Perspective..... we all have one and it comes from what we hear, what we see, and what we read. The difficulty comes from getting enough basic and accurate knowledge that we gain the ability to filter the information from our sources and decide whether someone has provided info we wish to investigate further, whether they are talking through their hat, or if the veracity is somewhere in between. We all have to start somewhere on this journey and my personal opinion is that the internet is probably the worst place to start for a brand spanking new beginner. It is too easy to get misled by bogus or partially correct information which leads the person down the wrong path. To my mind, better places to start are learning from someone with experience and reading books older than the 1930s.
Like John, I too avoid the blogs and have cut back on, and will soon eliminate, my last magazine subscription. That is not to say I don't have more to learn. I certainly do and always will. I also have cut back on my internet time as I have become bored with the constant repetition of the same topics over the last 15+ years and find my limited time more productively spent either making things or learning face to face with teachers and mentors. Perhaps I've become jaded, but I think not. I just have found different sources for good information and inspiration. I'm geographically fortunate in this respect and realize others lack this good fortune. I just issue the warning that particularly beginners need to read critically on the net and carefully vet the source.
Dave Anderson
Chester, NH