[Antennas] How to ask a question of the list.

[w8okn at charter.net]

Although I admit upfront to not reading ALL of the e-mails, I can give my opinion and if it is tossed or deleted, at least I can feel OK about saying what is on my mind.  Maybe I will sleep better?

A couple of years ago I asked a question about antenna design on this list and was treated as if I were some stupid dingleberry from Mars.  I received comments like, "and you're an Extra Class?"  Or, "how long have YOU been a ham?"  

I now know that the ham radio fraternity is large enough to be a good sampling of the general public, so it is loaded with great people and with not-so-kind people.  I will still ask the questions, comment when I believe I can help and I do more listening and reading now.  I also know that there are hundreds of hams that think they know, but do not.  And I also know that there are very few people in this world as patient and kind as George was.  He took the time to answer questions politely and even if he was asked the same question 5 times per year, he answered kindly and with a teacher's patience.  

So, the proper way to ask is in the eye of the beholder.  It is an art.  Patience is required and keep in mind that you are looking to receive data, but do not always expect to receive accurate information.  There are a lot of opinions!

One would hope that there will be diamonds out there and you'll just have to sift through a ton of sand and mud for every gem.  This list can be good and perhaps we hope that with time, it will continue to improve and if it does degrade, it'll be a temporary snafu.

73's

Sean
W8OKN

---- Sam Morgan <ka5oai at cox.net> wrote: 
> Sigh
> I was afraid this was going to get nasty.
> Perhaps folks should also wait for me to get up the next morning so I can read 
> and reply to the individuals emails b4 bustin my butt about not being thankful 
> for what I received. Either individually or as a group.
> 
> My intentions were to continue to pursue my original 'short low dipole'  thread 
> for a few days and then give a summation reply to the list, which would include 
> the answers I received and my thanks to the list and all that replied.
> 
> Plus I have replied directly to many of the emails I recieved and am pursuing 
> further input from them. And they either have or will be thanked.
> 
> My starting a 2nd thread asking how do I get an answer to a specific question, 
> was simply meant to bring a focus of the group to a question I feel many may 
> have. If I seemed ungrateful, forgive me, I'm not, I am just frustrated.
> 
> If asking help in how to formulate a question to limit the focus of the answers 
> is whining as one of the more polite member replies put it, well so be it. The 
> question still remains. How does one phrase a question to get specific answers 
> to address a specific problem/questions?
> 
> PS you might be surprised at how many whiners there are on this illustrious 
> list, that sent me an "atta boy", "I totally agree", "I just don't ask questions 
> anymore* and other such replies in agreement.
> 
> I don't want a flame war I just would like answers.
> 
> ================
> > I need some help with a general, overall question for the list. How do I 
> > formulate a specific question to the list, in a way that I can receive, 
> > specific answers to the question I need answered?
> > 
> snip
> 
> > 
> > I need to know how to formulate a specific question to the list, so as 
> > to get answers, framed within the parameters I am forced to work within, 
> > and get some answer I can actually use! All suggestions gratefully 
> > appreciated.
> > 
> > TIA
> 
> -- 
> GB & 73's
> KA5OAI
> Sam Morgan
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