Soulfly.. you are indeed the strangest of fish....
Confrontational 80% of the time, yet on occasion, constructive and bordering on helpful.
perhaps I can point something out ... Lightweeder is similar to me,.. just starting out, relatively speaking.
let me draw you an anaolgy. -- by trade, I'm a pipefitter ( plumber / heating / instrumenation pipework )... I progressed through my trade apprenticeship, firstly winning an award at the tech college I attended, then I went on to win a regional apprentice's competition, and ultimately represented my country against three lads, from England, Wales & Northern Ireland, in a national competition, where I was beaten into second place by the English fella. Without tooting my horn ( as thats not the point I making )... pretty much the best damn pipefitter who's backside points south... but THIS is the point ------ I didn't have that ability by default.. I had to learn it... people taught me, people with more experience that I had, and definately a shed-load more ability than I had...... and when learning, if someone of this advanced experience and ability had 'shot me down'... that would have given my confidence a knock of gargantuan proportions, and would probably have ensured that I would never had got to the level I did, and definately killed off the enthusiasm that I had for it.
One day.. one day far off at the moment, I'd like to think I may perhaps become an accomplished, competent turner.
When that day arrives ( if it ever does ),.. I'd like to believe that there will be people coming behind me, having just started out in their turning.
I hope to be still around to encourage them, and foster their enthusiasm and nurture them along in their own quests for greatness at that time.
Much in the way that 99.9% of the skilled hands here do for me, and my contemporaries at the stage we are at with our turning presently.
In fact, assuming that 'that day' eventually comes.. I'd almost see it as a duty.... a way of 'putting something back' into the 'craft', .. and a duty which I would embrace and enjoy - and certainly positively look forward to.
If we take you at face value, and 'buy in' to you being what I aspire to .. an accomplished and highly competent turner... may I respectfully suggest that you adopt the attitude described above when 'encouraging' us 'newbies and learners'.
By all means, I'm sure that all of us novices welcome constructive advice and criticism... pointers as to how we can improve, suggestions as to how we could have achieved something more easily, more quickly or more effectively.... but please, I urge you ..... the use of vocabulary like 'amateurish' etc, are perhaps not the most conducive in conveying encouragement to people.
Please think about the wording of such things ... as an 'advanced turner', I'd suggest you perhaps have certain 'responsibilities' in encouraging those of lesser experience --- and as with everything, 'responsibilities' need to be discharged with care.
Thanks.
