Debbie,
I've particiapted in forum discussion on the topic of woodworking for many years. There are many forums where you can ask a question, get an answer and you're done. Problem solved, life moves on. What lumberjocks brings is not a community by the general forum sense, that is, a collection of people with like interestes. Lumberjocks is different. Lumberjocks is made up of people, in my experience, that will help you with veneering, tuning your bandsaw, or if you lived close by moving your fridge. Lumberjocks is not a community of people with like interests, it's a community of people that are becoming friends 21st century style.
Via the internet, and via this site, I have access to people that explain and teach their skills like
David. Wonderful craftsman that are willing to explain how it's done and answer questions like
Lee. Amazing artists who give fantastic backgrounds and context to their pieces like
Mark. The proverbial grandfather's that are always seem to know the answer to the questions you are asking, like
Dick and
Karson. Guys/gals that can create a unique way of solving everyday woodworking problems like
Niki. Woodworkers that share their passion for their particular niche' like
Frank and
WayneC. Great box makers like
Don. Woodworkers that have taken technology of design to a higher level and then reach their hand back to help the rest of us get there like
Bob Babcock. You get professional woodworkers like
Obi,
Todd,
Chris and
Neil, interacting with newbies (term of endearment). You get organizers and contributers like Debbie, comedians like
Douglas. You get great bloggers like
oscorner and
Dusty can go on and on and on. If you feel left off that list, please realize that it's not a list…I'm just writing this in a few seconds to reply between things at work.
The benefit of being a Lumberjock is having a group of people that are willing to share, willing to help, willing to joke around, willing to communicate, willing to set aside differences of opinion and learn, willing to critique…The benefit of being a lumberjock is having a large group of friends.
Then there's
Bob ...you have to have the bad with the good.
But then, take a look at the
entire community here. It's an impressive cross section of people from all over the world. That's the benefit of being a lumberjock.
In reading this to eliminate spelling mistakes, I can think of 20 others to mention…I hope you all get my point.