Yesitsconcrete:
I graduated as a mechanical engineer, changed careers to become a DIY'er landlord, but I've always had a passion for law.
One of the fundamental principles in the law that we live by in both the US and Canada (which we both inherited from British "Common Law") is the concept of the "reasonable man".
Where the concept of the reasonable man comes into play is that we can each claim to be ignorant of the blindingly obvious dangers around us, if it's to our advantage to claim so. For example, someone who shoots his friend in the head can always claim: "Accident! I didn't know the gun was loaded!".
The concept of the reasonable man is that instead of being judged by what we claim we believed or what we claim we thought, we are judged by what a reasonable man in the same circumstances would have believed, or would have thought. In the example above, a REASONABLE man wouldn't have been horsing around with a gun in the first place, and certainly not before checking three times that it wasn't loaded. So, someone who kills someone else and then claims he didn't know the gun was loaded hasn't got a leg to stand on in court because we're not judged by what we claim we thought or what we thought we knew. We are judged on what a reasonable man would have thought and would have done under the same circumstances. A reasonable man would have recognized the potential danger and would have confirmed that the gun wasn't loaded before lowering his guard with that thing around.
Now, let's take a look at what you just finished saying. Dakuda doesn't know squat about pouring or finishing concrete. You do, and you're generously willing to share your time, knowledge and experience here in the forum. Dakota takes issue with your position that a question is too general because you feel these forums should be for specific questions. (Aside: I'm torn on the issue because I feel the people asking questions in here should be expected to at least research the basics themselves. "Helping someone is not doing it for them, helping someone is doing what they can't." However, my personal views on this matter are irrelevant to my point.)
Anyhow, you're knowledgeable and experienced with concrete work. Dakuda isn't. He takes issue with your position that people asking questions should at least get the basic knowledge needed from conventional sources like DIY books. You respond by saying: "Good, Dakuda, you answer all the concrete related questions from now on."
And, I have to ask: "What would a reasonable man have done under the same circumstances?"
I would like to belive that a reasonable man would have realized that Dakuda has a right to his opinion just as you have a right to yours.
I'd think a reasonable man wouldn't have considered Dakuda's protest a personal attack as it clearly wasn't.
A reasonable man would see the childishness in denying the benefit of his experience and expertise to the people in here that want and need it over a baby squabble with Dakuda.
Finally, a reasonable man would realize that respect from his peers is earned, and the way to earn respect is by he GOLDEN RULE: treat others the way you would want to be treated.
I urge you to reconsider your position, but the bottom line here is that if you're not going to be reasonable (or behave as a reasonable man would be expected to) then this kind of spat would have happened sooner or later anyway, if not with Dakuda then with someone else. Cuz, and let's face it, you're not being reasonable.