyone off unless they're utterly hopeless.

 

With that said, I would appreciate it if several of you would knock it the fuck off. Being intentionally confrontational, argumentative, or unnecessarily abrasive kills the environment and desire to freely share ideas. There's been a lot of it going on. It's not just shark whisperer.

 

Play nice in the sand box or I'm happy to smash some faces into the sand or scoop out the turds.

[SharkWhisperer]

"You're retired and are blowing off baby rockets on the beach in Costa Rica, ffs, waiting for your next SSI check to get deposited in a US bank so you can eat something besides rice n beans for the next 2 week"

 

....what were you saying again about playground name-calling?

That is not name-calling. That is stating facts. Ask the man, ffs.

[SharkWhisperer]

First, I appreciate you all who appreciate what we do here. As I've said multiple times, I like both APC and FW. I feel like we fulfill complimentary aspects in the hobby. I like certain aspects of both forums. Being mostly open and available to the masses is something that has always been important to me and the spirit of the forum. There have been several important players in getting to where we are. If you're interested in a little history, try to find a post I made a few years ago for my 10,000th post. I think it's just called 10,000th post.

 

That said another thing that has always been important to me and the spirit of the forum has been somewhat cordial interactions. I try not to run anyone off unless they're utterly hopeless.

 

With that said, I would appreciate it if several of you would knock it the fuck off. Being intentionally confrontational, argumentative, or unnecessarily abrasive kills the environment and desire to freely share ideas. There's been a lot of it going on. It's not just shark whisperer.

 

Play nice in the sand box or I'm happy to smash some faces into the sand or scoop out the turds.

Accepted. I agree and extend an olive branch of peace to my fellow pyros who may have taken offense with previous exchanges.

 

Looking forward to more productive discussions.

 

Still, the basic thread remains open. Impersonally: What are the best and worst things about APC and what it offers? And do we have suggestions to improve it?

Edited February 13, 2020 by SharkWhisperer

[Boophoenix]

I think there is more personal interaction between a larger amount of the members at FW since many are in the US and another large percentage frequent events by various clubs.

I was pleased to see some safety warnings in a recent thread here. That’s one thing I’ve noticed with the larger multi national membership here things are done or shown done in more of a YouTube way that is unsettling for me a little. I don’t have problems with an individual accepting there own risk variables, but do a little when they display those. We never know the age, aptitude, or common since of others following along. I had a recent PM conversation with a fellow on the exact thing not long ago as I felt he had shown something I didn’t think was safe to show publicly. It was an educational and respectful conversation I felt hopefully for us both. We often forget that just because people aren’t talking they aren’t following along. Forums by nature have a high degree of lurkers who never publicly participate.

I still remember entering the art all bright eyed and oblivious to anything and almost everything safety wise. One of my first warnings was on Hazards of some of the chemicals in the formulas I had expressed interest in. I had never once given that a thought till then. So after getting my feet wet a little and a busy run at work that caused a break in my explorations I calmed down some and started trying to be safer and more informed when I explore my curiosities.

[SharkWhisperer]

you are a prick, well read but still a prick. cant wait for you to leave. im sure im not the first person to tell you this, probably you been told your whole life you are a ass hole and with good reason.

You "LIKED" your own post??? WOW!!! What gives?

 

Apparently, you are your own biggest fan!

 

Who EVER "likes" their own posts? Oh my god.... what happened to decorum and self-respect?

 

Please, that's an embarrassment to the whole species!

 

AGAIN, CAN WE GET BACK ON TOPIC:

 

What are the best and worst things about APC, and how can we improve it?

Edited February 13, 2020 by SharkWhisperer

[SharkWhisperer]

I think there is more personal interaction between a larger amount of the members at FW since many are in the US and another large percentage frequent events by various clubs.

 

I was pleased to see some safety warnings in a recent thread here. That’s one thing I’ve noticed with the larger multi national membership here things are done or shown done in more of a YouTube way that is unsettling for me a little. I don’t have problems with an individual accepting there own risk variables, but do a little when they display those. We never know the age, aptitude, or common since of others following along. I had a recent PM conversation with a fellow on the exact thing not long ago as I felt he had shown something I didn’t think was safe to show publicly. It was an educational and respectful conversation I felt hopefully for us both. We often forget that just because people aren’t talking they aren’t following along. Forums by nature have a high degree of lurkers who never publicly participate.

 

I still remember entering the art all bright eyed and oblivious to anything and almost everything safety wise. One of my first warnings was on Hazards of some of the chemicals in the formulas I had expressed interest in. I had never once given that a thought till then. So after getting my feet wet a little and a busy run at work that caused a break in my explorations I calmed down some and started trying to be safer and more informed when I explore my curiosities.

USEFUL!!!!

 

This is the spirit of conversation I was originally trying to elicit. No, BP doesn't directly address APC, but he has a lot to say about his intro to the online pyro world, which does include us.

 

BP, can you please share more about your thoughts on APC specifically, weaknesses as well as strengths? Weaknesses/limitations are always more useful than compliments and back-patting....

[dave321]

personally I think APC is a great forum, anything that promotes an interest in pyrotechnics has to be good in my opinion,

LONG MAY IT REMAIN ! its a great forum, and a way to learn and ask question re pyro!!

 

lets face it there are not that many active pyro sites, LETS KEEP IT GOING !!

[robbo]

”Complete and abject bullshit… Again, you type horseshit…”

 

“spew sanctimonious bullshit like you do? You keep missing the point…”

 

“The topic is the quality and value of diverse aspects of the APC forum. Not trivial tit-for-tats…”

 

“You don't even realize that you write/sound like an average 12-year-old?...”

 

”Apparently, you are your own biggest fan!”

 

 

For those of us who tire of this, and know that mere cleverness is not much of a character recommendation, let me sum up (in winkyface): “What we see in others is not what they are, but what we are.”

[Aspirina]

Pls admins ban Shark Whisperer, he talk about improvement of the forum but the only thing that I can see is a big respect fault, racism and phrases out of context...

I know that he is not the only who said faults but IMO he is the firestarter...

PD: This is the first time that I see this cain of bad words and conversantion in this respectuos forum, is truerly sad...

Edited February 13, 2020 by Aspirina

[Piccaso]

You "LIKED" your own post??? WOW!!! What gives?

 

Apparently, you are your own biggest fan!

 

Who EVER "likes" their own posts? Oh my god.... what happened to decorum and self-respect?

 

Please, that's an embarrassment to the whole species!

 

AGAIN, CAN WE GET BACK ON TOPIC:

 

What are the best and worst things about APC, and how can we improve it?

You just can't stop. So much for the olive branch.

[memo]

That is not name-calling. That is stating facts. Ask the man, ffs.

shark, yep i am retired, never made a rocket or flew one in costa rica... i dont eat rice and beans very much , but i do like gallo pinto . the ssi checks do help. what are you jealous ? so much for you trying to end all this. im not stoking the fire. just correcting your misconceptions about me. shark we do have a moderator on this form.

[Boophoenix]

Hmm, to address APC directly.

Major plus Mumbles seems very well rounded in the art and is willing to be helpful to anyone. He also seems to have a good grasp on operating a community.

Plus, There does seem to be a little more interest into charcoal and BP here than some other places.

There don’t seem to be as large of a trend into any one aspect of the art. So things may be a little more diverse here.

 

There may be more creativity on a budget here than one other forum. As it was expressed to me once pyro’s tend to be affluent. I certainly don’t fall into that category.

 

A personal negative there is more reference to chems in chemistry terms here than I like ( KNO3 ). Having never had a chemistry class it has taken a fair amount of time to learn the basic ones along with the remainder of the alphabet soup used within our art. This is just a personal not fond of though. Lloyd once mentioned a wonderful idea of the first reference to such things listing them both ways that met some resistance. Like potassium nitrate ( KNO3 ) the proceed using the shorter version. If the tread is just casual reading I’ll not take the time to look those things up unless I get curious as the thread progresses along.

As it was referenced previously the lack of the pay to play wall ( funny term ) can change the general community a little. This seems apparent in the dislike of the pay to play structure. The wall does make for a decent filter of people seriously interested in the art more often than not. At the same time I also understand you may also restrict some very gifted beginners that may could bring a lot to the art. Flip side to that is you may restrict access to someone to young or careless preventing them from hurting themselves or others.

There seems to be a larger active user turn over here, but I’m not super active here just in spurts with three other forums I visit. This may give me this impression so it may not be accurate.

These are just personal opinions no harm no fowl meant by them the question was asked and I’ve expressed my opinions. The things I listed as personal negatives surely aren’t enough to drive me away as I’m here it seems, lol. Even as negatives some are very minor.

[Yus]

APC can be improve to make wiki.amateurpyro.com, links with table of logical contents like in https://fireworking.com/content/table-contents and pyrocomposition database from members.

[PTFE]

as said before I really like this forum.
Im not in any other pyro forum so i can't compare. But i have to say, since ive read throug other forums while I began my research for chlorates and their uses and pproduction I endet up here. This was the place with the most spezific informations about the topic without trash so i stayed and choose this comunity to share my results with.
Im from an european country and there where other forums with my mother language in usage but in every forum i lurked through there seems to be more kids playing with fire and their lives than people who be serious and going into detail more professional.

I would apreciate a pinned topic, if mumbles agrees, where one could post his/her ideas about improvements.
To catch up with spam/flaming and to take care, that more involved users post their opinions a minimum post count of 50-100 should be advisable to be able to post in this topic.

[memo]

lost my grip dealing with shark. i do better than that. i intend to do much better in the future and not let shark get under my skin. so from here i move forward.

[Mumbles]

I'm always open to suggestions or criticism by pm if you don't feel comfortable expressing them publicly. We've been some a long time, and I intend to keep it that way. Improvements are always appreciated.

[snapper]

people should feel comfortable expressing their concerns, ideas and opinions without childish reactions from other users or talking down to them or insulting. Without civility and respect how can folks work together. If someone can not show respect to others and their opinions how can others expect that person to use this information with the respect it deserves.. The repeated trashing of others on this thread after they have been asked their opinions creates a barrier that needs to come down. Just because i have very few posts does not mean i have little knowledge or i have been around very little time. Like i stated before the admins here work hard to keep bad information removed, most users have no idea how much they do clean up the threads. I do thing threads containing information about fast burning mixtures should require a account to access after a waiting period just as the formulas should too.

[NeighborJ]

Many if not most people come here in search of answers to a singular problem, this implies they are looking for a quick answer. If those questions are restricted to discussion after a grace period then most simply go elsewhere or try to experiment beyond their knowledge.

 

IMO it is not a great idea to use a grace period. The way things are now still allow for the chance for newcomers to actually recieve guidance from people who can steer them in the proper direction.

 

I think it a better idea to have a grace period restricting newbs from giving potentially bad advice to others. This isn't ideal either because it would require implementation of some kind of vetting process and it still provides no guarantees.

 

I think ultimately the responsibility of advice giving falls upon those who have the experience enough to not give bad advice.

[memo]

if a new person has questions it is much better to answer them here than they go to you tube. who knows what kind of answer they will get or what video they will see. there is a bunch of bad info out there.

[Boophoenix]

Memo, while I agree with you post I think another thing comes into play. As members of any forum become acquainted with each other we start to become a little complacent in our answers forgetting the multitude of others that may read the same post. It would be interesting to know how many visitors a day view the forum and how many of them actually ask questions or participate by answering some too. I personally lurk a fair bit myself until I feel I can contribute with some knowledge, experience, the occasional opinion, or speculation.

As an example I know JV fairly well and there are many things I have no need to say to him as he is perfectly aware of them or him me. Simple things like formula tips or safety tips. In our art leaving out some of the simple things has way more repercussions than say a coding forum.

[FlareLauncher]

I'm no expert, certainly much closer to a 'noob'. I really enjoy this site, MORE for the camaraderie and concern shared by us all than even the knowledge that is here. I learned early on here to ask for help, and it would be given, respectfully. These folks have shared their expertise with me and no doubt prevented a lot of trouble, and maybe losing a finger or two. Honestly, this "discourse" shocked the crap out of me, and I do hope it has passed. Happy trails, y'all.

[cevmarauder]

I think one of the biggest things this forum offers, that Fireworking and Passfire don't, is the fact that it's free and it does it's best to discourage newbs from playing with Flash. A teenager wanting to learn to make things go boom isn't going to drop $40 for a forum membership.

Granted, most of the time they'll just go somewhere else, but if they at least happen to glance at the multitude of posters here warning against unsafe practices, telling their own success and horror stories, maybe a bit of it will stick. At least in the smart ones. The dumb ones will always be dumb, anyway. The fact that we have so many newbie-friendly threads helps lure them in and interest them in things beyond salutes.

Also, $40 a year for a forums membership is a wee bit steep. I've been a SomethingAwful forum member for ...oh god, almost 2 decades--and it was a $10 registration, solely to keep the trolls out. It's obviously not as niche as amateur pyro, but hosting is getting cheaper every year; I admin sites for local business groups and charities and even a fairly generous storage+bandwidth package shouldn't run more than a couple hundred bucks nowadays. There's a lot of companies out there, though, that take non-techy business folks and bend them over a barrel.