Quote Originally Posted by gugi View Post
From what I've seen recently, the problem is less with asking questions, and more with people who know nothing on the matter yet feel entitled that their opinion is as valuable as anybody else's.
Interestingly, we covered this issue on a thread here. The only way to combat this and maintain the open atmosphere (that balance of tension) is to tag every post (or create an atmosphere of) "Reader discretion is advised". I know I could have easily been led astray several times were it not for several experienced members ignoring the bad advice of others and tactfully asserting their opinion/experience, or supporting what good advice was already posted.

Quote Originally Posted by WebsII View Post
...threads that were reviewed by the moderators and deemed "worthy" of immortalization. The original threads are also separately maintained so that comments and questions may be posted.
Would you be willing to develop a Thread Valhalla?

Quote Originally Posted by bharner View Post
As someone who is newb to the world of straight razors but not a newb to the internet and the joys and pains of forums, I think SRP's wiki is pretty useful. I browsed it for a week or two before I joined.
...when I do find some info that is pertinent it isn't as detailed as I would like.
...Not all of us nublets mind doing some research but when you're faced with what could be a multi-day search of staring at the PC screen, clicking that handy little "New Thread" button is mighty tempting.
I'm also not new to forums (though a complete novice to Straights and even DE/SE's). When I do find an old thread that's useful, it's usually because google pulled it up for me. When searching via the forum utility my results are copious and uninformative. It may be just what I've searched for, but consider how repetitive our vocabulary is here from razor names to terms like scales, hone, etc. They can show up as a brief mention, or as the heart of a thread, but you don't know without sifting through days worth of threads.

In the instance that I do find an old thread I almost always have more quesions. In that case I keep the habit that I've built from my Auto forums, and resurrect that old thread, that way threads on the same topic are consolidated (instead of a bajillion threads on faux tortoise shell scales, you only have a million).

I'm 100% sure I've asked some dumb questions here. Thankfully no one has been short or rude to me. I really appreciate the time and attention all you senior guys have given my learning curve. As a guy with a Master's level education it can be a little humbling to ask simple questions and you guys have been great.

BTW, I did read the wiki and learned a lot from it, though I'm the kind of guy who prefers personal interaction to archival explorations, making threads my preferred avenue for education.

Thanks again for all of you who've put up with my questions (and not stomped on me when/if I've offered advice that wasn't in line with your greater experience and knowledge).