irascible, self-appointed "gurus"

[Barry]

Interesting title ?

Those who follow the Airheads list will have seen that phase used recently in a discussion about Brake fluid which has certainly seen some attitude if not irascibility although the person on the receiving end of that comment didn't deserve it in my opinion.

Anyway to my a point which is rant of sorts but a serious one.

Please can we never have Guru's on this forum.  

The fawning and "Guru worship" on the airheads list gets a bit much at times and I'm not sure it's a good thing. If I take the UK based airheads forums as an example is it possible there are no members that are professional Airhead mechanics with long experience or no professional Engineers in a variety of disciplines with long years of airhead experience. No of course not and yet the word guru is never uttered and perhaps that means no one is put on the pedestal that generates an ego that may lead to them becoming irascible. You can have tremendous respect for someones knowledge and experience without labeling them a guru. I hope we can always say the same about this forum.  

[marcmax]

I couldn't agree with you more Barry.

I stopped following the Airheads list because of the attitudes expressed. I was always a "lurker" and never got up the nerve to ask a question for fear of being shot down or ridiculed by the "gurus". I saw too many people ask what I thought was a perfectly reasonable question only to never see them post again after the treatment they received.

That is the reason I am a member of this forum. It is by far the friendliest, most helpful forum I have ever joined. Are there experts (gurus) on here? Absolutely and not just in regards to airheads. There are people with widely divergent backgrounds and knowledge that are willing to share it to any and all. That is my understanding of what a forum is supposed to be all about. This one is a shining example of how well it can be done if people leave their egos at the door.

To me a "guru" is someone who considers him/herself an expert and that reminds be of the joke definition of an expert.

Break down expert phonetically and you see what I mean.  ex= former and spurt = a drip under pressure.  

[nhmaf]

We don't have irascible gurus here - just a few curmudgeons!
 

[Ed Miller]

I think you're about as close as we get, Barry.  At least I don't know how you know all the stuff you know about our bikes.  

I don't think either Snowbum or Tom Cutter really like the term guru, either.  

Monte and Terry aren't afraid to post on the Airlist.  I skim it in digest form but almost never have anything to contribute, and rarely any questions that I can't find answers to on Snowbum's site, or here, or even on Boxerworks.

[Lucky_Lou]

I thought Guru,s were them Indian blokes who sat on top of poles for weeks on end contemplating the meaning of life...............
Lou

[Barry]

I thought Guru,s were them Indian blokes who sat on top of poles for weeks on end contemplating the meaning of life...............

If only they'd stay up there they'd be no trouble!  

Perhaps we could adopt a new rule .....anyone who aspires to be a guru has to go sit on a pole for a few weeks. That would be a good cure.

I think you're about as close as we get, Barry.At least I don't know how you know all the stuff you know about our bikes.

Ed,

Thanks, I'm just a data junkie, it's what makes me tick. Consider it an affliction and make allowances.  

[Mike V]

This is the best forum I've ever been associated with.  I've learned to post on the Airhead LIST carefully, sparingly, and with trepidation.  The chest-pounding has gotten out of hand, and counter-productive in my opinion.

So many of you deserve thanks getting my restoration done correctly and safely years ago.

This forum has always been about helping each other and sharing of knowledge in a friendly and civil manner.

Thanks guys and gals.

[clonmore1]

I am in the middle of just the above with a certain Joe Cuda.

Apart from the fact that he has insulted me for being a 'brit', I refuse to be cowed by a bombastic attitude from somebody who thinks why too much of themselves.

It's motorcycles for god's sake, not the end of the world!

A big thank you for all the help and patience you have all shown to me (and many others) who can ask daft ( ) questions.

Thank You

[Mainerider]

I'm pretty new to BMW bikes and I don't get the "list" thing. It seems so 90's. Why not a forum? With real time interaction? What am I missing here?




Steven

[Luca]

When forums get big so do their garbage piles.  I think the e-mail list keeps things from devolving quickly.  
Also, the airhead list was started in the 90's!

While I appreciate that some of the "gurus" have put vast amounts of information on the internet, even with my limited experience I've seen some of their counterproductive bravado.

This thread actually got me to finally subscribe to the LIST, which I've been meaning to do... but R65.org is the best darn forum I've ever joined and I like it without gurus too.  And hey, NPR just ran a story talking about how Einsteins are out and collective research is in.

P.S. If you think the airhead guys are bad, you should go check out some welding forums.  I joined one when I started MIG welding.  EVERYBODY was an expert

[steve hawkins]

I am not a guru, I don't come from the African plains....or is that a gnu....

Actually I am a tinkerererer......I think.  Not a particularly fussy one either..   When it comes to my handy-work.

Cheers

Rev Light

[montmil]

Perhaps we could adopt a new rule .....anyone who aspires to be a guru has to go sit on a pole for a few weeks. That would be a good cure.

As in Skaka Zulu or Vlad the Impaler ?

I do occasionally participate on the Airlist and Boxerworks as both groups can be mined for the frequent and valuable nuggets o' knowledge. However, I do heartily agree that some of those folks need to add a whole lot more fiber into their diets. The static does tend to decrease as the Great White North thaws out.

[Justin B.]

a certain Joe Cuda.

My God, is he over there rattling cages, too?  He tends to get somewhat "preachy" on the BMW-Tech Digest as well...

[montmil]

a certain Joe Cuda.

My God, is he over there rattling cages, too?  He tends to get somewhat "preachy" on the BMW-Tech Digest as well...

Cuda. Living in Kansas will do that to a fella.  

[Barry]

My God, is he over there rattling cages, too?He tends to get somewhat "preachy" on the BMW-Tech Digest as well...  

That's just his way. He's an ace man on electrics though and often very insightful.