I want to post this so that we might, as a community, do a better job for our membership. I have noticed a real trend here on this site (site in general) of an 'attitude' per se, towards those that may be new to the community or not quite be 'in the fold' just yet (by some unspoken standard?) when it comes to asking questions and seeking FSJ knowledge. I have seen some responders to questions take umbrage that the question was even asked, and even go further as to verbally eviscerate an innocent seeker of information because they didn't FIRST search the entire website to see if that question had EVER been posed in the entire history FSJ Network. As someone who has first handed experienced this, in my opinion, Self-engrandizing rudeness, and seen it bestowed upon other Inquirer's, I feel we need to do better as a group. I have seen a lot of 'forums' come and go over the years on the internet, forums that initially had good intentions and served a strong enthusiast following for this hobby or that, only to be ruined and destroyed by ego, greed and dictatorship. Self-Destructed is what they ultimately did ... nobody wanted to go there anymore for the bullies that lay in wait for a chance to chew up an unsuspecting victim to satisfy the bully's CONTOLLING ego. Those forums became deserts and faded away.
So I'd like to ask that all of us be a little more cognizant of how you respond to ANY member who genuinely needs, wants, and asks for help, information, and or other opinions on a topic. Let's try NOT to bite their head off or chastize them for their lack of knowledge that you may or may not possess, but rather try and direct them to the resources that will help them, which in turn helps this FSJ Network to continue to exist as a friendly place to belong to. Sometimes it can even be a help to not comment at all if you are only looking to make yourself look good. Think about your comments before you post them, and how the recipient of that comment is going see you after reading your comment. Let's also try to stay On Topic with our responses and not STEER the original post into your own bathtub. Just some observations from the battlefield you might say ... observations that should be able to be open discussion in the interest of the greater good. Thanks for reading.