So many folks are selling cheap old unsafe kites to people that haven't a clue these days :barf:

This is a bad practice but as technology changes more and more people will be doing this and I don't think we can stop it.

So....... I seem to see a lot of folks looking for info on these old lousy kites and it makes me wonder what we should do about these folks ? I expect that if they get shut out by the forum they'll head out and fly anyway.

Do folks on the forum think it's best to tell these people about the flaws in there purchase and warn them not to fly them ????? ( + the perverbial, take a lesson )
Have I done the right or wrong thing by getting the manuals in these folks hands ?? Is it better to leave them in the dark and have them rig it wrong + ????

I thought that giving them access to manual for a kite you know they are going to try was in best interest . If they don't have proper safeties at least they will rig it right . When i give it further thought I'm just not sure anymore ?

Don't be hard on yourself or question what is the correct way to answer a question. I think on this forum and any forum, when someone ask a question and we answer it, we attempt to do so with their best interest in mind and to the best of our capabilities.

Second... thanks to ebay and the internet as a whole, these kites are far easier to be purchased. Which means they're falling into the hands of the careless / fearless all the more with ease. On the same note, thanks to the internet we have places like this for those that do want to learn, gain knowledge and share knowledge and gain friendships with others that share a passion for the sport.

When I originally got my first 4 line foil, I had no clue and the net wasn't full of forums and such like it is now where you could ask questions. After two years of cuts and bruises, lots of frustration, etc. I finally gave up to some extent. Am glad I came back now..the new technology and helpful sites make the sport all the more welcoming and fun.

I don't believe that any of us are professional kiters (I'm by no means anywhere near that..would still consider myself a beginner if anything... have had my ego completely busted that past few times going out after the kites have handed my arse over to me..haha). So it's not like we know everything there is to know about the sport.

Whatever the person that originally asked the question takes from us as far as our suggestions, opinions, etc. is up to them. You can't beat it into their heads, you can only put the information needed out there and hope they choose wisely how to use it.

You've also gotta take into consideration the age differences of people on these forums too. When I was younger I know I would only hear and listen to what I wanted. Now that I'm older and more cautious it seems right to go about learning things the "right way" as oppose to "my no fear, nothing can happen to me way".

Chin up buckaroo.....you've offered a lot of helpful tips, even to myself. Keep up the good work. Same to the rest of ya'll!
~Joe

This forum has helped me alot on my kiting skills and i would like to thank everyone whos helped me

I agree with Code. The internet is great for learning and sharing if you want but Ebay and buying your"first" or biggest power kite off it or from some total stranger is risky and sometimes just plain foolish.

But what can you do? If people don't listen they don't listen and mostly they will do what they want anyways because if they poke around long enough someone will support them or sell to them.

You can't be responsible for that unless the person is sitting right in front of you or shows up at your field. Don't beat yourself up. There have always been and always will be stupid and selfish people.

Offer what you can and let the person do what they will. It's awful if they hurt themselves or worse even someone else but that's where self-accountability comes in. Don't sell stuff you know is problematic and help all those you can and then let the chips fall where they may.