Somebody will take offense, but this place for the most part is amateur hour, and that’s OK. We all have a love of surfing and making boards, or we wouldn’t be here. Those Huntington surf-ghettos, that Surfding speaks of, like the Slater St. Slums, are notorious for hazing new guys, trust me I know, from when I was green. I only wanted to learn how to make boards, so I put up with stuff, and guess what, I learned. Some of the people around here are so sissified, that if they don’t get the right response, delivered in a way that glorifies their existence, they take offense. Have fun, earn it, while you learn, don’t think you can teach the class, without a foundation because the real guys see through you. They may not tell you to your face, but they do. I am not the best at what I do, but I had some great teachers. Blistered hands, red eyes, and no eyelashes on the bottom because of the foam dust, back aches from leaning over, and the buzz of florescent lights, with people wanting their boards yesterday, when they ordered them today, yeah its still fun for me, to see the smiles on a kids face when they get their new board. Looking down an outline without break, a nice tape job, a clean sand, no crap, or air in the lam, fins on right, it isn’t that easy to do well. Guys that build a couple boards should be stoked, but to come off as masters, that really put in the time, well that’s when I start to take offense, because there are many times when I don’t consider myself a master, like the guys who taught me.
Be grateful for what you get, don’t take it personally when the answer to a question is “try it yourself”, and pass it forward when you can. It’s not that tough to avoid the harsh exchanges - I don’t think anyone here has ever “yelled” at me.
I’ve learned a lot from following the threads here, and the resource has shortened my learning curve. I’ve been able to pull off a few things I would have never figured out on my own. And, it didn’t cost me a dime. You really can’t ask for more than that.
Just as an example, yesterday I pulled off a vacuum bag application of a wet lam (innegra+ warp) using my super cheap/simple aquarium pump vaccum rig. The results weren’t perfect but they were impressive (to me) and I think I might have a shot at getting it even cleaner when I do the other side. I owe other board builders I know IRL, too, but I would have never gotten to this point without the Sways crew; and that especially applies to the pros who have participated here.
I think that there is another side to that coin too... The person who's a vet on the job is only as good as his last day worked. His actions should CONSTANTLY earn respect...
Howzit to you Chrisp, I've been thinking about that sentence. Maybe because now I'm considered an old timer. There is validity in your statement but I'd like to think that a Vet can be relied upon to teach and share his knowledge more than continuing sheer production. It is also a fact of life that the younger guys can produce more physically but experience should be used in the "big picture" role. Overseeing ALL production and making the machine more efficient. At some point it no longer is a pissing contest.
There is and old saying I've come to see as true; "We judge ourselves by what we are capable of. Others judge us on what we have done".
[img_assist|nid=1067249|title=sways|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=0|height=0]I wonder if I should speak?
this is all so irrelevant when you come up to Big Sur for the Swayloholics gathering. The Rat Turd Lab drinks beer with the Very Lo Tech Lab while the FireBall Mira Mesa Boys (and girls)surf with the Mr. RHead. Norcal, SoCal, NOT Cal...
If Balsa can get there surely you can too. Five or six years ago a member came from Ireland. Before my time Ambrose came from the Islands. I'm hoping he'll make it again.
This is what Swaylocks is about. And it will continue to be what Swaylocks is about.
I wonder if anyone listens?[img_assist|nid=1067250|title=sways1|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=0|height=0]
Agreed T, it’s not always about production… I’m a vet at my job and there are younger guys who can out hustle me. It’s now my job to teach and train them to be efficient, safe, to see the big picture, and work as a team. I still feel that it is my duty to earn respect daily otherwise, my words hold little weight. I understand that what I did or have done means little if it doesn’t help the team right now. Only what I am doing right now matters. If I have the experience that I say I do, it will show in how I do my job now.
3000 hits in a few days,i’m glad this is important to many out there…
i’m hoping you have all found this thought provoking,
but can we just get back to a few facts…
‘abusers generally have a history of being abused’ and i can see why in this case
gecko,you give your reason for your abuse of mark,and the derailing of the thread,because u felt he was acting like a master,which even u don’t do all the time,
could you point out the part or parts in his thread where u felt this occured,that would be substantiating your reason,
3000 hits in a few days,i’m glad this is important to many out there…
i’m hoping you have all found this thought provoking,
but can we just get back to a few facts…
‘abusers generally have a history of being abused’ and i can see why in this case
gecko,you give your reason for your abuse of mark,and the derailing of the thread,because u felt he was acting like a master,which even u don’t do all the time,
could you point out the part or parts in his thread where u felt this occured,that would be substantiating your reason,