Ambassador pete Posted May 29, 2012 Ambassador Report Posted May 29, 2012 Dear Forum- I have limited time to login and read this great forum. If i could I'de be here all day the way people "google" all day. BUT...... I am amazed and getting a little peeved at the copious amounts of requests here made mostly beginners and "noobs" It seems that I login sometimes and find 3-4 pages and a huge majority of the requests are for things that even a beginner should be able to figure out-to-------I.E. oil before or after dyeing, will too much water make my cuts close, how do I cut a straight line and what should I use to cut with, can I punch holes in dry leather, and on and on....... I REALLY don't mean to come off as arrogant or above helping those newer to this craft- but come on!! GET SOME SCRAPS AND TRY WHAT YOU ARE AFRAID TO ATTEMPT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS!! That's exactly what I tell those who approach me or call me for help. Try IT!!! You will learn more doing it than you EVER will asking me or anyone else. I see way too many pictures posted here of projects by folks who are new and this is their first posting, and they BEGIN by pointing out their own mistakes- obvious mistakes that don't require comment If a stitch line is crooked or an edge was wavy, a lacing loop was missed TRY IT AGAIN!!! FIX IT!!! scraps are cheap- you don't need to be told that your cut missed the scratch line. This is a craft- it takes a long time to get REALLY good, but plenty of beautiful work can be completed if you take your time, practice before you cut and wack, and think out the job before you do it. Again- I'm not ranting nor am I angry- I just so appreciate this forum and its members and their talent and hate wading through posts that could so easily be answered if only the search button was used more often. There is a TON on information that has been compiled and it goes WAY back. I don't think that I could invent a question that can't be answered from the search archives. pete
mlapaglia Posted May 29, 2012 Report Posted May 29, 2012 (edited) Pick any forum that has been around and has a lot of new people all the time. the search button use has been a common thread on all thoses forums. Most of the search functions do not do much if you do not know how to properly phrase the question. But, I can see how that would be frustrating to you. But doesn't that negate one of the main purposes of this board? There are people that like to ask verses look up an answer. Some need the reassurance of a response. Others use it as a way to introduce themselves. Some just like to chat. About all I can suggest is don't open a thread started by someone whose name you do not recognize. Michael Edited May 29, 2012 by mlapaglia The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering. Bruce Lee
dirtclod Posted May 29, 2012 Report Posted May 29, 2012 A quick look through the how do i this threads will explain a lot of the questions. It's kinda like the where do i get this or that threads. A quick search on Google will turn a lot of what their looking for most of the time. I'm old enough to know that i don't know everything.
Members Sylvia Posted May 30, 2012 Members Report Posted May 30, 2012 Uhmmmm..... having a bad day, Pete? The main thing I would like to point out is that what is "cheap" to YOU may not be so damn cheap to someone else. Also "noobs" often start with a Kit... which they paid way too much for and feel anxious about screwing up. Please don't fault their efforts to ask. Sometimes people have no idea how to search these things out on a forum. Just because they HAVE a computer doesn't mean they are adept at using it. A teacher pointed at me with a ruler and said "At the end of this ruler is an idiot." I got detention when I asked "Which end?"
Members DoubleC Posted May 30, 2012 Members Report Posted May 30, 2012 I'm with Sylvia on this. I have talked my neighbor through 'copy and paste' at least 10 times; her computer is way nicer than mine but that doesn't mean she knows how to use it. And she still likes for me to be on the phone or in her apt. when she does it. Is it frustrating? Yes, but I don't tell her to go and use Microsoft's search function to remind herself. That place is huge, and Pete really to someone starting out so is this. If you find you are losing your patience just don't answer those questions for a while. Because they are important to the person asking them. Cheryl http://www.etsy.com/shop/DoubleCCowgirl
electrathon Posted May 30, 2012 Report Posted May 30, 2012 My biggest pet peeve on a forum, and this is huge big, is when someone asks a question (and I would say 100% of the time it is because they are looking for an answer) and they are told by someone to,"use the search". I can not think of a bigger, more arrogant, belittling, a hole statement to post than that! I have seen a group of old timers on here recently posting this. I see red ever single time someone posts it. If you do not want to answer someones questions, use the mouse and select another thread. You take your time to belittle and try to humiliate the new people, this might as well be a punk kid forum. Some of the old time people on here need to be embarrassed by their attitude. This is a place of learning. Most new people are here to learn. My second biggest pet peeve, and this is just a little behind the first: Telling people who are trying to learn to do it themselves and tell us how it worked. People ask questions to learn the answer, not to be belittled and humiliated. Now I got angry, need to stop. Aaron
Members DoubleC Posted May 30, 2012 Members Report Posted May 30, 2012 No sense in getting angry Aaron, I suppose when you've answered the same question a 1000 times it gets old. But I agree, takes just as long to answer a question as to try and belittle someone. Cheryl http://www.etsy.com/shop/DoubleCCowgirl
Members OldManDan Posted May 30, 2012 Members Report Posted May 30, 2012 Oddly enough, in reading Pete's post, now I have more leather questions because he brought up things that never would have occurred to me since I've never worked with leather before. Like can you punch dry leather? Um, why would you wet leather to punch it? Should I do that? That would never occur to me. Does that mean you have to wet it before you stamp it or cut it with a swivel knife, too? EEEEEEPPPP!!! Unfortunately, my nearest Tandy Leather Factory is about 50 miles away so popping over for a class is not doable since I don't drive. I'd better read more before I eff up this piece of leather. *sigh* And I agree about the expensive vs. cheap thing. Everyone's circumstance is different. ~Thanks in advance, Old Man Dan Oklahoma
Members DoubleC Posted May 30, 2012 Members Report Posted May 30, 2012 Yes, if your going to read Rod, go to 'how do I do that' and read the pinned topics. There's one on 'casing' or how wet your leather should be and a ton of other things. And keep asking questions. Cheryl http://www.etsy.com/shop/DoubleCCowgirl
Members radar67 Posted May 30, 2012 Members Report Posted May 30, 2012 We were all beginners at one point. If we are not willing to help the beginners, the art will die. I was very appreciative of the individual who took time out of his busy days to answer my noob questions and get me on the right path. He had three words to follow, "Honor, Loyalty, and Respect". I enjoy helping people get started in this craft, as I am still learning every day.
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