Thread: No more green dits. Say hello to our mentors

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

People have made references to "mentors" as "teachers" who will automatically be assumed to be right. Aside from checks and balances built into the forum (I'm referring to the healthy discussions of differing opinions that goes on around here), can't we give the new guys a little respect by acknowledging that they are going to do some research and use their heads rather than blindly follow someone who has a little badge under their user name? Did you ever in your adult life believe everything any "teacher" ever told you just because they were your teacher? Maybe it's just me, but I sure don't.

Pretty much sums up how I feel about it. There has been advice that I have been given or seen given by people I highly respect on here, yet I disagree with their advice, whether it's a technique, product, or something else.

I understand how some people might feel slighted by not getting a badge. Honestly, it's a simple way for people to quickly see who the powers that be deem a somewhat reliable source of information. I don't see it as a way to exclude someone from discussion. All we can hope for, with or without badges, is that our advice will be read, evaluated, and thought to be useful. If you've got something to say, say it.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

People have made references to "mentors" as "teachers" who will automatically be assumed to be right.... can't we give the new guys a little respect by acknowledging that they are going to do some research and use their heads rather than blindly follow someone who has a little badge under their user name?

all "the healthy discussions of differing opinions that goes on around here" confuses newbs and they are yearning for someone to stand up and say
" THIS is how you do it !"

as for respecting their ability to research?
when was the last time you saw a Zeepk with multiple bids on the bay?


I'm sure there were/are some people who wanted the badge and didn't get it.
Maybe they will yet.
I hope they are worthy of it.
I hope you all are.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

I like the bit someone said about how the mentor badge is a sign that people with it are willing to help out new guys.

That does sound wise doesn't it?

Originally Posted by gratewhitehuntr

all "the healthy discussions of differing opinions that goes on around here" confuses newbs and they are yearning for someone to stand up and say "THIS is how you do it !"

I vividly recall having exactly this discussion with a number of moderators and (now) mentors when we started working on the Wiki. My knowledge of honing is sketchy, mildly put, and I was then asking for a number of articles that could be amalgamated in the "Definitive Guide on Honing". Well, it simply cannot be done, as I was quickly made to realise.

As a general rule, there are too many variables involved in shaving (some of the most important ones being highly personal - just think "sharpness / smoothness balance"). The most you can expect from any source of information on shaving can be an educated guess, or an approximation of the truth based on experience.

To sum this up, I have learnt to be wary of claims to ultimate knowledge, and I personally believe that an article like this (especially with the latest edits by Glen and Lynn) is the most one should expect from a forum: What hone(s) do I need? - Straight Razor Place Wiki.

Originally Posted by gratewhitehuntr

I'm sure there were/are some people who wanted the badge and didn't get it.

My late grandmother always used to say that one should be careful what one wishes for. Neither moderation, nor mentoring, is about power, or glory. It is about the proven willingness to enhance a forum, the desire to maintain its spirit, and the unwavering commitment to making the members's stay as enjoyable as humanly possible.

Originally Posted by gratewhitehuntr

all "the healthy discussions of differing opinions that goes on around here" confuses newbs and they are yearning for someone to stand up and say
" THIS is how you do it !"

as for respecting their ability to research?
when was the last time you saw a Zeepk with multiple bids on the bay?


I'm sure there were/are some people who wanted the badge and didn't get it.
Maybe they will yet.
I hope they are worthy of it.
I hope you all are.

For the "This is how you do it" - I see that as the purpose of the Wiki, to whatever extent there is a "this is how you do it." (Sorry, BeBerlin, I posted that before reading your post, and, I believe I repeated your statement.)

For Zeepk - Do we know that these are forum members? Yes, I have seen forum members who have bought Zeepk's, but that clearly means that they did not bother to ask or look at the "This is how you do it" wiki. IMHO, if you buy something without doing any research, you deserve what you get.

I totally agree with the last three lines of your post.

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

My late grandmother always used to say that one should be careful what one wishes for. Neither moderation, nor mentoring, is about power, or glory. It is about the proven willingness to enhance a forum, the desire to maintain its spirit, and the unwavering commitment to making the members's stay as enjoyable as humanly possible.

What? You mean I was lied to? Lee, Bruno, I want my money back!!

If I may, I would like to add a few words to this discussion, not much, but maybe it'll help sort things out:

First: I think that everybody knows, usually from personal experience, that everybody can make mistakes, and does: site founder (and I am sure even Lynn would agree that he makes mistakes), super mods, mods, mentors, teachers, honers, restorers, blacksmiths, barbers, ... maybe not Chuck Norris but that's ok, he is not posting here. So a label will never mean that somebody is faultless.

Second: I am sorry but all members on SRP are not equal. I cannot edit your posts, ban somebody... and it's ok, and happily for the site, some other can; some have administratively higher grounds (because they are better at moderation - site maintenance - then me and willing to do the job); and some have a far better knowledge than me - which is not very difficult - concerning shaving, restoring, honing (and are willing to help...) and I don't see why those could not have some kind of mark to see: "you have a question, you want to pm me, go on!"

Third: maybe the sign "mentor" is a little too much for those with too much respect for authority. I think it has been mentioned somewhere (sorry, don't want to read the whole thread again) that "helper" is a good idea. I agree; could be better.

And fourth: a helper doesn't need to have the universal shaving knowledge, but must be somebody humble, with the will to help, and the knowledge to answer when they know, and direct somebody with a question they cannot answer to somebody who knows. That means the helper should be somebody not with huge knowledge, but somebody friendly with a good knowledge of his/her field and an excellent knowledge of who is doing what on this forum.

I think the mentor-helper system is a good one, not flawless (is there anything like that on earth), but it could help shy people, or people who prefer a more personal environment, to ask questions.

I think the Mentor labels are unnecessary. Just like the "Caution! Hot!" labels on coffee cups.

If anything, message boards are a hive of knowledge, with a library of old posts anyone can search out and read. All the labels say are, "The sweetest knowledge is here!"

It's kind of insulting to just about everyone, actually. It implies new members are too dumb to take a three or four minute look around the forum to see which members are prolific in their posting, and it kind of implies that anyone who doesn't have a Mentor badge will might snub your PM's or something.

One of Doc's posts reads how he knows "how hard it is" to send a PM to someone when you're new. Ha ha! What?! It's not hard at all!

None of us are real people - this is the internet!

Oh, and Doc - is the additional "Super Moderator" badge really necessary? Really? I mean, I'm sure you're great at what you do, but come on - really? Does plain ol' "Moderator" not do the trick?

It reminds me of Superman. I mean, what a redundant name he chose for himself, huh? The guy can fly, is nearly indestructible, and yet he decides to call himself Superman and dress in that outfit with the S on it. He could have dressed up in a ballerina's outfit and called himself "Girly Girl" while doing his good deeds and it still would have been the same exact result!

Originally Posted by Blade Wielder

It reminds me of Superman. I mean, what a redundant name he chose for himself, huh? The guy can fly, is nearly indestructible, and yet he decides to call himself Superman and dress in that outfit with the S on it. He could have dressed up in a ballerina's outfit and called himself "Girly Girl" while doing his good deeds and it still would have been the same exact result!

Oh my, just made me remember this:
YouTube - Superman Dialogue