Forums

Most things happen at Scuttlebutt thru the prodding of our readers. Despite claims to the contrary, we are a small business, and are often busy keeping up with our daily tasks. While our primary goal is to provide our readers with an excellent source for daily sailing news, we are eager to surround our readership with the additional features they desire.

One of those features was a forum, which got on the to-do list about three years ago. I never had used a forum before, and when I went to a couple to view, I was discouraged by some of the posts I read. When you are used to deciding what is included each day in Scuttlebutt, the thought of having zero control wasn't too appealing.

However, over time, the requests for a forum continued, and last fall I finally conceded. Our goal is for the forum to be a positive force for info and commentary, and to provide the qualities that our readers have appreciated about the newsletter. We have listened to our readers' concerns about the anonymity provided by forums and the how it may effect the credibility of the posts, and therefore we closely follow what gets posted, and have deleted those posts and occassionally banned users who have chosen to disregard the established forum rules.

Since a lot of Scuttlebutt readers receive the email version of the newsletter, it is a bit of a leap to the website. However, I encourage all the 'buttheads to give the forums a look, and join the steadily increasing forum audience. I have become a believer, and look forward to the Scuttlebutt Forums providing a worthy alternative for the active sailor. - Craig Leweck