Forum Notice: Two Changes in Moderation on Your Postings

[admin]

I think too many other forums are either not moderated at all, or the complete opposite where they are too heavily moderated.

In contrast, I think we do a good job of keeping it well balanced. I really appreciate the job our moderators do with that.

However, there are two areas that need improvement - only because I have let it go on too long.

Please consider yourself notified that the mods and myself will be watching for:

1. Incessant bumping of posts that have already run their course.

2. Sarcastic, rhetorical, or disrespectful responses to newbies asking question that we’ve “heard a million times”.

From day one, 16 years ago I've always said, "There is no such thing as a stupid question".

Unfortunately, too many people feel this is not the case around here.

While I appreciate everybody that is a member here for taking the time to join the forums and participate, and especially our long-term members, please do not think that the rules don't apply, or can be bent by certain people because they have been here for a long time.

Just because you've been participating for 10 years and have 2,000 posts, and personally know dozens of people here doesn't mean you can be shitty to a new guy asking the same question you heard a million times. All forums are like that - lots of repetition. Deal with it. Just move on and stay silent.

I will be more active in joining the mods watching for these things. I will not be cutting anyone a break Think before you post.

 

[woodsroad]

Thank you, Kevin.
Questions:

Is it acceptable to refer someone, in a gracious manner, to a previous (and possibly current) thread that addresses their inquiries?

On a parallel track, can the search engine be updated so that new arrivals here can search previous postings? The current search engine is…somewhat lacking. Is it possible to embed a custom Google search function that only looks at PipesMagazine?

Thanks.

 

[georged]

Thank you, Kevin.
Questions:

Is it acceptable to refer someone, in a gracious manner, to a previous (and possibly current) thread that addresses their inquiries?

On a parallel track, can the search engine be updated so that new arrivals here can search previous postings? The current search engine is…somewhat lacking. Is it possible to embed a custom Google search function that only looks at PipesMagazine?

Thanks.

It already exists (for practical purposes)

Just enter site:pipesmagazine.com into Goggle's search box before any search terms.

Works like a champ.

 

[woodsroad]

It already exists (for practical purposes)

Just enter site:pipesmagazine.com into Goggle's search box before any search terms.

Works like a champ.

Sure, but most people coming here as new members don’t know that. Having it integrated into the site is the path of least resistance.

 

[admin]

Thank you, Kevin.
Questions:

Is it acceptable to refer someone, in a gracious manner, to a previous (and possibly current) thread that addresses their inquiries?

On a parallel track, can the search engine be updated so that new arrivals here can search previous postings? The current search engine is…somewhat lacking. Is it possible to embed a custom Google search function that only looks at PipesMagazine?

Thanks.

Posting a link to another thread that answers the question is always helpful and a common practice.

George is right about the Google search. The search here is ok, but not the best, but the best we have for now.

 

[LeafErikson]

@woodsroad @georged You don't have to do anything fancy for a relevant thread to come up from a Google search. Whenever I have a question about anything pipe related I just add 'pipesmagazine' at the end of the inquiry. For example, here is something that I would put into Google: 'deep cleaning a meerschaum pipe pipesmagazine' and all of the relevant threads would come up.

Maybe this is something that could be recommended somewhere on the forum?

 

[VDL_Piper]

I think it needs to be reiterated to all newcomers that you search first and ask later.

 

[Ahi Ka]

Bump

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

I think it needs to be reiterated to all newcomers that you search first and ask later.

Personally, I think it should be a matter of preference, as I've always believed. When a new member posts a question and we answer, "use the search function," it comes off as rude and uninviting to the new member. If you don't want to answer, simply scroll down. I would rather someone ask a question we may have answered a thousand times, and get an answer through conversation, and feel welcome and stick around. A forum without members is useless. The point of a forum is conversation. It may well be a question that's been answered time and time again, but there's always the chance something new will come up in the answering. If I wanted to learn something without the benefit of added conversation, I'd never visit a forum. I would simply ask Google. Forums are a dying form of social media because of Google and sites like Facebook. Take away the conversation and you may as well be taking water away from a plant. I'd like Pipesmagazine forum to still be here in another 10 years or more, so I say ask all the questions you want.

 

[sablebrush52]

To be honest, I'm more in the "teach a man to fish" camp. For example, if someone is looking for information that can be found on Pipedia or Pipephil, I'll look up that information, publish the specific link, and explain that these sites are a wealth of information and worth knowing about. They will get the link specific to what they want to learn about AND learn about a very useful source tool that they can consult in future.

I'm not sure what the "incessant bumping" refers to. My gripe is when someone goes to the "New Member Introductions" section and gang answers a bunch of them all at once, driving new threads completely off the front page. I've seen people load more than a dozen of them at a time, some months old. I may be wrongheaded about this, but I find it inconsiderate of other member's posts.

 

[paulfg]

I think it needs to be reiterated to all newcomers that you search first and ask later.

100% this
Its all very well saying dont say"this has been asked 100 times before"but when a little effort could quickly answer said question it does become tiresome.
just my personal opinion

Any way your house your rules

 

[Sig]

A dying forum can be a sad thing. Ive been on a few.
The two main reasons they die is rude, overbearing know it alls and telling people to use the search function. For a lot of new pipers who think a forum might be fun, asking questions is the only way to get to know members and the only reason to join a forum versus just doing a Google search.
There is currently a pipe forum online that has maybe 6-7 guys who regularly post. Most are great, a couple are pretty nasty. If a new guy asks "what's a good pipe for a beginner?" They get the, "it's just a hunk of wood, it don't matter" and stuff like that. Heaven forbid you ask ANYTHING that has EVER been even mentioned in the group before.
On another forum long ago I had over 30,000 posts over many years. Even at the very end I liked answering newbie questions, or pointing them in the right direction.
I currently belong to another forum where if I had a nickel for every time someone asked, "what's the best caliber for self defense?" I'd be very rich. I've got about 9,000 posts there sinse 2013 and still give a detailed opinion each time.
The point is, the purpose of an online forum is to grow. They way you grow is to have people interact with each other. Many of the first time posters are here just to get ONE question answered, but some are looking for "smoking buddies". That's kinda why I'm here. I have no friends who smoke a pipe. Occasionally I need a question I'd like opinions on, but much of the time I like having someone with common interest to talk to while smoking my pipe.

 

[paulfg]

To be honest, I'm more in the "teach a man to fish" camp. For example, if someone is looking for information that can be found on Pipedia or Pipephil, I'll look up that information, publish the specific link, and explain that these sites are a wealth of information and worth knowing about. They will get the link specific to what they want to learn about AND learn about a very useful source tool that they can consult in future.

I'm not sure what the "incessant bumping" refers to. My gripe is when someone goes to the "New Member Introductions" section and gang answers a bunch of them all at once, driving new threads completely off the front page. I've seen people load more than a dozen of them at a time, some months old. I may be wrongheaded about this, but I find it inconsiderate of other member's posts.

Again just my opinion
I dont read any of the new members introduction posts.
I come here to learn fron people like you about information,so just skip over them and agree that when the page is full of new member welcomes it is a pain
maybe I need to use the individual forum sections instead of new posts list

 

[ofafeather]

George is right about the Google search.

Could we make that a sticky somehow or put it in tha FAQs? It’s great to know.

 

[Pypkė]

I think it needs to be reiterated to all newcomers that you search first and ask later.

People are looking for interaction, not just information. That's why they sign up for any forum.

A few people can be real douches in this forum, and I don't think that they even realize it because you can't call them out on their rudeness. So it just goes on.

 

[paulfg]

People are looking for interaction, not just information. That's why they sign up for any forum.

A few people can be real douches in this forum, and I don't think that they even realize it because you can't call them out on their rudeness. So it just goes on.

not everybody,I come here to learn ,not social chit chat.
There are some really knowledgeable posters on here,ie Sable,John Guss etc

I apprieciate I may be in a minority

 

[admin]

I'm not sure what the "incessant bumping" refers to.

Hmmmm. You instigated the last one that started what ended up to be two pages of nonsense posts that created two full pages that had nothing to do with the actual topic.

 

[VDL_Piper]

People are looking for interaction, not just information. That's why they sign up for any forum.

A few people can be real douches in this forum, and I don't think that they even realize it because you can't call them out on their rudeness. So it just goes on.

If one wants interaction then it can be had in off topic discussion. Football, ice hockey, rugby or the weather, gosh you can start a thread about anything not pertaining to pipe smoking in the right area and interact with all participants. I think what drives many away is the regurgitation of the same question asked 100 different ways when a simple search can easily reveal well articulated discussion from years gone by on the topic. This forum is full of lurkers and the time they have spent peeking through the bushes must have revealed the machinations of the forum which includes the search function, so why the reticence to use it once people reveal themselves, surely not just for the sake of a chat……………

 

[pappymac]

I had a mentor in my young, learning days of photojournalism tell me, "The only stupid question is the one you don't ask. If you don't ask, you don't learn."

He followed that up with, "Of course, If you ask me the same exact question 100 times, then I'm going to question your capacity to learn and retain knowledge."

I don't mind it when someone new to pipe smoking ask questions.

 

[Pypkė]

If one wants interaction then it can be had in off topic discussion. Football, ice hockey, rugby or the weather, gosh you can start a thread about anything not pertaining to pipe smoking in the right area and interact with all participants.

So someone who joins up with a pipe smoking forum should refrain from discussing pipes. It might exasperate all the "lifers" in this forum.