The forum does NOT look down on the entry point for many a fine laserist that started this way
Peace,
dave
But I do, and I think most of the forum does, look down on new users that emerge and ask questions that are easily addressed with some independent research.
I'd even say that I'm pretty forgiving about the search vs. ask scenario. I recognize that sometimes you don't even know enough about a new topic to identify useful phrases to search with. But a question like
"does this burn" is absolutely at the easiest end of the
"can I figure this out on my own" scale. There are dozens of threads here about what various output powers are capable of, lots of discussion about the absorption of different wavelengths, lengthy debate (and criticism) about the beam characteristics of high powered 635nm lasers, and most importantly, lots and lots of practical experience echoed in video, text, and photographs.
For me, it's not some high-minded or elitist disdain for people that
"dare waste my time on something they could figure out themselves". That doesn't bother me. I'm happy to answer easy questions. After all, easy questions are the quickest and easiest to answer
My issue, is that if someone isn't willing to do the most basic of investigation themselves, that is indicative of the fact that they don't really take this stuff seriously enough to seek a thorough understanding of what they're getting themselves into. If they'll ask to be spoon fed the most readily available of information, then there's likely
nothing that they're actually looking up on their own. If they'll throw out questions like "does this burn", then I seriously doubt that they are spending the rest of their time researching appropriate safety precautions, hazards associated with high powered lasers, etc. That ^ is not the type of person that I would ever want purchasing a laser from me.
