Thread: Communication breakdown

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Normally I refrain from this, however I would really hate to see anyones knowledge disappear from this site because of a miscommunication or misunderstanding.

One of the hardest things to do is to communicate in writing. A wise man once said to me, “Piss someone off in person and with a little time he will usually forget it, piss him off in writing an you piss him off every time he sees it”.

Sometimes what makes perfect sense to ourselves, will aggravate others. Most of the time it is simply a misunderstanding of the knowledge we are trying to convey to the other person. As our knowledge grows we sometimes forget others may not be in the same place as we are (knowledge wise). This is usually where communication breakdowns occur.

One of the most humbling things for me was learning to write project instructions. It is very difficult to convey knowledge in writing that can be followed by others, especially if the person reading it does not have knowledge on the subject. The hardest part is balancing knowledge without insult, something that is not always easy to do.

Another wise man told me, “Knowledge can easily be mistaken as arrogance”. And he went on to explain, that when we know so much about a subject often we forget the importance of the details. Further explaining, if I tell you where Washington State is and you acknowledge it, it doesn’t mean you know how to get there.

All of us have contributions that are useful. If we could all try to be a little more detailed with our answers we might all be able to get to the same location without getting lost so many times.

Sorry for the rant, hopefully I didn’t aggravated or insult anyone, it is not my intention.

Wow, and so well written and polite,thanks. Interesting that reading your post made me remember a heated discussion I had over the phone with a rep from the guy from the broadband supplier about my computer. The guy couldn't or wouldn't accecpt that me and almost every other person he spoke to just didn't have the same knowledge and ability to sort out the issue on the computer so talked down at me as if I was retarded. But what you have written is something we all should stop and take time to have a think about, so thanks.

Or maybe.. how about we all share a little tolerance of others and their opinions, we've all had experiences that we like to share with the group, some may have more experience on a particular topic, but, that doesn't mean everyone elses experience should be ignored or discounted!

Also, we offer opinions to all sorts of questions, it's up to the O.P. to decide the course that best fits his/her path, so there's no need to get your nose out of joint if your opinions / suggestions were rejected.

In an e-mail RSpears says he had his fill and won't be back, that is a shame, he was always willing to share his knowledge and always tried to make the new guys feel welcome. And that is what made this site better than the rest!

"WE" didn't / don't preach any mantra and we like anything with a motor.. Just need to relocate our tolerance of each other.

Originally Posted by 34_40

In an e-mail RSpears says he had his fill and won't be back, that is a shame, he was always willing to share his knowledge and always tried to make the new guys feel welcome. And that is what made this site better than the rest!

I was hoping to head anything like this off and it is exactly why I posted this.

Hopefully everyone can cool down and put all this behind us. While I am one of the newer members here, I consider everyone a friend and would hate to see anyone leave.

well maybe if you do not know any thing about a post you should move on??? then spend the post trying to burn the guy down if another has current info on subject move on or shut your mouth as some people do not care if the tell you or not.. as many times the cost of learning can be very hi this was not just one post this has been going on for better then a year just sick of it. i done many things for many years i have much to share or not ...over 20years in the painting and body work painted many planes and cars. boats. show car. company show cars . worked on rims for Gm on there show cars . to every day work in body shop one full time and 3 on the side over 70 hours a week now i build many stock engine to full blowen race stuff most of the time i try to play nice but not to worry i will not the door hit me in the ass on the way out

A lot of things can be read or interrupted wrong too on these forums. Guys asking silly questions to other people shouldn't be treated like idiots. That is what these forums are for is educating and enjoying a passion. That's what I thought though......

Well I guess that I'll take the opportunity to reply under the equal time rules---------


There are a many people on this site that have been here for years and have thosands of posts----


There are a handful or fewer that actually have reasonable experience in any particular field, let alone different areas------


Hotrodding has several areas of expertise that are involved and levels of particification that range from Riddler award type stuff to the current trent of rat rods----------


There are metal workers of body panels, bondo experts, and of course the real steel vs plastic factions( these groups seem to mix quite well here but not on other sites)


But when it come s to some auto basics such as suspension/steering items and how that effects driving-steering-suspension travel, etc ----it seems like that is a void area not only here but all over the hot rod world


Now when it comes to engines---------after you get past the 350/350 crowd and into some real today type builds----------this site has exactly 2 members that are involved in that on an ongoing basis with contacts with the major suppliers/sourses of current tech OEM or aftermarket products-------


When it comes down to someone assuming what the new guy poster is trying to describe, it takes more background than just telling him he should download a free cam program from Comp -------
It takes a little more background than to use the China argument to defend a poor response whether it is poor because of personal dislikes or stupitidy--------


In addition to the leading number of posts on the site there should be an line showing the outstanding award for the number of people that have left the site as a result of that persons posts


I sincerely hope Pat McCarthy sticks around and I will continue to be here while I mull the decision, instead of just leaving and then considering if I did the right thing.

I hate to see "Anyone" leave here and hopefully any and all problems will eventually be dealt with and the proper choices made.

Em

i have many engine jobs and machine work at the shop. i will take some time to think about my place here .i was thinking that jerry and me were given real world info not regurgitated BS copy and pasted . a knowledge that where learned buy using parts or over all builds not one time but many. you will not see me posting much on things i have not done many times

It's apparent, at least to me, that there are those that would attempt to argue with Albert Einstein over his proven theory of relativity possibly because he was Jewish, a foreigner or a flawed concept of their own intellect. IMHO, people who fall into this category will argue with anybody over anything with a general limited knowledge of either.

I'll start off with the fact that most of us are adults here, some own their own businesses, others do not. However, whether they do or not, coupled with the number of posts one has does not give them the right to not follow the rules of this forum. Streets learned it the hard way, so did Denny. Pat and Jerry, I'll call you both out by name as my PM box is filled with reported posts and complaints in the last few days I should never of had to take away from my PERSONAL time with my family and have to deal with, keep up the rude response and you can both have some forced time off from the forum. THERE WILL BE NO OTHER WARNINGS TO THE TWO OF YOU, OR ANYONE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER THAT CROSSES THE LINE THAT I HAVE NOW DRAWN.

WHEN YOU STEP ON TO THIS FORUM, LEAVE YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR