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Originally Posted by VANDOO
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!  )
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. |
Salaams VANDOO ~ Your thread is thought provoking and interesting as always. Matchlocks knowledge is probably on par with most Doctorates as is the expertise of many of our " Professors (" WITHOUT PORTFOLIOs !!)
I am a strong advocate of enhancing the forums ability along the lines of certification for the various studies of "Ethnographic Arms and Armour" up to degree level and thus accreditation would be required from a recognised University.
Someone is sure to ask the question (as i have
) "Well how do you set that up" ? My answer is ~ By adding an entirely new wing to the Forum so that juniour, intermediate and senior studies can be mounted as distance learning projects as I indicate earlier with accreditation from a recognised University ... Its not going to be easy but it can be done... How about an investigative pilot programme to discover the viability and then launch the whole thing to Forum. ?
At the same time I agree that we are open and always will be to newcomers and the entire spectrum of interested people. Its a great mixture of readers and the library system is a great resource for those who wish to search deeper.
Comments please !
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.