Newbies Please Read This

[DB]

Has everyone forgotten that you catch more flys with sugar than with vinegar? No one said "Don't ask questions" ...... No one said "Go Away newbie .. ya bother me" .... all that has been said is "if you can't find the answer on your own then ask away"

Geez........ Is it because business is slow right now that eveyone has their butts on their shoulders? is this the point where we turn on each other...... for food?

And what is wrong with a little *** kissing? Have you ever had it done? It's kinda freaky but not bad .... :lol:

In the words of Rodney King ... "Why can't we all just get along?"

In the further words of Rodney King ... " Stop! Stop! Hey! Quit it! ouch! Owww! Stop! Whaddido? Quit!" :lol: :lol:

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

Here is an example of some of the PMs (Private Messages) and emails I've been receiving from some of the experienced regulars that have helped many for a long time:

I can sure understand your frustration with some of the content on the Newbie forum. Maybe it should be re-captioned the Wannabe forum. So many of the posts are gripes about getting into the profession, without the newbies considering the difficulties and challenges that are involved in getting into any business. The quality of some of the questions asked also leaves a lot to be desired.

Also, there have been many posts by regulars about how tough it really is, without the newbies paying any attention to the reality of the posts. How can some of the newbies be so convinced "there is a conspiracy against us" theory? Appraisers are such an independent and ornery group that a conspiracy would be impossible to pull off.

Oh well, I think I've sworn off the newbie forum. It isn't worth the frustration. I'd like to think its the newbie's loss.

 

[CANative]

Arguing on the internet is like running in the special olympics... Even if you win, you're still retarded.

(Not directed at anyone in particular)

 

[DB]

To all:

I can't express how dissapointed I am in the over all responses to this thread. The claws have come out and the teeth are nashing, just because someone suggested that we can learn more by trying to find answers for ourselves than by having someone feed us the answers. How are you ever going to make it as an appraiser if you can't find, explore or otherwise develop data? Half this job is digging!

I have also noticed that with every question, there are several different ideas of how to handle a situation. Again, the idea is to dig through the answers and develop the one that is most viable for your situation.

I guess I am most dissappointed in Greg for his last post. Greg, you have asked some pretty good questions on this forum and have provoked thought. Your last post was unacceptable. Read this and see if you still feel the same.

A few years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash.

At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back......every one of them.

One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, "This will make it better." Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story.

Why?

Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.


I am sorry to hear that we have lost an online mentor. Particularly for the reasons stated. This is a sad day and yes, "The Newbies" have lost a lot. I don't know who this person was, and it doesn't matter. All that matters is that because some folks couldn't handle the truth, we have lost part of an already small knowledge base. This forum is here for us to learn. If it keeps going in its current direction, there won't be a forum. There will be a private chat and that is all.

Here it is ............. If you want to learn ....... stay .......... if you want to fight and start personal controversy........ please go to one of the internet chat rooms that are designed to such .......

And NO, PAM .... I am not standing up for YOU .... it's not about YOU ... it's about what this forum has to offer and what it is about to lose ....... IF we "newbies" lose the knowledge on this forum and are solely dependant on our individual mentors, then our appraisal skills will be pidgeon holed to that mentors way of thinking and appraising.

Whoever sent that e-mail to Pam ..... I hope you will reconsider ...... some of us want your input .....

That is all I have to say about that ......

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

And NO, PAM .... I am not standing up for YOU .... it's not about YOU

Thank you Doug!!! I totally agree.

If any experienced and knowledgable appraiser came here new to this forum, read through many of this sections posts, and then wrote what I did, I would understand and support him/her.

I really don't care if anybody want's to take it personally and be mad at me. As you said Doug, it's not about me.

 

[CANative]

Doug (and everyone else)... That was just something I read in a musician's forum (designed for the younger crowd) and which I thought illustrates the futility and silliness of a heated forum argument. I'm sorry if it upset you. I wish I could take it back. Rest assured, I have nothing but sincere compassion for people (and especially children) with disabilities. My company is a generous sponsor of many events and charities for children with disabilities and cancer.

Greg Boyd

Frankly Doug your last line about Rodney King could be interpreted as being insensitive. Guess it's a southern thing.

 

[DB]

Greg,

No problem. Apology accepted.
If I had a nickel for everytime I had said something that I wished I could take back, I would be rich! So consider this a "mulligan".

As musicians and appraisers and newbies .... we have to stick together ..... Make you a deal .... you watch my posts and I will watch yours and if either of gets out of line, the other can rein him in. Deal?

 

[CANative]

 

[DB]

Greg ..... the Rodney King things is old ... a one time thing and was intended to be somewhat humerous, since I saw it on HBO comedy hour (come to think of though, I think it was a black, southern comedian, so maybe it is a southern thing? :lol: )

Mental retardation is something that people have to deal with everyday, particularly those of us with "special" people in our families. Rodney and his problems are minor by comparison. It is easy to use Political Correctness to point a finger at everyone and everything, which was not what I was trying to do with my comments nor in my response to you. I just thought that you stepped over the line and the number of PM's that hit my computer within seconds of my post told me that I was not alone.

But..... if it makes you feel better I will apologize for my Rodney King comment and if you will send me your address I will make a contribution to the Rodney King fund that your company sponsors. :lol: :lol:

Let's call a truce on this subject and get back to appraisin' ..... Deal??

 

[George Hatch]

Ay yi yi!!

You know, we have the wrong group of people taking umbrage at Pam's initial post, which was directed at people who are asking the really basic questions that they should have figured out in their basic training course and with their supervisors, and at those people who are doing the power snivel that trainee slots are hard to find. Not one of the participants in this thread are among that group. Ironic, huh?

All of the people in this thread who have apologized for asking 'dumb' questions should relax, because Pam wasn't talking about you guys in the first place. And if you've taken offense then you're being too sensitive for this forum. It's a few of the people who have avoided participating in this thread that should be taking the message seriously.

Now when you start contradicting us when we give our advice and opinions, or call us selfish, greedy, and insecure, or try to rewrite history and appraisal theory, then you'll fall into that category to whom Pam was addressing her remarks. Hell, I have an unlicensed appraiser on another thread arguing with me about an appraisal method they aren't even competent with and have no experience in. Making outrageous and totally ignorant statements about a subject to which they have only the most limited of exposure. Not that there's just one individual because we've had a number of such people over the last couple years I've been around. That's the type of person who should be paying attention to Pam's message of doing a little bit of research before inserting foot into mouth.

Some questions do get a bit repetitive. Those who want to answer again get that extra opportunity to hone their argument that much more finely. I occasionally get 'attaboys' for concisely explaining a complex subject (I also get whupped on a little for writing long-winded dissertations, for which I'm also guilty). How do you think the arguments I can make concisely get that concise? By repetition. By readressing the same old questions after seeing the responses of others to the prior same old questions. That's one of the main reasons I keep hanging around, so that I can refine my all of my arguments and summations. I'm constantly looking for new ways to communicate the same old stuff because I know that no one way reaches everybody the first time.

For those who are in the early stages of progression, just keep working at it. Read your manuals, ask your supervisor, use the "Search" function here and read as many of the old threads as you can. When all else fails, don't hesitate to ask your question and don't worry about getting flamed because as long as you tell us you tried we won't consider it a waste. Let us know when you have asked your supervisor and are seeking a second opinion, or when you already have an idea and are just looking for confirmation. Nobody here expects you to know everything, and nobody here should be representing that they already know everything.

For those of us in the later stages of progression, keep in mind that we also get to benefit from our participation. Whether it's by being forced to reconsider how best to explain the answer, or to see other ways of explaining them, or even simply just contributing to raising the bar for our community at large. Every little bit helps. If you get frustrated then just take a break. If you have to vent, try to reserve it for the arrogant fools who actually deserve it rather than the underinformed who know no better.