[Signabeademia]

(Oh, and I never jumped on Napoleon's back, as I am sure you noticed... )

You were sure headed in that direction.

[StizePypemype]

Well I may have been trolling when I first joined the forums, but things I have posted on actual art of Kendo forums, I posted in my earnest experience. Definitely no trolling there. I do go to the dojo although it is not publicised. And I genuinely can't read the 2nd kanji of the dojo name and master's on a business trip.
Please note I am new to kendo and what I say is purely from what I have heard and experienced in the dojo. I don't mean to impose on anyone unless if I am absolutely sure that's what my master told me, in which case I would share what I have been told.

[Uzezqelj]

You were sure headed in that direction.

I still think that was humour...

[elalmhicabalp]

His comment about standing on a log might have been misguided, it might even have been a joke.

So was mine. I sincerely apologize to any Canadian who I may have offended by my oblique inference to the pleasures found in the rolling of logs.

My other comment was genuine. Clearly, the kid had never been to a kendo practice, I was hoping that we could get the teenage bravado out of the way early and get the kid over to Halifax to straighten him out.

Having seen his response, I'm not at all sure Halifax would want him.

[saumemeva]

Perhaps it was good that his emotions exploded so soon... at least it was on here and not to anyone's face. Maybe we saved him from a kicking in the not-too-distant future?

Reminds me of a funny picture that is oh so true.

[QHdy5Z3A]

I agree that we shouldnt systematically bash the new guys.

Honestly, if the newbies don't show up spouting off about their extensive experience, quoting passages from "Kung Fu" or "Kill Bill" or trying to agressively save my soul for whichever God they worship do they really get systematically bashed?

I don't think so...but perhaps I'm wrong. Can someone can find examples where a newbie exhibiting none of those traits has been trashed?

[EscaCsamas]

Can someone can find examples where a newbie exhibiting none of those traits has been trashed?

I can't be bothered to search. I think even if there aren't, the ones who are "deserving" as you deem are jumped on too quickly for my taste, and I'm not alone in this opinion. I've had a number of PMs, rep comments and posts in various threads that are telling me the general opinion is that this kind of stuff has gotten out of hand. There's a half-dozen guys who go out of their way to give a hard time to anyone they get even a slight whiff of crazy from. This is making a lot of the other KW people uncomfortable, and I'll wager it is scaring off plenty of lurkers who would like to ask a question but won't for fear of getting pilloried. So I posted the general warning, and hope that things get turned down a notch or three.

[heennaRaf]

I can't be bothered to search. I think even if there aren't, the ones who are "deserving" as you deem are jumped on too quickly for my taste, and I'm not alone in this opinion. I've had a number of PMs, rep comments and posts in various threads that are telling me the general opinion is that this kind of stuff has gotten out of hand. There's a half-dozen guys who go out of their way to give a hard time to anyone they get even a slight whiff of crazy from. This is making a lot of the other KW people uncomfortable, and I'll wager it is scaring off plenty of lurkers who would like to ask a question but won't for fear of getting pilloried. So I posted the general warning, and hope that things get turned down a notch or three.

Please don't misunderstand - I'm not questioning the need to ratchet some of this back, but there also seems to be a myth growing that the innocents who are genuinely trying to get get help are getting smashed as sport - and I don't see that happening. I don't expect research, I'm just saying that my impression is that honest and sober questions get answered and that people who are genuine in their presentation get treated with appropriate respect.

I'd also like to say (again) that a LOT of excess in both camps would be eliminated if KW would require real name registration.

[Todilrdc]

This is making a lot of the other KW people uncomfortable, and I'll wager it is scaring off plenty of lurkers who would like to ask a question but won't for fear of getting pilloried. So I posted the general warning, and hope that things get turned down a notch or three.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Neil Gendzwill again.

I fully agree.

Nevertheless, I was treated very fairly when I first posted here. (But I was a bit afraid to get "smashed" after reading some of the stuff...)

[huedaanydrax]

"but if c) are here just for some sort of recognition of their backyard budo skills, I say that leaves them open for being pulled down"

As said above, if they don't know they're in a McDojo it can be hard for them to accept. If you just react insultingly they're going to get defensive. If you actually want to help them (rather than just write a witty post 'cos you're bored at work -like me right now-) you should probably be a little more gentle. Theres a cool little clip out of that Hagakure that deals with this but can't find it right now

[mylittlejewelaa]

I confess that I actually sent a PM to Neil regarding the whole newcomer bashing situation yesterday. The atmosphere is alot nastier than when I first signed up on these boards (although to be fair I don't contribute much anymore because I feel like I've discussed the hell out of kendo and don't have much to say except "Go train: You'll get better and have fun").

If I would look at KW from the outside I would see a forum full of people that seem deathly afraid and insecure about their own training, never mind the newcomers. Why else go after so many nobodies over trivial stuff?

I still remember some gentleman that asked about starting kendo after having had a background in mixed martial arts or something else that wasn't necessarily very kosher (although it could have been). The guy was articulate, respectful, seemed sinere and for his trouble he was accused of being a mental patient.

I completely agree with what LarsCW wrote: more suburi, less meaningless troll hunting. People like Phil Elmore and other trolls live off the "prestige" they get on the internet. But so do "troll hunters".

[QqJamxqP]

For what it is worth, I think Scott went a bit too far too soon. On the other hand, based upon my experience, I think Perry is correct in his assesment of the young man's truthfulness as to his kendo experience.

I don't think that asking someone to identify themself and where they train (if they say they do) is such a terrible thing.

I have mentioned that saying that the membership here is brutal to beginners does a disservice to the members. Most will go out of their way to help out but, of course, if you say "ask your sensei" you get trashed too.


Finally, I must add that I am quite "happy", psychology 101 notwithstanding.

[Rffkwfct]

I'm not so sure I'd refer to Kendoka Han as a n00b, he had succesively made an arse out of himself without showing any indication of being sorry. I do remember the first time I came on here (can't find the post sorry, it was the guy mixing taiko drumming with koudo) and I read some guy coming in from what was obviously a McDojo looking to start a conversation about it. If hed been gently told 'you might want to examine your teacher's credentials' he might havedone so. As it was he was ripped into and, to be honest, I don't blame him for getting defensive. Very high horse stuff. By the way I do enjoy commenting on obviously bad stuff like beef tameshigiri but if I end up crossing the line feel free to point it out to me.

[dfuzioniag]

. . .I do remember the first time I came on here (can't find the post sorry, it was the guy mixing taiko drumming with koudo) and I read some guy coming in from what was obviously a McDojo looking to start a conversation about it. . .

Actually that fellow came on attempting to sell his school and his teacher, not to have a conversation. He started out with one of those innocuous kind of posts like "Hey, what do you guys think of this?" and when he didn't get the reaction he was looking for it came out that he was a long time member of that school and was only here to promote his dojo.

[RicyReetred]

Was he a long time member? Ok that kind of changes it.

[spamkillerj]

no, he came on a a personwho was interested in starting a conversation. It quickly came out that he was misrepresenting himself and his relationship to this "sensei".

Then he pesonally got trashed.

Take some time and research forum trolls and see what they do. I was amazed.

[VarenHokalos]

I meant long time member of his dojo:

"when he didn't get the reaction he was looking for it came out that he was a long time member of that school"

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

[Kiariitf]

Kaoru didn't even get a chance to post a 10-page missive to him.

That made me laugh, "it's funny because it's true".

[RobsShow]

To all new members of Kendo World, I offer these 8 simple rules to help ensure that you will be treated with honesty and respect:

1) Please do not tell lies in the hope that if you sound impressive you will be treated well. If you've never taken an honest kendo lesson in a dojo - say so, that's OK.

2) Please do not inquire as to the combat effectiveness of Kendo versus anything. Kendo is not about street fighting and nobody who is worth their salt is going to defend a premise that a sword has any place in modern self defense outside a dojo.

3) Please do not resort to weblish, "elite" or any other attempt at hip communication. Please do invest in a spell-checker (I suggest Google Toolbar - it's free), and refrain from vulgarity if you want to be taken seriously.

4) Please do not tell us how willing you are to die for the masses (like a good samurai), or how you want to undergo various ascetic ordeals to gain spiritual enlightenment. Put the manga down.

5) Never, ever mention the words "Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu" in anything like a serious discussion. Kenshin is not real, manga are not real, anime are not real. Kill Bill was not real, neither was Last Samurai, Twilight Samurai or anything ever done by David Carradine in a saffron robe. David's family speaks Spanish, not mandarin.

6) Please do not attempt to convert the infidels to your way of thinking here. Allah, Yahweh, Jehovah, Jesus, Amaterasu, Mohammed, Buddha, Ram and all their associates are busy, and have important work elsewhere.

7) If it's Kendo, it's affiliated with the IKF. If it's not affiliated with the IKF and it's subsidiaries, it is not Kendo. While you have every right to do as you please and believe what you want, please do not attempt to sell your knock-off here. You cannot learn kendo without a dojo - sorry. It is unfortunate that not everyone can participate, but it is the awful truth.

8) Please do allow the world to know who you are and where you practice. Anonymity is for cowards. It won't kill you to be a real person, give it a try.

[Sydrothcoathy]

8 Rules for existing members of the forum,

1)Do not go ape shit on people who have very little clue about what kendo is. It's either one or the other, either we assume everyone come on here with an earnest attutide to learn what kendo is or we assume everyone new(er) than us is just another backyard ninger and samurai wanna be. Peoeple ought to be treated equal before they "foul" up! (should we trust everyone to their subjective, individual judgements on all matters, then we wuoldn't need moderators) Suppose someone is being a total butt head, the moderator will most likely step in before you feel the need to do so yourself.

2)Do not assume the responsibity of the "teacher's role" yourself, real learning takes place inside the dojo, all we can do here is help.

3)Think twice about posting something, kendo should have given the its practioner's the concept of "self-control" and not "sarcasm", "mockery" and "delusional superiority"

4)while everyone is entitled to their opinion, please make sure you have some sort of cridential to back you up on the subject in discussion. (if necessary please provide some details of your expertise on the subjects)

5)Please try to exercise a little more tolerance with one another, when you find yourself disagreeing with another person's view point. Maybe you feel the need to point it out publicly and humiliate the person, maybe you can just p/m the person and spare everyone the drama!

6)Please respect the moderators and trust that they do what they do for the better of the KW community.

7)If you are in no mood to be nice and cater to some newbie's, or for that matter anyone eles' (sincere) questions, just move on and go enlighten yourself with another thread.

8)Lastly, please remember that kendo isn't just something we do in the dojo. Kendo has to be more than just the shinai fighting, bogu wearing, red faced activity. It's about becoming a better human being! So, it goes without saying the longer one has been doing kendo, the more "well refined" one's character ought to be!