Thread: Helping newbies...

...I don't do it. With the odd exception I don't help newbies. I stand back for a bit and gauge their interest "Is it rea?l" "Is it worth my time?" These are the questions that I always ask myself before I commit myself to seriously helping. I do not help until I am moved to help and am always sorry if I offer help before I am moved to, if that makes any sense. Well, I was moved to help one young man ( climberslacker ) before I even knew anything about him. I believe he is our youngest member. I invited him over to my house and we talked about stropping properly and shaving angles. I showed him my collection of straights, strops, and hones. I found this young man to be extremely well mannered and very interested in the whole process. I was very impressed by him, but his overall gratefullness touched and humbled me! He is an absolute asset to this little community!

He sent me a thank you card even, which is what inspired me to post!

Well done to you both. It's nice to offer encouragement & restores some faith to see courtesy in return. It's getting rarer!

Originally Posted by ben.mid

Well done to you both. It's nice to offer encouragement & restores some faith to see courtesy in return. It's getting rarer!

yes. People who don't use forums don't understand what a great tool they can be, and things like this demonstrate that I think.

So true, Id have cut my damn head off without this place!!

If you give more than you take and don't expect anything in return.. you will never be disappointed.

Nice to truly know when you are appreciated !!!!!

Well played to both of you

Written 'thank yous' are becoming a rarity. Befitting response to your generousity.

But why "stand back" as you put it? I am so grateful to the experience sr users for encouragement and adivce. It takes little, in many cases, to keep a newbie going in the right direction.

My reluctance to advise is simply that I am one (Newbie)!! Though I sometimes think that hearing of the experiences of a person a step or two ahead of you can be effective. Anyway...best to you and thanks for sharing.

Jim

Originally Posted by jleeg

Written 'thank yous' are becoming a rarity. Befitting response to your generousity.

But why "stand back" as you put it? I am so grateful to the experience sr users for encouragement and adivce. It takes little, in many cases, to keep a newbie going in the right direction.

My reluctance to advise is simply that I am one (Newbie)!! Though I sometimes think that hearing of the experiences of a person a step or two ahead of you can be effective. Anyway...best to you and thanks for sharing.

Jim

Don't get me wrong. I have no problems giving advice but I generally won't invite someone over to my home or give someone one of my razors or strops unless I either see an earnestness and an interest that goes beyond the novelty of using a straight, or, as in this case, I am just moved to do so.

Wonderful Post, Thanks for sharing....

That is very nice. Thanks for posting that. I like to make a new guy feel welcome and point them in the right direction where they can get good info. In my life I have become expert in three vocations. Ironwork, carpet installation, and tattooing. In all three new guys were mostly treated like they had the plague IME. A new guy was competition.

It was when I went into a 12 step program 25 years ago that I experienced some people who reached out to newbies. Many didn't and I appreciated those that did all the more for it. One of the main focuses of that program was helping the new guy with the admonition that "you can't keep it unless you give it away". Maybe that is why I tend to throw a post to the new guy even when I don't feel like it. I always remember what it is like to be a new kid on the block myself.