A Tumbleweeds View of Scrapping

Originally Posted by spinroch

Patriot: I wasn't on SMF when you first signed up. Did you receive lots of negative responses back then? Are those people on SMF anymore? I, for one, always seek out your posts and derive much enjoyment and education from reading them (not to mention the photos!)

Thank you and sorry for the delayed response. Based on memory, there were three negative responses. One about spelling asking if I was a scraper or a paint scrapper, one telling me to read old posts before asking questions, and a third stating that if I have to ask these questions survival in this lifestyle is out of the question.



Other forums that I visited prior to this experience were very helpful answering questions and welcoming new members. I was starting a new adventure without any knowledge and dependent on information. Some of the responses on this site were positive, but the negative ones demoralize me to the point that I created a new identity to learn as much as I could. I almost quit the forum, but was not going to let someone hiding behind their computer screen ruin the dream. The difference between this forum and others I have visited is that other forums are educationally based and this forum is used for financial benefits by some members. We see newcomers as competition, lazy and not worthy of our insight.

Two out of the three negative responses are still members and it is assumed they removed their response as they got to know my drive. I do not remember the third member so I do not know if they are still posting.

Now you know the rest of the story, why I respond to new members the way I do. The Scrapers Dream posts became a reality because of the response I gave to the new individual. Others attacked when he sought information it is assumed because he sought knowledge and became competition. Prior to writing this his introduction was revisited and the negative post has been removed. That member is still active.

Lessons learned, first of many: If you post it on the internet, it will be yours for a lifetime.