bigabyte
somebody shut me the fark up.
I wanted to clear the air of any possible misconceptions about my visions of the BBQ Brethren Throwdowns.
I have always viewed these "Throwdowns" as a friendly backyard Brethren Bash, with a bunch of friends gathered together having fun chatting and cooking food. The only difference is that they are all cooking items based on a similar theme, and at the end of the bash one of the dishes will be declared the best.
I highlighted the items I feel are most important. I feel these are the most important because it represents what the BBQ Brethren is all about. Without this site, these Throwdowns would not be here, the people would not be here, none of this would be possible.
To me, the most important aspect of the BBQ Brethren (in my opinion) is that people interested in a common theme (BBQ) gather together from varying levels of experience, from someone completely new to BBQ all the way to seasoned restaurant owners and champions of dang near any BBQ contest or organization you can imagine!
But it's more than just that. Maybe it's because of the word "Brethren" in the name, but there is a friendly spirit here. The experienced help out the new people. Anyone and everyone, at any level can learn a thing or two here, and they won't feel intimidated or picked on because they do not know something. We are ALL here too learn things. Countless times I have seen the most experienced people on these forums make a comment like "I've never seen that before", and "I learned something new". So in my opinion a HUGE reason for this sites success is the approachability of this site to anyone, from any background, at any level of experience.
With that said, that is how I expect the "BBQ Brethren" Throwdowns to be, the same way the BBQ Brethren as a whole operates. Anyone and everyone, from any background or level of experience is welcome, and encouraged to participate. Nobody should be criticized for their cooking skills here any more than any other part of this site. Instead, our collective knowledge and friendly demeanor should freely give advice on how someone can improve their dish. Likewise, nobody should be criticized for not having good photography skills. Instead offer some advice to them, help them learn to take better pictures. Isn't that the Brethren Spirit I know and love? I think so. Don't you think so too?
I recently got a PM from a newer member to put up a Throwdown for the newer people, or for those who don't think they are able to compete at the same level as some of our regulars. When I first got this PM, in my reply to that person I said that I knew that not a single one of our regulars would ever want anyone to feel that they can not enter. They want people to enter, and to learn, and to get better. That's where most of them started as well.
A lot of the people posting good looking dishes and pictures now did not start off with such good looking stuff. I myself am probably a poster child for this. In fact, the only reason I took over the Throwdowns when JD McGee wanted to step away from them was so they would keep going so I could improve my skills at making good looking Throwdown entries. I received advice from people like Rick's Tropical Delight, cmcadams, Gore and thirdeye about how to improve my pictures, or how to better set up the scene. Without that advice my pictures would still suck. Had I not entered though, and not practiced, and not had friendly "mentors" like them around to help me, I never would have improved my pictures to the level of quality they are now (still nto the best, but vastly improved).
So to all of our newer members, or to those who question if they shoudl enter a Throwdown, please do enter, and enter as often as you can. It helps to bring this site alive. It brings all of us in these things together. We become friends. That should be good enough reason for many people to want to enter. On top of that however, we improve our cooking and photography skills. There are many reasons people should want to enter the Throwdowns.
To all of our senior members and regulars in the Throwdowns, especially to those who are practically "revered" by many members for their cooking and photography skills (seriously, some of you have some major reputation), please use your knowledge to make this place even better. Encourage participation, help out those who you think you have some excellent advice for.
Something I personally ask of all of you though, no matter who you are, be thoughtful of the other members. Please don't turn the Throwdowns into a competition that it is not. Nobody is really winning anything here other than bragging rights and a virtual sheet of paper that you can print at your own expense, and the option to pick the next category. That's it. So please do not make it seem like the "pros" are first and foremost out to win and roll over everyone else. That is not what I see as "in the spirit of the BBQ Brethren Throwdowns".
Thank you for reading. If you think I am completely off my rocker, then you obviously know me all too well. But hopefully what I have said resonates within you somewhere, otherwise I may simply be the one who does not understand this site.
I have always viewed these "Throwdowns" as a friendly backyard Brethren Bash, with a bunch of friends gathered together having fun chatting and cooking food. The only difference is that they are all cooking items based on a similar theme, and at the end of the bash one of the dishes will be declared the best.
I highlighted the items I feel are most important. I feel these are the most important because it represents what the BBQ Brethren is all about. Without this site, these Throwdowns would not be here, the people would not be here, none of this would be possible.
To me, the most important aspect of the BBQ Brethren (in my opinion) is that people interested in a common theme (BBQ) gather together from varying levels of experience, from someone completely new to BBQ all the way to seasoned restaurant owners and champions of dang near any BBQ contest or organization you can imagine!
But it's more than just that. Maybe it's because of the word "Brethren" in the name, but there is a friendly spirit here. The experienced help out the new people. Anyone and everyone, at any level can learn a thing or two here, and they won't feel intimidated or picked on because they do not know something. We are ALL here too learn things. Countless times I have seen the most experienced people on these forums make a comment like "I've never seen that before", and "I learned something new". So in my opinion a HUGE reason for this sites success is the approachability of this site to anyone, from any background, at any level of experience.
With that said, that is how I expect the "BBQ Brethren" Throwdowns to be, the same way the BBQ Brethren as a whole operates. Anyone and everyone, from any background or level of experience is welcome, and encouraged to participate. Nobody should be criticized for their cooking skills here any more than any other part of this site. Instead, our collective knowledge and friendly demeanor should freely give advice on how someone can improve their dish. Likewise, nobody should be criticized for not having good photography skills. Instead offer some advice to them, help them learn to take better pictures. Isn't that the Brethren Spirit I know and love? I think so. Don't you think so too?
I recently got a PM from a newer member to put up a Throwdown for the newer people, or for those who don't think they are able to compete at the same level as some of our regulars. When I first got this PM, in my reply to that person I said that I knew that not a single one of our regulars would ever want anyone to feel that they can not enter. They want people to enter, and to learn, and to get better. That's where most of them started as well.
A lot of the people posting good looking dishes and pictures now did not start off with such good looking stuff. I myself am probably a poster child for this. In fact, the only reason I took over the Throwdowns when JD McGee wanted to step away from them was so they would keep going so I could improve my skills at making good looking Throwdown entries. I received advice from people like Rick's Tropical Delight, cmcadams, Gore and thirdeye about how to improve my pictures, or how to better set up the scene. Without that advice my pictures would still suck. Had I not entered though, and not practiced, and not had friendly "mentors" like them around to help me, I never would have improved my pictures to the level of quality they are now (still nto the best, but vastly improved).
So to all of our newer members, or to those who question if they shoudl enter a Throwdown, please do enter, and enter as often as you can. It helps to bring this site alive. It brings all of us in these things together. We become friends. That should be good enough reason for many people to want to enter. On top of that however, we improve our cooking and photography skills. There are many reasons people should want to enter the Throwdowns.
To all of our senior members and regulars in the Throwdowns, especially to those who are practically "revered" by many members for their cooking and photography skills (seriously, some of you have some major reputation), please use your knowledge to make this place even better. Encourage participation, help out those who you think you have some excellent advice for.
Something I personally ask of all of you though, no matter who you are, be thoughtful of the other members. Please don't turn the Throwdowns into a competition that it is not. Nobody is really winning anything here other than bragging rights and a virtual sheet of paper that you can print at your own expense, and the option to pick the next category. That's it. So please do not make it seem like the "pros" are first and foremost out to win and roll over everyone else. That is not what I see as "in the spirit of the BBQ Brethren Throwdowns".
Thank you for reading. If you think I am completely off my rocker, then you obviously know me all too well. But hopefully what I have said resonates within you somewhere, otherwise I may simply be the one who does not understand this site.
When someone voted for my entry, I was crushed.....I had failed at failure, :shocked: BUT.....I was a more improved failure (HUH!) because of the folks in this thread and on this forum.
