When we first started these bow trades years ago it was to encourage newbies to get in but also to showcase what can be done with a simple piece of wood. I'd also say we, the collective wood bow builders of the world, changed the thinking about the effectiveness and beauty of wood bows. For me, it builds confidence in oneself and helps a person do his(or her) best work. I know it can be intimidating trying to build a bow for an experienced bowyer but, at least back then it did turn some bow building wanna-be's into seasoned wood bow builders. I see many of them here on PA today.
The reason I got into the Invitational bow trade is because I was invited and encouraged to. I hadn't built a bow in over a year and didn't see myself building another one in the foreseeable future. I have to thank Eddie(mullet) and a few others for "making" me get in...and I'm so glad I did. I didn't do it to be an elitist. Anyone that knows me knows that is about as far as you can get describing me. If anything I'm totally the opposite.
There is and always has been, and always will be room for "another" bow trade. We have had 1 on 1 bow trades going on since I first got on PA. How is that different? I'm tired of the divisiveness here on PA as much as I am with is going on in our country and as a matter of fact all over the world. These kinds of actions only lead to more divisions and hatred. We are all here to learn to build wood bows. We are all here to share ideas, to show off our new work and to praise, encourage, teach, learn and enjoy. Divisive actions do none of these things and is so counter productive that is does the exact opposite
I'm a long time member of two online archery websites; Primitive Archer and Trad Gang. There have many archery related websites that have passed under the bridge but these two sites have remained on top by first off, keeping the civility but also encouragement and teaching/learning aspects of archery at the forefront and not only discourages the negativity, name calling and elitism but plainly said, not allowing them.
We come here to PA from all walks of life, from many different countries and cultures, many beliefs, ethnicities and economic levels. As long as we stick to wood bow building, no matter how diverse, we all get along. I don't care what else your thoughts, beliefs or aspirations are, all I wanna do is build wood bows, teach others what I learned from others in the past and show off and look at the great bows that the fine folks on this site produce. Putting someone else down or the way they do things is, first off, is anti-productive but also just wrong. Continuing on that vein will only help to destroy our wonderful website, the many friendships made here and our global family of the bow.
...so ends my caffeine induced sermon for this day.
