MATCHLOCK BROUGHT UP THE QUESTION OF MEETING ACADEMIC STANDARDS IN A POST IN THE EUROPEAN WEAPONS FORUM.
THIS IS AS GOOD A PLACE TO EXPRESS OUR VIEWS AND SEE WHAT THE MODERATORS AND MEMBERS VIEWS ARE.
MY VIEW IS " HERE WE GO!
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WE ARE AN INTERNATIONAL COMUNITY WITH LIKE INTRESTS AND WITH VARYING DEGREES OF EXPERTESE. THE TRUE ACADEMIC PROFESSIONALS ARE FEW IN OUR RANKS AND MOST OF US ARE EITHER BEGINNERS OR OLD HANDS AT COLLECTING "GAGA ABOUT ARMS"
THE QUESTION IS IF THERE WERE NO AMATEURS AND BEGINNERS WHO COLLECT WHO WOULD CARE TO BUY NEW BOOKS OR LOOK AT MUSEUM EXHIBITS? THE NUMBER OF TRUE PUBLISHED ACADEMICS WITH ALL THE HIGH ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS ARE FEW. IF THESE FORUMS DEPENDED ON THEIR IMPUT ONLY IT WOULD SOON BE A DEAD DUCK.
I DO APPRECIATE A WELL WRITTEN, COMPREHENSIVE POST WITH GOOD REFRENCES, PICTURES AND LEARN A LOT FROM SUCH POSTS. I ALSO ENJOY POSTS FROM WHAT SOME REFER TO AS A NEWBIE AND SOMETIMES LEARN EVEN FROM SUCH POSTS EVEN IF IT IS JUST REMEMBERING SOMETHING I HAD FORGOTTEN LONG AGO.
AS TO WHAT STANDARD THE FORUMS SHOULD TRY TO ACHIVE? I THINK THIS IS A PLACE WHERE ALL STANDARDS CAN BE EXPRESSED FROM THE MOST QUALIFIED AND KNOWLEGABLE TO THE LEAST OF THE COLLECTING COMUNITY.
MY POOR EFFORTS DON'T MEET VERY HIGH ACADEMIC STANDARDS BUT I TRY TO GATHER LIKE MATERIAL AND INFORMATION (SUCH AS IT IS) INTO ONE POST FOR EASY ACCESS AND REFRENCE OR JUST TO POST SOMETHING INTERESTING OR FUN.
JUST THINK IF ALL THE DEALERS AND AUCTION HOUSES HAD SAVED ALL THE PICTURES AND INFORMATION OVER THE YEARS FOR REFRENCE. THINK ALSO OF ALL THE OLD COLLECTORS WHO ARE NOW GONE AND THE LOSS OF INFORMATION AND KNOWLEGE ALL GONE FOREVER.
THESE FORUMS GIVE THOSE OF US WHO ARE INTERESTED A PLACE TO DEPOSIT WHAT INFORMATION WE HAVE BE IT LITTLE OR GREAT BEFORE IT IS LOST. IT MAY NOT BE WELL ORGANIZED OR MEET HIGH STANDARDS BUT AT LEAST IT WILL HOPEFULLY SURVIVE AND NOT BE LOST TO THOSE WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN THE FUTURE BE THEY PROFESSOR OR BEGINNING STUDENT.