High In Smoke hit the nail on the head for me!
My experience at other forums is that you can only post cooks or information on products that they allow.
I left one forum because my post was edited for using a "Rub" from a company that the site owner and admin did not like. But then I was admonished through private message in a way that was very unpleasant. I was treated like a 5 year old. And by what the admin said I could tell he read a PM from another member that was sent to me. That is what triggered him to delete parts of my thread. Because of a "rub" I used in my cook. A post that was there for a week all the sudden is edited right after I get a PM from another member asking me where to purchase that rub. Coincidence... I don't think so!
Then I left another forum because of what the owner stated about a current member and good friend here. He posted some nasty stuff when this person started cooking with a cooker the guy did not like. He did delete what he posted after about 15 minutes so I am not sure how many members actually read it but it was really tasteless and unprofessional. Obviously not the way the owner of a site acts at all. So I stopped posting there. I felt bad because there are so many great members there. Some have made their way hear and I am glad to see that. Same with the other forum.
With LTBBQ I don't have to sit there and think before I post a cook. Did I use a cooker that is not allowed to be used? Did I use a rub that I cannot talk about?
I am now cooking with Sous Vide and loving it. I always wondered about it but because of members like Rummm who posted about it I took interest. So unless I joined up on an exclusive Sous Vide forum I would not have discovered this fantastic way of cooking. And now pz
tricked inspired me into buying a wood fired pizza oven because of all the great pies I have seen posted here
We are all passionate about cooking. Anyone who would dedicate their time posting on a forum like this has to be. And by not excluding people by what cookers they use it creates a more welcoming environment IMHO. This in turn allows people who normally would just lurk to join in on the fun. It also opens everyone up to learn about other forms of cooking besides just standard BBQ.
pz makes a great point. If you were to be invited to a party where you did not know anyone and spent the time to introduce yourself and no one said "hi" and just ignored you... well you might leave. That initial introduction and welcome response sets a precedence for a new member. And I make an effort to say hello to every new member. Even just a simple welcome response shows that people here pay attention and care.
I think the key to this forum is we started with a great base of members. All with great attitudes and looking for a forum that did not limit our cooking on any level. As with any structure no matter how big it gets it is only as strong as it's base and ours is rock solid IMHO.
And also that the administration is open to new ideas and input. I can't speak for everyone here but I feel like more than just a member here but actually part of the forum. Different than other forums. More like a shareholder in a company. Invested in a way. I want to see it grow. But not too fast where it just becomes like other forums.
Well I will step down off my soap box now
