Danno

Ahhh, yet another side to the same coin! Funny thing happened when I joined a club and started attending ... and displaying my builds at club meetings. Even though I knew EVERY flaw of each of my builds, and maybe thought my builds were not 'worthy,' I discovered that many times others did not notice the "glaring errors" that humbled me. I learned I was my own worst critic and sometimes too harsh on my own builds. It made me lighten up and approach building a little more realistically.

I think Hendrick needs to give Little E that #88 for the rest of this season. Maybe it would help.

That is also an excellent and VERY TRUE observation, Mark. We can usually control how we say things (although not always and the impersonal internet is the worst environment for that), but we have zero control over how what we said is received or perceived. The other truth of good communication is that even when we do the best we can do, some of the responsibility is up to the recipient.

Great thread. Almost all the posts are right on. Everyone who has posted seems to be pretty tuned in to the problem, and everybody has a good, healthy approach to it. Harry's right about his point ... this is the freakin' internet. What you put up on a board (this one or any other) is out there for the whole world to see and there's nowhere to hide, so you've got to be prepared for adverse reaction as well as hopeful for heaps of praise. Seems to me, the healthiest approach is that of posting a build without being motivated by seeking reaction. Just put it up; let everybody see it. Be ready to accept positive comments for that which deserve positive comments, but likewise be ready and willing to accept either no response or helpful suggestiones or even constructive criticism if efforts fall a little short of the norm. And, the other side of 'the healthiest approach' (offering comments on less than spectacular builds) has been pointed out here ... honesty and sincerity delivered with careful filtering to hopefully ensure constructive observations will be taken in a positive light. Rude or sarcastic comments will virtually guarantee exploding threads. There's just no place for incendiary insults. The thing about communication is that there are two components: the way information is transmitted/delivered and the way information is received/perceived. Good communication can break down at either end. Bottom line, the method I strive to achieve is to point out something good or say nothing at all to the extent possible. Often there's too much going on (Show Your Stuff thread) to comment on every single model being posted, so I am silent. That's not to say there is nothing good to be said, but sensory overload and limited time sometimes preclude commentary on every one of the excellent builds we see here. And, occasionally I fall into the human being category and offer one of those painfully honest but sincere observations when it appears that the cheerleaders are leading someone astray. But since that almost always triggers a war and makes our moderators work for their opulent remunerations, I try to avoid that like sticking myself in the eye with a fireplace poker.

Excellent, courageous post, Terry! You very delicately and maturely presented some very controversial but honest thoughts. Good for you! And, you are dead-on. It does no real good to tell someone what a great build they've achieved if it looks like it was spray-glued together and painted with a texture-roller using colored stucco. Or if the stripes, trim, or details appear to be painted with a 4" fence brush. It just reinforces poor skills, misguided techniques, bad habits, and lazy building. When a builder posts a really sloppy build and a half-dozen or so breathless cheerleaders and mutual-sycophants pile cheesey praise on it, the builder is never going to be motivated to improve. All too often, that same builder, however, generally reacts with hugely supercilious indignity and open outrage when frank, honest, constructive criticism is offered. That seems to be the incubator of a lot of the flame wars that are spontaneously ignited around here. As a consequence, I too, most frequently bite my tongue and bleed all over the keyboard as embarrassingly poor efforts are sometimes praised to high heaven. And the false praise generally serves no useful purpose, anyway, because it's those builders who have no compunction about proudly posting debris and touting it as their 'best ever' while calling themselves a 'pro builder.' I guess most people just can't handle the truth any more. Returning to stealth mode.

Looking good, Brian.

Well, Mikey, the Perez posts were apparently 3 years ago. Your 'could of sworn' comment was a little lacking in detail (to say the least) when it comes to referencing 3 year old posts. I can read your posts, but I cannot read your mind. If you don't put the info in your post, you can't expect people to have a clue what you're talking about. And, if you are implying that you posted today or yesterday and your posts were deleted by the administrators or moderators, you should have said so. The rest of us have no way of knowing you are referring to posts that do not exist, since we cannot see ... posts that do not exist. Again, we cannot read your mind. Apparently your deleted posts were inappropriate, so perhaps you should re-examine either what you post or how you post it. It would help us all be on the same page with you. Thanks for explaining enough further that we can now figure out what you were 'saying' or trying to 'say.'

That makes absolutely no sense at all. You did not start this thread. You have not even posted in this thread until now. Your post doesn't even begin to relate to any of the posts in this thread. Are you sure you are in the right thread?

What scale is that, Kenny?

Unfreakinbelieveable! Awesome work, Afta! Thanks for sharing your techniques with us. Amazing model.

Good stuff, Cranky! Thanks for sharing.

PS: Hey, Revell! Keep doing this! Great kits, attention to details and focus on the adult-builder, and having Len & Bill do these advance-release buildups!! Keep it up!!

Thanks, Len and Bill, for going to the trouble of photo-documenting your builds of this kit. Looks great!

Sedan with the optional steel windows.

Absolutely! Did you get the email I sent in response to yours? Just looking for the best day ... (The event runs to 9pm each day) ... if you're good any of the three, we'll see what we can set up.

Sad to hear. Another true icon has passed; another legendary innovator gone. But, his work lives on undiminished.

When I saw Marty's post titled "Firefox" I thought he had decided on a name for his '69 Camaro. He won our club's "Classic Camaros" theme contest Saturday night with it. Take a gander; it is sweet! "Firefox" seemed an appropriate name for such a foxy, fiery orange Camaro! All the kidding and ribbing we give "Martay" aside, this is a beauty.

It's a really nice site, isn't it, Harry. Unfortunately, it costs us a ton to have it and maintain it. Doesn't cost much in monetary terms, but the guy who maintains it is a real piece of high maintenance work!

Well I did, but you broke it.

Someone tried to tell Forrest about the Mako Shark and he thought they said 'make a shark.'"

That's a lotta BMF, you know.

That's neat. Helluva steering apparatus.

Excellent stuff, Sir Crank! Thanks.

Good job, Mark! Nice to see those vintage USAC/NASCAR darkside models!

No question this is grotesque!