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Good question. What does qualify one to be refered to as an R/C expert? Someone who has worked in the industry? Successful competition history? Capable of designing their own models? Builds for hire? High number of posts on RCU?
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I've been using the internet since 1994, so I think I'm a bit of an expert on what it's like to use the internet (yes, I'm being ironic).
What has always jumped out at me, and I've been the perpetrator in the past myself, is that an awful lot of guys have as their actual hobby reading about a hobby on an online forum (was newsgroups before that) and then repeating what they've read as if it's their own experience talking. I call these guys "internet experts" because the only place that they actually seem to know anything is when they are typing on their keyboards. In real life, they are imbeciles. So on the examples mentioned above about Edge 540s and Cubs- it's very easy to find out on RCU that these are not beginner planes. There are many threads on both where a pilot got a big surprise that cost him a crash and many more where pilots complain that they just can't get the hang of flying these planes. So the internet expert sees that, and now he knows to tell forum newbies to stay away from those planes because they are hard to fly. He's never flown them himself, but that doesn't matter. If a guy is going to use an online forum for his primary source of information, he needs to read very broadly and evaluate his sources. We have to keep in mind that every single post on RCU was written by someone who took the time to do it for free. The most knowledgeable people don't educate for free, so it's frequently the blind leading the blind on here. |
The reason I am concerned about noobies reading these conflicting opinions is that I sense that this great hobby of ours is declining markedly, and when the current folks are gone, who is going to perpetuate the hobby? If we, as seasoned veterans of the hobby, scare young folks or any noobie off because we can't agree on the simplest of points, we will have nobody to blame but ourselves. Just dare to get on the engines forum and ask for opinions on, say for example, Evolution engines and see how opposed the comments can be. All from people who claim to really "know". This has to really confuse a new guy who is honestly trying to figure out what engine to buy as his first nitro engine. If I didn't already have very definite ideas about Evolution engines from PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, I would have no idea whether to take a chance on one or not. Sadly, I believe Jester is correct in saying a lot of folks who have never owned an Evolution engine would give their opinion, making it sound like fact from their own experience.
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Yes I agree with JollyPopper Sometimes guys offer their opinions on subjects that they have no personal experience with and it is often conflicting with the opinions of others who do have personal experience and it would be confusing to a newcomer . What I have done in the past is do a little research on each contributor and see what their history is like . That sometimes helps . If you hang around long enough you will start to recognize different guys that consistently offer good advice . There is often more than one right answer to a question too and it doesn't need to end up in an argument . It is often just how you read and interpreted the question . Most of us truly want to help each other . All of our experiences are different , I have a Great Planes Fabric covered Cub that used to be a bit of a challenge to take off until I put a set of Robarts gear on it , That made a world of difference . Same plane but different set up and completely different experience flying it . I often read thru threads that I find interesting that I have contributed to and I will see something somebody else has contributed and I will think ' I wish I had said that , I try to remember those guys and those are the guys I pay attention to . Guys like Grey Beard and John Buckner Jester ,jolly Popper and many others
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My large Cub flies well and is no problem on the ground. It is from HobbyKing. And it's converted to electric instead of gas/nitro. And I'm almost a noobie. And I couldn't resist. :o
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Originally Posted by speedracerntrixie
(Post 11904226)
Good question. What does qualify one to be refered to as an R/C expert? Someone who has worked in the industry? Successful competition history? Capable of designing their own models? Builds for hire? High number of posts on RCU?
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I know the feeling Jim. But how on earth could you be an expert with 44 posts to your credit? Oh, I get it. You are actually out flying and not chained to your computer....
The 'experts' here have 3,000, 5,000, 10,000 and more. Seriously, how can someone 'achieve' those totals?? I've been on RCU going back to the 90s. It's not possible unless you type really really fast..... So step back, get your popcorn ready.... I'm headed to the field. |
Originally Posted by BarracudaHockey
(Post 11904318)
Pretty sure it's post count, real world experience should have little to do with it :D
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Originally Posted by Tony Iannucelli
(Post 11904319)
I know the feeling Jim. But how on earth could you be an expert with 44 posts to your credit? Oh, I get it. You are actually out flying and not chained to your computer....
The 'experts' here have 3,000, 5,000, 10,000 and more. Seriously, how can someone 'achieve' those totals?? I've been on RCU going back to the 90s. It's not possible unless you type really really fast..... So step back, get your popcorn ready.... I'm headed to the field. 2. You're correct, I type really really fast. 3. I work in IT so I AM chained to the computer (computers actually) all day, so while monitoring servers, waiting for scripts to run against big databases and sitting on conference calls that require little or no input and occasionally even less attention, I try to participate here. Don't get me wrong, I spend a fair amount of time in the shop (speaker phones are awesome for that), and at the field :) |
Originally Posted by BarracudaHockey
(Post 11904340)
I work in IT so I AM chained to the computer (computers actually) all day, so while monitoring servers, waiting for scripts to run against big databases and sitting on conference calls that require little or no input and occasionally even less attention, I try to participate here.
:) LMAO ... I'm not a total IT guy, but I know what you are referring to. |
Originally Posted by BarracudaHockey
(Post 11904318)
Pretty sure it's post count, real world experience should have little to do with it :D
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I'm a expert......or am I ?
Mike |
Originally Posted by rcmiket
(Post 11904362)
I'm a expert......or am I ? Mike
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Not saying that I am an EXPERT, I just know what I know !:o
And you know what you know ! :rolleyes: |
Not saying that I am an EXPERT, I just know what " I KNOW " ! :o
And you know what you know . :rolleyes: |
Originally Posted by JollyPopper
(Post 11903870)
THIS IS NOT A RANT!!!!!!!!!!!! One thing I have noticed over the years, not only on this forum but on every forum I have ever read to any extent, the folks who profess to "know" something do not always agree. One guy can make a simple statement and the very next post will directly contradict that statement. For instance a guy can say something like "an Edge 540 is easy to fly" and the very next post will say something like "an Edge 540 is a real handful to fly". Now, it seems to me that "experts" should agree on any aspect of a particular subject, shouldn't they? Maybe what they should have said is "boy, my experience with an Edge 540 went smooth as glass" and the other guy could say something like "man, my experience with an Edge 540 really sucked". This could be really confusing to a noobie, maybe to the point that they will either drop out of the forum or completely quit the hobby. I don't know what the answer is. Both guys in my example were completely honest with respect to their personal experiences, but those experiences led them to make very conflicting statements. Where is a noobie to go to get really valid advice?
And then, of course, there are those few who lurk in the shadows and jump at every chance they see to be contrary and contradict someone else's observations. We soon learn who those folks are and tend to disregard their responses, even though they may write quite well and seem to be an "expert" on every aspect of every subject. Maybe this is a rant. Jolly, the better response from self professed experts would be "[insert manufacture] Edge 540 was or wasn't the easiest to fly" The best thing a new comer can do is find someone at the field whom fly's the same aircraft they are interested in. Or search for youtube videos of the aircraft you are interested in. 5 manufactures can release an Edge 540, and there is a large possibility that all 5 will perform differently. Also, each self proclaimed expert has a different skill set in their hobby. Unfortunately there's really not a good answer to the forums. Length of time does not qualify someone as an expert.(this just means they have been a member) Amount of posts does not qualify someone as a expert. (this only shows someone how much of a keyboard jockey they are) In my opinion, the best thing is head out to the local field or club and seek out people whom fly the same type of aircraft you are interested in. |
Just curious if you're claiming I'm a keyboard jockey because I have a high PC?
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Originally Posted by BarracudaHockey
(Post 11904409)
Just curious if you're claiming I'm a keyboard jockey because I have a high PC?
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Originally Posted by BullardRM
(Post 11904152)
The definition of an "Expert" -----a drip under pressure.
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This an interesting thread. How can RCU help a newcomer to the forum judge the quality of the advice given. We have done something for the market place with the ratings system. I guess we could think about rating people who give advice. I am involved in another forum in an unrelated area and we do have such a system, it is based on the number of times a forum member is thanked by another member. Unfortunately it tends to be the prolific givers of advice who have high ratings even if their advice can be suspect at times.
One thing we have done is make members who have commercial interests in hobby declare this in their sig line. |
An expert is a person who knows' something about everything but not enough about something.
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Originally Posted by j.duncker
(Post 11904452)
This an interesting thread. How can RCU help a newcomer to the forum judge the quality of the advice given. We have done something for the market place with the ratings system. I guess we could think about rating people who give advice. I am involved in another forum in an unrelated area and we do have such a system, it is based on the number of times a forum member is thanked by another member. Unfortunately it tends to be the prolific givers of advice who have high ratings even if their advice can be suspect at times.
One thing we have done is make members who have commercial interests in hobby declare this in their sig line. |
I'm wondering how many "noob's", not unlike myself,( even after 5 years I;m still learning new things about this hobby) started out late in life. I myself didn't even know back then that RCU existed. I joined a local club and subscribed to a lot of different related magazines on the subject.
That being said, I doubt many "noob's" jump into this with both feet without knowing someone that's already involved in the hobby. I'm sure there may be some, but as you all well know , this is not a cheap hobby at all. And as such , I think we all have a responsibility to pass along what we've learned. At least to the best of our abilities anyway. And we also have a responsibility to not pass along any information that we are not sure is accurate. Good post , one and all. And some type of rating system may be good, just not sure it's totally needed. |
Oh yeah, I do fly a lot more than I type. LOL
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Originally Posted by BarracudaHockey
(Post 11904409)
Just curious if you're claiming I'm a keyboard jockey because I have a high PC?
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