I chose this place to read and reply because it is called "Professional". I trust that those who use this forum, who are in the earliest phases of being professional, are at least trying to act that way.... You don't have to be employed as a pilot to have a professional attitude toward flying, and conducting yourself with other aviation people.
The Private Flying forum almost never got started because of comments like that. A fair number of people thought that PPRuNe was the place for Professional pilots and wannabees, not PPLs. It was then argued that "professional" was an attitude....anyway, we got the forum.
But that means anyone can comment, including those with little or no experience. Personally, I think that's as it should be. There are enough forums on PPRuNe anyway - you can read the professional training one (whatever it's called) or Instructors, or whatever. We don't need yet more split-offs!
As for knowing the experience level of the posters, try looking at their profiles. Some are recently joined, and/or don't fill them in, and I tend to view their posts with...caution, maybe...and sometimes suspicion. But a fair number of people do fill them in, and that'll give you quite a good idea.
Anyway, it happens in flying clubs too; it's just life. I remember a low hours student explaining to me quite patronisingly (after all, I'm a woman, so he just knew I wouldn't understand these things) why the minimum solo pilot weight in an R22 couldn't possibly be HIGHER when you had full fuel including the auxiliary tank. (It is; it's due to centre of gravity issues, not all-up weight). Then someone dropped by and happened to ask if I'd sorted out doing my instructor's course yet...you should have seen the chap's face.
