"Who/what's the best/worst/most/least...?"

[aron]

For example, let's say someone is trying to design something with Op-amps using a schematic they found on the net that assumes bipolar power supplies and makes the mistake of grounding instead of putting to vBias.

A beginner should not be doing this. They should not be "designing".

As I said before, if you have a contribution, let me know and I will be glad to add it to the FAQ and give you credit.

I would add that to the debugging section actually.

[Doug_H]

'pkj

[Paul Marossy]

I learned much of what I know thru GEO and other sites.
I think beginners could learn a lot by using search engines more. You can find a webpage on almost anything related to electronics written so the layman could understand it. You just have to be willing to spend the time to find it yourself. It's too easy to come to a forum like this and try to get an answer without doing any work yourself. I can understand RG and aron's position on this.

[brian wenz]

Hello Hello-
     Somebody may be attracted to an "off topic" discussion [ for example, the "Led Zep" thread...]  and then decide they want to build a Tonebender MK II  'cuz they want to get closer to Page's sound, so now they have to do the research and gain knowledge and experience from the forum in order to do so.  This is what I meant by " a reason to come back to the forum".  It's this cross-referencing and the desire for knowledge that keeps things vital.  How do we do this??  Sometimes by posting a question on the forum and sometimes by looking something up in the  FAQ.    I learned to use the FAQ method more and more as a result of hanging around the forum.  Every now-and-then  a "60's minded" person will ask me about a pedal that somebody in some English band used, and then the process of finding out how to build it has begun!   [This happens usually as the result of an off-topic discussion.]  So, here we have come full circle again!  When I am asked a question that I've known the answer to for the past 10 years I am always open to learning something new as  a result of being asked.....maybe I can "fine- tune"  something that I had gotten bored with.
To me, all the off-topic stuff mixes well with the on-topic in stuff a good, organic way.   I always benefit no matter which way I go!
Brian.

[R.G.]

When I am asked a question that I've known the answer to for the past 10 years I am always open to learning something new as a result of being asked.....maybe I can "fine- tune" something that I had gotten bored with.

That's fine, not a problem and a credit to your patience. But try instead typing the *same* answer to the *same* question every day for ten years. I would admire your patience a lot more if you did that and didn't decide that the FAQ was a good way to go.

Every now-and-then a "60's minded" person will ask me about a pedal that somebody in some English band used, and then the process of finding out how to build it has begun! [This happens usually as the result of an off-topic discussion.]

And that's fine too. That's a different issue than the comment above, and closer to my original question, but not quite on it.

If you reread my original post, I wasn't worried about off topic posts. I was worried about what it says about the life expectancy of the forum in toto when we start getting posts that are both
(a) off topic
and
(b) cannot, by their very nature, have any reasonable relevance to the forum nor any conclusion.

Such posts are inherently either naive to an astounding extent, or an attempt to just stir up trouble - as the originator of a recent such post acknowledged with its title: "OT: Favorite underrated guitarists. Should be a fun Troll."

I think that any time someone is disconnected or bored enough with the content of the forum as it is to post something like that, they ought to seriusly consider whether they should be posting it here or not.

Off topic posts in moderation is not what I was concerned about. Posts that are obviously attempts to stir up commotion or naive enough to think that there can ever be a best, worst, most, least, etc. in something as subjective as music don't belong here IMHO. They didn't occur here until the last six months if my memory is working, and I worry about what that says about the longevity of the forum. I've seen many die over this kind of thing before.

[Doug_H]

;lkj

[brian wenz]

Hello Hello--
   Yeah,  I don't see any reason to worry about the state of this forum due to  some off-topic threads.  If something is not relevant to the direction I want to go in on a specific day I just don't engage or respond...no big deal.
I am not necessarily  answering or trying to argue with anybody's  point or opinion here, but merely giving my experience on how things work for me.
I don't think I'm a really patient person [as R.G. noted...] but I am someone who stays "teachable"  [bad word there...] and open to whatever direction the flow is taking me.  
If anything ever does get out of hand at this forum I'm sure that the experience and  level heads of the long-time forum members will win out.
 I appreciate Doug's comment on the friends made at this forum......I know that I value them greatly even though I haven't met them face-to-face.
Brian.

[brett]

A little OT.
Part of my work is in facilitating and interacting with discussion groups - some not so different to this forum.  I have come to believe that *usually* there's nothing wrong with having a facilitated group fall apart (and yes RG, once they start, they fall apart quickly).  In my experience, however, it is usually a positive sign that the members of the group are having their needs met elsewhere (other groups or internet).  In the context of this forum the hope that that it will remain useful and productive in the long-term is probably hoping against nature.

I'd love to be proved wrong because I think the forum is excellent as it is.

[brian wenz]

Hello Hello Brett-
    I agree.  I really don't think there were any real "problems" to begin with, only some things that certain people didn't like.
Brian.

[Paul Marossy]

I personally like to know what other people's interests are besides just circuits. It puts a face with the name, so to speak.

[brian wenz]

Hello Hello--
   It's very interesting [and helpful] to know where somebody is coming from and how they intend to apply [in this case] the pedal or circuit they are building.  If they want to nail  the early Black Sabbath tone and are recording the guitar into a computer or playing through a solid state amp in the bedroom at 3 A.M. it's a whole different kettle-of-worms then the guy who's  actually playing his Gibson SG through a Rangemaster into a Laney 100-watt stack on a sound stage.  This is one way in which off-topic stuff can be helpful even if it's approached in an ass-backwards kind of way.  Every now-and-then someone says something that leads to an insight into how they want to apply that pedal [or some circuit].  
Brian.

[Paul Marossy]

I concur, Brian.  

[Peter Snowberg]

This has been an interesting thing to watch unfold here. I'm another one of those long time tele-nerds that started running BBSs back when 1200bps was considered fast and 300 baud was king.  :lol:  :mrgreen:

I've seen lots of forums go through their life cycle but this one is still unique. I had also noticed the increase of OT posts and wondered if it was cycling and to a degree it always is. Some of the most active contributors will do what they do for a period of time and then move on while others stick it out to the bitter end. This place seems to get a constant overlap of people with all skill levels so that no matter what is being discussed there is a very good chance that if it can be covered in detail, it will get that treatment here. As time moves on the same topics are covered over and over with some variation, but each time the mix of people and points of view changes enough to keep people discussing the topic rather than referring to past history in a passive manor. Maybe it's the interaction aspect being as important as the information? I don't know. I ramble....

Anyway... I was wondering about the "OT Lounge" at first. It seemed like the forum had reached a growth point where this could help, but I've always worried that it was a sign of impending doom for a board to add such an area. Maybe this place is different. I think it really is a plus to add the lounge with a limited life for threads. As long as the posting in this forum stays strong I'm happy and it looks like it's still busy as ever around here (in the build your own forum) and now it's all on topic.

Thanks Aron!

(Oh, and Aron, could you please add us to the moderation for the lounge? Thanks!)

[brian wenz]

Hello Hello--
   A long time ago someone said to me "If you build too many bomb shelters you will be the one who starts the war".   This, of course, is a reference to being overly prepared, but in this case it'll be interesting to see what direction the Lounge takes the forum in.  Too much  off-topic stuff???   I dunno... like I said earlier, I like the off-topic option but maybe by making a seperate  area for it will create a different kind of "monster".[Maybe not.]  
Brian.

[Jason Stout]

Maybe this place is different.

The fact that we can talk about the fate of our forum in a civil manner proves that this place IS different, thanks to all of US!

[petemoore]

This is one place I definitely know one can get totally straight, 'go out of your way to get the answer' answers to questions.
 Before finding the forum, and just very soon after, I figured all these electronics were ''magic secrets' only those who've had the gumption to find out about knew about. At first I was skeptical of schematic workability and reliability of the help I was getting...I'm proud [and thankful] so say that skepticizm passed very quickly :oops: .
 I thought there would be alot more bickering akin to 'Chevy Vs. Ford" highschool stuff. Fortunately, there are very knoledgable folks here that put into perspective any myths that pop up, and regulars who verify most of the more technical findings by building and testing.  "Spock' logic related to electrical math is extremely difficult to argue convincingly against, and keeps emotions [for the most part] from muddying up the waters. Every once in a while a 'McCoy' pops in and spouts out some critical glab, baitiing for response to a 'loaded' thread...in these cases I think no response is the best response...of course I get bored and just type some 'thought out' response before thinking :oops:
 One little 'piece of litter' might be someone elses valued message...fortunately we have the OT lounge, where these tidbits can be stored and sorted...
 I can see where if enough 'litter' builds up, the 'regulars' with better sense have cause to be upset...bashing threads 'should be cleaned up, it makes the place messy and visitors might get a sense of feeling 'dirty'. What is typed is permanent record, some [finer] screening or filtering by posters may be required. To my eyes it has not yet become bothersome.
 As some of us know, I've typed records of very OT matters, scathing political reviews...but I've been a good boy [I think?] lately and apologize for any transgressions.
 Ohm has made electrical matters much more cut and dried, I'm doing quite well, thank you Mr. Ohm!!!

[brian wenz]

Hhhmmmmm.........quite logical.

[Rain Dog]

Geezzzzz............  The suspense is KILLING me.

What IS the best DIY Fuzz box? Man, I gotta know!




You guys are funny. A four page debate on whether or not it is "proper" to inquire what someone thinks is the "best" of this or that.

While I can agree that is is imposable to answer "What is THE best X" it certainly isn't unreasonable to ask for someone's opinion. "What do YOU think is the best X".

Kind of reminds me of this physics teacher I had. He said "There are no stupid questions only stupid people asking questions". Kind of put a damper on the interactions with the teacher. That was not a fun class and I never signed up to him again.

So far this forum has been very cool and tolerant of us new members. I hope that doesn't change.

[petemoore]

Just try to remember there is 'probly' a person with a soul behind a design, everything used with it/outside it [guitar amp etc.] can have a big influence on the way 'it works...direct comparisons can be misleading and sometimes cruel to a design'designer.
 Substituting 'thank you for sharing' where one might type "this sucks' is always a good rule to follow...

[brian wenz]

Hello Hello Rain Dog-
        The best fuzz is the Tonebender Mk II.............everything else sucks out loud!
Brian.