And another thing, just because you worship the ground someone walks on... blah blah blah... ridryder is ... just a bunch of flunkies with patches on our arms that say we may or may not know how to save a life.
Experienced medics out there who know their stuff. That isn't the whole reason for respect.
You seem to think it should be the only factor. Like you said, there are plenty of folks out there who fit that bill. Even then, why should we believe what you say? Nobody else is whipping out their ****s about who is the better provider. You haven't exactly demonstrated anything except you are friends with someone who is easily fired up and disrespectful.
People here are repsected here because they apply knowledge to defuse theads like this, not start childish personal attacks simply because they disagree.
People are respected here for freely sharing their knowledge and experience instead of attacking others or demanding things be kept dumb.
People are respected here for advocating education and the idea that EMS should be progressed to something more than a vocation.
Such people are positive contributors. Ridryder is a positive contributor,
here (and on many other EMS forums)
for the reasons above. That is why he is respected. When you have a good amount as well, you might be considered one of the many respected members here too.
Once again, if your buddy had taken time to observe, he would have realized that.
Fedmedic said:
when I see someone belittling another's level of training just because they have more training, then, yes, I am going to tell you about it
PAGING FEDMEDIC! YOU NEED TO HAVE SOME WORDS WITH THIS GUY:
we police our own, when you reach our rank, you will be able to join in. Until then, leave it to us
Sorry, did you tell me to stay out of this discussion because I'm not a paramedic? *cough*hypocrite*cough*
...And they're normally very civil, but if you go attacking me or my friends...
You'll find the same here. Personally, I enjoy a good flame war, but of the 12 forums of various subjects on which I post, this is the most civil with the possible exception of the ultralight backpacking forum (which is full of dirty hippy love).
If your buddy accords reasonable respect to others and contributes positive and useful posts, he will be met with the same respect.
If he marches in here sticking his foot in his mouth and attacking
people he does not know anything about based on first assumptions, he will make a poor impression and garner little respect in return.
When you ASSUME, you make an *** out of U and ME.
And by the way, I may be new to this forum, but I'm no forum rookie either.
Your buddy received a negative response when his first posts were all negative and used to attack someone who is respected here.
If you are such an internet forum veteran, well then you shouldn't have been at all surprised or appalled by that reaction to your pal, now should you? 
