Okay then, let's have a seat and we'll talk. No, not that chair, that one is reserved for Paddy O'Deen. Although Paddy helped start all of this foolishness in the first place, he is one busy guy. His last exploit was as a shellac merchant to the Internet but he's on to other pursuits. Stops by now and then and then off he goes. Yeah, he's still a regular over on rec.woodworking, don't know how he finds the time. What's that? You like the cap? Yep, Paddy thought these Galoot caps up so we'd be able to find each other at tool meetings and whatnot. Here, try this chair. Comfy? Want some iced tea? No, no not that glass...that's the one I spit my chaw into. You drink that, you'll go into low earth orbit.
It's hard to believe but there wasn't always the OldTools list and the Porch. Back in those days, there was only rec.woodworking in all of its vast and unruly glory. There weren't any Galoots back then, we were all just Neanderthals in search of a home. Say what? Oh my, no...we didn't get much respect from the Normites on wreck.the.wood. What with the incessant chatter of p*w*r tool this and p*w*r tool that and the Norm threads and the endless comparisons of the Delta Contractors Saw versus the Ryobi BT3000... It fairly drove us nuts, I'll tell you. Once in a while someone would ask about a hand plane but that sort of thing was mostly met with ridicule. Then one day this announcement popped up. Seems that Paddy, Ralph Brendler, and Tom Bruce had put together the OldTools list and were providing the dispossessed Neanderthals a place to rest and shoot the bull about our favorite topics. Well I signed right up. I hit the Porch right about digest #68, and let's see...we passed digest #2000 quite a while ago so I guess that makes me an old timer as these things go. Oh my. Time does fly.
Back to the orientation. Lessee...etiquette on the Porch. I can only speak from the standpoint of a participant and observer. Flaming in the 'traditional' sense of outright rudeness, personal attacks, oneupmanship, ridicule and so forth is actively discouraged. The current List Moms (Esther, Ralph or Steve) will step in if things get out of hand. In other words, be nice. If you cross the line, it's best to apologize and polish a spittoon. Don't confuse the Porch with rec.woodworking. Hand and muscle powered tools are the name of the game. If you slip up and ask how you should tune your t*bles*w, you'll get a lot of 'innocent' questions back as to whether or not it is a backsaw, rip or crosscut, and how many teeth per inch it has. I think you get my drift. Although the OldTools list once restricted all commerce to the First Monday of the Month (FMM), the list is experimenting with posting for sale (FS) and want-to-buy (WTB) lists anytime. The other restrictions are still supposed to be adhered to, however. If you come out of lurk mode and post a question you'll be expected to also post a bio. Folks will prompt you for one if you don't. If you find something cool let us know about it. We call these little show 'n tell postings gloats. Posting a gloat is a lot of fun. If you have any questions about your cool widget speak right up. No question is too dumb. Don't spit on the Porch railing if you can help it. Stay out of my rocker. You can tell which one it is from the bloodstains on the arm. Don't ask, all I'll say is that a chisel demonstration went awry.
Back to The Galoot's
Progress
Copyright 1997, 1998 Thomas Price - All rights reserved
Last revised 1/1/2006