I have to post on this topic, it is to good to pass up[8D]

One thing that I have noticed, with personal experience, is how veterans treat beginners in this hobby. I have seen several commen attitudes;

1.) Support, excitment and backup, phrases like "I am SO GLAD you found this sport." This type of person will help you learn and buck you up. Several people that acted like this at the club I joined helped me fly my glow plane; I already knew pretty well how to fly it from experiance with a park flyer, but they did help me.

2.) Complete indifference (well, almost). This type of person doesn't care who or what you are, as long as you get lessons, and stay out of there way... generaly this is the type of person who wishes there was no one else at that particular field. This kind of person is someone you just ignore back.

3.) Well meant warning - perhaps the most dangerous to this hobby (in my opinion). This type person (In my case, it was the person who sold me my first plane) wants to make sure you know what you are getting into. They tell you things like "The first thing you'll do is crash" or "You are going to crash, it is just a matter of time". Well this is very often true (in fact, can anyone think of anyone else who has NOT crashed in some way or other) It put me off. If I did not like planes as much as I did before this, I don't know that I would have gotten one. Here I am with my 150 bucks that I worked hard to get (mowing lawns) I don't want to be told I am going to crash, like that. Another person I talked to, had it alot better: "Great! This sport can always use another pilot, make sure your accidental landings arn't to hard"

Now. When someone says "Go get an Instructor." That is rather, ahem, negitive to some people. I for one, did not have to much of a problem with it, except when people kept bugging me. I flew a little park flyer, and people kept asking me WHEN I was going to get instruction. It felt like; Hey you dummy, don't you know you can't learn without an instructor?

Now understand this. I REALLY like my instructor. I had more fun while flying with him, then I ever did with my PF. I wasn't nervous about getting it down, if wind comes up, or the myriad of things that you become aware of when you have a remote in your hand.

So. My advice is, becarefull what you say to a begginer. You don't want to drive them away.

P.S. Before anyone posts about "Injury caused by a dangerous prop" I understand that. I have no proplem with prople cautioning about danger to others, although that is small as long as commen sense is used.