Mr. 'Hands off'. "I'm gonna turn it over to you in a second, but first let me show you how to rub the bevel just to get you started". He gets carried away. As the sun slowly sets, it's getting dark and the newbie never got to lay gouge on wood, but the mentor has another nice bowl.
Ms. 'You can use my old cheap lathe & even cheaper tools since they are ok for learning'. She doesn't give a newbie a fair chance trying to learn on an Erector Set, a cold chisel and a knotty limb. He's warned not to touch her Pro-Pms & Oneway. Mr. 'I had to learn to turn all by myself'. He will save you all the time it took him to become a good woodturner. Trouble is, he learned all the bad ways and nobody dared tell him. Not even his one chum, Mr. 'Nevermind what the rest of the club says'. "I've been turning wood before they were born". Making the same mistakes for 30 years doesn't guarantee competence.
Ms. 'Trying to do everything at once'. "Here's a pine cone, put it on the lathe. I have to run to the store, but you go ahead and get started". "The lathe is over there. Watch out for Junior and his cat. Turn off the stove if it boils over". See ya in a jiff! That's one bewildered newbie.
Mr. 'First, let's look at a few of my fine homemade tapes and read all the articles I've written'. The newbie looks and reads and looks and reads and looks and reads til the Pulitzer wannabe and sometimes mentor, pronounces, "That should hold you for this time, gotta run, see you at the next club meeting. Bye. Oh by the way, if you're interested, I sell my tapes".
Mr. 'Supremely over Self Confident'. "Here, let me show you how I do it". He's a full page, half a tape and two rcw threads ahead of the newbie, but he sure wields the newbie's new $100 gouge with authority while sharpening it til the flute is one inch long. The newbie is impressed, although his face has turned a pale green.
Mr. 'Long on hospitality, but short on mentoring'. "Sarah is making us a quick snack. (ham, eggs, grits, biscuits and all the fixins. plus three hours at the table looking at bottle stoppers) to be followed by "Let's have a beer before we get started." The newbie had a good breakfast and enjoyable morning, but he learned nothing and his innocent wife is now obligated to put on an even more ambitious spread next day she's off work.
Ms. 'Golly, I forgot you were coming over today', "I'm so embarrassed about my messy shop'. I'll only be a minute cleaning up". Two and a half hours later the shop sparkles and the newbie is dozing peacefully. All is well and tomorrow is another day.
Mr. 'Let's see, you are?' "Well ok , I'll show you all there is to know about woodturning?' "Nothing to it, let me find a stick of wood around here somewhere and you'll be a good turner by noon". He has no plan, no clue, no mask, some strange tools and really can't take that half finished hollow form off his lathe today.
Mr. 'Obsequious, over attentive and excessively humble' ...that is until the newbie is overheard wondering if this milktoast really knows how to mentor. Then Uriah Heep's dialog becomes blunt and in slightly sullen monosyllables.
*********************************************** And then there's Mr. and Ms. 'Good Guys'. They know what they are doing, have been where the newbie is now and have a well thought out and tested plan. They conserve time and utilize materials properly and they wear well. They tell the newbie what he will do, lets him do it with unobtrusive supervision, then tells him what he did and courteously and firmly corrects his mistakes. Hallelujah!Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter