gfp, I try to review the unanswered, but lack encyclopedic knowledge to answer all of them. Sometimes a nudge will motivate other forum members to respond. And I believe newbies do have resonsibility to search for answers . There is a wealth of knowledge here and a search can easily last an hour.
I do hear you about nembies having a responsibility to search for answers, but I have welcomed new members that have gone days without anyone saying, Hi Welcome to the forum. Take new member StratsRock, he tells us in his first post some info about himself and says he glad to be part of this forum and looks to the future. Nobody said Hi, Welcome or go piss up a rope. Then he posts about him wanting to start a new business and asking about a trailer, then someone had something to say. Then there is the newbie that hasn't a clue about machines, knows nothing about the names of parts and they gets nothing. If folks don't want to help others when they are asked then why are they a member of this forum. I know that there are some that do help, but others don't and they know who they are. Just think about it, thats all. Talk is cheap and it will not hurt you to say Hi, Welcome, maybe I can help if I can.
I see now, its too hard to say Hello or some are too good to take time out because their lives are so very busy playing on the net. What goes around comes around in life. Its just easy to be nice. If the posts are so stupid why are you on a forum that is supposed to be an information forum. (((Warning))) ONLY ASK SMART QUESTIONS !!!!! Introductions give you an idea of who is asking for advice. Sometimes you can't tell if the poster is a man or woman, young or old just by their forum names.
A year or so ago everyone got a welcome and people really tried to help everyone.
Then the trolls showed up that wanted to start drama. Thinking they are the only ones that know anything. And putting others down for the way they do things.
So a lot of members just stopped trying to help as much.
I have been here a few years. One member that I always thought gave the best ways to find the problem and the only one that I ever ask for help hardly gets on here anymore. Because of trolls telling him he gave bad advice. When in fact he gave the best advice.
Then we have the ones that show up and want to change things.
This used to be a place where you could get 20 guys telling you how they do things. Now we just do not want to comment after someone else has for fear of getting insulted and drama starring.[/QUOTE
Point taken. I hear what you are saying loud and clear. You all have a good day. Best Regards
I see now, its too hard to say Hello or some are too good to take time out because their lives are so very busy playing on the net. What goes around comes around in life. Its just easy to be nice. If the posts are so stupid why are you on a forum that is supposed to be an information forum. (((Warning))) ONLY ASK SMART QUESTIONS !!!!! Introductions give you an idea of who is asking for advice. Sometimes you can't tell if the poster is a man or woman, young or old just by their forum names.
As a novice I only answer posts I am sure about. I find that if someone gives the forum search a try there answer can be found there. To carscw I to can name a few past and present forum members while quite knowledgeable can be outright ridiculous. From annoying rednecks to know it all mechanics who require model numbers to solve any problem. There are a few unique personalities with unique experiences that can solve most problems but to many people want to turn it into a competition.
I used to try and answer a wide variety of posts and do more than what I do now. There are a couple of reasons I slowed down drastically. First, due to death in the family and a change in my job responsibilities, my time the last six months has been very limited. Second, with no email notification I miss many replies and it looks as if I reply once and give up, which is far from the truth. Third, many times I will read the thread and it is not worth a reply because, OP is in over their head or I know I would not be able to stick around for a lengthy question and answer problem solving thread. Fourth, many OP's want a quick personal response to solve their problem NOW and feel they don't need to search the forum for solutions. My time is valuable, and if you keep coming to the forum with a different problem, on a different unit each time, I know they are looking for us to do the work for them. We are not their employees, just people who enjoy sharing their knowledge. Finally, as many of you know I won't shy away from call a spade a spade, and certain members get OP's screwed up with their post. I then PM the OP and let them know if they need help to PM me. Many times I just don't feel it is worth it and don't reply.