Something I have noticed

[rlpaul]

I don't mind seeing the same questions over time so much as the "What's the best XXXX to get?" threads when there's the exact same thread started the exact same day by someone else two posts down. Seriously? Its one thing when somebody uses the search function, and can't find what they're looking for. Its quite another not to at least look at the first page of threads.

Makes me wonder; Do these people open an encyclopedia, then ask the person next to them what page to find tractors on? C'mon, at least pretend to look at the index!

Granted, Google site search is the preferred method, and should have been for the past 10 years as its nothing new - but I don't think we can expect people to just use that automatically. Some of the posts, for example the ones by @Koa are nicely written suggesting how to use it. Some of them are just downright rude.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by rlpaul

I don't mind seeing the same questions over time so much as the "What's the best XXXX to get?" threads when there's the exact same thread started the exact same day by someone else two posts down. Seriously? Its one thing when somebody uses the search function, and can't find what they're looking for. Its quite another not to at least look at the first page of threads.

Makes me wonder; Do these people open an encyclopedia, then ask the person next to them what page to find tractors on? C'mon, at least pretend to look at the index!

Granted, Google site search is the preferred method, and should have been for the past 10 years as its nothing new - but I don't think we can expect people to just use that automatically. Some of the posts, for example the ones by @Koa are nicely written suggesting how to use it. Some of them are just downright rude.

I have never really subscribed to the "search yourself" response but will usually just give one single link with nothing else said to the initial question. Sort of a subtle hint. Where things go from there is totally up to the response (or lack there of in many cases) of the OP.

As far as what a lot of people consider "rude" can be simple misreading of a response. It sometimes doesn't matter how you phrase something some people just simply read everything as angry or rude. This misunderstanding of the intent in which it was written can lead to conflict where there really was no need. The scenario where somebody asks a vague or unclear question and the response is something like "what do you plan to do with your car?" and the OP flips out seems to happen all the time. I have actually got in the habit of inserting a "not angry or sarcastic" disclaimer when asking what could be considered a rude question if I think it will be misconstrued.

[raven1231]

Originally Posted by blue_frs

I think that i speak for a lot of people when I say that there are a lot of a**holes on this forum.

I have seen it plenty of times where someone asks a question and then get flamed for asking it. Isn't part of the reason for a forum to ask questions and get feedack? If someone asks a question that CAN be answered through a SEARCH doesnt mean that the person didn't try to find the answer themself. I know that when I search for things I don't always get the information I'm looking for. Or it may be a technical topic that I know nothing about so I dont understand what im reading.

Example:
I know nothing about tuning(engine or suspension), so when I search I get all the technical jargin on the subject which I dont understand. I then post a question in hopes that someone will help me understand more about tuning(because we all started from the same place, knowing nothing on the subject). There are some of you that provide help and guidence and even post a link to a barney level thread which is extremely helpful.

Then there are those of you that just want to rag on and troll the OP about "no one likes to just hands out answers," "should have just done a seach, this has already been answered plenty of times," "took me only 3 mins to find this thread through the search." Those kind of posts are not necessary. We are all adults here, right, act like it. If you have an answer to someones quesion cool answer it and be done. Don't criticize someone because they cannont find the information. Because like in my example just cause there is an answer, it doesnt mean that the OP was able to understand what they were reading.

Here are some examples of what I saw today that caused this rant.
"OP, one thing about this forum is you must search. Obviously you're not the first person to ask something like this, and there's tons of info on tuning solutions." maybe the information was out of the OP's comprehension level, thats why they asked the question.
"Oh, and wait a minute, what's this? I've just discovered that there's an entire section on this board related to tuning! Maybe you should take a look in there?" Really we are going to start mocking the OP because they asked the question.

end rant

SEARCH!!! THIS IS LIKE THE 100th THREAD ON THIS TOPIC! BTW I'M SO PISSED OFF YOU DID SOMETHING TO YOUR CAR THAT I WOULDNT HAVE DONE TO MINE!!!

[Allch Chcar]

Try posting less and searching more. This rant has been done many times before.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Allch Chcar

Try posting less and searching more. This rant has been done many times before.

What didn't get the memo? ft86club.com has a strict policy on posting makeup:

20%: New valuable discussion
40%: Reposts
40%: Circlejerking

This fulfills both the "Repost" and "Circlejerking" criteria so OP is a valuable forum contributor.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

What didn't get the memo? ft86club.com has a strict policy on posting makeup:

20%: New valuable discussion
40%: Reposts
40%: Circlejerking

This fulfills both the "Repost" and "Circlejerking" criteria so OP is a valuable forum contributor.

Damn it! I am way low on my repost quota. I guess my contributor value has plummeted on the International Forum Exchange.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Damn it! I am way low on my repost quota. I guess my contributor value has plummeted on the International Forum Exchange.

No way, we need to balance out the n00bs who's post makeups are typically 80% reposts and 20% circlejerking.

The ecosystem is natural and the guidelines are an effort to preserve the feeling of an open forum that is free and welcoming (after all, this place is for-profit).

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

No way, we need to balance out the n00bs who's post makeups are typically 80% reposts and 20% circlejerking.

The ecosystem is natural and the guidelines are an effort to preserve the feeling of an open forum that is free and welcoming (after all, this place is for-profit).

Well technically, by pure chronological measurement I think that I would still qualify as a n00b.
Never considered the "for-profit" aspect before. If they are charging by post count I think I have earned a cut!

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Well technically, by pure chronological measurement I think that I would still qualify as a n00b.

Ah but see, in car forums being a n00b not as much dictated by time on the boards as it is based on the content of the post.

You're not starting threads about intakes and wheel choices.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

Ah but see, in car forums being a n00b not as much dictated by time on the boards as it is based on the content of the post.

You're not starting threads about intakes and wheel choices.

Not yet...

[rlpaul]

Tcoat is currently taking lessons from SquadRogue on how to properly start threads...

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by rlpaul

Tcoat is currently taking lessons from SquadRogue on how to properly start threads...

It is a long and arduous learning process and I do not expect to be fully up too any form of new thread posting competence in the foreseeable future.

[Allch Chcar]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

What didn't get the memo? ft86club.com has a strict policy on posting makeup:

20%: New valuable discussion
40%: Reposts
40%: Circlejerking

This fulfills both the "Repost" and "Circlejerking" criteria so OP is a valuable forum contributor.

That's the forum policy for general subforums. Policy exempts Off Topic and Other Automotive from as much of the Reposts and requires more realistic posts representation of an "elite" and "OG" environment.

And we are allowed to deviate from the original topic at a much faster pace for a longer period of time before a topic gets locked for train derailment. For example the ND Miata reveal went offtopic on the 3rd page and continued for several more, using the "maximum posts per page" setting. Which would be even longer to forum newbies that don't know about the "maximum post per page" setting.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Allch Chcar

That's the forum policy for general subforums. Policy exempts Off Topic and Other Automotive from as much of the Reposts and requires more realistic posts representation of an "elite" and "OG" environment.

And we are allowed to deviate from the original topic at a much faster pace for a longer period of time before a topic gets locked for train derailment. For example the ND Miata reveal went offtopic on the 3rd page and continued for several more, using the "maximum posts per page" setting. Which would be even longer to forum newbies that don't know about the "maximum post per page" setting.

When a reasonable well stated question is asked it is generally answered within the first 3 or 4 posts. The multitude of "I have that too" and exactly the same but worded slightly differently answers that follow can sometimes be staggering but can also devolve into derailment just out of the pure absurdity of them. Anybody truly looking for answers can probably get all they need out of the first few posts and skip the pages that follow. There are of course exceptions where new info becomes available but if the topic and thread are strong enough they can easily recover from a brief derailment.


Ridiculous questions or those that are so subjective as to divide the possible responses into multiple camps can of course delve into madness in a hurry. It is very rare indeed that there was any info of value that was going to come out of the answers to those types of questions in the first place. These ones can also cause more damage than good since sometimes the people with the most convincing sounding argument, better communication skills or are just plain stubborn and wear down the others can be taken as fact when in reality they are just plain wrong.