in·no·vate: make changes in something established, especially by introducing new methods, ideas, or products
This is going on all the time. Most of us here do not expect to make money from our involvement in surfboard making, we do it because we enjoy doing it. And it shows in the number of innovative things that regulary appear here. Fin layouts, hydroplanes, compsand builds, builds using castoff materials rescued from the landfill.
The only innovations at risk of idea theft are those that might be suited to production methods and patent protection. It is unfortunate that there are unscrupulous people who would try to profit from others’ creativity and share nothing with them, even outright stealing of others’ ideas. That has been going on since long before the internet existed, and unfortunately internet does increase the vulnerability to this kinda thing.
So its prudent to keep the cards close to your chest if you have this kind of knowledge, but thankfully, that hasn’t hindered a wide variety of innovative posts from showing up here on a regular basis.
Yes its unfortunate that the website has lost old constructive members possibly through boredom and a reluctance to share new ideas. Its unfortunate that nuclear waste is being dumped in the ocean, along with enough plastic to choke the ecosystem, its unfortunate that greedy people and corporations put profits ahead of quality of life for the planet and future inhabitants, its unfortunate that there is so much polarization and hatred in the world, etc etc etc.
What is fortunate tho, IMO, is that we still have a cool forum here, that’s free, and full of helpful insights on surfboard building, and lots of creative people who contribute and ask nothing back, except maybe a little respect and appreciation, which they deserve.
Its also, IMO, pretty cool that even the most un-original, or non-innovative surfboard out there can still be a heck of a lot of fun to paddle out and go surfing on. Cuz surfing is just fun. Dolphins surf the same way they’ve been doing since dolphins existed, and they’re still having fun, without a second thought to innovation.