Welcome along Steven, a wealth of knowledge on this forum. Don't be embarrassed at asking any questions you will always get sensible answers. Good luck with the hobby, I don't make models as motorcycles are my interest but the machining is all similar.
To contact an advertiser, just click on the Ad and by magic a new page will appear with their details. Click on the email address, and lo and behold, it sets up an email message for you. Etcetera.
My response (click on the advert) was based on my understanding of 'classified adverts'. As in my local paper, etc. I consider the 'Support our partners' multi-coloured adverts as not meeting this description.
But I now see that the distinction is less valid in this case – sorry.
Cheers, Tim
PS the For sale and Wanted ads (ie my version of classified) still do work this way.
I am also more a Reader than a Writer, but I cannot help feeling that this thread has more than a coincidental relationship with the "how to lose friends …" thread.
I guess there is a logic that a newcomer to modelling might also be looking at the adverts to get kitted up. I don't know what response the site gives until the user is 'up to scratch' but perhaps it could be a redirect to a page explaining the situation in simple terms with advice on buying, scams etc.
That’s a first! I have never been called a lurker before!
Wikipedia definition: In Internet culture, a lurker is typically a member of an online community or PLN who observes, but does not actively participate. The exact definition depends on context. Lurkers make up a large proportion of all users in online communities. Lurking allows users to learn the conventions of an online community before they actively participate, improving their socialization when they eventually de-lurk.However, a lack of social contact while lurking sometimes causes loneliness or apathy among lurkers. Lurkers are referred to using many names, including browsers, read-only participants, non-public participants, legitimate peripheral participants, or vicarious learners.
If you look at my first post I like to think I am a little more than a lurker. I am definitely not a Thomas, Richard or Harold but I have bowed to the inevitable and I am trying to achieve the status of trusted poster boy, like you Jason. In the meantime if I must have a tag I prefer “legitimate peripheral participant”. It has more a touch of class than lurker!
It is also worth remembering though that a newspaper without readers is not even tomorrows chip paper. Perhaps in the furtherance of our hobby (wondered when Model Engineering might creep in) both should be valued.
How remiss of me. Sorry Steven welcome to this site. One thing you have probably already noticed is that most people on here do have a sense of humour, I think!
You will need a sense of humour on this forum, even as you read the words of Grumpy Old Men, as well the the other posters who have knowledge on a VAST range of subjects.
By all means do find a local Model Engineering Club. You will learn a lot, and get a lot of help and advice, (just as on here).
If you run into trouble, someone here, will ask "Whereabouts are you?" hoping that they are close enough to get together with you to solve your problem.
Welcome Steven, don't worry about what sort of question you have you'll always get an answer on here… whether its the right answer in context to your question well….. we're all mad, we're all mad I say… Ha ha ha ha ha burble burble, dribble, dribble.