I often used to liken the previous version of this forum to conversations in a public bar (I'm not sure you could substitute a coffee house for the non-drinkers in the audience, but something like that) - there are those who pop in regularly to say hi and join in with whatever conversation is going on. There are transient visitors who are only here for the duration of one topic, there are those who will keep taking every conversation onto the one topic they really enjoy. Then, like the pub again, those who are a bit loud, some of whom may sound a bit scary, but most of whom are actually perfectly normal humans in real life, and then there are many who just watch and listen, and rarely chip in unless they have a burning concern or are dead sure of their expert knowledge and position.
That said, the technical advice on here is probably rather better than you'd the average pub, (though sometimes maybe not always so, especially after closing time, but the worst excesses hopefully get corrected fairly quickly).
I for one really do come on here in the evening after work and a beer, so while not exactly intoxicated, the views I express late at night may occasaionally be less well thought out than those that get posted at break time during the day.
I must say that compared to real life I find the forum is normally pretty polite, that may be a reflection on my real life of course, but in any discussion/ debate there are going to be moments when a thicker hide is in order.
In general to anyone, please do not be put of by something that someone else has typed, quite possibly in a mood of exasperation at the end of a frustrating and tiring day. Same with apparently 'silly' questions - I'd suggest there are very few, and indeed some of the more innocent queries have sparked the most vigorous and interesting debates ( especially if you can get earth, bond and extraneous into the initial post, or anything involving phase angles ).
The very worst outcome, and quite rare, is that you will get a reply you do not like, or the thread gets moved to a non-wiring category - neither should be interpreted as a great personal tragedy, we live to post another day ! The characters are what make or break a forum like this.
I often used to liken the previous version of this forum to conversations in a public bar (I'm not sure you could substitute a coffee house for the non-drinkers in the audience, but something like that) - there are those who pop in regularly to say hi and join in with whatever conversation is going on. There are transient visitors who are only here for the duration of one topic, there are those who will keep taking every conversation onto the one topic they really enjoy. Then, like the pub again, those who are a bit loud, some of whom may sound a bit scary, but most of whom are actually perfectly normal humans in real life, and then there are many who just watch and listen, and rarely chip in unless they have a burning concern or are dead sure of their expert knowledge and position.
That said, the technical advice on here is probably rather better than you'd the average pub, (though sometimes maybe not always so, especially after closing time, but the worst excesses hopefully get corrected fairly quickly).
I for one really do come on here in the evening after work and a beer, so while not exactly intoxicated, the views I express late at night may occasaionally be less well thought out than those that get posted at break time during the day.
I must say that compared to real life I find the forum is normally pretty polite, that may be a reflection on my real life of course, but in any discussion/ debate there are going to be moments when a thicker hide is in order.
In general to anyone, please do not be put of by something that someone else has typed, quite possibly in a mood of exasperation at the end of a frustrating and tiring day. Same with apparently 'silly' questions - I'd suggest there are very few, and indeed some of the more innocent queries have sparked the most vigorous and interesting debates ( especially if you can get earth, bond and extraneous into the initial post, or anything involving phase angles ).
The very worst outcome, and quite rare, is that you will get a reply you do not like, or the thread gets moved to a non-wiring category - neither should be interpreted as a great personal tragedy, we live to post another day ! The characters are what make or break a forum like this.
