Where's The Retired GM Engineer?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,203
Likes: 63
From: Staten Island NY
He was a pompas *** - having a thick skin is one thing, just being an *** when people either need help or want an explanation is another.
If something works great for one person, you dont need to discredit them because it doesnt support your point.
If something works great for one person, you dont need to discredit them because it doesnt support your point.
Last edited by warren s; Aug 7, 2007 at 01:07 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 886
Likes: 87
From: Largo FL
All I ever saw him talk about was alternators and tire pressure - and if you didn't run your TP at 30 psi hot (I run mine 30 psi cold) as he suggested he would flip out - I'm sure in his mind he was being funny, but the problem was he wasn't - just another grouchy old fart I guess -
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 8
From: Southwest Virginia
"Losing" Evil-Twin was certainly no loss to this forum; just because someone worked at GM as a project manager does not equate to "engineer" in any book I know of; his only claims to fame were the ability to swap thermostats faster than any human could possibly do and knew the difference between the various alternator models.
To extract his great words of wisdom required unbelievable humility on the receiving end; 99% of his posts were chocked-full of smart-azz, condescending responses, to the point where he was finally run off of this forum. I don't care if you are Dave Hill, *anyone* coming off as arrogant and holier-than-thou as ET did would eventually be discounted and summarily dismissed.
To extract his great words of wisdom required unbelievable humility on the receiving end; 99% of his posts were chocked-full of smart-azz, condescending responses, to the point where he was finally run off of this forum. I don't care if you are Dave Hill, *anyone* coming off as arrogant and holier-than-thou as ET did would eventually be discounted and summarily dismissed.
After that I tended to steer clear of any thread in which he posted.Its not a freedom of speech thing. I think even ET has the right to say what he wants. In this case it is how you morally treats another human being. That is one thing ET seemed to know nothing about.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
The accuracy of the information given, does not condone the rudeness and sarcasm of the messenger.
It's a shame really. Bill was an excellent wealth/source of information.
I don't miss the negative side of things at all.
It's a shame really. Bill was an excellent wealth/source of information.
I don't miss the negative side of things at all.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Bill (Evil-Twin)and I became good friends over the past couple of years.
about 3 months ago he emailed me saying that he asked for a perma-ban from CorvetteForum.com.
Bill, if you're still at-least reading the forum...
howdy !!! Hope you're enjoying retirement.
.
about 3 months ago he emailed me saying that he asked for a perma-ban from CorvetteForum.com.
Bill, if you're still at-least reading the forum...
howdy !!! Hope you're enjoying retirement.
.
Last edited by Mike Mercury; Aug 7, 2007 at 08:53 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Thanks for the update Tim. Hope he's doing OK.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 333
Likes: 1
From: Mendota Heights MN
I don’t miss the holier-than-thou attitude and the unnecessary attacks on fellow forum members. It is too bad that we have lost his wealth of knowledge. He certainly gave us a lot of good information.
However, his attitude often seemed to violate the very principle of this forum where advice and assistance is freely given, and opposing viewpoints or opinions are accepted -- or at least debated without personal attacks or berating fellow members. His intolerance of others overlooked the fact that sometimes his information was incorrect. In those instances, fellow members would unfortunately follow his advice simply because of his “stature” on this forum, and opposing views were greeted with ridicule or intimidation.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,561
Likes: 448
From: Atlanta metro Ga.
I'm a proud C5 owner, constantly defending the brand to all my Audi, BMW, Ferrari and Porsche loving friends.
Even took the factory tour. If I could afford new I'm sure I'd opt for the Museum delivery option as well.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,298
Likes: 4
From: American Canyon Lethal Injection
I disagree. I had a run in with him about brake rotors and pads on what to use to keep the rotors looking shinny all the time. He had a picture of his and swore by them as being GM Rotors and pads..Sometimes he was funny...but I think it got to him so he signed off, had enough of the 
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 26
From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
E-T was ok. The usual things he preached, and was accurate about, I learned in 10th grade shop class.
The best was officially after he "left the forum". I advised someone about training TPM sensors in free air while sitting in the car. Also mentioned that after doing so, the car would display all the flat tire warnings, and show 0psi on the DIC display.
He "wasn't here anymore", so he PM'd me to inform me my post was wrong, and that was impossible to do.
I replied, stating I did it exactly like that with my car, my new sensors, and it worked just like I stated, and wondered how he could argue my results.
He replied back, again touting his extensive GM engineering background, and again, emphatically stating what I had already done years ago, was impossible.
I then politely asked if he knew of the functional differences between early and late model sensors, and since I have an 01, perhaps there was a difference from his experience of the early model sensors.
Never heard back from him after that. I guess his technical background wasn't enough to overcome fact and personal experience.
It was his own hostility and inability to carry on a normal conversation that led him to leave. He wasn't always correct, but he could never admit to that.
The best was officially after he "left the forum". I advised someone about training TPM sensors in free air while sitting in the car. Also mentioned that after doing so, the car would display all the flat tire warnings, and show 0psi on the DIC display.
He "wasn't here anymore", so he PM'd me to inform me my post was wrong, and that was impossible to do.
I replied, stating I did it exactly like that with my car, my new sensors, and it worked just like I stated, and wondered how he could argue my results.
He replied back, again touting his extensive GM engineering background, and again, emphatically stating what I had already done years ago, was impossible.
I then politely asked if he knew of the functional differences between early and late model sensors, and since I have an 01, perhaps there was a difference from his experience of the early model sensors.
Never heard back from him after that. I guess his technical background wasn't enough to overcome fact and personal experience.
It was his own hostility and inability to carry on a normal conversation that led him to leave. He wasn't always correct, but he could never admit to that.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,945
Likes: 41
From: Corinth TX
ET seemed to have quite a bit of knowledge but it also seemed like you were expected to bow down once you got it. Maybe it was where he was from and used to dealing with people that way. One thing I have learned and try to go by is the treat people the way I want to be treated. Treat people with respect and be nice and most of the time they will be the same way back. Now if they don't after trying to be the best person I can be, then it's the old saying "F' em". Some people are jerks regardless and hate the world.
Now on the other hand you have someone like Bill Curlee who is always helpful and seems more than willing to help out a fellow corvette owner. Thanks for all of the tips btw.
Now on the other hand you have someone like Bill Curlee who is always helpful and seems more than willing to help out a fellow corvette owner. Thanks for all of the tips btw.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 388
Likes: 6
When I first joined I used to enjoy the lively discussions. There was a thread with Et in January 2006 that had over 4050 posts. People like him, love them or hate them, they make life more entertaining.