A Poll - Suggest a Search or Repeat the Answers?

A Poll - Suggest a Search or Repeat the Answers?

  • Respectfully suggest doing a search to yield multiple answers.

    Votes: 4 20.0%
  • Answer the question again because someone may have something new to add.

    Votes: 16 80.0%

  • Total voters
    20
  • Poll closed .

MUCHO REEF

2003 TOTM Recipient
Premium Member
I posed the above questions based upon your feedback from a previous poll. Please take a moment to elaborate on your answers and why you feel that way. Thanks.


Mucho Reef
 
I have no problem answering the same question more than once, if is helping them out then I am glad to do it.
 
Nobody but elite members can search at all. A suggestion to go perform the impossible is frustrating and feels meanspirited toward the new members who need the repetitive advice the most.

No matter that a search might give them the more elaborate answer, they leave hurt and uninformed, and fail to make the 'personal' connections of learning names and participating in discussion and give-and-take question, which is one of the features of RC that DOES work.
 
I think people shoud do research and try to find the answer before posting a question. Not only does it cut down on repetative posts, it helps one to better understand the subject matter and retain the information. I am a paying member, so I can search, but I don't use the RC search that much. I use google to search RC. You can search RC through google without being a paying member. I choose to pay to support the site and my use of it, not so I can search.
 
It might be the same old question, but we learn more and more everyday here. Answering the question over and over does not do any harm to most, but yes it can get old.

I think hearing the same answer over and over while reading all these post enforces what is said and makes it more credible every time it is done.

Also, this forum is unlike any other that I visit, the amount of people here is unreal, and there is no way to get the answer to everyone with just one post. It should be answered again and again to get to as many people as possible.
 
What I would hate to see is the potential alienation of new members, newbies and even seasoned reefers who might feel overtly offended if someone says to them, "go do a search". I would never say that nor would I be happy if someone else said it. What every online forum lacks in my opinion is some common respect and common courtesy. Sure we see a lot of the same post week after week, but I would hate to turn someone away from this site because of the tone and misguided intent of those four words. If you recall the poll I posted a few weeks ago, a lot was derived from your responses. Click on the link below.


http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1104127

Note that of the 67 selection in the poll, 7 reefers were afraid to respond for fear of backlash by someone with a smart mouth. 9 reefers were afraid of being attacked, called out, and/or ridiculed. That’s roughly % 26 of the poll selections were reefers who were on eggshells because of their fear of an attacks and ridicule. “So what cha saying Mucho?” Informing someone of the search isn’t necessarily a bad thing to do, it’s how it is done. I have suggested to reefers to "do a quick search and you will find a ton of valuable information on that topic". Now if I said, “why don’t you use the search button”, or “USE THE SEARCH BUTTON”, that would be highly rude and very offensive.

In a perfect word, sure it would be great if everyone utilized the search first, but I am just as happy to respond if they don't, even if I have responded to that same question before. Or, maybe I won't respond at all if someone else has answered it completely already. In that case, I would be happy to simply agree with the reply, which is a great thing for use all to do. Sort of backing up a good answer.

Again, I just wouldn't want to offend anyone and run them away.
Just my take on it.

Mucho Reef
 
It is possible I did not clearly state how I feel and why. I think in general, not just here on RC, but in real life and elsewhere on the internet, people are becoming too lazy. In my opinion/experience there are a great many people who don't even try to search for an answer at all. They just want to ask a question and be spoon fed the information like a crying baby waiting for mom to whip out her... uh bottle of milk. This leads to most people using the information when they get it, not retaining the information well, and either forgetting it completely or just enough to later on be confused and give bad advise to someone else. I am not at all opposed to helping anyone if they have at least tried to help themselves first. That is all I am saying, I guess I am addressing society as a whole. Help an old lady change her tire since she can't do it - that's cool, helping a friend do some acrylic work for the first time - that's cool. Helping someone continue to be a lazy moron (not just here mind you) when all they need to do is use the very powerful tools they have in front of them (a PC, the internet, a search engine, and a little time) to take a little initiative and try to do a little research - that's just perpetuating a problem in our society and weakening the human race. Just my opinion.

Disclaimer: My wife thinks I am a pig headed stubborn Azz Marine, which may be the case and if it is, I could be totally warped and have no understanding of how a civilized society should work. I however still think I am right ;)
 
I also do not advocate rude behavior, instead of saying "do a search", I say nothing and do not post. Reason I am posting now is this is one of my hot buttons, not just here. I feel very strongly about people being lazy, and encouraged to do so by the action of others. If I have something to add to what I deem a good discussion I do. Again I am just a mean Marine who has an idealistic view of things and people.
 
Not all people know how to use the net efficiently and they know this is a place they can ask questions. I usually find answers to questions I have. Sometimes people just want/need personalized attention. No question is a stupid question. The simplest question deserves a response besides "go search for it first". As far as I'm concerned, we are better people than that.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9889314#post9889314 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MTB
Not all people know how to use the net efficiently and they know this is a place they can ask questions. I usually find answers to questions I have. Sometimes people just want/need personalized attention. No question is a stupid question. The simplest question deserves a response besides "go search for it first". As far as I'm concerned, we are better people than that.
I agree. Questions are ment to be ask. If you cant answer them like a grown up dont answer. You would not be here if you were a NO IT ALL. Yah theres a lot of useless questions ask, and alot of newbies here. we all were newbies at one time. I dont have any problems with any questions reef related. but i cant stand to hear someone flame someone about asking something ask over and over BUT that person might not have seen it are no were to look for it. and someone showing what they just got has helped me and others cause with a little pm i got a few polyps :lol: and for the bashers and flamers i just give them smiles
smilie_096.gif
 
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