If a new oud tread were started what would you want to discuss?

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What happened to our Agarwood oil discussion thread??
I would like to discuss all of the above except oud as a business. I think this is what got the thread in trouble before. I would like more reviews of particular ouds.

Personally, I think all of the proposed sub-topic ideas are great.
I think that having separate threads for the different sub-topics (under the Oud umbrella) is a good way to keep things focused and organized. The varying sub-topics would each likely see different levels of interest, participation, and passion, but it just seems like a more controllable way to proceed, rather than one blanket thread, as was the case (for the most part) before.

I like the topics!

Stuigi said we need volunteer moderators. These would have to be people who are willing to be firm and subjected to a little flak if they try to redirect inappropriate posts.

Thanks Bluemoon for your great suggestion about the subcategories which seem to be quite comprehensive already. You had mentioned that you were wondering where the old thread "went wrong" and I think it did because of the product reviews! For while they might be useful for someone who is tying to asses what to buy next or just simply curious about a certain product others take issues with certain reviews because they are simply different than theirs or because they might feel that the reviewer is biased toward one vendor or the other. That is why I would humbly suggest to isolate the product review on a separate Thread where vendors are not allowed or simply not allowed to comment and maybe a certain decorum or format followed for reviews (staying away from throwing around a bunch of superlatives or derogatory adjectives:-) . Otherwise I would also recommend that the reminder of the categories be kept together simply for the ease of use and for the economy of time. Certain issues will ebb and flow according to the collective interest of the Group., just as in life. Additionally it will be very difficult not to over lab between subcategories, as an example we could be discussing Oud as chips for burning and someone would ask if there is an oil that smells like the chip burning and next thing we are talking about Indian ouds! There was something exciting about the dynamism of the follow of the previous thread.
I think sellers should be allowed on the thread specially if they're clearly identified but will not be allowed in the product review area as I mentioned above. They give us, consumers and enthusiast, an angle and a point of view that we might not be privy to and personally I like knowing a little bit about the Business of Agarwood from the vendor, distiller and growers point of view. It is all part of my curiousty about Oud. and finally and this is meant in good spirit is that may be we should stay away from cynicism because it kind of poisons the atmosphere.

I would go for no 1 since so many myth that related to this holy wood also for no 3. Safer for the thread let alone promotion outside the thread. Google is huge area.

I wonder if this group will become too cluttered - there are already a dozen or more random dead threads.

If someone creates a new group, I wonder if they have some control over the threads - like can they organize or delete threads? Regulate membership? In other words, when Taz created this forum, was his account bestowed with special privileges or is that kind of power only in the hands of stuigi and folks like him? In those early days it felt like someone was steering the ship, like we were guests at someone's house... This I think in part led to the etiquette ad humility that was present in the group.

Not that a group needs a leader necessarily, but there was something different in the feeling of joining and trying to make positive contributions to taz's new oud group.

Just a thought, and kind of a rambling one at that...

2/4/6

I would definately want to have a thread of reviews of various ouds and related oils (e.g. mukhallats, attars, etc.). When it costs $200 or $300 dollars or more to simply sample many ouds it helps greatly to have some leads to go on. Further, I find it intrinsically interesting to read about the fragrance characteristics of oud. In past threads on oud I have particularly enjoyed posts on this subject. I acknowledge that a thread devoted to reviews primarily could be used by some sellers to promote their wares but I think this could be kept in check by the group. Occasionally in oud threads on Basenotes new distillers or distributors of oud introduce themselves and that also I have found valuable and interesting. It would help to have a moderator, either an individual or several of the more experienced hands here but I don't know that it is essential. Dorian

I would definately want to have a thread of reviews of various ouds and related oils (e.g. mukhallats, attars, etc.). When it costs $200 or $300 dollars or more to simply sample many ouds it helps greatly to have some leads to go on. Further, I find it intrinsically interesting to read about the fragrance characteristics of oud. In past threads on oud I have particularly enjoyed posts on this subject. I acknowledge that a thread devoted to reviews primarily could be used by some sellers to promote their wares but I think this could be kept in check by the group. Occasionally in oud threads on Basenotes new distillers or distributors of oud introduce themselves and that also I have found valuable and interesting. It would help to have a moderator, either an individual or several of the more experienced hands here but I don't know that it is essential. Dorian

Incense and it's use.