Well,
New that I am, I am more and more greatful for ~Alanhod's~ "blinding flash of the obvious" humor. He keeps sounding to me like a guy you could have a beer with, and be busting-out laughing for most of the evening... what great fun. How do you not like that??
That level of humor, I think, is critical to a site not becoming stodgy and stuck-up. If someone truly has a great deal of knowledge, I think it can intimidate people. It's certainly not the fault of the one with the big-bag-O'-knowledge, but people can quickly become defensive, and other lesser-smarts folks might elevate themselves for having the said "big-bag-O'-knowledge". I think, ever and always, humor is a tremendous antidote for worries, fears, and odd paranoia's.
Great things are to be learned here, and I love that we have all things on this site: the learned, the experienced, the well-networked, the craftsman, the young, the old, the newbee, and the decrepit.
If the new guys think they don't bring something to the site... they are simply wrong: the "old salts" might get bored very quickly without us. We keep it fresh, and our motivation is an encouraging reminder for the old-salts... of what they fell in love with in the first place.
Humor... I think it's "the keel"... essential for direction, stability, and when stuck on a sand bar.... for "being well grounded".
We've all been idiots before... the ones that use humor are just smart enough to admit it.
Bill
We're just about finished with refurbishing our Chrysler 22, she's slipped, and ready for fun!
Lake Quachita, HotSprings Arkansas
Bill Williams