brobak
member
Reged: 09/23/07
Posts: 15
Loc: Gerrardstown, WV
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So, I was very excited to have a chance to interact with my father through my new ETX-LS telescope. I posted before about the purchase price being worth it if it offered the chance for him to do something that he was previously intimidated by, and something that we were both in to.
So, this past weekend, I took the scope down to his house, showed him how to use it, and set him loose. I just got a phone call from him.
He said that he turned on the scope, but it 'wasn't doing anything'. I suspect that this was just the normal boot-up pause. He went inside to get the manual to make sure there was nothing he had screwed up. Just as he's coming back out to the front lawn, he gets to see the scope spin around just enough to make the power cord taught, and pull the scope off balance and send it smashing into the ground.
Basically, while he was inside, the scope powered up and went looking for north, and the cord was just right such that it pulled the scope off balance. I don't know how tight he had the thing to start, but apparently it was just right to cause disaster.
I tried to get a feel for how badly it might be banged up, but he was so disgusted with himself he didn't really want to talk about it, and just kept saying that he'd buy me a new one. I let it drop.
I'm not actually mad that the scope is busted. It's more that he's going to be even more terrified of the thing than before now that he feels so *BLEEP* about breaking it. I'm more worried that he won't get a chance to have fun with astronomy than I am about the monetary loss of the scope because I suspect he'll never want to try again due to this mishap.*sigh*
Has anyone else experienced this kind of thing and worked a family member through it? Damnit...I just feel bad for him.
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Tombstone Sky
One-Eyed Jack
Reged: 12/18/06
Posts: 1708
Loc: Tombstone Arizona
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Well, at the risk of coming across decadent, Apollo I didn't work out very well, but we kept going.
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MJ "Morg" Staley
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M5 Dark-Site Observatory
Meade 12" f/10 LX90GPS "River"
WO 2" Dielectric Diagonal
Meade SP 5000 full set, 24mm Meade 5000 UWA,
BO/TMB Planetary 8, 9mm, Nagler 13mmT6
Meade 505/USB/ASU/SNP6
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Bob Griffiths
Postmaster
Reged: 10/10/05
Posts: 6592
Loc: Frederick Maryland
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No but as a Father and grandfather I sure have cured a lot of my problems that were caused by my children and grandchildren with my checkbook...
In you case turn around is fair play... LOL... only kidding !!
BUT to be honest I can't think of how a power cord could PULL over any scope it would/should break before it could do that...
Bob G.
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CPC1100
Nexstar 8i + GPS & Rays Brackets
Denk S1 power switch
Orion 100 mm Refractor
Meade LXD 55 ...AR-5 127 mm Refractor
Exploradome Observatory S.I.E. (Smiling Irish Eyes)
Gerbring Heated Motorcycle clothing in the winter
39*21'03" N
77*28'12" W
The sky over my head....
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Fish
sage
Reged: 10/13/07
Posts: 470
Loc: Norridgewock, ME
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Good evening,
You should not allow an honest mistake by someone you obviously care for to stress your relationship with your father or taint your - and perhaps his - taste for the hobby.
As much as you and he would like to forget this unfortunate incident, you both know deep down you cannot. How many times when you were growing up did you do something as horrid? I'll bet you both have had to deal with issues such as this in the past.
So, in no particular priority, why don't you consider the following:
--> Go visit your father. Tell him you know it was just an accident. Tell him that you just want to pick up and continue from where you stopped. Tell him it does not matter in the big picture. In other words, be a father to your father!
--> Ascertain the damage. It may not be as bad as you imagine.
--> Get over there with another scope as soon as you can and try again. Explain that this temporary loss of a mechanical device is not going to deter your love of the hobby and deny him the enjoyment of it.
Remember, it's just a scope. You father cannot be replaced.
All the best to you,
Marc
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Goseck Observatory
Kunming 152 f/5.9 & Baader Wedge
Orion ED80 & LS75FHa2/B1200
Meade 102ED & LS18CaKMDd2
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Fish
sage
Reged: 10/13/07
Posts: 470
Loc: Norridgewock, ME
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Good evening,
You should not allow an honest mistake by someone you obviously care for to stress your relationship with your father or taint your - and perhaps his - taste for the hobby.
As much as you and he would like to forget this unfortunate incident, you both know deep down you cannot. How many times when you were growing up did you do something as horrid? I'll bet you both have had to deal with issues such as this in the past.
So, in no particular priority, why don't you consider the following:
--> Go visit your father. Tell him you know it was just an accident. Tell him that you just want to pick up and continue from where you stopped. Tell him it does not matter in the big picture. In other words, be a father to your father!
--> Ascertain the damage. It may not be as bad as you imagine.
--> Get over there with another scope as soon as you can and try again. Explain that this temporary loss of a mechanical device is not going to deter your love of the hobby and deny him the enjoyment of it.
Remember, it's just a scope. You father cannot be replaced.
All the best to you,
Marc
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Goseck Observatory
Kunming 152 f/5.9 & Baader Wedge
Orion ED80 & LS75FHa2/B1200
Meade 102ED & LS18CaKMDd2
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lightfever
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/27/04
Posts: 1281
Loc: Macomb Michigan
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Hopefully it can be repaired or you can get a new one and have fun with your father.
Well stuff happens and it is just a scope and they make more of them.
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Mark
Tasco 15-TE 76mm
Sky Watcher 80mm ED
AT-111 Triplet
XT8i (with Woden re-figured mirror)
Discovery 12.5" f/5 Premium DHQ (PDHQ Split-tube Dobsonian)
12.5" f/6.3 Dob (Underconstruction)
Celestron CG-5GT EQ Mount
Celestron C4 EQ Mount
"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance in the rain" unknown
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Zoeff
sage
Reged: 06/10/09
Posts: 260
Loc: Haarlem, Netherlands
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Quote:
Remember, it's just a scope. You father cannot be replaced.
I think this is the most important part of the post above. The fact that he sounded very stressed over damaging your scope must mean your relationship with your father isn't bad at all. Don't let something like this change that.
And I second the scope probably not being damaged, if it can be pushed over by the powercord wrapping then it must be quite a lightweight scope. If it's got mirrors then recollimation might be needed. If it fell lens first then some cleaning will probably be enough. Just make sure you aren't using any cleaning agents that can damage the coating!
After getting it working again the shock of it falling will soften as well (for both of you). 
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Telescopes: NexStar 8SE, 90ED f/5.5 doublet, Galileoscope
Accessories: Hyperion 36mm, GSO 32mm, E-lux 25mm, Hyperion 8mm,
DBK 41AU02.AS, 2x Barlow, 0.63x Focal Reducer, Solar Filter, UHC Filter
My (astro-)photos can be found on flickr.
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Arizona-Ken
sage
Reged: 08/31/08
Posts: 308
Loc: Scottsdale, Arizona
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For once a double post about something that "should" be said twice.
Excellent, thoughtful advice.
Fish is a "Sage" in more than one area.
Arizona Ken
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"Considered as a collector of rare and precious things, the amateur astronomer has a great advantage over amateurs in other fields ... the amateur astronomer has access at all times to the original objects of his study; the masterworks of the heavens belong to him as much as to the great observatories of the world. And there is no privilege like that of being allowed to stand in the presence of the original."
--Robert Burnham Jr, Burnham's Celestial Handbook
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fastrudy
sage
Reged: 04/09/06
Posts: 231
Loc: Long Island, NY
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Yeah, you can get lots of scopes over your lifetime. You only got one father. Nobody did anything wrong, no blame, continue with your lives.
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"The authorities are not interested in Truth, merely in Authority"
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BRCoz
sage
Reged: 10/21/05
Posts: 431
Loc: Moreno Valley, CA
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Just tell your dad; dad I love you don't worry about it everything will be okay.
I think it is great the both of you can enjoy this hobby. Things will work out.
Bruce
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60mm AP guide scope
WO ZS80FD 10th Anniversary
FS102, AR5, APM/TMB 130
102 Apex, 8" Meade LX10, C11
PST
GM8, G11 & ASGT
Denk Standard, 25x100 binos
30D, 10D, AE-1, OM1
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edwincjones
Postmaster
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 5671
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as Forest Gump said, "**** happens"
Just get another scope and try again.
If money is an issue, share in the cost, or either one buys.
then try again TOGETHER
as a dad and granddad, I would feel awful also,
edj
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n w arkansas
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Bob Griffiths
Postmaster
Reged: 10/10/05
Posts: 6592
Loc: Frederick Maryland
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Marc (Fish) gets my personal BEACON OF REALITY REWARD with his comment on your Dad not being able to replace...
Bob G.
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CPC1100
Nexstar 8i + GPS & Rays Brackets
Denk S1 power switch
Orion 100 mm Refractor
Meade LXD 55 ...AR-5 127 mm Refractor
Exploradome Observatory S.I.E. (Smiling Irish Eyes)
Gerbring Heated Motorcycle clothing in the winter
39*21'03" N
77*28'12" W
The sky over my head....
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Scott Beith
SRF
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 37214
Loc: Frederick, MD
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just go give your Dad a hug. simple as that.
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   SLAP Observer (TMB130SS, SV102V, SV80ED)
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -- Edmund Burke.
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell
"The measure of a man’s greatness is not determined by what he accomplishes for himself, but by what he accomplishes for others.” -- Some Bald Guy
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star drop
Guilty as Charged
Reged: 02/02/08
Posts: 16395
Loc: Snow Plop, WNY
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Pick up the pieces and go observing with your dad again.
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Ted
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dVnt
member
Reged: 08/31/09
Posts: 29
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Some self-serving omptomism from the it/programming world:
It's not a bug, it's a feature! You've turned your telescope into a kaleidoscope. 
Just make sure you tell your dad that you're more worried about him than the scope. It helps two problems. It helps him deal with destroying something valuable and it expresses the point that what you care about most is that you two share this interest.
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Zhumell Z8 Deluxe Dobsonian Reflector
Zhumell 9mm 1.25" EP, Zhumell 30mm WV 2" EP
GSO 2X Barlow
Zhumell 2" Filter Kit (Skyglow, UHC, O-III, Variable Polarity)
Baader Planetarium 2" to 1.25" EP Adapter
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Sean Cunneen
Let Me Think
Reged: 08/01/07
Posts: 1229
Loc: Blue Island Illinois
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Like you never broke something of his? Let it go or tell him your scope was called an E-T-H-O-S and tell him you'd like your replacement for Christmas.
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Sean Cunneen
Blue Island, IL
12.5" Ultralight Strut Dob
127mm f/9 refractor
35Pan, 10XW, 5XO
Member of the Calumet Astronomical Society
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rollout
member
Reged: 03/25/08
Posts: 85
Loc: Broken Arrow, OK
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If you bought it with a credit card (like AmEx), there might be some protection for something like this.
Bill
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Meade ETX-125PE
Purchased 4/7/8...I am a newbie
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Rat
super member
Reged: 10/13/06
Posts: 154
Loc: USA
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It's only a telescope and it can be replaced. Be glad it wasn't a very expensive scope. Tell your dad it's no big deal and start all over again.
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WJB1960
member
Reged: 09/15/09
Posts: 40
Loc: Arkansas,United States
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Well I would like to put in my  cents. This is my opinion ok and from past experience with my dad years ago he set my house on fire,and tried to get things out before the fire dept got there,and it took me and a neighbor to get him out,and he had alot of smoke before we got him out.That was in 1987,he has been gone since Sept 2003 and even before he passed away he would every so often come by and say he was sorry,he never forgot,i did because it was all just material things that could be replaced,he could not.Too this very day I have never forgot how close i came to loosing my dad to a stupid accident and it was just that an accident.Tell you dad just that it was just an accident and if it cant be fixed then maybe you can go together and get another one.Dont let him think even tho he is affraid or worried that something will go wrong or mess up because it will thats just life in this crazy old world.Give him the support and understanding that he gave you when you were young and messed up something,we all did it and we all got some type of punishment for it,lord knows I did.Just like some of the others have said its not as bad as it seems you still have him and tell him you will help him until he learns how to opperate it safely and properly.I hope your scope is not damaged but if it is then see if it can be fixed and if he truly wants to let him help you fix it,thats what i do with my son,if he broke it and he can afford to help then to make him feel better i let him help but i do assure him its just a material thing,dont worry about it.
Good luck and I hope it all works out.
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Clear Skies
Bill
Meade 70mm 70AZ
Kodak Z710
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Jim Haley
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/04/07
Posts: 732
Loc: Surrey England (SW of London)
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First I would call Meade and explain what happened. It sounds like a design flaw to me and they might make it right (or help you make it right). Then I would try the credit card.
If the above two don't work, his homeowner liability insurance will probably cover"his" damage to "your" scope 100%. Alternatively, your homeowners might cover all but a portion.
If that happened with my Dad I would say "It's not your fault, but even if it was.... We are not even close to even. I can never repay you for all you provided for me, nor have I repayed you for all the things I broke".
As Harvey McKay once said "Sometimes you just have to think.....If money can fix it, then it isn't a problem".
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Jim Haley
12.5" f6 Starsplitter Dob because aperture and focal length rule.
Orion 8" XTi (with computerized object locator) because I view from the city and I won't always lug out the 12.5
Orion 114EQ reflector, Heritage 130P flextub Dob (My super portable dob is always in the car).
80mm f6 refractor (great for daytime use)
76mm Mini Dob (skywatcher brand). Hyper-portable dob base mounts to heavy duty ($100) tripod.
Edited by Jim Haley (11/04/09 04:26 PM)
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