As the FTLOP board has evolved,I am having a more and more difficult time discerning a port forum v. port basics topic. ( and I probably should have capitalized that) .For instance, the drought in the Douro seems like a port forum topic but it is in the port basics area. The video on how to graft vines seems like a port basic issue but it is in the port forum. I don't think it really matters at all but the lines between the two forums seem to be blurred.
Which casues me to ponder in which forum this topic should be.
I think Port Basics should be a place where new members can feel safe in posting questions that more experienced Portophiles would consider to be "basic". IMHO, the placement of questions by Roy and other people of obvious experience is likely to dissuade new members of less experience from posting in that area, or anywhere else.
By example, I think the following would be appropriate:
Roy/Andy/Al B/Eric/Glenn…Me (with many others included) who want to post a new thread to discuss a particular style of port should post it in the Port Forum.
A new member with very little experience of Port who wants to ask a similar question should, by way of the description and general content of the forum area, be encouraged to post that question in Port Basics.
So Derek, does a port newbie need to have as basic information the drought in the Douro? That does seem a port forum topic. With all due respect, the lines are blurred and make no sense in the final analysis.--But ponder the first four letters of the word analysis.
Richard Henderson wrote:So Derek, does a port newbie need to have as basic information the drought in the Douro? That does seem a port forum topic.
Agreed. That is a topic that should be in the main forum, as should about 80% of the other threads on the first page in Port Basics.
I think the descriptions of each forum say it all..
Port Forum This forum is for discussing all things Port (as in from PORTugal) - vintages, recommendations, tasting notes, etc.
Port Basics This section is for those who have basics questions about, or are new to, Port. There are no "dumb" questions here - just those wanting to learn more!
Emphasis added by me.
One forum for discussing anything to do with port and one being a safe place for people new to port to ask basic questions and feel safe in doing so.
Agreed that the descriptions of each forum "should" say it all but do not. For instance, after all these years ,the port forum description says it is for many things "port" including "tasting notes" yet tasting notes are not archived there. Indeed, any tasting notes are moved to the tasting notes section. With all due and past due and more respect to Roy and Andy, the descriptions of each forum should be revised and made more accurate.
Richard Henderson wrote:Agreed that the descriptions of each forum "should" say it all but do not. For instance, after all these years ,the port forum description says it is for many things "port" including "tasting notes" yet tasting notes are not archived there. Indeed, any tasting notes are moved to the tasting notes section. With all due and past due and more respect to Roy and Andy, the descriptions of each forum should be revised and made more accurate.
When Roy and I are back in town I promise we'll discuss this. Until then post away my Port loving friends :)