KarateForums.com Celebrates 500,000 Posts

[Patrick]

Hello,

Thank you for visiting KarateForums.com.

As a community, we have now reached 500,000 posts. This is a really impressive milestone and I'm grateful that we've had the opportunity to maintain this type of longevity.

What makes 500,000 posts special for us isn't just the number because numbers can be played with and manipulated. What makes it special is the quality of the discussions that we have here. The way people speak to one another. The fact that we can have a respectful discussion about a controversial topic. I am really proud of our culture, more than any numbers.

In fact, in how the site is moderated, we almost certainly cut down on the number of posts that we could have, in order to preserve the culture that we enjoy. Every online community has a different culture. Variety is good because no community is for everyone and, if our atmosphere doesn't work for someone, they can probably find a community that gives them what they want. But for those who enjoy, and add to, what we have here - we're honored to have you.

92 members have 1,000 posts or more. As I look down this list, I see many great contributors from the past and present.

This includes Brian (bushido_man96), Pat (SaiFightsMS), Bob (sensei8), Heidi (ninjanurse), Alex (tallgeese), Laurie (PunchPressQueen75), Danielle (DWx), Doug (SBN Doug), Tammy (monkeygirl), kicker, G95champ, ps1, joesteph, Treebranch, Red J, Kerry (Shotokan-kez), Goju_boi, Greg (gheinisch), Justice (JusticeZero), battousai16, Shawn (cathal), iamrushman, cross, Shorin Ryuu, ShotokanKid, TJS, Bill (MasterPain), Menjo, delta1, Sam, lordtariel, Pacificshore, patusai, Brenda (white owl), Aodhan, Ramona (ramymensa), italian_guy, Kirsty (KarateK), GoldDragon, Dave (the beast), GrrrArg, Karateka_latino, The BB of C, y2_sub, Jay, Kirves, BKJ1216, yamesu, Tiger1962, NightOwl, Kuma, June1, Adonis, krzychicano, kchenault, Gareth (Harkon72), Rusty (pittbullJudoka), pineapple, granmasterchen, Icetuete, marie curie, Ed (KarateEd) and LeaF. Devin (Lupin1) and Noah (Wastelander) will soon be joining this group, as well.

Thank you to all of these members and thank you to everyone who has contributed to KarateForums.com in a positive, meaningful way. I appreciate you.

This is a milestone worth celebrating and we have three big things planned, in addition to a few surprises.

Live Stream

On November 9 at 2 PM ET (GMT/UTC -5), I will be hosting a special 3 hour live stream where I will be joined by an assortment of members. I will be on video, participants will be on audio and anyone can watch and participate in a text-based chat room.

Two hours of the program will consist of quick chats with members, reflecting on the time they have spent at KarateForums.com. This will be 5-10 minutes per person, just so that we can fit a lot of people in. If you would be interested in participating, please let me know.

The third hour will mostly be dedicated to two staff member panels - one featuring previous Senseis (moderators) and one featuring current Senseis. We'll talk about moderating the community and what they have gained from their time on staff.

Member Interviews

I have conducted a series of 26 interviews with members from all eras of the history of KarateForums.com. I will be publishing these over the coming weeks, in the dedicated KarateForums.com 500,000 Posts Celebration forum.

These interviews will give you a greater insight into who these members are, what their martial arts background is and what KarateForums.com means to them.

KarateForums.com Awards

The twelfth annual KarateForums.com Awards will begin soon, bigger than ever. Through these awards, we aim to recognize just a handful of the individuals who have made outstanding contributions to KarateForums.com in the past year.

We'll have six new award categories this year, each matching a popular forum on KarateForums.com. They are Equipment Poster of the Year, Health, Training and Fitness Poster of the Year, Instructor Central Poster of the Year, Jiu-Jitsu and Grappling Martial Arts Poster of the Year, Karate Poster of the Year and Korean Martial Arts Poster of the Year.

Thank You

It should be a fun few weeks! Thank you to Heidi, Brian, Danielle, Alex, Bob, Gareth, Noah and Devin for helping me to plan out these festivities.

Thank you for reading and for supporting KarateForums.com.

Sincerely,

Patrick

[Wastelander]

Thank you for the forum, Patrick, as well as the well-deserved celebration!

[tallgeese]

Again, congratulations on the milestone, Patrick!

[DWx]

Congratulations Patrick!

500 000 quality posts is a massive milestone

[bushido_man96]

Congrats on this milestone, Patrick, and in the way you've done it, not sacrificing quantity for quality. This is the best MA community out there.

[Harkon72]

A Massive Congratulations Patrick, this is the best Martial Arts forum on the Web, and that is not just my Opinion! Osu!

[pittbullJudoka]

Congratulations on this milestone Patrick.

[hawkfish]

Congratulations Patrick! You have a great place here and hopefully the next 500,000 will be as great as the first!

[Patrick]

Thank you very much, Noah, Alex, Danielle, Brian, Gareth, Rusty and Doug. I really appreciate the kind words.

Patrick

[CredoTe]

Yes! Super-duper congratulations to Patrick and all of KF! Woo Hoo!!!