You went a bit crazy with the off-topic rating in this thread. It seemed to me that most of the posts were on topic, though they were commenting on alternative building methods. This should have been the call of the OP, who has yet to reply to any comment here. He may very well have been interested in these comments. I know it is a gray area but please try to understand there is a difference between off-topic posts (joke, completely unrelated side conversations, arguing just to argue and so on) and posts that may not directly answer an OPs question but are still related and may be of some use to the OP. Try to determine if the intent of the post was to be useful to the OP.
Thank you that was always my intention to suggest to the OP an alternative to Bamboo, after I told him where to find a Bamboo Builder, I think when the CHB was mentioned then it did go way off, but to be honest I liked it and was having a bit of fun with it, it would appear the OP was gone anyway and made no comment after his initial post?
Went a bit crazy, did I now? I was only trying to “Spring-clean” with the off-topic rating before posting my own, following the example you set and rising up to your encouraging call to off-topic rating the other day, when posts went astray albeit in a far-related way, in the thread BoI Info/NEW rules on ENTRY of FOREIGNERS. The topic in this thread is about “finding a reputable & bonded contractor,” not about “alternative building methods.” I was about to also list independent foremen but I realized these poor workers, though in true and actual possession of years of hands-on experience and masterful skills, will not cough up hard-earned money for some bond supposed to guarantee workmanship that already created for them their niche in the local construction industry. Anyway, how would such a list assist in finding a bonded contractor when, to them, it would be like being approached with a piece of cake for the grabbing and then being asked to name names to whom to give the cake! In like manner, how can alternative building methods assist in finding a bonded contractor? Then you come saying, here and now, that if the intent is to be useful to the OP, what looks gray remains grey. I really think we could use some consistency here. If the gentlemen are able to understand and accept that my off-topic ratings bore no intent to offend or inconvenience them even as my post's intent was to be useful to the OP, then I hereby my give thanks to DAVE1952, to SkipJack, to Ozzyguy, to jimeve, to Notmyrealname, and to Senjenbing. If not, I leave them to their imagined misery. May tomorrow be a clear day to see forever!
Sorry if this offends you but I think you are aff yer Heid, who the F,,, needs a reputable contractor to build a Bamboo hoose, yer heid is in the clouds
Doesn't bother me. A rating neither makes me stronger (hardiflex*) or weaker (poor quality cocolumbar*). My aim is to try to stick to the topic (so that our Mod doesn't pull his hair out and become prematurely bald) - thus, I referred to the items asterisked.
Personally, I think the off-topic rating should be available only to the moderator. He has only one motive in using it and applies it fairly.
You encouraged members to use the off topic rating. And then, when I followed your call to exercise it in the interest of order, coherence and clarity in the thread, you go overboard by removing my ability to do all ratings like a tyrannical king! NOT FAIR! Is it because I am a brown Filipina and you are a white American?
@Mom Miriam Don't play the race card. It is beneath you. Your posts and opinions are respected and stand on their own.