Where are the Posters

[JMorris271]

I notice that there are several hundred members that are usually in these RC rooms at a time. There is however, a disproportionate few of those members that take the time to provide very good and timely advice to questions posed here and those that lurk and could contribute if they choose to share their knowledge.
I wonder why that is.

 

[Kardjunkie]

Wonder if most people in this room are beginners that really don't have enough experience to answer questions. I am one that lurks here looking for information and asking questions but don't have enough experience to be much of a help.

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

I lurk on here quiet often,but don't give advise or answer a question that I am not really sure about.

 

[CStrickland]

I think there's a couple things.
There are bots, like a program that goes around the internet looking at sites, and spammers make profiles some times too. So not all the people are people.

After that it's just a matter of whether somebody's in here reading and learning, but not interested in posting. Or they just figure somebody that knows more will do it. I can see how less, better advice is more helpful. Especially in the new reefer section. There was a thread a week or so ago about how new people should shut up and let pros answer questions in here.

I'm not sure about all that, it doesn't seem necessary for sk8r to personally respond to every "omg my ph is .01 too low, how much buffer should I add!!!1!" thread. Also, that thread made me think people might feel unwelcome. But at the end of the day this section is for helping noobs reef, and people with a lot of experience helping them are very good at explaining things with enough info to be clear, but not going on tangents or overwhelming folks. It does get kinda messy when a lot of people chime in with crackpot solutions to a simple problem. Like, ugh the ich threads can be insufferable.

 

[thegrun]

In the end it is better to give no advice if you are not sure of your answer than to lead someone astray. I suspect a lot of members feel that way and are reluctant to dispense of advice that could be incorrect.

 

[gone fishin]

There was a thread a week or so ago about how new people should shut up and let pros answer questions in here.

I missed that one.

This particular forum seems to go in cycles. It seems certain times of the year more folks get tanks. But overall there seems to be a core group of folks that help out.

 

[CStrickland]

It came and went pretty quickly, only a couple responses. I thought about making a snotty reply but decided to let it go for a change

PS I agree with Grun too. I feel pretty bad when I tell somebody something and then find out I was wrong. It'd be better not to have posted. A good thing about this forum is there are pro's around to step in if I say something really dumb.

 

[JMorris271]

It came and went pretty quickly, only a couple responses. I thought about making a snotty reply but decided to let it go for a change

PS I agree with Grun too. I feel pretty bad when I tell somebody something and then find out I was wrong. It'd be better not to have posted. A good thing about this forum is there are pro's around to step in if I say something really dumb.

With all of the great help you provide on here, I was thinking you are a pro.
:beer::beer:

 

[CStrickland]

Lol tell that to my bryopsis ;(
But thanks, I learn a lot by running my big mouth

 

[JMorris271]

Lol tell that to my bryopsis ;(
But thanks, I learn a lot by running my big mouth

B careful. That sounds too political.

 

[leviburns89]

Yeah its pretty crappy when I find out I gave someone false advice, and then have to defend my honor.

That being said, I feel like a lot of "mentors" stay in the shadows because 90% of the questions being asked, have been answered a million times before.

If you don't want to put in the time to read, and learn, how can you ever expect to grow, and thrive?

 

[T Haynes]

I think there's a couple things.
There are bots, like a program that goes around the internet looking at sites, and spammers make profiles some times too. So not all the people are people.

After that it's just a matter of whether somebody's in here reading and learning, but not interested in posting. Or they just figure somebody that knows more will do it. I can see how less, better advice is more helpful. Especially in the new reefer section. There was a thread a week or so ago about how new people should shut up and let pros answer questions in here.

I'm not sure about all that, it doesn't seem necessary for sk8r to personally respond to every "omg my ph is .01 too low, how much buffer should I add!!!1!" thread. Also, that thread made me think people might feel unwelcome. But at the end of the day this section is for helping noobs reef, and people with a lot of experience helping them are very good at explaining things with enough info to be clear, but not going on tangents or overwhelming folks. It does get kinda messy when a lot of people chime in with crackpot solutions to a simple problem. Like, ugh the ich threads can be insufferable.

The issue I'm running into is the answers are too professional and to specific and very hard for some people who are new to salt water to understand. I still don't know what exactly a sump and ref do. Have a basic idea but not enough to be able to make my own which is a problem to me since I'm very hands on and generally really good with my hands

 

[Itchy fishy]

9 time out of 10 I'm absorbing info.

 

[JMorris271]

If you are annoyed with or don't want to deal with newbie questions, don't come in a room and be bothered where that may happen. It's all subjective. Who'sent to judge?

 

[Xxero]

Gun shy.....

You can put all of the "IMO" & "IME" disclaimer pretexts that you want to, but be a little off on the correct reply and you get torn to pieces. Nobody likes public embarrassment, so I believe that most people keep quiet here unless they have a specific problem.

IMHO. :bigeyes:

 

[CStrickland]

B careful. That sounds too political.

Wouldnt be my first infract for that

I still don't know what exactly a sump and ref do. Have a basic idea but not enough to be able to make my own which is a problem to me since I'm very hands on and generally really good with my hands

Have you been to this site? http://www.melevsreef.com/node/710
That page is a great overview of sumps, and he has lots of other good info in there as well.

IMHO. :bigeyes:

IMHO; just my $.02; KISS; HTH

 

[Breadman03]

The issue I'm running into is the answers are too professional and to specific and very hard for some people who are new to salt water to understand. I still don't know what exactly a sump and ref do. Have a basic idea but not enough to be able to make my own which is a problem to me since I'm very hands on and generally really good with my hands

A sump is, at its core, just a separate (but connected) body of water where you can put most of your tank's equipment. A refugium is typically where people grow macro algae and/or allow pods to reproduce. By growing algae there, it can help absorb excess nutrients in the water and reduce the amount of algae that grows in the display.

 

[heathlindner25]

I only answer if I've had personal experience with the subject matter in question...hth

 

[oldhead]

I don't know enough to post so I read

 

[kmbyrnes]

I lurked for a year, and then started asking questions. Then I started learning from experience. Now I post when I feel I have something useful to add.
I read here daily for 2 reasons:
1. Every so often a question pops up that I DON'T know anything about, which is an opportunity to learn
2. Sometimes I get to give someone sensible advice before its all been given, so I don't sound like a 'me too'.

We all contribute in our own ways to this community. Even if the majority of posts come from just a few knowledgeable reefers, aren't those asking for advice better served by the voice of experience?