HBS lost it's brotherhood and kindness...

[Tom Wills]

Guys, I'm really shocked at how HBSForums has gone downhill. This place started as a site in which anyone could freely express their mind, and not feel like they were going to get beaten down by everyone. We had brotherhood. We took care of each other. We made sure that if there was something we could do, we'd do it. People old and new were treated with the respect they deserved. People took each other's posts as their opinions, and didn't even think of putting someone down because of their opinion.

I know that I'm not nearly as happy here as I once was. I feel more and more that just trying to keep up my reputation is a battle. This isn't right what's been happening.  We all need to either loosen up and stop trying to be perfect and always right or leave. I for one may be doing the latter, not because I can't loosen up, but because others cannot. I just can't stand having to fight people to express my opinion!

If things don't calm down, I'm positive I won't be the only one who'll be gone.

[Trevor Crump]

Tom, don't take issues to seriously, I know it appears that you might be hard done by, but your own post can be from time to time a bit abrasive and challenging.

When posting known issues that you have seen on other groups, It would be wise to mention the source and maybe a link, in this way it does not seem YOUR opinion.

Your input is valued along with everyone elses and I feel sure that the 'brotherhood' is alive and working well.

[Phil Kindred]

Tom--you are over-reactiing.. But there is something you need to understand.   You frequently present your opinion as fact and that is where the friction is coming from.  For instance, I would never consider a JPEG to be a true representation of a camera and lens quality.  I would believe my eyes when I was trying it out.  Anyone who has been on this forum for any length of time has been smacked around at some point or another.  HBS has NOT gone hill nor will it.  No insult intended, but you need to stop presenting yourself as an expert on some very complex subjects.  Because someone on DVinfo net says his lens looks "soft" does not make all those lenses soft.  In the course of my life, I have had about 20 cameras--8, 16mm, and numerous video cameras. 
They all had faults--there is no such think as perfect.  My point is that if you feel you should leave the forum, that is of your making--not someone else.  I would rather you didn't.

[Tom Wills]

Trevor and Phil, I do see where you're coming from, and maybe my response seemed like an over-reaction, I don't know. I can't judge my own posts like other people can.

Phil - I wholeheartedly agree with you that a JPEG is no way to evaluate a camera. I just wanted to let Wade know so he didn't end up with a camera he'd be unhappy with. I'm not doing this because I hate the camera, the lens, or anything else.

Maybe I should just change my signature to "THESE ARE MY OPINIONS AND NOT NECESSARILY FACTS." It'd probably save me tons of time.

I think that maybe everybody should just take Phil's advice on not presenting your opinions as facts. I think plenty of us have some apologizing to do for that. I sure as hell am not the only one.

Look, I don't want to leave. I love this place. There are people on here who I feel immensely close to, and people who I trust greatly. I just don't want to have to fight with 5 people every time I post something that I thought might be good for the discussion.

[Tom Wills]

You know what, everybody give me a few days. I need to chill out and do some building now that I have some cash on-hand. Hopefully that'll clear my head.

[MikkoWilson]

Seems like another classic case of not *what* but *how* things are said.

- Mikko

[Cedric Akins]

THAT CANNOT BE TRUE!!!

 Just today I asked help from Mikko on a wiring diagram and he posted the diagram. I want to testify to that as a symbol of brotherhood from builder to builder, artist to artist, cinematographer to cinematographer. Even though Mikko stated in his post,

I dont' normally post too many plans ... but I've got a minute while some 3D renders.. sure!

what more could you ask for?   Do you want someone to do the building for free? Not to mention the many designs, drawings, plans, and countless hours of research Kevin, Charles, Cosmin, Phill, Constantine, Andreas, Franco, Elliot, Cody, David, Jon, John Joe, Wade, You, Me and all the other members I failed to mention have put into making this site a worth while site worth discovery and visiting.

It may have been wise for me to read all of the other posts before I made a post, but I felt obliged to speak the truth or post it from my point of view.

Cedric

[michael stevenson]

First of all your opening statement is what is commonly refered to as Demagogy. Tom you said it yourself. You need to concentrate on building a rig and stop being an expert on subjects that you know very little about. It definitely rubs people the wrong way. Chill out dude you're only 15 years old for crying out loud.

Michael

P.S. I think the "HBS lost it's brotherhood and kindness." line is outrageous.

[Wade Francom]

Hey Tom...

You're a cool dude. I'm behind ya 100%. I know you don't mean anything bad in any of your posts. A couple "chill" days is good for ya. For me, it's good. Clear the head, do something fun, buy yourself something cool, and come back and tell us all about it.   I call it an "enlightenment" period. Always worked for me... So I'm with ya buddy, all the way.

And for all, this next philosophy is something I've formed while on HBS...........when it comes to my opinion, I form it, but I don't enforce it (at least not too often).

Several times, people have responded to my posts, asserting their knowledge and opinion...and every once in a while, they are completely wrong. I've been doing this for a little while, and been around cameras in every setting you can think of, and I know the ins and outs of many things. I've been doing this long enough to know when someone else is way off, slightly off, or just misguided. Unless it is something that directly involves me, such as a question I might have for one other person in this forum, I now try to stay away from posting. I laugh, chuckle, and sometimes just ignore the responses I deem unlikely to help me.

I guess what I'm saying here is... take an objective approach to any assistance you give anyone else. Instead of "This is the way it is because I read....", it should be "Take a look at this. It may help you.".

In a recent response I gave to someone else, I just took pics, described them, and said "this worked for me...hope this helps.". Objective, not enforcing of any opinion I have.

Everyone here has valuable information and insight. I wouldn't trade this group of people for the world. We all need to take this "enlightenment" period, come back, and start fresh, with the goal of keeping objective, and with the thought in mind that we are all going toward the same thing here. We may all go about it different ways. Some may get where we want to go sooner, some later, but we are all learning along the way....just not on the same path.

Tom, keep it up. You'll get there. You're definitely entertaining...(no offense intended). I love the fireworks that come after these things. It's all good though. Learn and grow we must.

[Cedric Akins]

Sorry but this is the only forum for me.

[Wade Francom]

Me too. Hey Ced, what's up in your neck of the woods?

[Joe Sanders]

Thomas,
I’m not sure if my Sensei post prompted this response or if you’re feeling this way in general.

But I am going to offer some non-solicited advice in either case.

When I was young I felt I was smarter then almost everyone else, I always worded things to make the impression that I was very intelligent. Unfortunately others had little use for me.

Later as I aged (the reward for giving up youth) I discovered that the reasons I had been so aggressive in sharing my opinions, was I was actually lacking in self esteem. I felt I had to prove how smart I was to everyone.

After I realized that; it occurred to me that I would be better off listening more to how people responded to the things I said.  This was a major break through in my ability to communicate. Since then I have made it a mission to become the best communicator I could; because I, like yourself,  really enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience.

I can assure you the rejection and negativity I received was much more than you have received here because it was from people I knew personally.  And some of them for many years. I remember telling myself that it was ok, that I was being shunned,  because I was better than them anyway. 

As you can imagine I was very lonely at times.

I’m only telling you this because I think you have much to offer and if you learn how to communicate effectively you will increase the likely hood of your overall success considerably.

And one last piece of advice. Never let your emotions make decisions for you.  The people on this board are some of the brightest and most giving people I have ever been privileged enough to hang out with.

All of us here learn something every time we tune in.

[Tom Wills]

Thanks everybody. I guess that I just do need some time to chill out and get away from it all.

And as to Joe - No, your post didn't spark this. I think just a whole bunch of built up tension caused this, and I just directed it at something that really didn't need it.

Sorry guys, guess I just lost my head there.

[Wade Francom]

Wow, Tom...! It takes a man to take this advice and admit his faults! First, and foremost step in good communicating! You just grew by leaps and bounds tonight!

You'll go far, Tom... You will....believe me.

[Charles King]

Well Well! I leave for a awhile and things get in an uproar. Well, I see that you guys have managed to handle it without me jumping in so I'll just back down. I cannot say no more that havn't already been said. We all must learn for me I'm still learning and gaining experiences from you all. Things I still don't know but am trying to develope my knownledge for the better.    Debates are good just as long they don't turn into a bloody all out cursing feud then heads will really fly. 

We all have gone through ' I know more than you ' phrase but being able to accept when we are wrong is even braver. So, you are heading in the right direction Tom.