RE: a stupid question - or not

[Glen.Vickers@ucm.com]

Do not be afraid of those who criticize.  We are all expected to do our
homework with respect to solving our business-related problems, but only a
fool would keep his nose to the grindstone and not learn from the
experiences of others.  Some of us may have even found ourselves in jobs
where we don't have the ideal background.  We are still charged with doing
the right thing, which means assisting one another from time to time.  I
have done a little of everything from construction, mechanics, electronics,
military, and now HP work and I have found that the single most effective
way to grow quickly is to learn from the experiences of others.  Such
discussions of real applications often times makes those old textbook
examples come to life.  Also, sometimes knowing what not to do, may also
lead you to the answer.  

In the nuclear power world, there is a constant progression of improvement.
Some may to be secretive believing they will hold an advantage over others,
but anyone who is really successful will tell you that benchmarking and
learning from others is where performance gains are really found.  I admit
that seemingly fundamental questions can in some ways be frustrating like a
parent-child relationship, but greater is he who offers the hand of
assistance rather than the scowl of impatience.

Sincerely,
Glen Vickers
glen.vickers@ucm.com
 

	-----Original Message-----
	From:	RADIATION HEALTH DIVISION [SMTP:RADHLTH@gam10.med.navy.mil]
	Sent:	Thursday, September 02, 1999 6:23 PM
	To:	Multiple recipients of list
	Subject:	RE: a stupid question - or not


	I totally agree Mrs. Perle.  I'm in the military, very junior
enlisted and I
	run the Radiation Health Program by myself.  I have dozens of
questions
	regarding Radiation Health/ Safety but I'm afraid to ask anyone on
this RAD
	SAFE program.  Majority of the information that is posted on this
link does
	not pertain to my particular program, but it is very interesting.
My intent
	was to serve my time in the military, get out and get a job doing
something
	in the Radiation Health/Safety field.  But sometimes I get
discouraged from
	the abundant knowledge that you all have that I couldn't possibly
comprehend
	or could I?  If I have a question that you might think is too
infantile,
	please don't slam me. Help me.  One day I might be doing you're job
and I'm
	sure you'd want me to be as qualified as possible.  Enough said.
Thanks.
		----------
		From:  Sandy Perle [SMTP:sandyfl@earthlink.net]
		Sent:  Thursday, September 02, 1999 11:04 AM
		To:  Multiple recipients of list
		Subject:  a stupid question - or not

		> As for this comment, I have but one thing to say.  What
ever
	happened to the
		> phrase, "The only stupid question is the one that is not
asked."?
	There are
		> some that are new to the HP field and have limited
knowledge in
	certain
		> areas.  How are they to learn what to do and what not to
do if
	they are
		> afraid of asking because they will get slammed on RAD SAFE
by
	someone else.
		> In the military, the lower ranking, less knowledgeable
soldiers
	look to the
		> higher ranks for mentoring and help.  I thought that this
was one
	of the
		> reasons RAD SAFE was started.

		There was no justification to slam you. If one is
intimidated to the

		point where a question isn't asked, and the answer is really

		needed, then Radsafe is a failure. There is no stupid
question. I 
		would venture to say that what each of us knows, and doesn't

		know, is quite significant and varied. The fact that we
don't know
	an 
		answer doesn't mean that we're stupid. It only means that we

		weren't exposed to it (no pun intended) nor did we have the 
		experience or know how to possibly get the answer. We all
know 
		things that someone else doesn't know. We can all then say
that 
		the "other" person is obviously stupid, since they didn't
know the 
		answer that "we" know. That notion is preposterous. If we
get to 
		the point that we judge others by the questions asked, and
the fact 
		that "we" know the answer .. perhaps it's time for Radsafe
to close 
		it's door, and only allow members by invitation who can pass
a test 
		devised by the most knowledgeable amongst us. Now who do we 
		want to prepare the entrance test?
		
	
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	The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and
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	information can be accessed at
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information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html