Tick Talk
[Moderator Emeritus]
2361
Greetings ampurist
Thank-you for this note. I'm not a curmudgeon (I hope) but there is an interesting evolution that needs to be discussed in the open without pressure to just accept it. Your predecessors, past moderators, came to the role as watch enthusiasts first and writers second. The move to favor wordsmiths first, and allow them to learn the subject matter on the fly, as it were, is worth noting. I realize that other forums have also adopted this strategy, but not under the label of "moderators", which has some history and implies in my view a level of expertise.
Another forum is more upfront in labeling their sponsored writers as "forum journalists" but I might even debate the "journalist" label. Is this a trite argument? Not to me, but others will have different opinions. Why is the word crafting more important than the subject matter? Why does it have a distinctly non-critical flavor, with watches often peripheral to social and status discussions? What are the long-term consequences; will forum success be measured (perhaps already is) by the number of views and not by the posts, by passive eyes and not active fingers? I sense that already most threads are started by moderators, to a schedule arranged by sponsors. My fear is that the forum concept is losing its participatory nature, evolving/devolving into another platform for marketing. That would be ironic as, "in the beginning", watch fora became popular as independent sources, seeing through the fog of hyperbole and filling the information void left by the brands.
I do most sincerely wish you all the best in this fantastic world of fine Swiss watchmaking, and please don't lose sight of your responsibility to the audience to add real value and tell the truth with all its nuances. Cheers 
Montblanc shines on the Red Carpet
Last night marked the 87th Annual Academy Awards, also known as The Oscars. This season brought many masterpieces such as American Sniper, Whiplash , and Foxcatcher , all nominees for Best Picture. As a long list of stars hit the Red Carpet, there was sig...
Thanks for the report ampurist!
Thanks to you and Fx, I am now looking at my pics of the Heritage PC again LOL. It's a really handsome and good value high complication watch. Congrats to all Oscar winners! Cheers robin
Ahem, I was wearing that...
I was wearing the Villeret Orbis Terrarum that Villeret gifted me a working prototype at SIHH. But I was the volunteer seat filler. I sit in the seat when the recipient goes to pick up his Oscar. There are female seat fillers for the female award recipien...
Neil Patrick Harris...
was going around talking to the seat fillers!! Anybody you were starstruck by???
Oops...
That's a joke for Amanico who was with me when we saw the special and latest Villeret watch from Montblanc when we were in Geneva together in January. I didn't get to borrow the Montblanc watch (Montblanc was pretty attached to it) for more than a few min...
Cars & Watches, both for Gearheads
I suspect many share a common interest in mechanical things, with cars and watches being naturally complimentary. Like watches, one can invest in near-classic cars and hope they appreciate in value while you also enjoy using them.
Hi there, who is ampurist?
A moderator with 45 posts! Seems you have a marketing background, industry connection? You are not listed on the Purists Team page so I would love to know a bit more about your role...
Ampurist is our travelling journalist
who reports on interesting watch related events in NYC/LA. Yes, this post is "legit" :-) No, this is not an industry insider post/shill. You'll just have to trust me when I say that she came with excellent references and credentials :-) Warmest, Mike Or m...
Thank-you but I'm still puzzled
I'm glad you went straight for the heart of my question with crystal clarity, thanks :-) I have reviewed many of our OP's threads and find much interesting social and entertainment copy, but missed the critique that Purists, by tradition and definition, h...
Yes!
We are getting old and the world is changing... My initial answer was directed at the most superficial question. Ampurist brings us event reports with a contemporary flair, with more style than I am able to ever produce. But we can critique, in fact I thi...
Change is good...
Hi, Tick-Talk, In case it wasn't obvious, the original post was mostly an event coverage, and a non-watch event at that. Since you've taken upon yourself to look at AMPurist's past posting history, you should have seen her interview of Stephen Forsey; her...
We seemed to be composing at the same time, Mike, and interestingly, wrote
Much the same thing. Chapeau, old timer. TM
Its a new World. Its a new Life. But I'm feeling good.
tick-talk, As an 'Oldie', I have also seen the changes in the world. We used to chug along on IBM PCs and dial up modems whilst being CRITICISED for posting too many photos that took up bandwidth. Today, 85% of our readers are on iPads or smartphones. Our...
Hi tick-talk
Thank you for your feedback and commentary. I am young and new at this and any heartfelt and constructive feedback offered in the interest of helping PuristsPro stay the best in our field is most appreciated. I know I have much to learn and with the suppo...
Greetings ampurist
Thank-you for this note. I'm not a curmudgeon (I hope) but there is an interesting evolution that needs to be discussed in the open without pressure to just accept it. Your predecessors, past moderators, came to the role as watch enthusiasts first and wri...