[pianotech] Question of Protocol; was: but will it split

[David Skolnik]

Dear list -
Actually, its likely only a few of you, but we 
can pretend.  I've taken the trouble to separate 
what has quickly become a personal issue from any 
technical discussion about the installation of 
underlever capstans, since I've always found it 
disturbing when a worthwhile discussion gets 
derailed.  I would also like to continue 
exercising my right to speculate, without feeling 
vulnerable to personal attack, as opposed to 
being attacked for my ideas, or lack 
thereof.  Apart from any explanation of it's 
underlying source, I would like a representative 
response as to my question about what constitutes 
acceptable language and decorum on this 
list.  Where do "crap" and "stupid" reside in the 
spectrum?  I'm not looking for an apology.  I'm 
looking for guidelines...something like the Pirate Code.

David Skolnik
Hastings on Hudson, NY


At 07:52 PM 12/25/2008, you wrote:


>   David
>   Hear hear. Well said
>   Dale
>
>I think the reaction comes from frustratio n 
>with new ideas being rejected for dubious 
>reasons:  that we have always done it this way 
>or we should be capable of doing it the old 
>fashioned way.  That’s not really the 
>point.  Of course, we should be able to regulate 
>the damper system with tray felt, paper shims, 
>ironing, etc.  We should also be able to cut a 
>bridge with a chisel but if we can build a power 
>notcher that will cut the bridge in ¼ or the 
>time and with, perhaps, greater accuracy, why 
>resist the idea.  Similarly, we should be able 
>to set bearing on a new bridge by pounding in a 
>couple of wedges until it “feels” right, 
>stretching a string and cutting little slots all 
>over the place, but if we can precalculate 
>deflections and the accompanying required bridge 
>height and/or use plate float systems or 
>vertical hitches to tweak the bearing more 
>precisely why such resistance?  There are 
>numerous other examples, many of which are frequently presented on this list.
>
>No one would argue the need for a variety of 
>skills in all areas but neither should the 
>possession of those skills argue for standing still.
>
>David Love
><http://www.davidlovepianos.com/>www.davidlovepianos.com
>
>From: 
><mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org>pianotech-bounces at ptg.org 
>[mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of David Skolnik
>Sent: Thursday, December 25, 2008 9:41 AM
>To: <mailto:pianotech at ptg.org>pianotech at ptg.org
>Subject: Re: [pianotech] but will it split
>
>Well, OK baby,
>And I thought I might escape 2008 without one of these.
>
>(DS)
>>If you were called upon to do a fine regulation 
>>of existing dampers, would you first pull the tray and install capstans?
>(RN)
>Stupid question. If you had to regulate a system 
>with capstans, would you pull the tray and 
>remove them? That's two stupid questions. Now what, are we done with that crap?

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