An appeal to all non-posting members

ariel · 1st June 2006, 11:51 PM

Folks,
I just glanced over the roster of our members: there is a lot of people who just sit on the sidelines. Some joined as recently as 2-6 weeks ago.
I would like to invite all of you to be brave and to post!
I have been a "newbie" and know how frightening it is to post for the first time: I felt I would say something that would cause universal laughter at my expence. It did not happen.
No matter how new and unexperienced you are, no matter how shy, please take a deep breath and plunge in!
Some of our posts are naive or just outright dumb ( I have contributed my share

), but the main pleasure in this enterprise is to exchange knowledge: everybody here will be delighted to offer help, advise and encouragement. I promise you: if you ask a question you will learn something new.
Even more importantly, I am sure that many of you know things about arms and armour, decoration, customs, ethnography, languages, history or mythology than none of us do. Please, contribute!
You are not only welcome, you are invited!
On the count of three, jump in!
ONE.... TWO... TWO AND A HALF... THREE!!!

Jim McDougall · 2nd June 2006, 02:57 AM

Extremely well said Ariel!!!
I completely agree......and encourage everybody reading out there to join us. There is absolutely no reason to hesitate asking questions......we are all students here trying to learn together. While obviously there is a lot of experience around here discussing weapons, it has all been accomplished by reading, handling examples and mostly...asking questions.
What many do not realize is that the questions prompt the research that leads to answers or even more questions....in all.....learning.
Come on in.....the learnin' is fine!!!!!

All best wishes,
Jim

Rick · 2nd June 2006, 03:29 AM

I have to admit to not having been nervous about my first posting here almost ten years ago .
It's only electrons folks .

I found the group to be warm and welcoming ; eager to help me learn .
That atmosphere still exists here ; I honestly do not understand why someone would join with no intention of posting ; why join when you can just lurk as a non member ?

Feel free to jump in ; the water's fine and always remember there are no stupid questions only stupid answers and you're not likely to get those here .

Rick

Aurangzeb · 2nd June 2006, 03:56 AM

Hello All!

I have asked my share of strange questions and some that were simplistic. It's very freindly here and I have learned much. I lurked for a while before I joined and it was interesting but sometimes as a lurking non-member the question I wanted answred was not asked yet, bou when I became a member I found that I can now ask the questions and not just sit on the side-lines! I joined here when I was 14 years old and now am 15, I was nervous when I made my first post that I whould make a fool of myself.... But I did not!

Mark...

ariel · 2nd June 2006, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aurangzeb

Hello All!

I have asked my share of strange questions and some that were simplistic. It's very freindly here and I have learned much. I lurked for a while before I joined and it was interesting but sometimes as a lurking non-member the question I wanted answred was not asked yet, bou when I became a member I found that I can now ask the questions and not just sit on the side-lines! I joined here when I was 14 years old and now am 15, I was nervous when I made my first post that I whould make a fool of myself.... But I did not!

Mark...

Oh, my God!
Sorry for all the "adult" jokes, and my offer to go for a beer is rescinded!

Seriously, Mark, that young? I am a bit envious but wish I'd started with collecting when I was your age... All the best, kid!

wolviex · 2nd June 2006, 12:21 PM

Mark - you are our future and our hope

- there was a time I thought I'm the youngest member of this forum, and thought the average age on this board is 50-60 years

Now I know I was very wrong

Tim Simmons · 2nd June 2006, 08:31 AM

Make a fool of myself? I do it every day. I seem to carry it off okay as I am still in work

.

1st June 2006, 11:51 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	An appeal to all non-posting members Folks, I just glanced over the roster of our members: there is a lot of people who just sit on the sidelines. Some joined as recently as 2-6 weeks ago. I would like to invite all of you to be brave and to post! I have been a "newbie" and know how frightening it is to post for the first time: I felt I would say something that would cause universal laughter at my expence. It did not happen. No matter how new and unexperienced you are, no matter how shy, please take a deep breath and plunge in! Some of our posts are naive or just outright dumb ( I have contributed my share ), but the main pleasure in this enterprise is to exchange knowledge: everybody here will be delighted to offer help, advise and encouragement. I promise you: if you ask a question you will learn something new. Even more importantly, I am sure that many of you know things about arms and armour, decoration, customs, ethnography, languages, history or mythology than none of us do. Please, contribute! You are not only welcome, you are invited! On the count of three, jump in! ONE.... TWO... TWO AND A HALF... THREE!!!

2nd June 2006, 03:29 AM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,319	It's Funny I have to admit to not having been nervous about my first posting here almost ten years ago . It's only electrons folks . I found the group to be warm and welcoming ; eager to help me learn . That atmosphere still exists here ; I honestly do not understand why someone would join with no intention of posting ; why join when you can just lurk as a non member ? Feel free to jump in ; the water's fine and always remember there are no stupid questions only stupid answers and you're not likely to get those here . Rick

2nd June 2006, 02:57 AM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,062	Extremely well said Ariel!!! I completely agree......and encourage everybody reading out there to join us. There is absolutely no reason to hesitate asking questions......we are all students here trying to learn together. While obviously there is a lot of experience around here discussing weapons, it has all been accomplished by reading, handling examples and mostly...asking questions. What many do not realize is that the questions prompt the research that leads to answers or even more questions....in all.....learning. Come on in.....the learnin' is fine!!!!! All best wishes, Jim

2nd June 2006, 03:56 AM	#4
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Hello All! I have asked my share of strange questions and some that were simplistic. It's very freindly here and I have learned much. I lurked for a while before I joined and it was interesting but sometimes as a lurking non-member the question I wanted answred was not asked yet, bou when I became a member I found that I can now ask the questions and not just sit on the side-lines! I joined here when I was 14 years old and now am 15, I was nervous when I made my first post that I whould make a fool of myself.... But I did not! Mark...

2nd June 2006, 12:21 PM	#6
wolviex Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Poland, Krakow Posts: 418	Mark - you are our future and our hope - there was a time I thought I'm the youngest member of this forum, and thought the average age on this board is 50-60 years Now I know I was very wrong

2nd June 2006, 08:31 AM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,818	Make a fool of myself? I do it every day. I seem to carry it off okay as I am still in work .