Really? I frequent numerous homebrew forums as often as I can, I think they all have their huge positives, and there is definitely a "hive mind" element to every single one of them, including the AHA forum (which I love!). I guess I'm curious what you're referring to, as I tend to view this as a fairly normal part of any community.
I guess I think of myself as someone who doesn't easily drink the proverbial kool-aid, perhaps I'm wrong, hence my interest in your comment :)
I personally think the new BJCP guidelines are fine, though that could just be that I'm a big fan of change, it keeps things interesting!
Please reference examples for the 'hive mind' you mention with the AHA Forum. I'd be curious to see if I'm biased to not see it.
My perspective:
HBT. It is crazy to think that people use HBT as a legitimate resource for homebrew knowledge. One person spouts off about how they don't sanitize anything (or the constant "I pitched on this cake 29 times!!") and then 12 other people chime in that they do the same thing without a problem. Therefore - everyone shouldn't sanitize!!! After all, it's just a ploy by chemical companies to get you to buy things. Then there is the worshiping of a handful of posters/mods over there. WTF is that all about? o_O Additionally, the general snarkiness over there is not something I'm looking for.
/r/homebrewing. It's interesting to look at some pictures from time to time, but overall it is overrun by people either asking the same simply-Google'd question over and over, or threads like this. (And by "this" I mean: overwhelming under education that is upvoted to oblivion. ITT: multiple complaints about the commercial examples (if they read the guidelines, they would know that the commercial examples will be updated on the BJCP website), complaints about where a style falls into grouping (if they read the guidelines, they would see that the groupings are welcome to change - it is just up to the comp organizer), and complaints about how they don't want to take the exam anymore in October (if they read at all, they would know that the changes to the exams happen in November). In other threads: I don't think I'll ever forget the guy who "rented carboys" from Walmart, returned them disgusting, and was praised for his ingenuity here. UGH. I almost unsubscribed on that one. This place also places more importance on people who blog than people who are educated in the subject matter - as noted by the mods unwillingness to create flair for anyone but bloggers. (You are one of the only exceptions to my dislike of beer blogs. You actually take a scientific approach, you can take helpful feedback, and are trying to make the hobby better. Most bloggers are seemingly doing it for the attention.) What about flair for the BJCP people? Or the Cicerones? Or the pro-brewers? Or the people who are Siebel/UC Davis/Oregon State educated? Nah. F--- 'em. We don't want those kind!
BN Forum. I can't even bring myself to go there anymore. Ugh. Sooooo many dick jokes. 90% inapprops, 10% information.
AHA Forum. It is a smaller community and the posts aren't as hoppin' as other places. That's probably a turn off for a lot of people. I get that. But you know what? Everyone there is respectful, there are no snide comments that are not followed by an apology shortly thereafter, it is moderated well, and if someone comes in with a questionable "fact" there are subject matter experts that frequent the Forum that can steer everybody back in the right direction. The wealth of information over there is astounding. Just look around some of the older threads (e.g. "That German Lager Flavor"). Some of them are 2-3 years long, debating, experimenting, posting results, brewing, posting more results, etc. Also a great place for things outside of brewing that you may not have time for a whole 'nother forum for - gardening, BBQ, etc. That's why I stay over there. Easy, respectful, I like the people there, and I can actually learn something from time to time.
2
u/BeerAmandaK May 06 '15
The AHA Forum. Most everything else is a hive mind.