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Posts: 168
Threads: 55
Joined: Jan 2006
Good evening,
As a previous owner of a HP 32s, which I purchased in college back in 1989, I was delighted to find the Museum and, especially, this forum. After almost 15 years I found out that I wasn't the only person who knew how to use this "weird" calculator. In fact, after reading much of the information here at the Museum, I learned that there was an entire community built around the HP calcs. Not only that, but that there was also a deep and rich history regarding these machines.
That was about three (3) years ago. Fast forward to today. A post was made regarding my obviously confrontational additude regarding some of my earlier posts. Not only that, but I have been informed that I have made too many requests for information for someone who is new to this forum.
I didn't grow up in the HP culture like so many of you folks, so all of this is new to me, but nonetheless interesting. So interesting in fact, that I spent a decent chunk of change on a number of HP calcs. Money well spent. The idea of studying and using this older technology seemed like a chance to live the history, more than just read about it. Chalk that up to a bad case of want-to-be nostalgia. :) I guess I figued that it would be possible to play catch up.
After reading that post, it became very apparent that no matter how much I study these fine, old machines, I will never truly be part of the community, since I didn't live through the HP Era that so many of you fine folks did. At best, this makes me a wanna-be and at worst a person playing with old "junk" that will have no real value in my daily life. As has been stated here many times, most folks use computers today to deal with serious work or just use a calc for simple "down-and-dirty" number crunching.
Therefore, this is my last post here at MoHPC forums. I greatly appreciate those who took the time to share their knowledge and insights. I am sorry it took so much time out of so many folks' daily schedules to answer my multiple questions. For those that I accidentally offended, my apologies. For those who were intentionally rude to me, no apologies are given.
I guess I should thank Karl for his comments, no matter how I feel about them. It has clearly shown me that I am not a member of this community and also, that (my epiphany) they are just calculators. So, back to ebay goes my newly started collection. There are many others out there who will have more use for them. The 33s and 49g+ will do me just fine (real HP or no).
Good luck to all of you folks who visit this site. Thanks.
Joe Edwards
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Posts: 122
Threads: 9
Joined: Aug 2005
Hey Joe! I appreciate your posts here and sad to see you go. As one that has also considered selling my collection (mainly just to get the money back), I respect your decision to sell. But, what are you selling? I need an extra 41CX and maybe some others.
Stephen
s_easterling@earthlink.net
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Posts: 348
Threads: 74
Joined: Jun 2013
Stephen, you will make a good collector. No misplaced plea for Joe to stay and not leave the forum, just wondering what he's selling. Marvelous!
Personally, it would help if people using the internet would always try google first before posting questions to forums, blogs, whatever. Why waste everyone's time when you won't spend your own time first?
And, a thick skin often helps one get through life. Running away the first time someone disagrees with you, even if it is harsh disagreement, will lead to a long and unrewarding life.
So, Joe, if you can take criticism, whether warranted or not, then stay. Otherwise, asta la vista.
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Posts: 267
Threads: 27
Joined: Jul 2005
>a thick skin often helps one get through life.
Good advice. Just remember, everyone here comes from all walks of life, culture, education, geographic location, occupation, etc.. All of us have different reasons for coming here. Some may be most interested in efficient programming, others in collecting, others may want to get their HP repaired, and some may want to share a good story or memory of how their HP saved their life (OK, I made up that last part :-).
In whatever category the discussion may be concerned, I often just lurk, hoping to learn a thing or two from the "smarty pants" people ;-). Lord knows, I ain't [sic] one of them brain-cells. When I do ask a question, or make a comment, I want to be aware of who will be reading my words, so I try to be polite, friendly, and respectful. I try to make sure I'm as informed as is reasonably possible, before I put in writing, as I want don't want others to know I'm faking it (insert picture of someone nodding "yes", while hold their chin with one hand and resting their elbow in the other hand).
Finally, just be pleasant and enjoy the ride. Don't be intimidated by this group of people that most likely consist of "above average" intelligence quotients (consider the subject matter: calculators). I've met some of these calculator fanatics (myself included) in person, at coffee shops, and some geniuses (myself not included) at some of the handheld calculator conferences . I left with lots of respect for these folks, but more importantly knowing they were/are just people, just like everyone else around you. OK, maybe just a little quirkier! ;-)
Matt
Posts: 47
Threads: 11
Joined: Feb 2006
I don't know, folks. I never did enjoy the sometimes rude and inhospitable comments of some members on this and other forums. I view all forums as a SOURCE of information, not a CLUB. As such, I always use the 'search' function on all forums whenever I have a question. Then, if the answer is not found, I ask.
Sometimes 'Enquiring Minds Want To Know'. Thats why we're here. Those who have an attitude really should remain silent and allow those that don't provide the help and guidance. That way the environmental 'Atmosphere' remains friendly and non-confrontational. Bad 'tudes are just unfriendly at best and rude at worst. Let's keep both out of this forum.
Posts: 1,392
Threads: 142
Joined: Jun 2007
Joe, please don't let the ill-mannered comments of one or two people scare you away. I'm like you, I own a few HP calcs and love RPN, but I'm not into it like some of the people on the forum. That's OK, there is room for everyone. It is a great source of information, and my experience is that most of the folks welcome all comers and are anxious to help.
Hope you decide to stay. I value your opinion.
Don Shepherd
Louisville, KY
Posts: 896
Threads: 183
Joined: Jul 2005
Different people with different viewpoints all make up a colourful and more interesting forum, really.
Posts: 4,027
Threads: 172
Joined: Aug 2005
Hi, Joe;
I am posting here since the beginning of the milenium. I didn´t have the chance to read 'on line' posts of many people that were just mentioned in past posts, others are no longer here sharing their knowledge, skills, rants... Anyway, many good souls prevail, and I try to 'fit in' for as long as I can... or deserve to.
I deal with HP calculators since 1982. And I found here many others that had gone a lot further than I could even dare dreaming of going. I intend to stay and go ahead with them. I feel home, here.
I respect your decision to leave, but shouldn't you consider your motivations being your own instead of other's? Just a question, please, don't feel compeled to consider if you do not intended to.
If it's worth a try, see yah!
Cheers.
Luiz (Brazil)
Edited: 17 Feb 2006, 8:05 p.m.
Posts: 801
Threads: 36
Joined: Nov 2005
Joe, how do you know you didn't ALREADY fit in? Wherever you or anyone else will go, there'll be disagreements, even an exchange of hot words; it's human nature.
But in these three years, I'm sure you might have found that on this little bright spot of sanity (or is it insanity, $400 for a 32SII !!!) people generally, in an overwhelming proportion of the time, more than polite; they are positively quite nice.
I mean, look at me- I am not an engineer, surveyor, or mathematician. I often find my posts igno... um, unresponded to. (Being insignificant is worse than being treated somewhat poorly because they HAVE taken notice of you... and I'm kind of only one quarter to one half joking... ) But there are many nice folk here and even one of them might have a bad day. And often enough, there are those who may have a thoughtful comment or answer to my posts or queries. And I only have in common with the others here what you have, namely a deep appreciation for HP's finely crafted past calculators and their current fairly well designed ones.
Anyway, for what it was worth, I generally found your posts worth reading... er, even if... um, I may not have responded...
Well, I hope you reconsider and post other thoughts for me to consider.
Posts: 69
Threads: 19
Joined: Jan 1970
Joe,
I had been visiting the HP Museum years ago for a while. After a period of inactivity, I recently got back on the bandwagon and started using my beloved HP-41CV and visiting the site again. In the vast majority of the cases, I find our fellow HP aficionados very nice, unlike on any other boards. Here and there someone will take something the wrong way, but in general this site offers a lot of good advice, fun and entertainment. I have read a lot of your posts and don't see anything wrong with them. I would hate to see you go like that. If you still decide to, good luck to your endeavors and I hope you find another area where you can get good info from.
Good luck,
Andreas
Posts: 172
Threads: 21
Joined: Sep 2005
Joe, why take the MoHPC so seriously, as the "community"? Appreciating everybody posting here, especially Dave Hick's efforts to keep the MoHPC going on, all in all it is nothing more than an Internet site. If someone offends me, when I ask something I do not understand, showing me that everybody knows everything about this except me, who cares. If I still do not understand, I will ask again, taking no care about an offensive post of someone else.
Everybody can rant on me on any Internet forum, hiding behind his/hers computer screen. Nobody would dare to do it in real life, believe me.
So, if you in future need any information about your HP33s and/or HP49g+, or any other HP or nonHP calculator, or any machine, gadget or appliance, you should ask, here, or in any other forum on the Internet, dependent on the subject. People here come and go. I remember Glynn, Norm Hill (aka Captain America), Viktor Toth, my friend Dave Colver, ... - I do not see posting them here any more. Once when they, or anybody else, come back with a question, an opinion, an answer, a proposal, or a procedure, who is the one who should complain about it.
For each of my posts I may also say "this is the last one", until I will be in need of another piece of information, or if I see somebody asking how to solve something I know. In that case I try to prepare an answer, but I already know that Luiz Claudio will be faster;)
In case the "community" ignores me for a reason that in someones opinion I ask too much, there is always another opinion. Just fill the name field with something as "Pamela", "Marina", "Renata" or "Sylvia" and ask: how to add two numbers on my sister's HP19C. I will certainly obtain more than 10 answers and the answer is what I needed. How do I know this? This is just how I behave when I see such an entry in the Name field;)
Please, just relax and do not take any Internet forum, even a very polite one like moHPC, so seriously. At least, we are only discussing "old junk" here, that means nothing to most people around us. Imagine a forum of old washing machines collectors - what you would think when you see them discussing errors in their instruction manuals, undocumented features, big "start" button in the centre of their control plate instead of the small one in its down right corner ...
Best regards from sunny Split, Croatia
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Posts: 882
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Hi Nenad,
Quote:
Norm Hill (aka Captain America)
Wasn't he Captain Zener? REEEEEEEEDDD LEEEEEEEDDD! Greetings, Massimo
Edited: 18 Feb 2006, 10:54 a.m.
Posts: 1
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Joe:
Agreed, your "pedigree" for lack of a better word, is somewhat lacking. Good luck in the future.
Tom @ Stanford University
Go Cardinal!
Posts: 564
Threads: 72
Joined: Sep 2005
Joe,
Hope all is well. being a newbie myself who loves this forum and the people on it, I was quite surprised by your post. I appologize for my curiosity upfront and none of the below is meant in any other way than sharing my thoughts as well as my own experience with another newbie and HP enthusiast.
I went through the effort to bring up your previous interactions with other people here, using one of Dave's fabulous search features by your name, to learn what could have caused your negative experience, where things went wrong.
( goto here and type in 'Joe Edwards' in the last search field and select it)
I admitt coming away from reading the threads a bit mixed: The search (which could be incomplete and so please accept my appologies if it paints an incomplete picture) brought up a host of threads which most often start with a question from you and a discussion that follows, sometimes however with intermixed harsh back and forth, one could argue started by you.
Being a newbie myself I feel very grateful for the overwhelming support that I have received through the members of this forum, especially the HP geniuses among them. Their advice has always been friendly, plentyful and exhaustive and I feel that all they ever asked for in return (if anything!) is a kind 'thank you!' for their effort and acknowledgement of the help they provided. We are all human and like to be thanked (and once in a while padded on the back) for our efforts.
Being a newbie (like me) means that information flow is naturally a bit one-sided. We ask, they answer. I try to give back whereever I can and share things that I learned, trying my best to give credit to those I learned it from. But I know that for the foreseeable future it is EXTREMELY unlikely that I will ever be able to provide only the slightest bit of information to the Valentins, Diegos, Raymonds, Tonys, Meinderts, Christophs and All-The-Other-Great-Ones of this forum. So all I can do is make this learning and teaching experience a fun and engaging one for them.
So when one of them would write back to me "Come On, you could have found this in Goodle in 1 sec" I might simply say, "Sorry, you are right, will do next time" (as he/she most likely is...)
My profession makes me work in a world of people with large ego's, very often in no proportion to their actual skills. Personally my experience here is quite the opposite - many here have far more skill and patience with stupid questions like the ones I often ask, then they would have to. I have yet to find a forum where a 'noop' is so contunally welcomed and supported by the Old Wise Man & Woman like this one.
And before spilling the baby with the bathwater (or whichever way this saying works in english...), I might take a look in the mirror and check if me being upset with another person or group is solely the groups fault or if there is something on my part that might have caused the friction in the first place and I can change.
If you love learning and discovering HPs I can't think of a better place than this forum that Dave so generously provides for all of us to use. Tongue in cheek, maybe you want to "give the forum another chance" ;-)
In any case, best of luck and lots of fun, whichever way you move forward.
Cheers
Peter
Posts: 727
Threads: 43
Joined: Jul 2005
Please don't take it too hard when someone is rude on this forum -- or anywhere on the Internet, for that matter. That kind of behavior is not *right*, but it is not representative of most of the people here.
I guess it would be nice if this forum offered a feature to let users filter out posts from people who have history of being unpleasant...
Until then: I hope you'll continue to visit here; rest assured that most of us *are* civil. The silent majority. :-)
- Thomas
Posts: 1,792
Threads: 62
Joined: Jan 2005
Joe (if you are still following the Forum) --
Well! Your response to me and your "farewell" post were, um, I'm not sure how to describe it. Maybe more sarcastic or emotional than sincere and rational, with a large dose of "guilt trip" included -- aimed at me in particular and the group by association. I won't bother to address their contents specifically.
I spoke only for myself, and made no pretense otherwise. I never referred to you as a "newbie", but only suggested that someone with limited history of contributions in particular should not appoint himself an active moderator. Even the Curator (David Hicks) intervenes only when necessary.
No one is asking you to leave, Joe, and I think you probably "fit" in better than you might think. If you are 36 years old (having started college in 1987, according to one of your posts) and bought a 32S in 1989, then you know about calculators from "the old HP".
However, I will echo what "John" stated in response to your last post: One shouldn't spend the time and effort of others without first spending one's own. I felt that your response to Vassilis in particular was way out of line, and I spoke out in direct terms.
My post might have overstated things, and could have been more tactful. I was specifically referring to only three of your posts (which I excerpted), among the 70(!) you made between January 23 and February 17, 2006.
Good luck to you in whichever course of action you decide...
Best regards,
-- Karl
For those who might not have followed, here is a chronological summary of Joe's contributions, just for the record:
Edited: 26 Feb 2006, 3:55 p.m.
Posts: 135
Threads: 13
Joined: Jan 1970
I don't think that you should leave or cull your collection. In any situation where a bunch of people come together there are bound to be times where someone will rub someone else the wrong way. If there are some here you don't get along with then just ignore them. Meaning no disrespect to you, if you do find yourself frequently in confrontations then it's a good idea to examine your own posts to see if someone else can be taking them the wrong way. Or maybe sometimes you have misinterpreted someone elses post and taken offense where none was intended. It happens to all people, myself included.
I also don't think that because you didn't grow up with HP's in the 70's or early 80's you are demoted to wanna-be status. Membership in the HP community does not belong to a select few, who used the HP41 or the first or second generation of HP calcs. It belongs to everyone who uses/used an HP of any time period. I got my first HP in 1988, and have only used the 11C, 32SII, and 33s. I am clueless about electronics, programming, and have only soldered plumbing joints. However, I don't believe that makes me any less of a member of the HP community than those members who could probably build an HP from scratch. It just means that I am different.
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Posts: 801
Threads: 36
Joined: Nov 2005
Good post; succinct with good points.
I hope all posters read it.
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Posts: 120
Threads: 11
Joined: Jan 1970
Two observations:
1. My dear old daddy used to say, "Never be afraid to ask a stupid question. They're easier to deal with than stupid mistakes."
2. This and several other forums on other subjects that I am a member of are a little like cooking stew. Every now and then a big bubble rises to the top and causes a little splatter. But that doesn't mean it's not a good stew.
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