[Source] Punctuation steel

As I catch up of two weeks of Orchid I’m moved to a philosophical
observation.

This thread was begun by an innocent question about sources of steel
for making punches then morphed into a discussion about processing
that steel. A number of the questioners have exhibited their
ignorance (not stupidity, but ignorance) of steel specifications,
what tool steel is and how it is best processed. The responders,
however, came forward one after another and clarified these
questions. But several questioners have exhibited a pattern of
thinking that moves me to speak up.

We are now in the fifth generation of the progressive movement in
our culture, most prominent in education but also clearly present in
literature, music, entertainment, art, politics, the law, etc. It
has become the common wisdom that there is no right and wrong, no
real truth, all authority should be challenged. In this current
culture words have no real meaning, it’s only important how they make
you feel. I’m sorry, Folks, but this is nonsense, it’s intellectual
anarchy and it’s destroying our culture (is the “girls gone wild” I
see on TV almost every night really happening?).

Words do have meaning, steel is defined, tool steel is defined, and
the people who make it are telling you how to process it to give you
the best results. This doesn’t mean you have to do it that way, only
if you want the best results. If you want to treat it
differently-OK, but don’t do it in ignorance.

There is a real truth and it is freely available to you right here
on Orchid.

Dr. Mac

Words do have meaning, steel is defined, tool steel is defined,
and the people who make it are telling you how to process it to
give you the best results. This doesn't mean you have to do it that
way, only if you want the best results. 

Let us define few things from the craftsman point of view. steel -
alloy of iron and carbon. Everything else can be ignored tool steel -
steel containing enough carbon so it can be hardened people who make
tool steel - very knowledgeable but their recommendations are given
with specific purpose in mind. Not applicable to craftsman practice.
best results - tools for infrequent occasional use which maintain
their shape and safe to use, and accomplished with the minimum amount
of money spent. good sources of tool steel - junk yards and flea
markets. As a rule, maker is unknown and instructions are not
available.

Leonid Surpin

It has become the common wisdom that there is no right and wrong,
no real truth, all authority should be challenged. 

Yeah, David - there’s nothing to be done with people who think facts
are debatable except let them go on their merry way. It IS pretty
much a mindset, and so there’s no hope of the light getting in. Not
meant to be pointed at those on the thread, just the social
phenomenon David mentions - the Me generation grew up to be something
not very interesting, unless one shares a fascination with
navel-examination…