Keep coming back

What we have here is a friendly forum where we can share knowledge, experiences, advice and a little humor concerning wood heat, DIY projects, grilling, hunting and a whole plethora of other topics. We have a core group of people online regularly that contribute to one degree or another, plenty of others that pop in less frequently but are still valued members, a few people that (nothing against them) log in a couple times a year just to poke around, and others that have simply walked away entirely. So what keeps us connected to this site? I learned a ton here and I could walk away today if I chose to do so, and get by fine. Why stick around beyond the obvious obsession with hoarding/all things firewood? For me it’s a few things. The community here is great. People are all too willing to help. I’ve gotten an education on here that would’ve taken more than a decade if I was on my own sifting through all the information (and disinformation) on the internet. I enjoy seeing what other people are scoring and working on just as much as if I was the one doing it. I live vicariously through all of you. When someone asks a question and I happen to have an answer, it feels good to pass on what I learned to someone else. When someone asks a question that I don’t have the answer to, it’s humbling to sit back and watch someone else answer it, and learning something new myself. I know a little about a lot, and have a long way to go. So that’s probably the biggest reason I stick around. What’s yours?

 

You pretty much summed it up for me!
Other forums i find threads start out great and it usually ends with everyone fighting, here things just derail a bit, generally there is a certain amount of respect that is shown to each other even if they don't agree on something

 

Well said Eric

 

I enjoy the banter...its just like being around the campfire, which I have enjoyed with quite a few of you characters in person a number of times now...I usually end up with cramps in my sides from laughing so hard at some of the late night campfire stories and antics. (good example of that would be Scotty Overkill and blacksmith stories at Backwoods Savage GTG this past spring...epic!) I usually try to make at least 1 or 2 GTG's each year...always look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones too...consider some of these guys almost family...see some of them more than some of my extended family too!
But as for the site as a whole...I enjoy helping where I can, and learning new stuff from others too.

 

Seriously underrated comment here Scotty.

This really is the best internet site there is, and it extends so far beyond "just an internet site".

I've only been to one GTG so far, but I can't wait until my next one.

And yes, the campfire stories are epic.

 

Well said! I agree with what everyone else said…

and sometimes I’m just board!

 

I agree with what Eric said. I am always learning something on here. Also for me it is seeing parts of the world that I will never see in person and I hope I am able to share my part of the world with others. I look forward each morning to be able to wish Happy Birthday to everyone.

 

I have learned a lot here both about all aspects of heating with wood but also about life in general. I also love the banter. This is the best internet sight. I visit other sites about tractors and guns but none come close to the quality of this one. I think it's the people that make the difference.

 

My first experience with this forum was when I googled about small chainsaws. at that time I was on the other forum to learn all about pellet stoves, but hadn't heard of this one. I think it was a year later that I googled another issue, and re-found this place. To that point, forums were where I found solutions to issues or read up on specific things I neededd to know. But for whatever reason I started looking around on here and it the breadth of topics, knowledge, humor and camaraderie drew me in.

I have learned things I didn't know I needed to know about things far outside pellet stoves along with just plain good ideas that I never thought about. I've had a forum member drive 1.5 hours to cut up a big willow top that my little chainsaw wasn't going to hack (nor was it safe for me to attempt). He also straighten out the fence that was crunched by that tree top. I've had another member volunteer to help me move the P43 from it's former house. I've tried to pay that help forward and hope I've brightened the day for others when they were in need.

There is no "good" explanation for why I keep coming back on a daily basis, but this place and the people just "feel" right to me.

 

Knowledge sharing, humor, and camaraderie sums it up with me.

 

I love the banter that occurs here. Seeing ideas flourish in many different ways is amazing. Being allowed to travel the world thru members posts is educational. Always something new to learn here.

 

Sitting around the campfire with most of these guys would be like a movie. Blazing Saddles comes to mind!

Gary

 

I'm here for the camaraderie, the share of the thrill of a nice wood get, advice, and much more. This is a place that is not [very] divided, aside from what kind of saw you like , and in todays climate, that is a welcome thing. 98% of posts are kept respectful. I could easily allow a young niece or nephew peek over my shoulder when I'm on my laptop and they won't see anything inappropriate. I thank all the people behind the scenes and mainly Scott for that.
Like others have said, I do have hoarding tendencies and when I can’t fulfill those urges, I can log on and live it through others posts. Thanks to all for sharing your adventures. I appreciate the time it takes to do so for others entertainment.

 

I don't always log on but most days I at least skim through. Probably log in at least weekly. What keeps me here ? It's home, most folks love coming home.