Scattered amongst the normal Lancairians are at least two other
types:
1. Those afraid to be criticized (not those that claim to have donned
flame suits) and thus don't enter the Q&A milieu. How the devil can
they be pilots? Do they shrivel and shrink when ATC issues an analysis
of some recent dunderhead flight maneuver? Have they forgotten the abuse
heaped on them by things called CFI's? Are they always perfect at
work? Are they just ex-airline captains? Huh? Huh? Come on, we're
supposed to be type-A, take charge people........... Who cares if a
stranger from half-way around the world is punching holes in your
statements? Are you going to get embarrassed? Do you think
the crowd of chuckling Lancairians are going to remember your gaffes at
the next fly-in? So what? Get over it. Move beyond
your critiphobia so the learning can start (I know of a 12 step
plan) .
2. Those that ask questions that have no answer. Like, "Why?"
Actually, there is evidence that some don't know how to ask a question.
A recent example was, "What exhaust do I use on a Lancair IV?" These are
the same people that drop their airplane off at the shop with the terse
squawk, "The AP doesn't work." Or, the Geek Squad is coming over to your
house because you called and said. "The whatchamacallit isn't blinking."
To answer any question, one needs some context.
Try this the next time you text a query on your device (Blueberry or
whatever) - Before sending it, get up or remain standing if already up, and
walk around to the other side of the screen. Pretend you are an ignorant
recipient of the glorious piece of prose you just prepared. See if
you might need to provide some additional information to intelligently frame
an answer to the question with relevance to your needs. Really, try
it and you may be surprised. OK, I know you can't read through the back
side of the screen, think vertically and keep walking in a circle until
the screen face comes into view again. Geeeeeez.
Grayhawk