To list all the things that are good and "right" concerning this message board would fill the servers' hard drive, and indeed has.

Aside from the obvious mass of work done by intrepid individuals on nearly every aspect of energy production, judicious application, storage, innovation and distribution there remains the personal stories of overcoming long odds and accomplishment which inspire even more such examples. The open source nature of these stories and the unselfish sharing of detailed information provides a knowledge base surpassing any "for profit" or governmental entity of which I am aware. The sheer willingness to help and patiently instruct those seeking to better understand the vast base of knowledge contained here is awe inspiring. To be a very small part of the grass roots effort to make a difference in the way the world works is something I consider a high honor and a distinct privilege.

All of this is a matter of self supporting truth.

However this message forum must internally correct issues that detract from this world treasure. The community of contributors at large, and individual responsibility, demands a proactive nature to assure a continuation of this treasure. Failure to act on the rare occasions when these detractions arise is even more detrimental than any over reaction.

As is evidenced by the recent events here we not only see that the community responds but the source of contention is resolved. Without such self correction we descend into  a chaotic state and our treasure is tarnished. This conflict resolution process is possibly the most valuable of all the jewels in the crown that is Fieldlines.

I have to say that one of the most immediately valuable bits of help I got from here seems almost trivial but probably saved an expensive bit of kit from destruction: the use of nylon locknuts and my toddler's water-soluble glue to stop the my MotorWind vibrating itself off my wall.

(Incidentally, I think that I can recommend MotorWind for trickle-charging applications even in relatively poor urban-wind circumstances providing that there is a decent breeze from time to time...)

Rgds

'nuff said

Volvo Farmer

There isn't a lot of torching going on here and though a bit gruff sometimes, the folks are supremely helpful.  We don't all have the same opinions but we all care or we wouldn't be here discussing it.  

The knowledge here is almost unlistfull, or would take a few people working with SETI type computers to get the list down a few 1000/pages:-)

THIS was a very good question to ask, kudos to you for asking it..

What's right with this board?
The people
The projects
The sharing of knowledge
The sharing of success
The sharing of failure

I check this board every morning before work, every afternoon after work, and usually before bed (for years). I love to see what people have built and are willing to share. I usually don't comment much but I feel 'involved' with the posters on the board. So much so that when I hear of a trajedy affecting someone, it bring tears to my eyes. And I have never laid eyes on anyone on this board!

I have learned enough to have running water with hot shower and flushing toilet, be able to flip on a light in the morning and turn off the light at night without going out to the barn and start/stop the generator at our remote farm. For that I am ever greatful to have found this wonderful forum.

I think that these 'flame wars' that get started usually happen when one person makes a rude comment to a post and it balloons from there. I was raised that if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all. Silence is golden.
If someone posts something ludicrus don't jump an them. Silence is golden!

I luv's this site

I can't speak for anyone else, but there have been many times in the past when I have been disappointed by a corporations claims. A certain product may actually be "useful" in a certain application, but the advertising makes rediculous claims and then the majority of consumers are left with a deep frustration and a cynical outlook.

Anyone can pull out their Visa card and order a $10,000 wind-gen/charger/inverter, especially if the ACTUAL output meets their needs, but, if someone is handy (or wants to become handy) they can get truthful information here about the components that they might purchase, or which parts of an RE system they could build themselves, to save money if so inclined.

I still consider myself a guest, but I have saved a great deal of information from here on a disc (because of its obvious value), and I have promoted this site every chance I get. I think Tom is doing a great job under difficult circumstances (anyone who deals with the public will understand!)

You are all great at trying to explain to me how to fix the flaws in my system in "little baby words" that my limited electronic background might be able to process.

And most of you ignore my poor typing and spelling which I dont ever think will improve.  Hard to believe that a younger me could type 60 wpm with no mistakes.

Thank you all

This forum doesn't deserve the bad rep it's getting in the last week so how about all us members just concentrate on RE things and leave the bickering out of this great forum.

My 2.2 cents

I have been building a Hugh Piggott generator. and there is certain things that i could not find any where else but here. I think that to some of us this site reflects the personality of one another. and with out that, things would be a lot more difficult to understand.

plus without the board how would people express the thoughts that plague are mind!
Any way enough said, Cant thank everybody enough for the inspiring and well thought out answers

It contains HUGE amounts of "human readable" information
along with some of the most helpful people I could imagine.

You are right, people only gripe about the things they don't like.

Well, let me tell you something!

There are windmills, cobbled solar panels, water wheels, hamster-powered nightlights, LED lighting systems, solar powered outhouses, Wind-powered cabooses, "The first dishwasher in the canyon!", FuKing generators, listeroid generators, Model A tower anchors, Bird's eye views of folk's properties by other folks perched atop their windmill towers, wind, solar and water powered computers, bikes, TV's, Tube-Type stereos, motorcycles with SUPER-DEE DOOPER Silencers on them, electric motorcycles, Volvo parts flying in the wind, (on purpose), 4 feet of snow halfway up doors of people's houses, all the while they are snug in their wind and solar powered houses, lots of food, fun and fellowship with dogs laying about, and a good mountain jam every now and again, including Washtub Bass, and projects going on all over the world by people who just love doing it, and even remembrance of those who made great strides in this, the DIY home power field, blazing the trails for others to follow by making the best AC motor conversion generators the commercial world can't even touch, as well as many other things, ideas and projects, the proper way to do the cable clamps when raising your tower so you don't let the volvo parts come crashing down (by accident), all the way from the smallest anemometer to the largest homebuilt windplant, measuring 20  FEET in diameter, the best ways TO do things and the best ways NOT TO do things based on personal, and in many cases group experience (been there, done that), and in my opinion, the gripers can just keep on griping and the rest of us will just keep on learning and enjoying this board for what it is, how it is and for as long as the admins and the owners (who provide this EXCELLENT resource to us for the low, low price of ABSOLUTELY FREE!) choose to keep it available.

So, in light of all this, and I am sure this is only a very limited and partial list, in my humble opinion, this, as it is, is absolutely the BEST resource on planet Earth for anyone who wants to delve into the wonderful world of "Sticking it to the man" by producing their own power, with devices and systems that they dreamed up, designed, asked questions about, got answers about, even if they were dumb questions, and even if they have been answered before, because, remember that there are thousands of new people on the Internet every day that don't know how to do a lot of research for answers to the question they may have, even though someone else may think they are dumb question; to that new guy, they are valid, relevant and important questions. . . anyone who wishes to change, remove or otherwise destroy this wonderful resource should take a look at themselves, when they were first starting out. I was there one day, too, just as you were.

Learning.

I'll shut up, now. . .

Leave it alone and give it a rest, will ya!

Otherpower guys, Keep this wonderful resource available! Admins, understand. . .

We all started out as a child!

JMHO - YMMV