Originally Posted by Torben

Agreed. A friend of mine once noted: "I have a theory that you only get a limited number of Argument Points per day. Every time you argue, you use up some points. So I try to spend mine where they're important."

It's easy to get stuck arguing against useless ideas. Heaven knows I've done it (anybody remember my pointless back-and-forth with bigkim1000? My apologies for that, by the way).

Some things need to be argued. Others just aren't worth it. I'm still learning this. If somebody wants to do something which is basically just stupid and won't be dissuaded, I figure "what the hell--let them". If someone wants to do something which could endanger someone, then maybe that needs to be argued against.


Torben

I am reminded of a phrase often spoken. "Pick your battles wisely"

Now I know most of you think your smarter and have more experience then the rest How do you known ?

You think if people don't write good there inexperienced Wrong

Don't take the time to lay out all the facts inexperienced Wrong

Maybe a little lazy Right

Don't tell some one how to do some thing they may get hurt
That's bull Boy's there not much you can do without the chance of getting hurt

Maybe live in a bubble.

You can't tell who behind the keyboard

My 2 cents....I agree to a degree with tcmtech's sentiments and other comments posted, but I must admit that of recent times I've taken a back seat when it comes to replying to some of the posts...

Reason:

I'm fed up of folk coming across with 'the I know better than you' attitude....

Its easier to just walk away...

Glad this is becoming a fair and open discussion about opinions.

My 2 cents....I agree to a degree with tcmtech's sentiments and other comments posted, but I must admit that of recent times I've taken a back seat when it comes to replying to some of the posts...
Reason:
I'm fed up of folk coming across with 'the I know better than you' attitude....
Its easier to just walk away...

Similar sentiments as well.
I know I do come off as over bearing many times. However when someone gives me long run out about some book theory as to why they think something only works a certain way and I in fact do work with said topic and am very familiar with how it actuality works I do get a bit rubbed the wrong way if that make sense.

All of us have things we just know more about for practical experience than most and yet we have to deal others going off like experts that really only have book theory to reference to.
I dont always mean to step on toes but many times the book doesn't come close to how real life works!

The analogy I have used before was, just because you live in a apartment building and have a very nice and productive windowsill garden doesn't mean you can come out and tell farmers how to raise crops!
Sorry but there are some serious scalability issues your not aware of when going from hobby gardening to 2000 acre farming operations.
On the small scale something may be a real issue but on a large scale its lost in the background noise and not worth worrying about or can be addressed in a different way with far less over all concern.

I have to side with be80be's comments as well. Not everyone here types well, communicates well, or cares to put the effort into addressing every detail about a subject if they dont feel it to be necessary in the first place.

I try to speak my mind with things I have good practical hands on experience with. With most everything else I just watch, listen and learn. for every post I make I have probably read 30 more I had no reason to respond to!

I generally try to contribute to anything I've read which I may be able to help with. I don't have a great deal of electronics experience but there are always others who have more experience and can add to what I've said or correct me if I'm wrong. It helps me learn where I went wrong as well as helping the OP with their problem.

By trying to help someone with their problem I'm not claiming to be an expert or that I know better than anyone else, but I don't see any reason why I shouldn't attempt to help simply because I'm not an expert in the field.

Originally Posted by giftiger_wunsch

I generally try to contribute to anything I've read which I may be able to help with. I don't have a great deal of electronics experience but there are always others who have more experience and can add to what I've said or correct me if I'm wrong. It helps me learn where I went wrong as well as helping the OP with their problem.

By trying to help someone with their problem I'm not claiming to be an expert or that I know better than anyone else, but I don't see any reason why I shouldn't attempt to help simply because I'm not an expert in the field.

I agree 100%, IMHO its the positive approach that makes the difference.

To be honest I've actually found this is one of the best forums I've joined. Every forum has its share of rude / annoying / argumentative users, but ETO is one of the better ones. Compared to other forums I've been a member of, I've found that the number and frequency of replies is very high as well. As you said warpspeed, the problem is with forums in general, not with ETO. It's just far too easy and anonymous on the internet; people will make comments they frankly wouldn't dare make to someone's face.

It's easy to complain about what's wrong with a particular forum, but try doing better with your own forum and see how well that works