Belch85
0
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2013
- Messages
- 71
- Points
- 0
Hi Everyone,
Not sure where the best place to put this thread is - please feel free to move it if there is a better place. If anybody has any comments / suggestions please feel free. While I am a new member on this forum; I wanted to outline a couple of basics to everybody (both old and new members). These basic elements can often be over-run by a new members ignorance, or by a veterans long-exposure to that very ignorance. Don't get me wrong; I'm not looking to point the finger at anyone, or to make any negative statements about the forum or its members as a whole. In fact; I have received so much help from members on here I'm already hooked on this community.
First
We are all human beings. Being an international forum - we all come from completely different cultural/economic/academic backgrounds. This poses the very difficult task of crossing those borders (in conversation) without offending or otherwise upsetting a healthy balance. To some it comes as a big surprise; not everybody thinks the same way - as our presuppositions have been programmed from a young age by our very real and very different surroundings. The very basic and fundamental core of our thinking differs greatly. LaserPointerForums is therefore an amazing example of cohesion among such vast and different groups of people. This unity however does come at a cost - which brings me to my second point.
Second
Regardless of our:
For Veterans
While I can wholeheartedly understand the frustration of seeing the same questions and complaints over-and-over again (probably on a daily basis); if this sort of question bothers you - don't respond. If you can't respond while holding firmly onto the above values - it's better to stay quiet. Let somebody else more humble speak on behalf of the vets. If you do want to put a noob in his/her place, do so graciously, remembering that you too were once a noob. Remember these very noobs will one day overtake you in your knowledge and experience, and will have the new technologies to play with that you only dream of. Treat them with the same common courtesy and respect you would treat your contemporary. If you put them down, you are actively damaging this forum - and the noob's respect for you and it.
For Noobs
While I can wholeheartedly understand the desire of a noob to learn and get all the information quickly and accurately - don't expect others to hand feed you this information. You have not paid a fee to be here - this is not a college. If you are on this forum then it's safe to say you have access to Google - and you can search this vast forum for the question to see if it has been previously asked. Get online and do some research. You can ask here at the same time - and you may or may not be answered. If you ever want to object to what a vet is saying - do so carefully and without saying "you are wrong". Remember, the vets have seen people like you come and go for a long time - and while they hold much more knowledge and experience as you - they have probably had the same conversation many times, and tested the same theory many times.
Summary
While this forum is a brilliant example of people getting along well; there is always room for a reminder, for growth. By treating others with the same respect as you would a real person - we can all maintain and uphold the good standards here. While specific situations can be complicated; the blanket-ideology is simple. Respect others more than yourself - and you will go a long way without upsetting.
Not sure where the best place to put this thread is - please feel free to move it if there is a better place. If anybody has any comments / suggestions please feel free. While I am a new member on this forum; I wanted to outline a couple of basics to everybody (both old and new members). These basic elements can often be over-run by a new members ignorance, or by a veterans long-exposure to that very ignorance. Don't get me wrong; I'm not looking to point the finger at anyone, or to make any negative statements about the forum or its members as a whole. In fact; I have received so much help from members on here I'm already hooked on this community.
First
We are all human beings. Being an international forum - we all come from completely different cultural/economic/academic backgrounds. This poses the very difficult task of crossing those borders (in conversation) without offending or otherwise upsetting a healthy balance. To some it comes as a big surprise; not everybody thinks the same way - as our presuppositions have been programmed from a young age by our very real and very different surroundings. The very basic and fundamental core of our thinking differs greatly. LaserPointerForums is therefore an amazing example of cohesion among such vast and different groups of people. This unity however does come at a cost - which brings me to my second point.
Second
Regardless of our:
- Academic training.
- Cultural background.
- Financial support.
- Experience with lasers.
- Experience with online forums.
- Experience with respect.
- We must not assume anything about another member, or a member's life, family, education, finance, etc.
- As a noob; we should recognise veterans and approach them cautiously and respectfully. As a veteran, we should respond to noobs graciously and kindly, without belittling them.
- While many are here to learn, and many are here to teach - not everybody is in this boat. We should not expect any member to write a thesis paper explaining something that can be Google'd.
- Whenever we learn from others; we should do so with an open mind, like a sponge - ready to absorb and digest the information that is being presented. We should critically analyse this information with our own logic and memory units.
- Whenever we teach others; we should do so with a high level of integrity (our information must be accurate, and not biased or swayed by emotion). We should do so without insulting, belittling or discouraging a student. We should scan our teaching for errors, and be ready to retract anything if a new development is made.
- Do not insult or belittle another member, regardless of who you think you are, or who you think they are. While this can be difficult due to some unforseen barriers - one easy way is to avoid statements with the subject being "You". For example, as soon as you make a direct reference to another member, be careful what you say. Is it really necessary? Is it helpful to the situation? Will it advance our learning or grow our bond as a community? It's one thing to say "I see what you're saying, but have you considered this?" - It's another thing to say "You are wrong, because of this!"
For Veterans
While I can wholeheartedly understand the frustration of seeing the same questions and complaints over-and-over again (probably on a daily basis); if this sort of question bothers you - don't respond. If you can't respond while holding firmly onto the above values - it's better to stay quiet. Let somebody else more humble speak on behalf of the vets. If you do want to put a noob in his/her place, do so graciously, remembering that you too were once a noob. Remember these very noobs will one day overtake you in your knowledge and experience, and will have the new technologies to play with that you only dream of. Treat them with the same common courtesy and respect you would treat your contemporary. If you put them down, you are actively damaging this forum - and the noob's respect for you and it.
For Noobs
While I can wholeheartedly understand the desire of a noob to learn and get all the information quickly and accurately - don't expect others to hand feed you this information. You have not paid a fee to be here - this is not a college. If you are on this forum then it's safe to say you have access to Google - and you can search this vast forum for the question to see if it has been previously asked. Get online and do some research. You can ask here at the same time - and you may or may not be answered. If you ever want to object to what a vet is saying - do so carefully and without saying "you are wrong". Remember, the vets have seen people like you come and go for a long time - and while they hold much more knowledge and experience as you - they have probably had the same conversation many times, and tested the same theory many times.
Summary
While this forum is a brilliant example of people getting along well; there is always room for a reminder, for growth. By treating others with the same respect as you would a real person - we can all maintain and uphold the good standards here. While specific situations can be complicated; the blanket-ideology is simple. Respect others more than yourself - and you will go a long way without upsetting.
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