(sigh)
Originally Posted by
surreal
..ppl are like "no, don't not worth it"
No, not "like" at all. Neither I nor the previous poster said "don't." It's the difference between giving an opinion and giving commands.
Originally Posted by
surreal
An unsolicited negative opinion of the bike in question"
vs. a solicited negative opinion? (joking) Seriously, I have enough respect for people who ask for advice to assume that they can use their own judgement in deciding how to value opinions. Thus I give my opinions honestly and straightforward, without couching them. When I go too far I acknowledge doing so.
Originally Posted by
surreal
..nother opinion, again negative, and also unsolicited... coupled with a boldface falsehood... whatever the level of quality is, that bike certainly is vintage.
Yes, it's my informed, experienced opinion that the bike is low quality in comparison to most other bikes available, even in that time frame, during which thousands of bikes passed through my hands. In my opinion the term vintage is useless if it applies to anything that is older than a certain year. Opinions based on ones own values are neither true nor false.
Originally Posted by
surreal
..Hypothetically speaking, if you came on here and said your wheelset for your Navara was toast, and you needed a new one, you might be taken aback if someone responded with "scrap the Novara and buy a bike worthy of a new wheelset."... surely, you could see how such a response might be insensitive, rude, or just plain mean-spirited, right?
No, actually I would not. If the poster offered useful advice as well my response would be to ask why the poster felt the bike was not "worthy."
If honest disagreement or frank opinions disturb you I can assure you that one can find mostly unqualified acceptance of all projects and opinions on bicycletutor.com. In fact if one directs someone to a bike shop as the best option, or questions in any way the practicality of a project an email from a moderator may be received that the post is "not in the spirit of the forum." I received one such email after I advised (correctly) that the advice given by another poster was both incorrect and potentionally dangerous.