My need to be right?

[bnwitt]

It was said in another post that I have a need to be right.  Let me just say that this is indeed true when I am cutting either the blue or red wire on a pipe bomb that might kill myself and others in a room, but certainly not in an internet forum that has no impact on the world in general.  However, let me clarify what truly does drive me at a base level.  What does possess my soul, is a need to shine a light on blatant B.S. perpetuated by self serving jackasses.  Yes, it is my lifelong obsession to expose BS so it is not perceived as truth by those not in the know. 

Whenever I see B.S. (especially when it is screamed at innocent bystanders by a chest pounding "my way or the highway" gorilla) I feel a need to shine a bright light on that B.S. I do this so those who might be misled by said B.S. will not be taken to the cleaners mentally. 

Forgive me for this shortcoming.  It is driven by my early Boy Scout training and the story of Paul Revere.  As of late, I have even taken to posting self deprecating comments and multiple smiley faces to show my good intentions and my own humility when shining my light but alas, I have found that 800 pound B.S. spouting gorillas don't care if you show humility or mean well, they'll still spout the B.S. and call you names like "blowhard" and such in order to command the trivial internet environment they need to bolster their self image.

I have learned a valuable lesson over the last 10 years.  I have come to the conclusion that the internet has 2 jackasses for every decent fellow in the surf.  I have also learned that sticking a flower in a jackass’s gun just means you get hit with flower pedals right before the slug takes you out. 

So in the interest of my own mental health, I have decided to limit my exposure to jackasses from now on.  You know, life is just too damned short isn't it?  I'm getting older and I hope to die thinking people are basically good rather than passing on thinking the world is full of shitheads.  I truly believe that the internet is an inaccurate representation of the good/evil equation of mankind due to the anonymous nature it provides, which of course frees the beast in tiny minded little folk.

Unfortunately, this will also limit my contributions to the tube amp world.  No more free layouts or free advice from me.  Because, for every good feeling I get from helping others, I get 2 kicks in the balls for pointing out the truth. 

I logged on tonight to upload all of the drawings for the Black Face Twin Reverb I have been building from scratch so others might benefit from the information.  Of course I checked on the thread where I had left a post intended to help a gentleman understand that we all need to take a deep breath before kicking another poster in the crotch based on what might be a miscommunication, and I found that the gentleman was just another name calling jackass.

So I wish the 1 third of this forum (minus the 2 out of three jackasses) health, prosperity and happiness.  I'll see you on the other side and I'll be smiling.  Chow

[Frankenamp]

I am truely sorry to see you pulling out of the forum as I have seen some of the schematics and layouts attributed to you and they looked great- much better than I could hope to do without a very steep learning curve. If it's any consolation, I have found the internet to sometimes approximate Plato's Cave allegory: the shadows cast upon this modern 'screen' are sometimes most objectionable- yet merely projections. My condolences. Even the Apostle Paul must have had that kind of feeling when he wrote: ...it is hard to kick against the pricks."  ;)

[topbrent]

Shake it off Barry.  Please stick around.

I lurk here way more than post, but I appreciate the depth of experience and knowledge that you offer here.


To everyone else:

Lets try and keep EL34world the nice place it has been for years.
 
Please don't let EL34world turn into another depressing analog of the typical snarky, mean, argumentative, smart mouth, derogatory, and generally unhelpful web forum. 
Take that crap elsewhere, please.

Along with the staggering amount of knowledge among the ranks here, EL34world is one of the last bastions of general courtesy, and that is the reason many of us visit.

(Following Tubenit's lead,)

With Respect,

Brent.

[Cygnus_X1]

Well that stinks!

Put me in the third camp-the Always Curious.
It is dolts like me that rely on people like you to call out the BS and help me out of my noob holes that I dig for myself.

I've gone through similar experiences elsewhere.
Those places get left by the wayside.

Thank you for all you have done-and I ask that you don't give up.

[LooseChange]

I never get involved in the personal stuff but all I'm gonna say is.....

Of all the places on the Internet, this is the nicest damn place to be.  No one means harm around here!

Peace!

[tubenit]

Barry,

I hope you will choose to stick around. I value your posts and contribution to the forum. It would be a sad thing to me to have you leave as a result of that thread.

In the larger scope of life, to retreat from the forum based on one individual's negative responses to you ...... would be quite ironic, IMO. I sure don't think Paul Revere would take that approach.

This is from your post to BSG on the referred to thread:

And it looks like he took his ball and left after the reaming

I think this gentleman owes the forum an apology for over reacting

IF ........ you leave, what would be different from what he did ?   ???

If you feel a need to respond to what you view is BS in the future, you can leave the individual a PM and/or reference the thread in  "Other Topics" & post something respectful about it.  The Tweaks thread ought to stay on the topics of amps.

I truly hope you will reconsider and stick around.

With respect, Tubenit

[Dynaflow]

 I'd concurr and hate to see you leave. I like looking at your posts and I sure wouldn't let a few bumps disturb the ride man. The net can be a nasty place sometimes, but really if you consider comments in other places (ever look at Youtube comments?) you'll find even the small skirmishes around here are mild at best. I'm as reactionary as any and am not uneffected when I see something not fair and I've wrongly posted my feelings on occassion when something struck me wrong and these days with my meds and lack of sleep I can get a bit cranky (not saying thats what happened here, I'm speaking of my own situation) and perhaps put something out there that probably didn't need to be said. Actually I probably do that more than I should, I'm the weathergirl/soft news person here rather than the intellectual post that present good information, but I mean well and always try to post good video's I might see or interesting things I might find in the tube realm.
 I hope you'll reconsider, its a still a comfortable place to be compared to others that I visit (one in particular which I won't mention is so narrow in what can be discussed it almost stiffles any meaningful discussions). Anyway, lets hope we all put our shooting irons at the front desk and get back to drinking..  ;)

Regards,

Dyna

[macula56]

Hey Barry.
I have benefited greatly from your advice on numerous occasions. I enjoy your perspective and your willingness to answer even the most goofy of questions. Don't let the weasels get you down. They do not matter at all. Thanks again, Rev. Dr. Johnny Mac.

[panhead]

I find your posts vert interesting and informative, and would like to see you stick around as well.

Jim

[bluesbear]

My advice (giving of which too freely is probably MY shortcoming) is to ignore the posts you don't like and read the rest. Of course, I have the benefit of starting this mad journey on the old and long defunct AOL vintage amp board. I'd say 1 in 20 were actually there for something besides disruption. Still, some of those few were a just beginning Ted Weber looking for feedback on what people wanted from a speaker and Les Paul, as always just interested in anything electronic. Please don't leave because you don't like what a few people say. The worst here are better than the best at most amp boards. Or, to put it another way:
If you can't deal with this board, you may as well forget the internet. This is the most polite and decent board on the internet and whatever evil does get through, the moderators generally take care of. It's pretty much here or nothing.
Either way, good luck. Your contributions are (were?) always appreciated.
Dave

[RicharD]

Your math is off.  The asshole ratio is >20:1, much greater.  I Know because I'm an asshole.  This forum defies the laws of averages big time.  It's safe to say we're all opinionated when it comes to amps but on the whole, people here tend to be very polite.  That coupled with the abundance of great information is what keeps me reading.  I've seen only a handful of threads turn ugly, one of which target me because I'm not exactly the brightest bulb on the string.  It seemed to offend other people more than it did me, maybe because I AM simple minded.

If that one thread is the only thang making your blood boil, then blow it off.  Nobody really cares.  It's done and over.   I doubt that dude is coming back.  If the forum in general is getting under your skin, then yeah, take a break.  Do what's right for you.

Peace,

-Richard

[bigdaddy]

I know how you feel. I have been accused of the same thing by the same A holes.

I get that all the time on EVERY forum. I am into sports and those guys are worse.

I went from forum to forum even being a mod on one and just end up leaving.

Those people always end up chasing away the ones who really know a lot about the actual subject. Believe it or not I do know more about Football than amp building. But I am a guitar player not an amp builder. I never professed to being anything else. Jim, I'm a player not an engineer(star trek).

If anything for the reasons you state it's more necessary you stay......

This is by far the nicest forum and one of the few I enjoy coming to.

I have talked to Ted Weber about this and eventually even he had to change his forum because of the a holes.

[tubesornothing]

Hey where is the offending thread?  (I hate to miss a good argument).

Funny, I thought this was such a respectful forum, I am surprised stuff like this is going on (and I am missing it!).

About the only abuse I get is when PRR tells me my thinking is **way** out of whack.  But its well deserved (and appreciated is a masochistic way!).

ToN


BTW  abuse is why I dont bother with 18Watt anymore, except to search the archives for tidbits. 

[panhead]

I learned a long time ago to appreciate criticism when it is offered in ernest, and if someone is just blowing their own horn I ignore it and quietly put that person on my mental "ignore" list. Still, as was stated before, there is a lot of room for misinterpretation when it comes from a computer keyboard.

[bluesbear]

there is a lot of room for misinterpretation when it comes from a computer keyboard.

Yeah, like when you accidentally HIT THE CAPS LOCK BUTTON AND EVERYONE THINKS YOU'RE SHOUTING AT THEM. I suppose it would be smart to look before hitting enter but careful consideration was never my strong point. Or, like when you write "Thanks, guys!" to people for helping and hit one wrong letter. I did that here! It's not really something I'd actually consider a insult but you might not like being called that... that kinda turns it into a problem where none should exist. Luckily, the "guys" were adults and no offense was taken (another reason I love this place). Anyway, growing a thick skin is the first order of business on the internet. The most innocent thing can turn into an uproar so easily.
Dave

[zendragon63]

No real desire to weigh in on personal beefs and egos (and even as a relative nooby nobody, I carry no weight anyway) BUT I would really like to add a comment to those members that know the ropes of tube amplifiers—be it your livelihood, your teaching profession or as an hobbyist/zealot —that there are many more of us that humbly wish to learn and further the art via hard data corrections, knowledgeable experiences and even opinions—despite those who demonstrate their weak interpersonal skills or the lack of grace under pressure (aka assholes). The forum medium—as many of you reinforce—will never be ideal but it has become the incredible opportunity for any and all to visit the ‘watering hole’ and tap into the wealth of experience that it would otherwise take many of us several lifetimes to try to accumulate. So if you do take your schematics and go home, please hurry back; I have several ignorant questions to ask. :)

….it is sort of interesting that the forum medium also allow us to think before we type and then gives us a second opportunity to clean it up before we push ‘post.’ I dunno gents. I’m still working on the impedance thing. Regards

dennis

[EL34]

If you put all of us in a big room and gave us all a case of beer, there would probably be 20 fist fights.

What is so different about the web?

Just go to the other side of the room and talk to the people you like.

[bigdaddy]

I don't drink and I used to box/street fight/bar fight so I would probably win...Oh I forgot I'm disabled now so your mom could probably beat me up.

So I have to disagree, the same A holes after we all drink will start a fight because they will get beer muscles, same as what I call PC muscles.

A holes are going to fight with people no matter what, unless they are afraid. A holes like that are usually cowards and get their courage through the alcohol. Same as they do with the anonymity of their PC screen.

I know for a fact the people that have started with me would NEVER have, had they been in front of me. And in the past if they did it would end very quickly and not in their favor. Sitting behind a PC you don't have to worry about that.

So I have to disagree with what you said.

[rafe]

 ;D...This is kinda humorous in a way ...It's easier to tell when someone is messing with you(nastily) in person as opposed to when writing...when writing it sometimes comes across different than intended, so you have to give them the benefit of doubt. Like "I doubt they meant offense!" I have however seen on only a few occasions, on this board, when it was intended to be a strike at someone, usually it is when the striker has felt offended(usually unjustified) so they strike out. My point is it is going to happen , it happens so infrequently here that it is hardly worth noting and certainly not worth getting upset about, The question for the ages is this ...Do you want to be right or happy?
I'm kinda like Bigdaddy in that I don't drink and you probably don't want to fight with me, I'm really quite mellow  :)

[bigdaddy]

Wow that's a crock...ha ha ha ha I thought that was funny.

Yeah I agree 100%. You can't look into a person's eyes when you read what they are writing. The true sentiment does not usually transfer well. That's why I try very hard to write a certain way and if I think it even might be misconstrued I will add something in parenthesis for instance.

Like I did with the star trek reference, I know most people did not get it but some would.

[Frankenamp]

there is a lot of room for misinterpretation when it comes from a computer keyboard.

HIT THE CAPS LOCK BUTTON AND EVERYONE THINKS YOU'RE SHOUTING AT THEM.
Dave

DAVE! Why you be yellin' @ me?  :o

Doug: That better be a better tasting beer than the last six pac my wife brought home... I choked down part of one bottle, and the rest of the sixpack is currently being used to get the bugs and snails drunk in my garden ;)  My poison of choice is either a starbucks or an Ice Tea (Long Island style) :P

My style of getting in trouble is more like telling one of my collegues at work (about 6'5" 230+ half Samoan) "Show us that good ol' TONGAN pride!" (but not before checking that there are at least three viable escape routes in case my delivery is a bit off!)

=>ex wrestler & martial artist with the 'furnature disease' (chest fell into drawers) now resembles my (20#) cat which I affectionately call "Fat Bastard" (imagine a large cream coloured cat with a coon tail whose gut hair nearly sweeps the floor as he waddles across the kitchen... and over fills the bathroom sink when he wants to escape the occasional heat wave 

[bluesbear]

….it is sort of interesting that the forum medium also allow us to think before we type and then gives us a second opportunity to clean it up before we push ‘post.’

Wow, I wish I did that! I usually slam it out with 2 fingers, hit enter, then come back a day later and find out what I did wrong. I know it's a personality flaw but, in my favor, whatever you read of mine... well, no matter how weird or lame, it's the real me! For nearly 60 years my "honest opinions" have been getting me into trouble. No reason to start being careful now! Hey, the only criticism I give that's personal... is about me.
I don't want to see anyone here go. Someone can bring a fresh perspective to a problem that everyone else has missed. This is a collaborative adventure. Nothing wrong with being out in left field occasionally. Personally, I like it there.
Dave

[tablewine]

I was a Scout in the 60s. My dad was a Scoutmaster many a long year. Here is, for any interested, what Scouting parents were looking to teach their kids back in the day.

A Scout is:

Trustworthy. A Scout tells the truth. He keeps his promises. Honesty is part of his code of conduct. People can depend on him.
Loyal. A Scout is true to his family, Scout leaders, friends, school, and nation.
Helpful. A Scout is concerned about other people. He does things willingly for others without pay or reward.
Friendly. A Scout is a friend to all. He is a brother to other Scouts. He seeks to understand others. He respects those with ideas and customs other than his own.
Courteous. A Scout is polite to everyone regardless of age or position. He knows good manners make it easier for people to get along together.
Kind. A Scout understands there is strength in being gentle. He treats others as he wants to be treated. He does not hurt or kill harmless things without reason.
Obedient. A Scout follows the rules of his family, school, and troop. He obeys the laws of his community and country. If he thinks these rules and laws are unfair, he tries to have them changed in an orderly manner rather than disobey them.
Cheerful. A Scout looks for the bright side of things. He cheerfully does tasks that come his way. He tries to make others happy.
Thrifty. A Scout works to pay his way and to help others. He saves for unforeseen needs. He protects and conserves natural resources. He carefully uses time and property.
Brave. A Scout can face danger even if he is afraid. He has the courage to stand for what he thinks is right even if others laugh at or threaten him.
Clean. A Scout keeps his body and mind fit and clean. He goes around with those who believe in living by these same ideals. He helps keep his home and community clean.
Reverent. A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others.

[LooseChange]

Hey Barry.....

Your signature says, "Oh yeah, and I'm usually just kidding so don't take me too seriously." so why the heck do you really care????


I should be sure to add "IMO" in front of every statement I make because I know nothing.  :D

[billcreller]

  I think it's sad when a few people mess up a great thing, like this forum. I really like this place, and not just for the tech information, but the fellowship here.  I wouldn't have a Princeton Reverb to use if Hotblueplates and you hadn't put together a great layout Barry, plus all the other things you helped me with.
  Maybe some people who don't have anything constructive to say, and want to insult others, should be "moderated" off this forum.  It's too great a place to let it get sour.

Some of the other forums I'm on call those trouble makers "trolls".  Seems like a fitting name.

[bnwitt]

Well guys, a lot of good thoughts here in this thread.  Yes this is one of the few forums where civility rules more often then not.  Tablewine, I love the scout stuff.  I was a scout, junior air force ROTC, and ROTC and then a late 60's flower child when it was going out of fashion.  I definitely believe in sharing and dedication to country and family.  I have always loved the "I learned everything I need to know in Kindergarten" mantra. 

I think the internet is an amazing thing but it does come with some very negative side effects.  Angst, time consumption, misinformation etc. etc.

In the last few days I have spent my internet time being creative and interfacing with my kids.  That was so rewarding.  I have come to the conclusion that I have been spending way too much time in the cyber world and not enough in the real world.  I have been working on a how to video library on Holy Grail amp building for several years now that needs more attention in order to be completed. Time for me to get off my butt.

I'll pop back in here from time to time when I have stuff to share.  This is a great place for sure.  There are many of you in here for whom I have great respect.  I won't name a list as it would be too long.  Certainly everyone who posted in this thread and then some.  And as always I have to say that Doug Hoffman is a gem of a man.   And even though I've never met him in person, he feels like a brother to me.  He's certainly given me more than a real brother could have. ;)

You guys take care of yourselves.  Email me if you like.  Remember, every morning you wake up, is the beginning of a great day full of possibilities.

[tubenit]

Barry,

I will look forward to your future posts!  Glad you've chosen to continue with us.  ;)

With respect, Tubenit