What's the point...

Sodo · Aug 26, 2014

Shield spent considerable effort pushing a silly position. If you fellas wanted to keep him around, then you shoulda asked him to "lighten up" and not make assertions that were going to bite later. He got called on it.

Whenever Shield decided he didn't like someone, the quality of his advice dropped substantially, and instead of advice he lobbed insults, then tried to use his years of experience to convince members it was "advice" he was giving. I think I learned to read between the lines, there was some genuine advice in there at times. I suspect his assistance would be substantially better in person, than on an internet forum.

I'm sure "everyone" would welcome him back if he'd just lighten up.

But if not, it really would not hurt to get some new blood. Surely there are experienced welders who want to actually "help". Maybe with a little lighter tone, the forum can attract a new welding expert?

bumperm · Aug 26, 2014

I've always admired knowledge and skill and am saddened when a true artist dies (or leaves this forum). All that experience just gone? If we're talking Stradivarius yes, hasn't been surpassed or replaced. But for most, no matter how good we are, there'll always be another yet better. What's really impressive is someone who's just darn good, will share, help others, and is humble too . . .

A friend of mine, fellow glider pilot, passed away last year. Talking to him you'd come to realize that Bud Schurmeier, besides being affable and fun to be around, was intelligent and knowledgeable in many areas, though he never did try to impress that upon you. Wasn't until after his passing I learned he was project manager for the Voyager space mission. The Stories Behind the Voyager Mission: Bud Schurmeier | The Planetary Society

I'm here mostly to learn, sorry for rambling,

bumper

paulharvey · Aug 26, 2014

Well, I'm don't doubt this guy could weld, but I wouldn't want to drink a beer with him. Something tells me he would say it was the wrong beer, it should have been exactly 33.5 degrees, and would go on a rant about 3 legged vs 4 legged bar stools. I feel he had tons of experience but he always thought he had "THE" answer, and not one of several hundred Internet opinions. His simply was "fact", and there was no sense continuing the discussion once the master had graced us with his Word.

Edit: It reads more negative then I meant to be... to some it up trade skilled yes; people person... maybe not so much

Clay45 · Aug 26, 2014

paulharvey said:
Well, I'm don't doubt this guy could weld, but I wouldn't want to drink a beer with him. Something tells me he would say it was the wrong beer, it should have been exactly 33.5 degrees, and would go on a rant about 3 legged vs 4 legged bar stools. I feel he had tons of experience but he always thought he had "THE" answer, and not one of several hundred Internet opinions. His simply was "fact", and there was no sense continuing the discussion once the master had graced us with his Word.

Edit: It reads more negative then I meant to be... to some it up trade skilled yes; people person... maybe not so much

Yeah. You're no fun if you're right all the time.

jrdepew · Aug 26, 2014

Shame to see him go...I for one would definitely drink a beer with SA, he is just on the opposite side of the US. I see that he had offered quite a few people here some free face to face advice if they could make it to his shop, awfully nice of him.

Unfortunately, lots of people on this forum, and in life, seem to sweat the small stuff and the bickering started. Then the bickering continued... The funny thing is that lots of people will say things like "this is the last thing I'm saying on this thread" or something to that effect, then be right back to bickering again! Just agree to disagree and move it along.

Come back SA!! Aren't there ignore features on this forum?

:drink:

Joe

jrdepew · Aug 26, 2014

Arc weld said:
I just learned that one of the most knowledgeable contributors on this forum has had enough and pulled the plug. I understand why he left and can't blame him for leaving. Haven't decided yet if I'll stick around. Seems there's a few people on here that don't think years of experience count for anything. Sad day at TBN. :smiley_aafz:

Arc...Just want to let you know that your advice IS appreciated. You have improved my welding and I'm sure a lot more people on this forum could say the same.

Thanks,
Joe

Gary Fowler · Aug 26, 2014

I must have missed the thread that started all this. I can say that SA's advice was always agreeable to me. I never saw any posts from SA like everyone is writing about now, his advice was always spot on IMO. I think those who drove him away will be sorry for that day.

Texasmark · Aug 26, 2014

Maybe unrelated but I had an Algebra teacher in high school that had been teaching the subject for some 40 years. Obviously it was all old hat to him, but to us it was a challenge and we just didn't catch on right off. He had no patience with us.

Mark

ThomasH · Aug 26, 2014

roadhunter said:
It that really what you think happened?

It seemed to me that he got in a huge pissing match over 110v welders and recommending that some 70 year old woman needed a 230v welder and then started insulting peoples welds and calling them hacks after looking at pics they posted of projects they had done with thier 110v welder. Basically going to great extents to be an all around jerk about it and when he got called out he threw atantrum like a child including cussing and took his ball and went home never to return.

I have no doubt the guy is really talented and has helped many people but his bully mentality and insults turned negative and extremely immature toward the end. It's unfortunate that he could not simply get over the 110v welder pissing match but he escalated it to a point where he felt the need to leave instead of simply letting it go and moving on.

It is personal attacks like this that keep me from posting very much here. I have quit posting in the repair section due to a half a dozen people that post there, constantly criticizing help given to people. In most cases it wasn't the way they would do it, so they insisted in personal insults.