What's the point...

Arc weld · Aug 25, 2014

I just learned that one of the most knowledgeable contributors on this forum has had enough and pulled the plug. I understand why he left and can't blame him for leaving. Haven't decided yet if I'll stick around. Seems there's a few people on here that don't think years of experience count for anything. Sad day at TBN. :smiley_aafz:

CalG · Aug 25, 2014

Arc weld said:
I just learned that one of the most knowledgeable contributors on this forum has had enough and pulled the plug. I understand why he left and can't blame him for leaving. Haven't decided yet if I'll stick around. Seems there's a few people on here that don't think years of experience count for anything. Sad day at TBN. :smiley_aafz:

It's always sad to be left behind.

Still, Progress is going boldly where no man has gone before. Even more, the wise man learns from the mistakes of others.

Leaving a "forum" because the present group lacks respect for your experience is just foolish pride. If the participation was not pleasuable, that's a good reason.

Cheers

Wnc3 · Aug 25, 2014

Yes, that is a shame.
Well, he may change his mind. He may miss the rest of us...

Arc weld · Aug 25, 2014

It's not pleasurable when you try to share years of experience and it's discounted because you did it for a living. Some people seem to think that doing it as fast and as cheap as possible is better than taking your time and doing it right. I guess that's what separates the people who take pride in their work.

Underdog57 · Aug 25, 2014

Oh no!! Say it ain't so!! I am really bummed. :no::no: I really learned a lot from him here on TBN.

CalG · Aug 25, 2014

Arc weld said:
It's not pleasurable when you try to share years of experience and it's discounted because you did it for a living. Some people seem to think that doing it as fast and as cheap as possible is better than taking your time and doing it right. I guess that's what separates the people who take pride in their work.

NO! NO! Sharing is it's own Reward! Though the other party may express a rejection, Most often, time will show them the value of experience!

"To become old and wise, one must first be young and stupid"

or

"Experience is gained from the mistakes of inexperience"

either way, every passing generation has had the same feelings, and every coming generation does the same.

That is life!

Now, when my kids are around doing stuff, I say nothing, but do as I know best! Seems to work! The kids are fine people!

roadhunter · Aug 25, 2014

Arc weld said:
It's not pleasurable when you try to share years of experience and it's discounted because you did it for a living. Some people seem to think that doing it as fast and as cheap as possible is better than taking your time and doing it right. I guess that's what separates the people who take pride in their work.

It that really what you think happened?

It seemed to me that he got in a huge pissing match over 110v welders and recommending that some 70 year old woman needed a 230v welder and then started insulting peoples welds and calling them hacks after looking at pics they posted of projects they had done with thier 110v welder. Basically going to great extents to be an all around jerk about it and when he got called out he threw atantrum like a child including cussing and took his ball and went home never to return.

I have no doubt the guy is really talented and has helped many people but his bully mentality and insults turned negative and extremely immature toward the end. It's unfortunate that he could not simply get over the 110v welder pissing match but he escalated it to a point where he felt the need to leave instead of simply letting it go and moving on.

CalG · Aug 25, 2014

roadhunter said:
It that really what you think happened?

It seemed to me that he got in a huge pissing match over 110v welders and recommending that some 70 year old woman needed a 230v welder and then started insulting peoples welds and calling them hacks after looking at pics they posted of projects they had done with thier 110v welder. Basically going to great extents to be an all around jerk about it and when he got called out he threw atantrum like a child including cussing and took his ball and went home never to return.

I have no doubt the guy is really talented and has helped many people but his bully mentality and insults turned negative and extremely immature toward the end. It's unfortunate that he could not simply get over the 110v welder pissing match but he escalated it to a point where he felt the need to leave instead of simply letting it go and moving on.

Letting go?.....

Why does it so often need to be the very last thing we do?

( I recently had a difficult exchange with my sister, in argument with my brother over this very thing! Difficult to be sure)

Arc weld · Aug 25, 2014

roadhunter said:
It that really what you think happened?

It seemed to me that he got in a huge pissing match over 110v welders and recommending that some 70 year old woman needed a 230v welder and then started insulting peoples welds and calling them hacks after looking at pics they posted of projects they had done with thier 110v welder. Basically going to great extents to be an all around jerk about it and when he got called out he threw atantrum like a child including cussing and took his ball and went home never to return.

I have no doubt the guy is really talented and has helped many people but his bully mentality and insults turned negative and extremely immature toward the end. It's unfortunate that he could not simply get over the 110v welder pissing match but he escalated it to a point where he felt the need to leave instead of simply letting it go and moving on.

It's not about the 110 volt MIG's. He offered to do some testing with them. He was tired of giving sound advice that was discarded because he was a pro. It's frustrating for sure.

dragoneggs · Aug 26, 2014

I assume we are talking about Shield Arc? Or are we not suppose to mention who? Sad to see him go... he provided a lot a knowledge and was very helpful. I am thankful he spent some time with me personally as well. And it also seemed he very much enjoyed opining here... he was very blunt, which rubbed some people wrong, and he (and others) let things get personal... his own fault. His welding skills are very impressive. But people skills are valuable too.

Sodo · Aug 26, 2014

Shield spent considerable effort pushing a silly position. If you fellas wanted to keep him around, then you shoulda asked him to "lighten up" and not make assertions that were going to bite later. He got called on it.

Whenever Shield decided he didn't like someone, the quality of his advice dropped substantially, and instead of advice he lobbed insults, then tried to use his years of experience to convince members it was "advice" he was giving. I think I learned to read between the lines, there was some genuine advice in there at times. I suspect his assistance would be substantially better in person, than on an internet forum.

I'm sure "everyone" would welcome him back if he'd just lighten up.

But if not, it really would not hurt to get some new blood. Surely there are experienced welders who want to actually "help". Maybe with a little lighter tone, the forum can attract a new welding expert?

bumperm · Aug 26, 2014

I've always admired knowledge and skill and am saddened when a true artist dies (or leaves this forum). All that experience just gone? If we're talking Stradivarius yes, hasn't been surpassed or replaced. But for most, no matter how good we are, there'll always be another yet better. What's really impressive is someone who's just darn good, will share, help others, and is humble too . . .

A friend of mine, fellow glider pilot, passed away last year. Talking to him you'd come to realize that Bud Schurmeier, besides being affable and fun to be around, was intelligent and knowledgeable in many areas, though he never did try to impress that upon you. Wasn't until after his passing I learned he was project manager for the Voyager space mission. The Stories Behind the Voyager Mission: Bud Schurmeier | The Planetary Society

I'm here mostly to learn, sorry for rambling,

bumper

paulharvey · Aug 26, 2014

Well, I'm don't doubt this guy could weld, but I wouldn't want to drink a beer with him. Something tells me he would say it was the wrong beer, it should have been exactly 33.5 degrees, and would go on a rant about 3 legged vs 4 legged bar stools. I feel he had tons of experience but he always thought he had "THE" answer, and not one of several hundred Internet opinions. His simply was "fact", and there was no sense continuing the discussion once the master had graced us with his Word.

Edit: It reads more negative then I meant to be... to some it up trade skilled yes; people person... maybe not so much

Clay45 · Aug 26, 2014

paulharvey said:
Well, I'm don't doubt this guy could weld, but I wouldn't want to drink a beer with him. Something tells me he would say it was the wrong beer, it should have been exactly 33.5 degrees, and would go on a rant about 3 legged vs 4 legged bar stools. I feel he had tons of experience but he always thought he had "THE" answer, and not one of several hundred Internet opinions. His simply was "fact", and there was no sense continuing the discussion once the master had graced us with his Word.

Edit: It reads more negative then I meant to be... to some it up trade skilled yes; people person... maybe not so much

Yeah. You're no fun if you're right all the time.

jrdepew · Aug 26, 2014

Shame to see him go...I for one would definitely drink a beer with SA, he is just on the opposite side of the US. I see that he had offered quite a few people here some free face to face advice if they could make it to his shop, awfully nice of him.

Unfortunately, lots of people on this forum, and in life, seem to sweat the small stuff and the bickering started. Then the bickering continued... The funny thing is that lots of people will say things like "this is the last thing I'm saying on this thread" or something to that effect, then be right back to bickering again! Just agree to disagree and move it along.

Come back SA!! Aren't there ignore features on this forum?

:drink:

Joe

jrdepew · Aug 26, 2014

Arc weld said:
I just learned that one of the most knowledgeable contributors on this forum has had enough and pulled the plug. I understand why he left and can't blame him for leaving. Haven't decided yet if I'll stick around. Seems there's a few people on here that don't think years of experience count for anything. Sad day at TBN. :smiley_aafz:

Arc...Just want to let you know that your advice IS appreciated. You have improved my welding and I'm sure a lot more people on this forum could say the same.

Thanks,
Joe

Gary Fowler · Aug 26, 2014

I must have missed the thread that started all this. I can say that SA's advice was always agreeable to me. I never saw any posts from SA like everyone is writing about now, his advice was always spot on IMO. I think those who drove him away will be sorry for that day.

Texasmark · Aug 26, 2014

Maybe unrelated but I had an Algebra teacher in high school that had been teaching the subject for some 40 years. Obviously it was all old hat to him, but to us it was a challenge and we just didn't catch on right off. He had no patience with us.

Mark

ThomasH · Aug 26, 2014

roadhunter said:
It that really what you think happened?

It seemed to me that he got in a huge pissing match over 110v welders and recommending that some 70 year old woman needed a 230v welder and then started insulting peoples welds and calling them hacks after looking at pics they posted of projects they had done with thier 110v welder. Basically going to great extents to be an all around jerk about it and when he got called out he threw atantrum like a child including cussing and took his ball and went home never to return.

I have no doubt the guy is really talented and has helped many people but his bully mentality and insults turned negative and extremely immature toward the end. It's unfortunate that he could not simply get over the 110v welder pissing match but he escalated it to a point where he felt the need to leave instead of simply letting it go and moving on.

It is personal attacks like this that keep me from posting very much here. I have quit posting in the repair section due to a half a dozen people that post there, constantly criticizing help given to people. In most cases it wasn't the way they would do it, so they insisted in personal insults.