Feb 11th, '08, 01:58
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Space Samurai
Feb 11th, '08, 02:10
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Words of wisdom from Tom, our grand patriarc!!!
There is so much truth in what you so eloquently say.
This could have been a "brewhaha" but turned into something very productive. And we had some fun along the way.
OK, MW got away before she could be enlightened...but she is hopefully the exception. (now that sounds presumptuous and full of TeaSnobbery)
There is so much truth in what you so eloquently say.
This could have been a "brewhaha" but turned into something very productive. And we had some fun along the way.
OK, MW got away before she could be enlightened...but she is hopefully the exception. (now that sounds presumptuous and full of TeaSnobbery)
Last edited by Chip on Feb 11th, '08, 03:32, edited 1 time in total.
Feb 11th, '08, 03:19
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Location: Somewhere in the wilds of Montana, but never without a teacup.
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skywarrior
Salsero wrote:Individually we are all pretty nice people, but if you get two or more of us together, we really are a gaggle of insufferable boors, unmannerly and churlish as they come. Ain't it great!
I happen to be privy to the rationale for creating the ITD: it was not (as we suppose) to create an elite society of tea-heads. ITD was created by the authorities to protect the general population from being exposed to US.
Imagine the stupefaction and chagrin of the innocent who wanders upon the pretty world of tea (tea - what could be nicer!) and finds herself surrounded by a bunch of geese cackling fukamushi this and gongfu that and enumerating the 25 most important offshore tea vendors and handing them a list of $200 of unpronounceable teaware they have to buy before they open their beaks in the IM. The horror, the horror. And all she wanted was to find a little premium tea to see if it's better than what ma used to give her when she had a sore throat.
I balance you out. Bunch of tea snobs! Now where's my dan cong?
Feb 11th, '08, 15:48
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ABx
My initial reaction was much the same as Space's. I came here with an infuser mug and a french press, drinking nothing but yerba mate and teas from ethnic grocers. I had just gotten a taste for some good teas, and when I saw people talking about gaiwans, yixing, et all, my reaction was "oooh, what's that?", and.. never.. really.. stopped :X So it is a bit disturbing to me to see someone just giving up.
On the other hand, though, maybe there is a little additional room for some give and take between us and the novices. If ITD does serve to give the novices some breathing room, then we do definitely have to recognize the potential for a divide to form (however unintentionally) and do what we can to keep it from happening. I don't think we're there yet, but at the same time we would be the last to see it as we'd simply be busy talking amongst ourselves. I know it sometimes seems that way with the puerh community, and even some of the more heavyweight circles, although that's kind of a different ballgame. It does seem like there have been fewer nights spent helping newbies on their first big tea hunt, though, but that may just be a temporary lull in those types of visitors.
Maybe some pointed TeaDay polls could help. I'm thinking:
- How do you brew your tea at work (or otherwise can't use your preferred method)?
- What teas did you start with (and ask how your tastes evolved)?
- How you started with tea (introduced by friend, family, store, internet, etc)?
- What's your oldest teaware that you still use today?
- What's your favorite tea outside of your preferred type?
- A series of: what's your favorite black/oolong/green/white?
- What do you like most in your favorite tea (taste, texture, aroma, mental/physical effects, the ritual of making it, other, combination, etc.)?
...and so on. Some of these could still be misinterpreted, I think, (and there's just nothing you can do for some people, unfortunately) so what do you think? I also know that some of these have been touched on, and I may have missed a day that some were already asked, but some polls specifically designed to get us snobs to give the novices something to relate to, as well as opening discussion on the widest range of teas possible, could only work out for the better for all involved.
I'm thinking that there must also be some other things we can do to trap the unsuspecting into the downward spiral of desperate addict- er, I mean... the path to enlighTEAment Overall I definitely agree that the TeaDay forum is great for drawing things together and helping people to see where others are coming from.
I'm not suggesting that we go out of our way to cater to the novices in all that we do, but looking back it does almost seem like TeaChat used to do a little more reaching out to the tea novices some small way, with a slightly more diverse range of tastes. I could also just be being nostalgic for the times when I was exploring every type of tea I could possibly find (though I still do to some extent, I can definitely recognize that I have my particular specializations that I am much more inclined to talk about), but I guess that's kind of my point. In my hiatus from blogging I've been going back a bit to some of the first teas that got me hooked, and I think it is helping me to see how I've changed and help me grow.
On the other hand, though, maybe there is a little additional room for some give and take between us and the novices. If ITD does serve to give the novices some breathing room, then we do definitely have to recognize the potential for a divide to form (however unintentionally) and do what we can to keep it from happening. I don't think we're there yet, but at the same time we would be the last to see it as we'd simply be busy talking amongst ourselves. I know it sometimes seems that way with the puerh community, and even some of the more heavyweight circles, although that's kind of a different ballgame. It does seem like there have been fewer nights spent helping newbies on their first big tea hunt, though, but that may just be a temporary lull in those types of visitors.
Maybe some pointed TeaDay polls could help. I'm thinking:
- How do you brew your tea at work (or otherwise can't use your preferred method)?
- What teas did you start with (and ask how your tastes evolved)?
- How you started with tea (introduced by friend, family, store, internet, etc)?
- What's your oldest teaware that you still use today?
- What's your favorite tea outside of your preferred type?
- A series of: what's your favorite black/oolong/green/white?
- What do you like most in your favorite tea (taste, texture, aroma, mental/physical effects, the ritual of making it, other, combination, etc.)?
...and so on. Some of these could still be misinterpreted, I think, (and there's just nothing you can do for some people, unfortunately) so what do you think? I also know that some of these have been touched on, and I may have missed a day that some were already asked, but some polls specifically designed to get us snobs to give the novices something to relate to, as well as opening discussion on the widest range of teas possible, could only work out for the better for all involved.
I'm thinking that there must also be some other things we can do to trap the unsuspecting into the downward spiral of desperate addict- er, I mean... the path to enlighTEAment
Overall I definitely agree that the TeaDay forum is great for drawing things together and helping people to see where others are coming from. I'm not suggesting that we go out of our way to cater to the novices in all that we do, but looking back it does almost seem like TeaChat used to do a little more reaching out to the tea novices some small way, with a slightly more diverse range of tastes. I could also just be being nostalgic for the times when I was exploring every type of tea I could possibly find (though I still do to some extent, I can definitely recognize that I have my particular specializations that I am much more inclined to talk about), but I guess that's kind of my point. In my hiatus from blogging I've been going back a bit to some of the first teas that got me hooked, and I think it is helping me to see how I've changed and help me grow.
Feb 11th, '08, 16:11
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Wow, ABx, those are some powerful ideas! I love your TeaDay suggestions (hint, hint, Chip) and after reading your comments I see that the TeaDay post is a really powerful teaching tool.
I was just joking when I said ITD was an effort to fence us off to protect the rest of the herd, but now I see that there was a grain of truth in what I said (quite by accident!)
I was just joking when I said ITD was an effort to fence us off to protect the rest of the herd, but now I see that there was a grain of truth in what I said (quite by accident!)
Feb 11th, '08, 16:17
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scruffmcgruff
Thanks ABx, you've opened me up to some new ideas. Here's what I'm thinking now.
Perhaps this is a bit segregationist of me, but I envision us as a teaching "class" (without all the negative connotations, if that is possible), in a way. Just as teachers have their lounge (ITD, in our case) and don't talk about teacher business in the classroom (IM, main forum), I feel we should do the same.
Perhaps this is just another plug for the IRC chat, but I *really* think the sorts of conversations we have amongst ourselves belongs there. Plus, it would reduce the visibility of ITD's existence, which, from what Padre has told me, is quite obvious.
This is not to say we shouldn't use the regular forum or IM– it is, after all, the job of the teachers to teach their students– but I feel we should use it in an entirely different way than what has become popular (a trend in which I do not deny taking part, by the way).
I think if we do these things, we will positively affect TeaChat. By keeping some distance between intra-ITD discussions and those of the rest of the community, we may be able to make the newbies feel more welcome; but at the same time, by remaining in contact with the rest of the forum as teachers, we will not lose our ability to find new members that fit in with the ITD crowd.
I realize most of this is just an echo of what ABx just said, but whatever.
Perhaps this is a bit segregationist of me, but I envision us as a teaching "class" (without all the negative connotations, if that is possible), in a way. Just as teachers have their lounge (ITD, in our case) and don't talk about teacher business in the classroom (IM, main forum), I feel we should do the same.
Perhaps this is just another plug for the IRC chat, but I *really* think the sorts of conversations we have amongst ourselves belongs there. Plus, it would reduce the visibility of ITD's existence, which, from what Padre has told me, is quite obvious.
This is not to say we shouldn't use the regular forum or IM– it is, after all, the job of the teachers to teach their students– but I feel we should use it in an entirely different way than what has become popular (a trend in which I do not deny taking part, by the way).
I think if we do these things, we will positively affect TeaChat. By keeping some distance between intra-ITD discussions and those of the rest of the community, we may be able to make the newbies feel more welcome; but at the same time, by remaining in contact with the rest of the forum as teachers, we will not lose our ability to find new members that fit in with the ITD crowd.
I realize most of this is just an echo of what ABx just said, but whatever.
Feb 11th, '08, 19:17
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I will go on record here in saying, to the best of my knowledge, TeaChat is THE best English language tea forum on the planet. It is its broad membership, its ownership, and..............
By all means, TeaDay suggestions are VERY VERY WELCOME. Please PM ideas to me. I mean anybody by the way. I need your help and ideas and feedback. And your participation is critical to its success.
TeaDay seems to be the vortex in which all tastes can come together and just chat. It does not seem to matter what anybody drinks, nobody is viewed as needing TeaReformation, there is simply acceptance of TeaDrinkers on any level. Many of us relate to others there. I started with flavored teabags.
The rest of the forum tends to be more specific, but still a lot of grey areas such as TeaWare.
TeaChat works so well because there is such a wide cross section of such different people, tastes. There is a level of mutual tolerance here...not to mention adagio's high tolerance. Think Green Tea Forum, sometimes days will pass between posts. Kevin would never accept the way TeaChat is run, preferring instead to run an extremely tight forum (which appears to backfire IMHO). TeaChat has been approaching 100 posts a day over the last week or so. It is a hub of activity that is very healthy right now.
It is also adequately monitored, yet it is balanced. Everytime I had gone to RFDT forum, I personally get turned off by the anarchy that reigns there at times. Maybe it is different now, it has been several months since I have looked. But it is what it is, take it or leave it.
Lastly, I used to think I had to change every flavored sweetened milked tea drinker to the right way...some will follow our paths, some will blaze their own. But everyone's TeaJourney is their own. Those that seek our paths, we help as much as we can...and we love the feeling of helping another when they nail a particular tea that months before they said they hated. But not everyone wants help. Some people simply want to drink pomagranite pizazz black tea...power to them.
By all means, TeaDay suggestions are VERY VERY WELCOME. Please PM ideas to me. I mean anybody by the way. I need your help and ideas and feedback. And your participation is critical to its success.
TeaDay seems to be the vortex in which all tastes can come together and just chat. It does not seem to matter what anybody drinks, nobody is viewed as needing TeaReformation, there is simply acceptance of TeaDrinkers on any level. Many of us relate to others there. I started with flavored teabags.
The rest of the forum tends to be more specific, but still a lot of grey areas such as TeaWare.
TeaChat works so well because there is such a wide cross section of such different people, tastes. There is a level of mutual tolerance here...not to mention adagio's high tolerance. Think Green Tea Forum, sometimes days will pass between posts. Kevin would never accept the way TeaChat is run, preferring instead to run an extremely tight forum (which appears to backfire IMHO). TeaChat has been approaching 100 posts a day over the last week or so. It is a hub of activity that is very healthy right now.
It is also adequately monitored, yet it is balanced. Everytime I had gone to RFDT forum, I personally get turned off by the anarchy that reigns there at times. Maybe it is different now, it has been several months since I have looked. But it is what it is, take it or leave it.
Lastly, I used to think I had to change every flavored sweetened milked tea drinker to the right way...some will follow our paths, some will blaze their own. But everyone's TeaJourney is their own. Those that seek our paths, we help as much as we can...and we love the feeling of helping another when they nail a particular tea that months before they said they hated. But not everyone wants help. Some people simply want to drink pomagranite pizazz black tea...power to them.
Feb 11th, '08, 21:04
Posts: 5151
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The surprising thing is that TeaChat is vendor sponsored. I imagine the company sinks a lot of moolah into TeaChat, and I personally hope they make it back many times over.
I follow RFDT, BBB's Puerh Live Journal forum, Google's TeaMail, and Cha Dao every day, and there is no comparison. The other forums have their place, of course, but none of them have the vitality of TeaChat. I suspect that each one reflects some part of the recent evolution of the tea-drinking community, with TeaChat making the biggest splash by far in the USA and abroad. The community is the youngest and the IM is an enormous plus.
That being said, the lion's share of credit for growth in the last few months goes to our mods, recently a little more Chip than Mary because of Mary's family obligations, but both have made tremendous innovations and taken TeaChat to a new level, fluffing up the bean bag chairs and making us a second home.
Hip Hip Hooray!!! (applause, cheer, balloons)
I follow RFDT, BBB's Puerh Live Journal forum, Google's TeaMail, and Cha Dao every day, and there is no comparison. The other forums have their place, of course, but none of them have the vitality of TeaChat. I suspect that each one reflects some part of the recent evolution of the tea-drinking community, with TeaChat making the biggest splash by far in the USA and abroad. The community is the youngest and the IM is an enormous plus.
That being said, the lion's share of credit for growth in the last few months goes to our mods, recently a little more Chip than Mary because of Mary's family obligations, but both have made tremendous innovations and taken TeaChat to a new level, fluffing up the bean bag chairs and making us a second home.
Hip Hip Hooray!!! (applause, cheer, balloons)
I do see how newbies could be intimidated by all the foreign vendors we refer to and the fancy tea gear and all the lingo. But I have also seen what happens when the hardcore TeaHeads step away from the IM and it becomes completely lifeless. You might get one or two newbies asking how to brew a certain tea, and two or three asking how to smoke bi lo chun. I think the truth is that only TeaFreaks are going to spend much time chatting about tea. Casual tea drinkers go to adagio's main site, order their tea and gtfo. TeaChat has like ten billion members and only about fifty of them actually stick around and post or chat. Be careful what you wish for, ya know? 
Feb 11th, '08, 22:25
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Feb 11th, '08, 23:05
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Feb 11th, '08, 23:11
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Space Samurai
First, I have really enjoyed everyone's feedback; this has been awesome, and ABx, those are wonderful sugestions.
Second, and this is close to my heart, but has everyone else noticed the growing interest in matcha? By noobies, no less. I am very excited to see this, and it says to me that while there are many people who come here for basic info, their are others who are looking for answers to rather advanced questions. Don't know where I'm going with that, guess I'm just sayin'...
Second, and this is close to my heart, but has everyone else noticed the growing interest in matcha? By noobies, no less. I am very excited to see this, and it says to me that while there are many people who come here for basic info, their are others who are looking for answers to rather advanced questions. Don't know where I'm going with that, guess I'm just sayin'...