Sharpening Stone - Ambiguity Hell

[singularity35]

Some very good advise aside, why is it relevant at all that someone "tried to sound knowledgeable"? Lighten up people. It is not useful -- or courteous -- to go into attack mode at every perceived opportunity, however satisfying some may find it.

That wasn't the problem per se. It was when the OP got a bit snarky when the suggestion was made that he get some experience to get a frame of reference for his questions.

 

[Thomas Linton]

That wasn't the problem per se. It was when the OP got a bit snarky when the suggestion was made that he get some experience to get a frame of reference for his questions.

With respect, please go back and read p. 1. There were over a dozen posts with the OP giving thanks and asking follow-up questions, only to be hit with:

Your posts come off like you're trying to sound knowledgable and asking intelligent questions... but they are questions that just reveal how little you know about sharpening and stones in general.

OMG! I mean God forbid that anyone should try to sound knowledgeable instead of crawling forward to receive Divine Wisdom. Has no one here ever overestimated their level of knowledge of a topic?

Assume for purposes of discussion that the OP is a blank tablet when it comes to thing sharp-making (And I, for one, don't see him claiming more.). Is this how the BF community should treat those who come here wanting to know more? Insufficient humility is now a Great Sin?

 

[stitchawl]

With respect, please go back and read p. 1. There were over a dozen posts with the OP giving thanks and asking follow-up questions, only to be hit with:
OMG! I mean God forbid that anyone should try to sound knowledgeable instead of crawling forward to receive Divine Wisdom. Has no one here ever overestimated their level of knowledge of a topic?
Assume for purposes of discussion that the OP is a blank tablet when it comes to thing sharp-making (And I, for one, don't see him claiming more.). Is this how the BF community should treat those who come here wanting to know more? Insufficient humility is now a Great Sin?

I can understand how you might see it in this light.
But what doesn't seem to fit into your analysis is that several times people suggested that he either read certain previous posts or watch certain linked videos... Yet his subsequent posting made it clear that he did NOT read them nor watch the videos. Instead, he continued to ask the same questions. His repeated use (or I should say 'miss-use') of the term 'whetstone' illustrated that in fact he wasn't even bothering to read most of the people answering his questions.
People are willing to help those who will meet them half way.
My friend used to pray to God every week; "Please God, let me win the Lottery this week!" Week after week, year after year, until finally one day my friend cried to me; "God isn't helping me." I replied "Joe, meet God half way. At least buy the tickets..."

It's not a matter of 'insufficient humility.' It's a matter of listening to the advice given, working with it, THEN, if there are still more questions, bringing those back to the group. People are willing to help those who will meet them half way.


Stitchawl

 

[Magnaminous_G]

Sorry, Thomas. You're totally off on this one. I'll tell you why it's unforgiveable that this guy is trying to "sound knowledgable:"

1. Because when you spout off on things you don't understand and throw around terms you don't understand... how can you be asking real questions? The guy's reaction to all the very thoughtful responses and advice showed that he wasn't asking real questions. Sure he started each post with "thanks," but then promptly showed how he didn't actually read or accept *anything* anyone told him.

2. Because people who do that are dangerous. Some new sharpener could be lurking here reading this guy's crap and thinking, "Hmm... what a good question and great issue! I'll try that, too."

You say we were inconsiderate to this guy? I say this guy was inconsiderate to us for willfully wasting people's time, not taking honest and good suggestions seriously, and potentially confusing new sharpeners. That is the height of inconsiderate. You'll find that people here, myself included, will *bend over backward* to help a new sharpener in any way we can... if they are asking genuine questions and have an open mind willing to learn. I've even made entire videos just to answer someone's question if I was able. Others have done that for me.

Have you ever made a sharpening video? Know how long it takes to set up, edit, and upload videos?

 

[Omega Leather Works]

I'm going to make one last comment and then I'm done with this thread, as I feel that it has degenerated to the point of uselessness.

When dealing with people on forums, I *try* (I don't always succeed) to view them as fellow human beings. Now when I say that I don't mean to sound cheesy, I mean to literally try and act as if the person that I am addressing were standing in front of me. There are all kinds of people in this world. Some we meet with agreement and call friends, others are annoying, few are "bad" in my experience. In the real world when you meet with someone who does, or says, something that disagrees with you, how do you deal with it? Maybe you act in the same manner in which you present yourself on a forum, maybe you don't. If someone says something that irritates me in person, I may just nod and let it go, or if it's irritating enough, I'll avoid that person from then on, but I certainly don't call a person out on whatever it is. On the other hand, if a person says something interesting, I'll engage them in conversation.

It really is as simple as manners.

How you deal with people is none of my business really.

In any case, that's what works for me, and it applies to every single post, comment and thread.