Why do people ask the same questions, over and over again?

Maybe it is because the search function is mostly useless and the sticky's aren't updated.

For example, I came to this forum because I am considering getting my first bubble tip. Before making a purchase I want information.

I go to: the "Clownfish & Anemones FAQ" thread and see "Anemone FAQ." Great, all set to get started. Except when I click on the link it goes off RC to a site with a PDF document that I can't open.

Then I go to the search function. I try "Anemone FAQ" and don't see anything in the first three pages. I try "Basic Anemone Care." No good.

Frustrated with being unable to find the information I am looking for I go to post a question on the Anemone & Clownfish forum. I see a thread titled "Why Do People Ask The Same Questions, Over And Over?" I decide that my questions must not be important enough to get answered and go to google. I find another reef forum that seems just a bit friendlier, where my question doesn't seem to bother people and ask my question there.
 
I hear ya about the search function. If I really want to find something on here I either go to Google's advanced search feature and search under reef central's domain for the item I'm looking for or create a new thread.
I think that newer users may ask repetitive questions because they don't know any better.
RC members can be abrasive at times, (like anywhere else) but they're not all like that. The ones who are jerks usually move on voluntarily... sometimes involuntarily. I do get tired of seeing the same "PLEASE HELP! MY ANEMONE IS HALF DEAD" threads, but if I don't want to read them I can always skip to the next topic.
 
BigandUgly said:
Except when I click on the link it goes off RC to a site with a PDF document that I can't open.
Click to expand...

Seriously? You don't have the ability to read PDF's?

People spent weeks to put that document together, and you won't spend the 2 minutes it takes to download Adobe Reader to read it? And you're complaining?

Time for some tough love, brother :) Reefers need to stick together and help each other out and all, but I'm not gonna go to your house and download a basic web plug-in because you refuse to do so. I'm only half joking.

Rather than complain, why don't you ask for help.
 
BonsaiNut said:
Seriously? You don't have the ability to read PDF's?

People spent weeks to put that document together, and you won't spend the 2 minutes it takes to download Adobe Reader to read it? And you're complaining?

Time for some tough love, brother :) Reefers need to stick together and help each other out and all, but I'm not gonna go to your house and download a basic web plug-in because you refuse to do so. I'm only half joking.

Rather than complain, why don't you ask for help.
Click to expand...

Sorry, don't have the ability to download programs, including pdf.

And I wasn't complaining, I was answering a question that was posted. Isn't that what forums are for?
 
BigandUgly said:
Sorry, don't have the ability to download programs, including pdf.
Click to expand...
Fair enough.

Understand, however that there are costs associated with hosting large uncompressed files that are the size of small books. I'm sure you can appreciate that having ReefCentral host these files is a benefit to the community - but by no means is it a "right". While it might be more convenient to cell-phone browsers, etc, to have all of the information available in an uncompressed format, it may not be feasible given Reef Central's host or bandwidth costs.

You don't have ANYWHERE you can download the document to? (Even to print it out)?

Aside from that, I think you have a reasonable excuse for asking a question that has been answered in the FAQ :) Most people, however, never even try to do what you did :(
 
Bah. Who care what Bonsai thinks is a reasonable question is or not? I vote for a mod just deleting this thread. I have absolutely no problem posting a response to someone who actually wants some discussion on a common question or problem. If you do, move ON. It's easy enough to hit the back button instead of whining.
 
BonsaiNut said:
Understand, however that there are costs associated with hosting large uncompressed files that are the size of small books. I'm sure you can appreciate that having ReefCentral host these files is a benefit to the community - but by no means is it a "right". While it might be more convenient to cell-phone browsers, etc, to have all of the information available in an uncompressed format, it may not be feasible given Reef Central's host or bandwidth costs.
Click to expand...

Totally unacceptable. The forum should be able to do all things for all people. Information should be available instantly with zero effort.

I think there should be a little button I can press to have Reef Central scrape my glass and perform a water change.

--
I do hope that everyone knows I'm being sarcastic on this one. I've been on lots of forums with lots of different subjects. Every one of them has frequently recurring questions. It's the nature of the beast. Not worth getting worked up about.
 
tufacody said:
Bah. Who care what Bonsai thinks is a reasonable question is or not? I vote for a mod just deleting this thread. I have absolutely no problem posting a response to someone who actually wants some discussion on a common question or problem. If you do, move ON. It's easy enough to hit the back button instead of whining.
Click to expand...

LOL! You didn't write the FAQ :) (Which, by the way, was written more than 6 YEARS AGO) This isn't about "reasonableness" - it's about repeating the same question that people posted and answered a week ago. The FAQ was supposed to take all the most frequently asked questions and put them to bed, so the site could move forward. I would prefer that people establish a basis of knowledge, and build on it and expand on it, than repeat the same questions over and over. But that is just me :)

Tufa... why do BTA's sometimes show bubble tips and sometimes not?

Tufa... why do BTA's sometimes show bubble tips and sometimes not?

Tufa... why do BTA's sometimes show bubble tips and sometimes not?

Tufa... why do BTA's sometimes show bubble tips and sometimes not?

Tufa... why do BTA's sometimes show bubble tips and sometimes not?

Tufa... why do BTA's sometimes show bubble tips and sometimes not?

... I think you get my drift...
 
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Think everyone needs to take a step back and calm down.


If you are tired of seeing the same question asked, don't click that thread.
 
fwiw

fwiw

I've read many published works on Clownfish and Anemones. Although the RC Anemone FAQ is 6 years old it's worth downloading as it contains excellent information, some great pictures and (best of all) it's FREE!
Some of the information contained in the RC Anemone FAQ is more up-to-date than what you'll find in published works costing a significant amount of money so it's worth printing the file out.
JMO but you should read the RC Anemone FAQ whether or not you need to ask the same questions over and over again :)
 
Gary Majchrzak said:
I've read many published works on Clownfish and Anemones. Although the RC Anemone FAQ is 6 years old it's worth downloading as it contains excellent information, some great pictures and (best of all) it's FREE!
Click to expand...

I know Gary; I wrote the darn thing. That's why I'm trying to get people to use it :)

It is more than a little frustrating to see people come here and post the same questions when the answers for many are right there. But it seems like people are saying "I don't care that the book is right there; I don't want to read it... I want people to read it for me and tell me what I need to know when I ask them for it" :)

Oh well :) Seems like I stick my head up every year or so and ask people to read the FAQ and get shouted down.
 
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Tufa... why do BTA's sometimes show bubble tips and sometimes not?

Its a different species...

Tufa... why do BTA's sometimes show bubble tips and sometimes not?

Its related to whether the nem is hosting a clown...

Tufa... why do BTA's sometimes show bubble tips and sometimes not?

Its related to how much light they get...

Tufa... why do BTA's sometimes show bubble tips and sometimes not?

It depends on whether the nem is "happy"...

Tufa... why do BTA's sometimes show bubble tips and sometimes not?

It is a feeding response...

Tufa... why do BTA's sometimes show bubble tips and sometimes not?

Nobody knows for sure...


I think you get MY drift. These have all been the popular responses/beliefs at one time or another. A forum is not a book. Sure I'd recommend everyone read the stickys and take them for what they are worth, but this is a FORUM where open discussion should be encouraged. That's the difference. You seem to think that the discussion ends with your sticky, and it just doesn't. Get over yourself. Perhaps somebody jumps on the site tomorrow and says "ya know, I've never posted on this site before but I've been keeping BTA for 50 years, and I think it is related to how much iodine is in the water." I read this forum before all the others on RC because I am looking for new and progressive responses to the issue of keeping anemones. Until we see much higher success with keeping these animals, then the sticky is definitely lacking. When you post the sticky for the sure-fire way to keep magnificas alive or make BTA tips bubble, I'll stop looking on this forum and just pull out your print out.
 
The RC Anemone FAQ wasn't written or put together by just one person :)

When people search an internet forum for an answer to their question it's probably best not to listen to just any one person's response but rather take in the collective responses of those with some degree of credibility.

It makes good sense to cite the RC anemone FAQ.

Now it's time to wish all of you a Merry Christmas!
strong7.jpg
 
bonsai i told understand your point, get the same questions asked 2 or 3 times a day on my local forum. more of the point people are too lazy to do any research, they just want answer's and when given them they dont listen or believe half the time anyway's. think if people spent more time searching and reading they would have a better understanding on what they are looking for. wondering what people did before the internet days or before forums started. personally i just quit answering questions half the time cause people either take it as your a know it all or just dont listen to whats said and looking for you to just agree with what they are doing.
btw why do i have 4 bta's all tank bred and 3 stay bubbled and 1 doesnt ;)
 
mtbiker41 said:
evidently the moderators don't want newbies or lurkers just using the search function as they recently took the priviledge of buy & sell forum and trade forum away from us until you have 50 "relevant" posts.so now even though I know I can find the answer in search I just use the forum and ask questions that have been asked and answered thousands of times.mtbiker41
Click to expand...

I concure with your statement. Not only that even though a question has been answered a million times there might be a new answer out there or one that has been lost many moons ago and needs brought back up. For those who get aggrivated because a question is asked a million and one times why dont you just look over it there and a lot of new reefers. One day we will all be pros like you until then please either look over our questions and lend a kind word and help us out, never for get where you came from, remember every one was once a newbie.
 
Why on earth would anyone want to aggravate volunteer Mods on Christmas Eve? Does not seem like a winning strategy.
 
it wouldnt be much of a forum if members couldnt ask questions, regardless of how many times the question has been asked. if every question was asked only once the site would be dead :(
members should be able to ask whatever they like as many times as they like without feeling guilty or being punished or shamed or flamed/
 
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