Xtreme TACTICS 101
Well-Known Member
Hey everybody,
I have decided to create this thread because of a recent E-mail I received from a member of these forums. I am not going to say who the member is, however the information I am about to state is directed to everybody who is part of the 405th costuming community.
We were all newbs here once. Many of us started from scratch learning about everything other members do here. However, we all have certain members to thank for our success. Weather they wrote the tutorials posted around the site, or graciously helped us as we were just beginning to learn the intricate and fun hobby of costuming. Some of us like to give back to the community that has given to us so much. Many of that some have given everything back, plus more.
Those members who have given back have put their valuable time and effort into answering an individual members questions once and a while, 3D modeling, writing a tutorial or something along those lines. However, some very dedicated members put themselves completely on the line to help as many members as possible in any and every way possible.
Like myself, those veteran members who voluntarily help other members do it out of the pureness of our own hearts. We try our best to keep the well-known and respected name of the 405th alive. However, we are human, and we all draw a line somewhere.
Those of us veteran members here take on a fair percentage of the 405th’s questions with steadfast dedication, accuracy, and overall, patients. Not many new members understand that many of us answer the same questions over and over again. After a certain point in time, it becomes annoying. Although we continue to politely answer questions, a little bomb in the back of our head begins to tick with impatiens. Although that bomb takes an unbelievable amount of annoyance to detonate, it is still there and ready to explode.
Now, onto the main topic of this thread.
New members today have a lot of questions. They direct their questions to those of us more experienced members who know what they are doing. There is nothing wrong with that. Knowledge is meant to be passed from generation to generation, not stored and wasted. However, there are some of us members who do not check our PM or E-mail inbox(s) every day, or do not have regular Internet access.
There are some of us who are overwhelmed with question E-mail and PM’s that we simply do not have the time to answer them all every day. I am one of those people.
I recently received an E-mail from what will be an un-named member here asking for scaling help. As I usually do, I put the member on my “To-help list”. Because my “To-help list” grows by approximately 100 people per day, I sometimes lose track of who I have answered, and who I have yet to answer. Rarely do I forget to answer a PM or E-mail, but it turns out I did miss this members E-mail.
Yesterday I received a fairly blunt, straightforward, even mean E-mail from said member saying how incompetent I was for offering my help but not following through. I E-mailed the member back explaining how I had missed the E-mail and was very sorry for not following through. I also ensured him he is now at the top of my priorities list, and he can contact me whenever he would like.
After reviewing my questions I ran across said members original question. What I had originally thought of the members “incompetent” E-mail quickly turned into the complete opposite. The member had sent the question on May 6, 2010, and contacted me again with the “incompetent” E-mail on May 14, 2010. His action was simply an eye-opener (in a negative sense) for lack of a better phrase or word.
Said member also mentioned that if I were to offer help but not follow through again he would notify the site admin. He also said he doesn't care how many posts I have, how long I have been on the 405th or that he am a new member. He concluded that statement saying that the help I am offering is bogus, and I should stop.
How I see this; simply disrespectful, a direct insult, and overall a punch in the face. My top priority here on the 405th is to help other members. And yet, no matter how many members I help, there is always that one who says "thats not good enough. I want more!"
Although this member did have a right to contact me to remind me to answer his question, he did not have a right to completely slap me across the face. It was completely uncalled for on his part.
I do not hold myself higher over any other member who is apart of these forums, both new and old. Post count means nothing. However, the dedication, contribution and help you apply in our community does. The moment we start basing everything on post count is the moment we start a civil war amongst the veteran members and the new members.
----------------------------------------------------
The bottom line:
RESPECT.
When you contact another member of any forum asking a question or requesting a pep file, you need to respect that member. Not showing respect to that member is highly offensive. Ask any veteran member here on the forum who has had an experience similar to mine, and they will all agree that the members action was simply uncalled for, especially after only a week. A month is understandable, but a week?!?
For example, here is a blurb from a PM I sent another member here asking for a pep file.
That is what a pep file request should look like. It shows that you respect the modeler and are trying to help with a model that is really only meant for one person. Not many modelers would say yes to a request like this.
Not very appealing, is it?
The same rules apply to when you are asking another member a question. Show respect with at least half decent spelling, grammar and punctuation, as well as be very polite. Being a little “brat” won’t get you anywhere.
As for reminding a member to answer your question, simply don’t do it every day. The member will eventually get around to it. However, after 2 weeks, you may want to send them a quick reminder.
If a member doesn’t answer your question after a month, the member may no longer be active or has not been on the forums in a while due to monetary problems, no internet, family emergency, or something to that effect. Do not report the member, simply ask another member for help.
As the “Official 405th Q&A Team” says in their sticky:
Anyway, that’s the end of my rant. New members, please respect the veterans who so selflessly put their very precious time, sweat, and sometimes even blood into answering your questions. Remember, without us, you would probably have gotten nowhere in costuming and may have given up a long time ago.
With warm regards,
Jake
Xtreme TACTICS 101
I have decided to create this thread because of a recent E-mail I received from a member of these forums. I am not going to say who the member is, however the information I am about to state is directed to everybody who is part of the 405th costuming community.
We were all newbs here once. Many of us started from scratch learning about everything other members do here. However, we all have certain members to thank for our success. Weather they wrote the tutorials posted around the site, or graciously helped us as we were just beginning to learn the intricate and fun hobby of costuming. Some of us like to give back to the community that has given to us so much. Many of that some have given everything back, plus more.
Those members who have given back have put their valuable time and effort into answering an individual members questions once and a while, 3D modeling, writing a tutorial or something along those lines. However, some very dedicated members put themselves completely on the line to help as many members as possible in any and every way possible.
Like myself, those veteran members who voluntarily help other members do it out of the pureness of our own hearts. We try our best to keep the well-known and respected name of the 405th alive. However, we are human, and we all draw a line somewhere.
Those of us veteran members here take on a fair percentage of the 405th’s questions with steadfast dedication, accuracy, and overall, patients. Not many new members understand that many of us answer the same questions over and over again. After a certain point in time, it becomes annoying. Although we continue to politely answer questions, a little bomb in the back of our head begins to tick with impatiens. Although that bomb takes an unbelievable amount of annoyance to detonate, it is still there and ready to explode.
Now, onto the main topic of this thread.
New members today have a lot of questions. They direct their questions to those of us more experienced members who know what they are doing. There is nothing wrong with that. Knowledge is meant to be passed from generation to generation, not stored and wasted. However, there are some of us members who do not check our PM or E-mail inbox(s) every day, or do not have regular Internet access.
There are some of us who are overwhelmed with question E-mail and PM’s that we simply do not have the time to answer them all every day. I am one of those people.
I recently received an E-mail from what will be an un-named member here asking for scaling help. As I usually do, I put the member on my “To-help list”. Because my “To-help list” grows by approximately 100 people per day, I sometimes lose track of who I have answered, and who I have yet to answer. Rarely do I forget to answer a PM or E-mail, but it turns out I did miss this members E-mail.
Yesterday I received a fairly blunt, straightforward, even mean E-mail from said member saying how incompetent I was for offering my help but not following through. I E-mailed the member back explaining how I had missed the E-mail and was very sorry for not following through. I also ensured him he is now at the top of my priorities list, and he can contact me whenever he would like.
After reviewing my questions I ran across said members original question. What I had originally thought of the members “incompetent” E-mail quickly turned into the complete opposite. The member had sent the question on May 6, 2010, and contacted me again with the “incompetent” E-mail on May 14, 2010. His action was simply an eye-opener (in a negative sense) for lack of a better phrase or word.
Said member also mentioned that if I were to offer help but not follow through again he would notify the site admin. He also said he doesn't care how many posts I have, how long I have been on the 405th or that he am a new member. He concluded that statement saying that the help I am offering is bogus, and I should stop.
How I see this; simply disrespectful, a direct insult, and overall a punch in the face. My top priority here on the 405th is to help other members. And yet, no matter how many members I help, there is always that one who says "thats not good enough. I want more!"
Although this member did have a right to contact me to remind me to answer his question, he did not have a right to completely slap me across the face. It was completely uncalled for on his part.
I do not hold myself higher over any other member who is apart of these forums, both new and old. Post count means nothing. However, the dedication, contribution and help you apply in our community does. The moment we start basing everything on post count is the moment we start a civil war amongst the veteran members and the new members.
----------------------------------------------------
The bottom line:
RESPECT.
When you contact another member of any forum asking a question or requesting a pep file, you need to respect that member. Not showing respect to that member is highly offensive. Ask any veteran member here on the forum who has had an experience similar to mine, and they will all agree that the members action was simply uncalled for, especially after only a week. A month is understandable, but a week?!?
For example, here is a blurb from a PM I sent another member here asking for a pep file.
Hey mate,
First off, I would like to say that your 3D models are amazing! Whenever I go to print off a new armour part, I always go straight to my “ “Members name” Armour” folder.
If its not too much trouble for you, I would like to request a model of the Weta version ODST stomach plate. I have some adequate reference material, along with some scaled blueprints of the armour part. It is a fairly simple armour part, and I only need a low definition pep model of it (its not very high definition to begin with).
I just finished drawing up some blueprints and putting my best reference of the stomach plate together. If you need more reference or blueprints of certain areas, feel free to ask.
If you could please be so kind as to help me out that would be greatly appreciated.
That is what a pep file request should look like. It shows that you respect the modeler and are trying to help with a model that is really only meant for one person. Not many modelers would say yes to a request like this.
Not very appealing, is it?
The same rules apply to when you are asking another member a question. Show respect with at least half decent spelling, grammar and punctuation, as well as be very polite. Being a little “brat” won’t get you anywhere.
As for reminding a member to answer your question, simply don’t do it every day. The member will eventually get around to it. However, after 2 weeks, you may want to send them a quick reminder.
If a member doesn’t answer your question after a month, the member may no longer be active or has not been on the forums in a while due to monetary problems, no internet, family emergency, or something to that effect. Do not report the member, simply ask another member for help.
As the “Official 405th Q&A Team” says in their sticky:
Anyway, that’s the end of my rant. New members, please respect the veterans who so selflessly put their very precious time, sweat, and sometimes even blood into answering your questions. Remember, without us, you would probably have gotten nowhere in costuming and may have given up a long time ago.
With warm regards,
Jake
Xtreme TACTICS 101
