Bjornhall's comments have great value, and I appreciate them.
In an attempt to recongnize the need to combat complancency, and the risk of creeping toward "self determined god likeness" (I try not to be there, I'm only a PPL), I took more flight training in the last two years. I had two first solos, thirty years apart. I now have two licenses.
With one license, I owe a debt to help others, if I can, with the other license, I am obligated to listen a lot (as I was told more than once during training). I have fresh recollection of being a mere newbie student pilot, and feeling the foolishness of screwing up, and actually causing the need for an inspection - Boy, I felt dumb that day! I did ask a question on PPRuNe about my screwup.....
However, I have a moral obligation to my fellow human, to the extent that they are willing to consider my opinion, to help them prevent a safety failing, even if it means pointing out they seem to be failing. If you saw someone taxiing out for takeoff with the control locks on, how much effort would you put into stopping them? I once actually stood between a pilot I knew, who was having a bit of a fit, and his plane. I told him that he was not mentally fit to fly at that moment, and a danger to himself. He stopped, thought for a moment, and agreed. In that instant, his fit 75% disappeared, and he said, "you're right, I'll calm down before I fly". With that I let him pass, and he flew very successfully a few minutes later. Perhaps I helped him, you judge....
If I read a poster presenting his attitude as being unwilling to consider a safer way of (attitude toward) flying, I may post back in an effort to help. If I see a poster fight with dozens of posts to object to what many obviously experienced pilots are presenting to help him, I will post back out of an obligation to "help". When that poster said [I've had enough, I don't want any more] I stopped, though he came back with more fight....
We can each get tangled up in ourselves from time to time. When this happens, help from the outside is warranted. If it comes from an unknown person from another continent, via the internet, that does not necessarily make it not worthwhile.
I was thinking about the several references in the posts to "publications" as an authoritative place to gain wisdom and answers. One must choose the "publication" wisely to assure that it is appropriate, and seems authoritative. I've seen magazines which contained errors, I've seen textbooks, which were limited in their presentations, perhaps due to liability concerns. (I have seen a Cessna publication in the distant past titled "Getting the maximum performance out of the Cessna 150". I suspect the reason that you can no longer find that publication is based in liability concerns - Cessna would know how to write that book!)
I have read a lot of excellent and appropriate wisdom here. Perhaps those valuable writers chose to write here, instead in a magazine or text book, that day....
There are poster on PPRuNe who I ask first, before I pick up their, or another book.
Is this not a "publication" in our new world of instant communication?
Pilot DAR