StillSmart

In fairness i think it's mostly the mods and a few people who follow their example who are rude on some unamed site. I have learned a lot from half a dozen excellent contributors who choose to post there.

While I'm sure this new chap you vouched for is an excellent fellow it made me smile when you used facebook as a validation. In my experience facebook is full of BS and artfully presented facades.

ant wrote:In fairness i think it's mostly the mods and a few people who follow their example who are rude on some unamed site. I have learned a lot from half a dozen excellent contributors who choose to post there.

While I'm sure this new chap you vouched for is an excellent fellow it made me smile when you used facebook as a validation. In my experience facebook is full of BS and artfully presented facades.

I'm sure you're right. But all the time the mods don't keep a lid on poor forum practices, especially when they also come from a similar background to the person being rude etc, it's easily overlooked.

Ergo, we do well with good answers etc to those new to this and treat them with consideration here.

NB2 originally popped up on FB, but it was his language and references that gave him away as a Brit. Luckily he got some of the good/helpful responders (I'm on a few of those sights/pages and mostly, they're well managed i.e. little to no nonsense).

Seems to make good use with his Polish connections.......

The mods can be the ones weighing in quite often.
They have an expertise in traditional methods and take a year or two to warm to any innovation.
They are strongly opinionated but sometimes it's based more on emotion and past practice than objective rationality. They clearly hold themselves and their current opinions in high regard. They do however have a wealth of practical experience in building and driving stills. When they are good they are very good. Unfortunately their self regard seems to be reinforced by derision and mockery of lesser mortals they feel have failed to do due diligence in reading the information they have taken the trouble to provide. Not good teaching practice. I'm glad none of them are my father. As you note they also have a strong cultural bias. I think this is a side effect of the patriotism they are indoctrinated with from early childhood. It's anti american to even question patriotism. It is an a priori good that it is taboo to analyse. Beneath their human flaws they do mean well. You have to be able to justify your position to back them off and even then they just go quite rather than agree. But I don't really mind them. I am equally opinionated but based on objective rationality as best I can. If it turns out I am wrong I accept it. If I am right I defend it. I quite enjoy it when they have a dig then fall silent after I respond. Nurtures my inner alpha Spock.

And not to condemn or suggest it is wrong but making good use of your connections underlies many business enterprises. I guess it depends what the balance of your posts are.