One's experience as a beginner, way back when

[EIHYPI]

I have not been member for a long time. Just when I joined I started to build my own coils. When I would ask a question like how to deal with 22 gauge kanthal wire, some would answer me like you shouldn't be using that. Then some would explain why I maybe should be using a higher gauge to start with. The same 2 type answers would be when I would ask a question that shows I'm a beginner. Now that I have been successful over this stretch of time, there are still a tremendous amount that I am learning daily. I'm still a beginner but with minor experience.

My question is whether the beginner needs a reply that is that harsher one which is saying, "I've been doing this for years so you seriously gotta know more", or the one with the experience answering with the info that answers him, giving him the understanding he was missing.

I've been a little thrown off at times as a starter. I definitely can see both sides of the coin but what is best for a beginner to hear?

 

[Asbestos4004]

Huh…?

 

[leftyandsparky]

Learn about the product your using, read up on safety before posting questions. A lot of people ask question without even researching what they are trying to build.

 

[madstabber]

I'm with asbestos, huh? I think you should try again because the question, if there was one, isn't clear.

 

[leftyandsparky]

I'm with asbestos, huh? I think you should try again because the question, if there was one, isn't clear.

I think is was frustrated with asking questions about coil builds,
With him being new he felt some of the older members wanted him to practice with a different gauge, and he didn't like it.
That's what I got from it.

 

[Shawn Hoefer]

I feel like the experienced vaper should answer without any harshness, and provide an explanation with the answer. The "Yo, dude! You're screwing up, there." answers are, perhaos accurate, but not necessarily helpful. A beginner IS doing their research by asking questions here. I'd rather answer a question that seems foolish and misguided than allow a fellow vaper make a potentially nasty mistake because we, as a community, were unwilling to help.

So, yeah, when someone asks a question about a coil using 22 AWG on a mech, I gently suggest using a calculator such a Steam-Engine.org, and I provide examples, and I recommend what I think would be a safer, easier build.

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[EIHYPI]

I'm with asbestos, huh? I think you should try again because the question, if there was one, isn't clear.

I believe I just wasn't happy when I got the answers I was getting when asking about something new.
But in reality, @leftyandsparky just showed me why. I realize that I need to do my own research if I am going to learn something new to learn the product and not turn and post the question. That solved anything I may have been bothered about.

 

[Ben85]

I don't think harshness gets anyone anywhere, however, I do appreciate that people can get frustrated when a topic is posted that has been asked a hundred times before. Or if someone asks the age old question "what is the best...?"

There are circumstances when a harsher response is necessary, but these are usually when inexperienced people like to act that they know it all and do not actually read the advice that is being given to them.

 

[leftyandsparky]

I believe I just wasn't happy when I got the answers I was getting when asking about something new.
But in reality, @leftyandsparky just showed me why. I realize that I need to do my own research if I am going to learn something new to learn the product and not turn and post the question. That solved anything I may have been bothered about.

I just took that you were frustrated, that what I got from your post.
You asked a question and I gave my answer. There is nothing wrong with asking questions, we all learn when we ask. From your post you were upset that they wanted you to practice on something easy first.

 

[EIHYPI]

I just took that you were frustrated, that what I got from your post.
You asked a question and I gave my answer. There is nothing wrong with asking questions, we all learn when we ask. From your post you were upset that they wanted you to practice on something easy first.

But you showed me that I wasn't doing enough research cuz I thought to myself that yeah it's really true. When dealing with building coils there's so much to learn that one needs to do in their research on their own most of the time. I have been asking questions which showed my lack of research. This is a very good learning opportunity for me.

 

[ChelsB]

I feel like the experienced vaper should answer without any harshness, and provide an explanation with the answer. The "Yo, dude! You're screwing up, there." answers are, perhaos accurate, but not necessarily helpful. A beginner IS doing their research by asking questions here. I'd rather answer a question that seems foolish and misguided than allow a fellow vaper make a potentially nasty mistake because we, as a community, were unwilling to help.

So, yeah, when someone asks a question about a coil using 22 AWG on a mech, I gently suggest using a calculator such a Steam-Engine.org, and I provide examples, and I recommend what I think would be a safer, easier build.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

Agreed! There need to be more vapers with that attitude towards beginners!


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[Imfallen_Angel]

I have not been member for a long time. Just when I joined I started to build my own coils. When I would ask a question like how to deal with 22 gauge kanthal wire, some would answer me like you shouldn't be using that. Then some would explain why I maybe should be using a higher gauge to start with. The same 2 type answers would be when I would ask a question that shows I'm a beginner. Now that I have been successful over this stretch of time, there are still a tremendous amount that I am learning daily. I'm still a beginner but with minor experience.

My question is whether the beginner needs a reply that is that harsher one which is saying, "I've been doing this for years so you seriously gotta know more", or the one with the experience answering with the info that answers him, giving him the understanding he was missing.

I've been a little thrown off at times as a starter. I definitely can see both sides of the coin but what is best for a beginner to hear?

I think it's like Lefty said.. a LOT of people just join any forum or group (Facebook) just because they are completely inept at doing a search and actually bothering to read and research and prefer to be spoon fed.

So at times, it can be frustrating to see the exact same question for the 100th time.

Sometimes it's fine, I understand that many have absolutely no skills at searching for anything (yet they can find these forums and groups.... so ?)

I also find that while there's lots of info, it's not all good either.

Even here, I just recently made the comment about how much I see many will respond with absolutely wrong info but make it sound like they have a clue (but really don't)... some even will debate like crazy even if they have absolutely no notion to what they are talking about, simply because they think their info "from a friend/read online" made them "experts" somehow. Even worse, they have "buddies" that are as clueless and they start feeding the machine while several with the proper info are stuck debating it and it turns into a childish drama (that the clueless ones cause).

I've seen some "new" vapers that take the time to learn things right and end up being much more knowledgeable than an older vaper that won't get further than his "comfort zone" from 5 years ago, and has never used anything but "what he knows".

Heck, I've been into vaping for over 9 years but learned more in the last 2-3 years than in all the other years combined... I've tried a lot, made a few errors/mistakes, learned a lot via looking it up, doing things myself, consulting the local experts, and asking when I couldn't find an answer.

I find that with vaping, you can reach a certain level where you've reached the "where things are now"... after all this "hobby" is about a hot wire, liquid evaporating, airflow, mods and how they work, and safety... and unless something comes up to changes things around, the "basics" are fairly stable at this point.

And like in photography... even if someone can afford the $10,000 camera, the several $4,000 lens, and the other $20,000 accessories, it does NOT mean that they can even take a proper picture and turn then into photographers.

Seriously, I could probably teach all the main and most important basics to vaping (from batteries, to building decks and doing DIY) in one afternoon, as long as the person has the ability to learn and remember... but even then, hands on experience will always trump the "reading skills".

So everything is to be taken with a grain of salt.

 

[Asbestos4004]

I believe I just wasn't happy when I got the answers I was getting when asking about something new.
But in reality, @leftyandsparky just showed me why. I realize that I need to do my own research if I am going to learn something new to learn the product and not turn and post the question. That solved anything I may have been bothered about.

It's all good....but here's the thing.... If you're going to ask questions on a forum like this, you should expect the answers to range from polite and informative to rude and informative to totally off topic to downright dangerous. The approach would be to take what you want and ignore the rest.

That being said, an awful lot of folks join this forum with crap batteries, a cheap mech, a cloud blaster dripper and 18 ga wire. They're looking for us to tell them how to win their local cloud off. It's been going on for years and those of us who've been here for awhile get a little edgy. Good, safe information is offered and generally ignored. Not only does this put the new guy in harms way, but if he makes the news, it sheds a negative light on vaping as a whole. When someone says they are just learning to build and they have 22ga wire, the correct response is to start out a little slower. Like with a reliable ohms meter, some steam engine research, make sure the batteries are good and from a reputable seller......all that stuff that annoys the dude who asked the question. If he gets hurt, at least we don't have to feel guilty about it.

So if I came off harsh the other day telling you to start out with 26ga, I'm sorry.

 

[Myrany]

But you showed me that I wasn't doing enough research cuz I thought to myself that yeah it's really true. When dealing with building coils there's so much to learn that one needs to do in their research on their own most of the time. I have been asking questions which showed my lack of research. This is a very good learning opportunity for me.

If you have not done it. There is more to research than just the coil. You also need to research good High Capacity High Amp batteries and Ohm's Law.

Get the combination of Coil, Battery and Ohm's Law wrong and the potential for serious bodily injury is a real thing. Especially if you are putting the build on a Mech.

If people are harsh it is because we often get new people who try to jump into building in an unsafe way. That does not excuse people from assuming every newbie is trying to do that though.

 

[EIHYPI]

It's all good....but here's the thing.... If you're going to ask questions on a forum like this, you should expect the answers to range from polite and informative to rude and informative to totally off topic to downright dangerous. The approach would be to take what you want and ignore the rest.

That being said, an awful lot of folks join this forum with crap batteries, a cheap mech, a cloud blaster dripper and 18 ga wire. They're looking for us to tell them how to win their local cloud off. It's been going on for years and those of us who've been here for awhile get a little edgy. Good, safe information is offered and generally ignored. Not only does this put the new guy in harms way, but if he makes the news, it sheds a negative light on vaping as a whole. When someone says they are just learning to build and they have 22ga wire, the correct response is to start out a little slower. Like with a reliable ohms meter, some steam engine research, make sure the batteries are good and from a reputable seller......all that stuff that annoys the dude who asked the question. If he gets hurt, at least we don't have to feel guilty about it.

So if I came off harsh the other day telling you to start out with 26ga, I'm sorry.

Please don't get me wrong. I had nothing in specific, just a vibe I felt I was getting. But I know now that I was a beginner trying to act like I new the things behind my questions which required much more background information that I needed to obtain on my own. This is something crucial that I just realized. Someone like me at this point should be watching the forum, trying to pick up all knowledge and science that goes into electronic cigarettes instead of asking premature questions while keep I doing my research too. I was wrong for posting my original post here the way I did.

 

[Myrany]

Please don't get me wrong. I had nothing in specific, just a vibe I felt I was getting. But I know now that I was a beginner trying to act like I new the things behind my questions which required much more background information that I needed to obtain on my own. This is something crucial that I just realized. Someone like me at this point should be watching the forum, trying to pick up all knowledge and science that goes into electronic cigarettes instead of asking premature questions while keep I doing my research too.

4 years ago I was rebuilding the coilheads on clearomizers about 6 weeks after I started vaping. They were a good training ground. Hard to mess up and my regulated device would not fire them if I did. I sort of expanded my knowledge as the rebuildables slowly hit the market. Then watched as the sub ohm craze was born. SO I had a slow progression to learn what I am doing.

These days there are far too many that jump in without even rudimentary knowledge of how to keep themselves safe. Many times they don't want to hear it when we try to teach them. So it becomes sort of a catch-22 that makes many who are trying to teach attempt to steer new builders to build types that have a bit more wiggle room for mistakes.

I do not have much experience with twisted builds or claptons. But if you want to learn the basics of round wire builds PM me and I will see what I can do to start you out right.

 

[ChelsB]

I've been on this site since last December and vaping 8 months. One thing I recommend is finding one or 2 people who know what they're doing and asking them questions. Then, you don't have to worry about posting too much or be afraid to ask a question some may consider "dumb"


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[Frenchfry1942]

I am just looking at a computer screen, but then again, I can read some black and some of the white, too. All people can to varying degrees.

There are two sides to this forum. Those that push the hobby, like a shooting star, go their way. Then, there are some who don't care about anything other than not smoking. Kind of the opposite ends. Most are in the middle.

Being my age (gasp!) I do think about safety. I think that is first and foremost in learning...about anything. I just saw a report of a guy who jacked up his car and was working underneath it... some just have to deal with disfigurement of their face for the rest of their life.

Safety is the biggie. I think it is something that I should express to a beginner...first.

Good luck to you.

 

[EIHYPI]

I've been on this site since last December and vaping 8 months. One thing I recommend is finding one or 2 people who know what they're doing and asking them questions. Then, you don't have to worry about posting too much or be afraid to ask a question some may consider "dumb"


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Thank you. I actually do have few friends who I can ask. If I would've seen through my own ignorance before as far as how I react to something new to me as realized that this is the reason my questions are without proper reasearch on my part I would not have spoken up the way I did. I honestly regret creating this thread. I feel stupid.

 

[Myrany]

Thank you. I actually do have few friends who I can ask. If I would've seen through my own ignorance before as far as how I react to something new to me as realized that this is the reason my questions are without proper reasearch on my part I would not have spoken up the way I did. I honestly regret creating this thread. I feel stupid.

Never regret starting it. You had questions that needed answering. No such thing as a stupid question. FOrtunately you saw your answer.