...just as I have a right to not be happy about getting posts unrelated to my request.
John, I would love to meet you in person to see if you are really this grumpy or not. I'm going out on a limb here to say that you probably are not. I've read some of your other threads and, for the most part, you have usually been very cordial and helpful.
...it is very obvious that the responding poster didn't read the thread, you wonder WTF when you see some of these.
Actually, what's not "obvious" is what the poster read INTO the thread. You'll notice that I was the second responder to your call for help. I only have 6+ years of experience to your 30+ years, so you trump me on that; however, what I read INTO the thread was the fact that you needed some parts that I had recently found and installed on a similar project.
In the same vein as Tony's response, I simply provided a source for the parts, in the event that you (1)didn't get a timely offer (2)didn't get a satisfactory offer (3)didn't know where else to find them. I've been on this forum five years and have personally met only a couple of member. I don't know the personal background of the 10,000+ members here, nor do I read every thread that is posted. Therefore, there was not much chance I would know about your vast store of knowledge. Had I been aware of that fact, I would have most likely remained silent (since I don't have any spare window sweeps or felts).
Sometimes we want to help but we aren't helping in the way the person wants to be helped so it's not helpful...
I beg to differ with you on this point. I have always been thankful for anyone taking the time to respond to my posts, whether they satisfied my specific request or not. Since I have only 6+ years of experience, I'm always in a learning mode. Once I reach 30+ years, I may change my mind.
...resort to personal attacks when they are trying to "show they're a better person."
I saw where you posted this in a previous thread...
"I've noticed people love to correct like lightning on here, concentrate on the grammatically challenged and the poor spellers for me please."
There was a recent running thread asking for "five things about yourself". I explained how anal I am about many things, and one of them is the abuse of spelling and grammar on web forums - you really have no idea how it pains me. However, in my five years as a member here, I have learned to overlook much of what would normally drive me up the wall. I accept the fact that it is the nature of the beast.
I must say, there are plenty of instances in your own posts that would be fodder for criticism, if I were prone to do that, but I don't want to go there. All I am saying is that we are, like any good dysfunctional family, a hodge-podge collection of diverse folks of various ages with a wide range of experience and knowledge. We can decide to be helpful to those needing it in whatever way we can, or we can choose to be self-righteous, indignant, and self-serving.
Quite frankly, I prefer to be a role model for those young guns here desiring to break into the time-honored hobby of owning, repairing, and enjoying their old cars, proud of their own hands-on contributions, rather than show them how petty and ridiculous some disagreements can become in a flash, if given the proper fuel.
No harm, no foul. I don't want you to leave any more than anyone else does. Now, back to our regularly scheduled program.
Jerry
