Introduce him to the hamb. I am sure someone will give them their opinion. I would tell him the truth but tactfully. He asked. I always get a kick out of people asking for my opinion on if they should buy something and I tell them it is overpriced or that it is a piece of ****. Then they tell me that they already bought it. Those are the WTF canidates. Maybe that is why nobody asks for my opinion anymore. Neal
Give your opinion, but don't stop there. The best way to get people to listen and not just tune you out, is if you calmly, logically, politely, and in small letters, offer CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. Don't hesitate when safety is involved - hell, draw him a picture and explain that it's not an opinion, you're just looking out for him.
I've seen some horrible **** get through "Tech Inspection". Local oval tracks are especially bad for that, but I've seen,and heard of,unsafe junk running on drag strips and road courses.
Find a particular ****py weld, and tell him it needs to be redone. When he asks why, take a big ****in' hammer and beat on it until it breaks. Thats why, you say. Will he like you beating on his car, I dont know. But it would make him think a little.
If it's a matter of taste, you can be diplomatic or not. On something that is obviously unsafe, there should be a way to critique it without being critical of the person who made it or did the work. After all, it's about the roll cage and potentially some one's life or safety, not the feelings of the fabricator/owner. Or you can just say "that looks like poo." Like you said, there's no good way to deliver bad news. But-how would you feel though, if you didn't bring it to his attention and something happened?
Shoot him straight, Big Dad. Don't let Eddie down. You know, deep down, that's the only card to play. He'll come around.
I've read the whole thread before replying. I'm working on a project right now that I'm posting pics of. Some may not like the donor vehicle, that's fine. If I head off on a direction with it that someone here sees as unsafe, I'd hope they'd point it out and give valid thoughts as to why. If it's a PM from some newbie with no reasoning and no replies to any questions I ask, I let it go. If someone just wants to say it's an ugly project, that's fine too, so is my ratty old Triumph motorcycle, and so am I. But, I'm safe about it, and hope to continue that with my car, with help from the HAMB. Isn't that a big part of what this is about?
"What do you think?".............he asked, you tell. If it looks like **** and is dangerous....tell em. For example, lots of folks have asked the same thing here on the HAMB and got their pee-pees slapped then went to less reputable sites to *****.........thats the best-case scenario. Worst case? SOME IDIOT WILL DIE! Call em like you see em.
you need to tell him about that cage. if that was a good pici'd hate to see the bad ones. it's a saftey issue, he's probably got a kid that'll appreciate your imput even if he doesn't. the kid'll damned sure miss his dad after he's been har****ed by that thing. mike
well it wasnt too long ago, but a buddy/aquaintance of mine was over at my place, borrowing the brothers detail supplies to clean up his 07 jetta, that he had just recently got new rims on, which were some big chrome tribal, need for speed brand name rims or whatever, something you'd see on 50'cents pimp H2 or whatever. Anyways i say, "see you got new rims, " and he says, "whadda ya think?" and my response, in a very sarcastic tone, "my opinion doesn't matter" and of course he replied in somewhat hurtful disbelief, "so i take it you don't like them," i couldnt really say much to that, because they look like **** on his vehicle, big ugly chunks of chrome on a european vehicle, I personally think any new VW, BMW, Audi whatever should be sporting some thin 17" 5 spokes, or the 10/12 spokes that are styled after the 5/6 spokes, those make those cars look racy, these rims made his car look f'n clumsy and slow.
the only thing worse than not having a cage in a crash is having a BAD cage in a crash. It's the idea of playing Human Plinko combined with Jousting I don't like. That's pretty much the funniest way of describing a horrible, painful death I've ever heard of. I laughed out loud at the computer and my co-workers are staring. It's also completely correct, if it's safetywise you have to let the guy know. I usually run my ideas past the old guys I hang out with. It's all in the approach. They've told me why my ideas were bad/unsafe/criminally insane without making me feel like an idiot. I'd go with the safety angle when talking to your pal.
We read posts about HAMBers' helping out others and thats a good thing,but if you see somebody's ride and don't like it and have a way to make it better,get your **** out from behind the keyboard and offer to work with them if they are in your area.It seems strange that the guys with the fat wallets can sometimes be the most critical.Some of us don't have unlimited budgets and do the best we can with what we have,that doesn't mean we love this hobby any less.
Well said Jeff. If I am asked for my constructive opinion. I give it. I don't go out of my way to criticize, even when asked. If I have anything bad to say about choices made by another, it is usually related to getting them on a better track. And then there's always that "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink" thing...
My response is usually "I wouldn't do it that way" or another iteration of that them where I'm merely stating how I would do it without really berating his work. If he knows and respects the quality of your work, then he'll take the hint. If he doesn't know you or your work, then no harm. If the guy's an unknown in this case other than via the inet, I'd probably tell him, in PM's what you think of the work for SAFETY reasons. Most folks can take criticism if it's not overtly public...and some can't.
Another way to respond is to say, "Before I answer, why don't you tell me what you like and don't like about it." That way, maybe he'll reveal some information such as it being his very first try at welding. That makes it easier to give your opinion.
If it looks like **** I generally don't say anything. It's not the taste police, even though they drive a turd lmao. If it's some sort of safety issue I'd say something though.
So let's hear some comments from our English friends, they after all have mastered the "put down". One could say..... such a valiant attempt at welding from one so inexperianced... or, I commend you for so obviously protecting your eyesight by using a shade #25 welding lens.... or, It's so obviously all your own work, I'm always impressed at the complex tasks the rank amateur will attempt.... or, Is it all your own work or have you had help with your impending suicide? If tact fails a blunt instrument may work, remember Big Dad, this guy has one life, you have the desire and the skill to help, you know what to do, **** the polite souls who would let a man go to his doom for want of a quiet word, or, the risk of causing offence.
If I'm asking the question, wanting an opinion, I would expect the honest respones. If the truth ****s, oh well, then make it better. If someone asks me what I think, they get the honest no-bull answer. Giving/receiving less than an honest opinion does nothing. "Does this dress make my *** look fat"? "No, honey, your *** makes your *** look fat".
The alternative is that you know more than the tech inspector. Any chance the inspector is the track owners Nephew/son? There is just no way those welds had good penetration. I've knocked better looking stuff apart with a hammer. So here's a question for next time. "So, why did you choose the Roll Cage to learn welding ?"
you have to tell them,if it's welding...come on.that **** can kill someone.but if it's style ...well.that's a hard one.you can just say something like...uh,i would of done it this way..or ..i like to say this alot,what is it 1975 again ?
The Jalopy Journal
