Ask The Instructor?

Aha! Now we're getting to the heart of the matter. Okie, I happen to agree with you, but it can change very quickly if things keep on the way they're going. More and more people are jumping in to express their opinion. Before you know it, it will be the same as the main forum. This is why I started this thread. I can see it coming.

I hope you're wrong. But this is the internet and information is endless...good and bad :)
 
I hope you're wrong. But this is the internet and information is endless...good and bad :)

This may be the internet but it is a privately owned web site. In the end, whatever will be allowed is what the owners of this web site will allow. That is why all that someone like me can do is to make a suggestion. It's out of my hands, and yours and every other poster.
 
Aha! Now we're getting to the heart of the matter. Okie, I happen to agree with you, but it can change very quickly if things keep on the way they're going. More and more people are jumping in to express their opinion. Before you know it, it will be the same as the main forum. This is why I started this thread. I can see it coming.

i wish i could post my first responce and yours together
but i dont know how...:o...:(
can an instructor help me???:grin: JUST KIDDING..couldnt resist...:o

but my last line was this
do you feel why have an "ask the instructor " section if non instructiors reply??

i guess that is your reason and i definitely can see your point of view and agree in many ways:)

there is no question that an instructor with experience who has been exposed to all different type of players and their problems and their learning styles will give great advice

but as a student if someone has a problem i had to deal with
doesnt sharing what worked for me may also work for them?? i have always tried to include i was not an instructor.
should i not post here only to ask questions??
what if i teach pool (i dont) but am not certified by any group??
should the forum name be changed to "ask a certified instructor"

my questions are sincere and i hope you will answer them
 
Here is the BCA/PBIA instructor's association: http://playbetterbilliards.com/ The requirements are listed under the "Become an Instructor" tab.

Thanks. I've only given it a brief look, so forgive me if this is made clear, but criterias for each stage of Instructor includes; a written test and a proficiency exam, then the ability to teach advanced strategies and techniques, as well as to correct deficiencies etc.

So, how are these determined? It implies there's an indisputable manual for playing the game correctly - an exact science. Coming from a snooker background, I see HUGE differences in approach when it comes to stance, bridge, cue action, follow through etc etc.

Who decides what the template is potential instructors are judged against, and what is that template?
 
I thought it was a great idea that there was a place that players can go to ask instructors questions. That's not the case here anymore. Apparently anyone can answer questions, and they do.

What's up with that? What's the difference between this place and the main forum?

So who is going to set the standards on who can or can not answer questions? Who will be bestowed with the title of "instructor?" Will the "non-instructors" have to start all of their posts with "I am not an instructor, but..."

I have gotten some of the best advice from people I am sure would not be seen as an instructor and have also gotten some of the most useless information imaginable from people who are supposed to be certified instructors.

I believe the main difference between the two areas is intent. The majority of those who frequent this local intend to help, not hinder. What works for you and what you teach may not work for all. As for me, I like variety.
 
i wish i could post my first responce and yours together
but i dont know how...:o...:(
can an instructor help me???:grin: JUST KIDDING..couldnt resist...:o

but my last line was this
do you feel why have an "ask the instructor " section if non instructiors reply??

i guess that is your reason and i definitely can see your point of view and agree in many ways:)

there is no question that an instructor with experience who has been exposed to all different type of players and their problems and their learning styles will give great advice

but as a student if someone has a problem i had to deal with
doesnt sharing what worked for me may also work for them?? i have always tried to include i was not an instructor.
should i not post here only to ask questions??
what if i teach pool (i dont) but am not certified by any group??
should the forum name be changed to "ask a certified instructor"

my questions are sincere and i hope you will answer them


I think it should be open for anyone to answer questions who feels that they qualify as an instructor. I don't think it should be reserved for only those with credentials. I already wrote that. If you consider yourself to be an instructor, then I think you should answer questions here if you feel like participating. I think anyone else who wants to offer advice should do it in the proper forum.

I respect boundaries. That's just who I am. Other people don't. I don't answer questions in the ask the cue maker forum because I'm not a cue maker. If the forum was titled instead, 'All About Cues,' then I might answer a question if there was something I felt I could help someone with.
 
I think it should be open for anyone to answer questions who feels that they qualify as an instructor. I don't think it should be reserved for only those with credentials. I already wrote that. If you consider yourself to be an instructor, then I think you should answer questions here if you feel like participating. I think anyone else who wants to offer advice should do it in the proper forum.

I respect boundaries. That's just who I am. Other people don't. I don't answer questions in the ask the cue maker forum because I'm not a cue maker. If the forum was titled instead, 'All About Cues,' then I might answer a question if there was something I felt I could help someone with.

i understand your position and agree for this forum:)
however i think some thing will be lost from the students giving their 2 cents and the instructors correcting them
i think that is a learning expierience for both the instructor to see what didnt get thru:mad: and for the student to clarify their understanding
your thoughts??
 
I used to visited a website where you had to have some type of certification in order to prove you had the qualifications to respond to questios in the "Ask the instructor" section.

It was a complete catastrophe! Few "instructors" ever responded and quite frankly, many of their responses were incomplete. Subsequently, there was no opportunity for other advanced players, who lacked certification, to add their two cents.

I have found the current AZ format to be much more interactive. Sure you will get one or two people who are completely off base in their assessment; however, by virture of many responses, the average person can filter the data and hone in on aspects of the data that they feel offer the most reasonable explaination to their question.

There are many advanced players in this forum that are not certified but offer excellent feedback to those seeking assistance.

I'm in favor of the current approach and letting the student do their "due dilligence" when interpreting the feedback from others.
 
i understand your position and agree for this forum:)
however i think some thing will be lost from the students giving their 2 cents and the instructors correcting them
i think that is a learning expierience for both the instructor to see what didnt get thru:mad: and for the student to clarify their understanding
your thoughts??

There are always going to be grey areas in everything we do. But my main concern in each thread I participate in this forum is for the person who asks a question. So now you're suggesting that we should correct the person giving bad advice in addition to helping the person who was asking the question?

Well heck. How about we do it while hopping on one foot and twirling hula hoops around both arms at the same time?
 
There are always going to be grey areas in everything we do. But my main concern in each thread I participate in this forum is for the person who asks a question. So now you're suggesting that we should correct the person giving bad advice in addition to helping the person who was asking the question?

Well heck. How about we do it while hopping on one foot and twirling hula hoops around both arms at the same time?

maybe you should start your own forum where you are the only one to answer???:rolleyes:
that way you cant be upset that anyone dances at your parade:eek:
im done trying to be reasonable
and trying to have a DISCUSSION
happy 4th of july
 
I really hope this does not come off badly, but even from a moron you can learn what not to do.
I teach for free. Maybe I'm a moron. :)
I don't have a p.h.d., just 50 some years of experience.
I'm not an instructor.
Can I still post when I can answer a simple question?
I do know when to bow out.
 
Dang! I thought I added a signature that said I was not an instructor?
I guess I'm just not smart enough to get the job done?
 
i wish i could post my first responce and yours together
but i dont know how...:o...:(
can an instructor help me???:grin: JUST KIDDING..couldnt resist...:o

but my last line was this
do you feel why have an "ask the instructor " section if non instructiors reply??

i guess that is your reason and i definitely can see your point of view and agree in many ways:)

there is no question that an instructor with experience who has been exposed to all different type of players and their problems and their learning styles will give great advice

but as a student if someone has a problem i had to deal with
doesnt sharing what worked for me may also work for them?? i have always tried to include i was not an instructor.
should i not post here only to ask questions??
what if i teach pool (i dont) but am not certified by any group??
should the forum name be changed to "ask a certified instructor"

my questions are sincere and i hope you will answer them

It is called "ask the instructor" so it kinda makes sense that folks that repond actually do this for a living, or at least have the proper knowledge. The problem is when every one and his brother wants to answer, the OP does not know if this is some loon, an APA 3, or what.....

If folks wanted everyone's opinion they would just ask it on the main forum, and some folks still do. But here, they are getting free advice that many folks pay money for but then get advice from "folks" that they really did not want it from. They wanted Randy, or Scott or Fran or Bob, or at least some of the very good but not well known instructors.....

I"ve never been on "ask the cuemaker" but I really hope non cue makers are not hoarding the thread as well....
 
I thought it was a great idea that there was a place that players can go to ask instructors questions. That's not the case here anymore. Apparently anyone can answer questions, and they do.

What's up with that? What's the difference between this place and the main forum?

Players can still ask instructors questions here. The advantage over the main forum is that this is the obvious bucket for questions directed to an instructor.
 
SORRY! They said there was a "little" bit of alcohol in the jungle juice.
I think they lied! :eek:
 
Those who can, do.

Those who can't, teach

Those who can't teach, post answers on the internet.

Of course this isn't true.

If this forum is reduced to only "professional" instructors answering questions, then it will turn into nothing more than a client lead generator for those looking to fill their schedules.

Also it's going to be a pretty dead forum if it is restricted to the OP question and a "Pro" answering. Others chime into threads to discuss give opinion and get clarification on what is being taught.

If this were a classroom, there would be students who thought they knew enough to chime in with the right answer. It is up to the instructor to control and direct the discussion to the correct solution to whatever problem is being discussed.

If you are looking for one on one interaction, the internet is not the place to do it. If you are participating in this forum to generate clients, you're just going to have to deal with guys like me who are going to chime into a thread with a title that is interesting and a good topic going, regardless of where it is posted.

I've inadvertently posted replies in the snooker forum on topics of interest before I realized the "New" thread was in the snooker forum.

It's the internet, it's not perfect. It's up to the moderators to create some order out of chaos. We all post here because they do a good job.

:cool:
 
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Let's not ignore one of the most obvious reasons why we should not exclude non-certified players from offering advice.......Many "instructors" are compensated for their advice and are not always eager to give info. away for free.

I've been to an other website where the instructor elected not to answer an aiming question and instead suggested the student sign up for one of his classes......stating the answer was "propritary" or "secret" in nature.

Sadly, other talented playes who may have been able to assist this player could not offer advice due to a lack of "certification".

This website attracts more talented players than any other I've visited. If you exclude their insights simply because they lack "certification" you greatly diminish the value of feedback and knowledge availble to those seeking advice.

If credentials are so important, think about this....George W. Bush went to Harvard and he even married a teacher....and yet, I have a 13 year old nephew with a stronger grasp of the English language than George......and I suspect more common sense as well.
Harvard should be very embarrassed!
 
Let's not ignore one of the most obvious reasons why we should not exclude non-certified players from offering advice.......Many "instructors" are compensated for their advice and are not always eager to give info. away for free.

I've been to an other website where the instructor elected not to answer an aiming question and instead suggested the student sign up for one of his classes......stating the answer was "propritary" or "secret" in nature.

Sadly, other talented playes who may have been able to assist this player could not offer advice due to a lack of "certification".

This website attracts more talented players than any other I've visited. If you exclude their insights simply because they lack "certification" you greatly diminish the value of feedback and knowledge availble to those seeking advice.

If credentials are so important, think about this....George W. Bush went to Harvard and he even married a teacher....and yet, I have a 13 year old nephew with a stronger grasp of the English language than George......and I suspect more common sense as well.
Harvard should be very embarrassed!

I agree with you. I wouldn't like being told that I can't participate in a forum. I think it should be up to the poster to decide that they shouldn't post out of a respect for what the forum was intended to do, which is to supply an outlet for people wishing to get help from people who teach pool. I figure it's not going to happen. But I just wanted to express my opinion on it.


I've posted this twice so far in this thread and I'll post it again since it appears that people don't read the entire thread. I don't think an instructor needs a piece of paper that declares them as an instructor. If they teach pool they should be able to feel comfortable answering questions here. This section is called Ask the Instructor', not Ask the Certified Instructor.
 
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