24,065 and climbing...
We need to not only encourage, but insure that newcomers feel safe and comfortable posting questions and machining concerns on here. That means tolerance and kindness must always be of the first order. They must feel that they are not being "swallowed up" by those with superior knowledge, experience, and skills. The above seems somewhat simplistic, but with this many members of differing skills levels, it really isn't.
We have, regrettably, had a rash of "chest thumping" and "my expertise trumps your expertise" in the past. This is counterproductive to the mission of our site. Fortunately, some of the major offenders have been sent on their way. The objective is always to help members get things accomplished, and that goal is second to none.