Novice/Advanced Homebrewers

I agree, I liked the speed the old homebrewing forum moved at with everything all in together. If we presuppose that they want to have more than one forum though, I think the HBT method of dividing it up is better than this (though we don't need nearly as many subforums as they have)

 

Additionally, why is the HB forum at the bottom of the page? Just kidding, sort of.
I also liked just one forum for the reasons stated above.

 

Hey, at least it is one step above the trading forums

 

I prefer having 1 forum over 2 myself, but I like to interpret the line between the "novice" and "advanced" forums as a line between questions about "novice brewing techniques" and "advanced brewing techniques" rather than interpreting the two forums as a line between "novice brewers" and "advanced brewers" actually.

 

I think that might define the line. If you have ever mopped your ceiling and/or you know how to prevent having to do it in the future, you are advanced. If a clogged airlock comes as a shock to you, you are a novice.

 

Who cares where the line is? To me, if I didn't have the help of experienced brewers starting out where would I be today? Maybe it isn't that big of a deal, but I think that novice homebrewers can only benefit from experienced discussions.

Not a fan of splitting it up.

 

After a few days using the site, I am still not a fan of them being separate. I've yet to see a real benefit of the division and it's a hassle to switch between forums looking for interesting threads.

 

I tend to agree. I've gone to trying the "What's New" tab as a shortcut to newer topics across the broader spectrum.

 

A careful study of the first page of threads for each group shows that there is a big difference: twice as many people who start threads in the beginner group do not have an avatar. Further research is required to determine why this enormous discrepancy exists. We have missed the deadline for starting to apply for this year's NSF grants but I'd be happy to work on starting a pre-proposal for next year's round of grants. Provided that the two groups continue to exist we might be able to extract some useful and interesting information (or at least some grant money to buy us some spiffy new computers we can use while conducting our study).

 

I think one of the best benefits with the old forum was being a newbie and having access to all sorts of advanced/experienced homebrewers that are willing to answer basic questions. I've tried to return the favor as much as I can.

 

I see what you did, there (add an avatar, that is).

The newbies will probably not get to benefit from my lurking...

Technically there has to be a simple way to make it so that all that I would like to see would be in one place despite the fact that it's in two (or however many) groups. But I can survive without that. And, hey, only lurking on one group keeps the volume of stuff I look at down, too.

 

Count me in as one that does not like the split.

 

I would prefer going back to one homebrewing forum. I don't see any advantage to the current split.

 

After using the site for a couple of days, the split between the homebrewing forums seems artificial and forced. There's really no difference between the two and just adds another subforum to look through.

 

I also don't see a real advantage. I only just read the topics that interested me. I know just have to go through both forums. I would say that I am a novice as I wouldn't give out much advice, but still know that I will find topics that concern me in both forums.
I can obviously deal with doing both, but figured I'd toss in my .02

 

Generally I agree with the sentiments above.

The difference is fake and forced, we get pretty n00b questions in advanced and pretty high end stuff in novice. I would prefer either no sub forums, or by type (recipes, etc...).

That said I love the marking a forum read option! MAGIC!

 

I think it has to do with distinguishing between those who prefer aluminum kettles and those who, like professional brewers, use stainless steel.

 

I may have switched to a converted kettle, and swore by my aluminum to then. But for some reason I really like this post.

 

Ooo, I really like this comment as well....



As it really reinforces my previous comment in this thread

 

I was just joshin' y'all. But I've been brewing beer since I was seventeen back in '83. I'm still learning. In the scheme of things, I still no almost nothing ....but a lot more than most of you fools - yuk yuk! No, seriously though...still learning.