I think I am done here
WHY: I was responding to a question earlier and after responding to it I sat back and thought to myself am I the reason some plumbers can not find work.
The question is about roughing the whole (water supply) residence themselves. That's fine but if someone is going to take on a a project like that shouldn't they know what they are doing. I can understand someone trying to save money and fix things here and there but doing the rough is another story especaily if you do not know what pipe to use. :mad:
Therefore if I decide to view this site again I will not be responsible for another plumber going hungry so no more rough questions.

ANOTHER THING: (this one has been burning for a while) people often post questions about how to fix something. And as I have seen some of the veteran plumbers get shot to bits here from people who don't even practice this trade. A lot of time plumbers will "replace the whole thing" and we do so because it cuts us out of the picture. We don't break the whole thing down to replace 1 washer )referring to ballcocks and other cheap things not worth fixing) then as soon as we tell them this someone probably with little or no real experience in plumbing makes a post and tells us we are wrong and that the person asking the question to start with who by the way don't know about plumbing should break down the whole thing to replace a 25 cent washer on a $5 valve.

I read this quote on someone's page it may not be exact but it read something like this
Plumbers protect the welfare and sanitation of our community
Do it yourselfers are just trying to save money.

Whoever had that on they profile is my hero

And I don't mind helping people that's why I joined this site... but I didn't know that all of the criticism came with it. And I am not going to walk someone though step by step when a job needs to be done by a plumber. (everyone has to eat)
I make post as to how I would fix it in my own home and my customers as well

Plumberjames, you are giving up too easily. One has to sort of take the lumps here, it seems to go along with it; just develop a thicker skin ! The older members here are quite understanding and are really quite helpful. I wish you would stick around and help out when you can and just ignore the ones that criticize so much.

f I decide to view this site again I will not be responsible for another plumber going hungry so no more rough questions.
So your overall answer to a basement rough in question would be ,"hire a plumber? I guess you would be correct in leaving if that's what you think this page is all about. Believe or not putting plumbers out of work isn't our goal.
We answer plumbing questions here, ALL PLUMBING QUESTIONS!

ANOTHER THING: (this one has been burning for a while) people often post questions about how to fix something. And as I have seen some of the veteran plumbers get shot to bits here from people who don't even practice this trade. A lot of time plumbers will "replace the whole thing" and we do so because it cuts us out of the picture. We don't break the whole thing down to replace 1 washer )referring to ballcocks and other cheap things not worth fixing) then as soon as we tell them this someone probably with little or no real experience in plumbing makes a post and tells us we are wrong and that the person asking the question to start with who by the way don't know about plumbing should break down the whole thing to replace a 25 cent washer on a $5 valve.
That's one I responded to. If I recall correctly the expert advised the asker to replace EVERY PART in the toilet for a faulty flapper INCLUDING the toilet supply from the angle stop up to the tank.
This isn't what our askers want to hear. They're asking how to repair something the fasted and easiest way. Hey! If you pack your service calls with unneeded material the customer don't need that's your business but we don't do that here. Here we answer questions from people that can't afford a plumber or wish to do the repair themselves.

I don't mind helping people that's why I joined this site... but I didn't know that all of the criticism came with it. And I am not going to walk someone though step by step when a job needs to be done by a plumber. (everyone has to eat)

Now let's look at your track record. In your last 15 posts you were corrected a total of six times by other plumbing experts. Twice by Growler, Twice by me, once by Bal and once by LetmetellU.
So that works out to being wrong almost 50 percent of the time.

I don't mind helping people that's why I joined this site... but I didn't know that all of the criticism came with it. And I am not going to walk someone though step by step when a job needs to be done by a plumber. (everyone has to eat) I make post as to how I would fix it in my own home and my customers as well
Hey James! If you give wrong answers or faulty advice expect to be corrected, ( and in some cases , criticized. Either live with it or not. That's your choice. But to come on a Q & A site and tell us you will only answer some questions and not others is simply unacceptable. Here we try to answer ALL questions as best we can. If you can't live with that then perhaps Answerway.com is more your cup of tea. Good luck in whatever you decide. Tom

Now let's look at your track record. In your last 15 posts you were corrected a total of six times by other plumbing experts. Twice by Growler, Twice by me, once by Bal and once by LetmetellU.

So that works out to being wrong almost 50 percent of the time.

Hold the phone there, Tom -- Neither of my last two posts to threads James was also a participant in were corrective in nature.

One had to do with a personal preference in regards to a specific manufacturer, and the other was me merely expanding on the advice James had given.

As you well know, I have a reputation for being very outspoken, and I wouldn't be the least bit bashful about disagreeing with James if I thought he was incorrect -- That I have never felt the need to correct any of the advice James has given speaks volumes to the esteem and high regard I have always had for his advice.

i think i am done here
WHY: i was responding to a question earlier and after responding to it i sat back and thought to myself am i the reason some plumbers can not find work.
the question is about roughing the whole (water supply) residence themselves. thats fine but if someone is going to take on a a project like that shouldn't they know what they are doing. i can understand someone trying to save money and fix things here and there but doing the rough is another story especaily if you do not know what pipe to use. :mad:
therefore if i decide to view this site again i will not be responsible for another plumber going hungry so no more rough questions.

ANOTHER THING: (this one has been burning for a while) people often post questions about how to fix something. and as i have seen some of the veteran plumbers get shot to bits here from people who don't even practice this trade. a lot of time plumbers will "replace the whole thing" and we do so because it cuts us out of the picture. we don't break the whole thing down to replace 1 washer )referring to ballcocks and other cheap things not worth fixing) then as soon as we tell them this someone probably with little or no real experience in plumbing makes a post and tells us we are wrong and that the person asking the question to start with who by the way don't know about plumbing should break down the whole thing to replace a 25 cent washer on a $5 valve.

i read this quote on someones page it may not be exact but it read something like this
plumbers protect the welfare and sanitation of our community
do it yourselfers are just trying to save money.

whoever had that on they profile is my hero

and i don't mind helping people thats why i joined this site ... but i didn't know that all of the criticism came with it. and i am not going to walk someone though step by step when a job needs to be done by a plumber. (everyone has to eat)
i make post as to how i would fix it in my own home and my customers as well
In a perfect world, folks would hire a Plumber to do many of the tasks presented to this board, but we don't live in a perfect world, James.

I hope you'll change your mind and decide to stick it out.

If you do decide to stick it out, Tickle gave you very sage advice, thicken up your skin and just let the barbs and criticism roll off you.

James, Just answer the plumbing questions that you think are suitable for the forum... if others choose to answer them all, so be it.

If you post 1 way to fix something and another plumber post a different way to fix it. Let the op decide which way they would like to try and solve their problem, now they have different options.

If you are feeling guilty about 1 less plumber not getting a call don't answer any. You have to do what your conscience tells you.

I have never asked a question in plumbing but it's a good feeling just knowing that there is help out there if I had a question. It is also nice to know that the people on here seem to give a 100 percent, to be helpful. I have subscribed to a few questions just to see the outcome and answers to some of the problems.

Hold the phone there, Tom -- Neither of my last two posts to threads James was also a participant in were corrective in nature.
I guess you don 't call this "corrwctive in nature".


I have to disagree with James in regards to either Zurn-Pex or Rahau-Pex, particularly in the case of Zurn-Pex
If you want to go back over James posts yourself I bet you can come up with some more. I ran into 6 corrections, (OK 5 if you want to discount the 3" drainage question) in his last 15 posts. That's a lot of corrections and disagreements in only 15 answers. If James is unhappy answering questions here or if he thinks he's being picked on I suggest he complaun to the site mods. Regards, Toim

Once in a blue moon we read a question where you can tell the poster is in way over his head nad maybe should call a plumber. However most people come here to try to give it a shot on their own and maybe learn a few things. If a homeowner called a plumber for every little issue hey would go broke and there would not be enough plumbers in the world to handle all the little stuff. Plumbing ins't rocket science but it does have rules and tried and true practices. Almost anyone who is interested can learn many of the rules, well, except for my brother-in-law.

I know this is about plumbing, but also about criticism from our peers, etc. and a good example is me and (hewhoshouldnotbenamed) tearing a strip off each side of me every time I used to answer a dog post, and then stating publicly what a dimwit I am for even thinking I know anything about dogs (well I do anyway). Now I wouldn't dare unless it was something pretty generic that rubypitbull has answered as well (then I feel safe). Talk about developing thick skin, well at 65 it is pretty thick but thicker since I came on this forum.

As for speedball and ballenger, well, they have made me more comfortable having to crawl under my sink without calling my husband.

Is it too much to ask people to stick to what they know well? Does somebody well trained, and well read in a subject, have the right to point out those going on the limited experience any one person can have, are wrong? Does a prompt, but wrong answer help anybody?

I too am reevaluating the time I spend here.

I guess you don 't call this "corrwctive in nature".

You're right, I don't -- And neither would most folks if they read my entire reply, rather than the context deprived portion you quoted.


If you want to go back over James posts yourself I bet you can come up with some more.

*shrugs*

Well, you would be wrong then, Tom.

Frankly, I fail to see any corrections whatsoever in his last 25 posts.


I ran into 6 corrections, (OK 5 if you want to discount the 3" drainage question) in his last 15 posts. That's a lot of corrections and disagreements in only 15 answers.


Y'know, Tom, rather than bona fide "corrections" I suspect you're counting posts where someone else came in and with their own advice or added to advice given by James.


If James is unhappy answering questions here or if he thinks he's being picked on I suggest he complaun to the site mods. Regards, Toim

Actually, after re-reading the original post, I don't think James was talking about criticism directed at him personally, I believe he was referring to the other imbroglio's that erupt from time to time between other posters (myself included) when ego's are bruised.

Y'know, Tom, there is a saying about catching more flys with honey -- Perhaps you might consider this quaint old saying the next time you decide to publicly rip a well meaning poster a new one.

Personally, If I were the Moderator, I would have saved the vinegar you spewed in your initial post to this thread for a more appropriate medium -- Namely a "Private Message".

Think back, Tom -- Long before you and I started publicly butting heads, I made the effort to confine our disagreements to "Private Messages" -- Granted, it was me who fired the first public salvo in our 'Feud to end all Feuds' after failing to reason with you privately, but I at least made the effort to keep our feud private.

Anyhow -- I'm not really expecting you to see things any other way but your way, so I guess I should be expecting yet another cautionary 'Private Message' from Rick within the hour, right?

Is it too much to ask people to stick to what they know well? Does somebody well trained, and well read in a subject, have the right to point out those going on the limited experience any one person can have, are wrong? Does a prompt, but wrong answer help anybody?

I too am reevaluating the time I spend here.

Stroking a persons ego isn't my style, so let me get straight to the point;

Despite our past differences, I find the perspective of a former 'Plant Manager', especially one with an industrial background, to be a very useful and welcome addition to this group.

Well I doubt any advice we do here will make a plumber go hungry, since there are tons of pages out there that give specific plumbing answers, those are often linked from here if it will help.

Now we may stop some form buying that new Beamer and having to settle for a Caddy this year.

Well I doubt any advice we do here will make a plumber go hungry, since there are tons of pages out there that give specific plumbing answers, those are often linked from here if it will help.

Now we may stop some form buying that new Beamer and having to settle for a Caddy this year.

Well...

I *DID* have my heart set on a new Dodge Magnum (http://www.dodge.com/en/2008/magnum/index.html?bid=1758118&adid=23835857&pid=12206058).

Yes, I know that there has to be some starting plumbers who are having it rough, but I used to be a plumber and I have 3 boys who are all plumbers ( sorry one is a pipe fitter, he is too good to be a plumber he says) I think my one boy bought his second Mercedes this year and the other is buying a hobby farm