On Tue 19 Feb 2008 16:33:27, Donna Ohl, Grady Volunteer Coordinator
wrote:

On Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:06:39 GMT, John wrote:
Nice start. "Quick". "Basic".
Good words to reel in the punters.

Dear John,

Did you actually *read* the thread?


Hello Donna, yes I read the thread with interest. It's a great one.
You must make room for it in your scrap book as this thread is one of
your better victories.


If you did, you'll note that this group moved a novice from a leaky
water heater to someone who became rather knowledgeable in how to
purchase a water heater, how to calculate costs and tradeoffs, what
to modify on the new water heater, what the warranty does and does
not offer, what materiel is required and how much it costs, what
are some of the pitfalls of installing a water heater on your own,
an autopsy of the old water heater, detailed complete photos (I
took hundreds and posted more than 50 for all to see) for a public
assessment of the work performed, and I posted dozens of PDFs and
links to key literature explaining things like how teflon doesn't
affect the electrical connection, how the government calculates
average household usage, how much a tenth of an EF point really
means in dollars (about $5/year), how to adjust seismic straps,
etc.


I find it very strange that a simple thread took such a long convoluted
route as you describe. You start off by knowing nothing and you end up
by telling specialists what various things are after you have asked them
several times (like the origin of 41,045).

Lovely. Alleged "little old lady" ends up telling the engineers the
information they do not know.

You outclass many of these guys so where was the fun in stringing them
along?


I asked. I responded. I was courteous. I was timely.
We took your advice. We did the work. I posted pictures of the
results. I responded to each and every comment that suggested a
response.


Yes, I love the photos. Thet're a very, very nice touch. They kind of
add a whole new false realism to your claim to who you are and your
sincerity.

Well, almost anyway.

Makes them believe more and more that you are Donna just as you state
you are. Nice.


And I plan on redoing some of the work as a result (e.g. the
flexible gas line and the drain bib and the overflow pipe, etc.).

If I received help, I thank the group for that. If I sound
knowledgeable, and if that offends you, it's only because of the
kind help from this group and from my research.

Let's do a sanity check. What is all this about?

Er, well now it seems to have mysteriously morphed from what it started
out as until it has become unrecognisable.

Main thing is how much time from others it has taken. Lovely. Greatest
shaggy dog thread I have seen in a while.