>
>  but I agree with Bill that the disclaimer is trying to discredit Randy's
> work.
>
> I didn't read it that way.

I'll admit that when my ABJ comes (or BC) I don't read it cover to cover at
first. I like to read a few articles a day and make it last a month. I saw
this thread before I read his article, and thumbed through the end to read
the Disclaimer before I red the article. I was actually quite outraged just
in reading the disclaimer, as it appeared disrespectful.

But then I read the article.

Now, I love Randy's work. Always have. I've said before, and will continue
to say that I'd keep my ABJ subscription if the only thing they published
was one Randy article a month. To me, that's worth the price of admission.
The rest of the articles are just freebies beyond that. But this last
article was a little bit more preachy than how Randy normally writes. He
took a rather tough approach to Bond and Treatment Free beekeepers.
Personally I don't think he was wrong, but it was a little more aggressive
than he normally writes. Just the way I read it though. Maybe I'm the only
one. But the article may well upset some Bond, Treatment Free, or Natural
beekeepers, which is a good size market for ABJ. To me, the disclaimer
makes sense, and doesn't discredit his work.

I've also noticed in the past few years that the articles have skewed more
toward contributions from beginners, or articles about how to start out in
beekeeping. I view this as positive. In my local bee club, maybe 1-2% read
ABJ or BC. When I ask why not, they think it's too technical for them, too
high level. Some starting off have a hard time identifying the difference
between a drone and a queen. Some of those topics fly way over their heads.
So they don't subscribe. But realistically speaking, we need them to. Just
like how clubs are aging out, subscribers are too. If you incorporate some
articles focused around alternative beekeeping styles, or "newer" topics,
you attract newer (and younger) beekeepers. You widen the subscription
base. And in the process, you get to introduce the more scientific articles
to these new beekeepers. Without them knowing, they learn. And the craft
progresses. I see it as a positive. Maybe I'm the only one.

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