Ok, probably not my place to do this and if i am out of line i am sorry, i do see this cropping up a bit here and there and i feel a little discussion about it may do more good than harm.
Forums get new people all the time which is a good thing. Along with new people comes a torrent of questions which is another good thing, as they show a willingness to learn. Mixed in with those questions are usually questions that have been flogged to death or someone is showing signs of never trying to find out an answer for themselves.
This is where problems can begin.
For most people answering the same questions over and over isn't a problem and they are happy to do it. Some people are happy to answer questions providing that the person asking seems to be making an effort to find out things for themselves.
When people ask a question people will answer which is one of the many reasons the forum is here. There is a difference between being lazy and really being unable to find the answers you need.
Nothing changes drastically in the pipe world so for most things finding an old post will give the correct answer.
When people ask questions not everyone will know the answer word for word. Some people like myself will Google the answer for that person or even give a link to an article from somewhere. Expecting people to do it for themselves isn't being rude or unhelpful but you could say expecting people to do it all for you is.
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
Now nobody is saying don't ask questions if you really cannot find something then ask away.
For many questions a quick Google search will get you a instant answer and as there are usually many answers to some questions a little more insight is never a bad thing.
Here are some helpful hints to make searching for answers a bit easier.
pipesmagazine.com
Yes that's right the very website you are on has many many articles on various pipe subjects.
Using the website search function can find many interesting articles. You can also find some on the lower left sidebar. It is a long scroll down but they are there.
SEARCH the Forum
As it has been mentioned before the forum search function is lacking but it can work. I have found things using it.
Google is your Friend
you can find out practically anything you want to know and then find some things you didn't realize you wanted to know.
If your Google-Fu is lacking then try using only certain words. "I want to find out about Cleaning a Pipe using Retort", i could type in that whole sentence. Missing some of the words can give better results.
So i type in "Clean Pipe Retort"
Youtube
There are many useful video's on Youtube covering many topics about pipe smoking.
Typing Pipesmagazine in with Google searches can usually work out better than using the search function
Anyone got anymore hints or tips?
Forums get new people all the time which is a good thing. Along with new people comes a torrent of questions which is another good thing, as they show a willingness to learn. Mixed in with those questions are usually questions that have been flogged to death or someone is showing signs of never trying to find out an answer for themselves.
This is where problems can begin.
For most people answering the same questions over and over isn't a problem and they are happy to do it. Some people are happy to answer questions providing that the person asking seems to be making an effort to find out things for themselves.
When people ask a question people will answer which is one of the many reasons the forum is here. There is a difference between being lazy and really being unable to find the answers you need.
Nothing changes drastically in the pipe world so for most things finding an old post will give the correct answer.
When people ask questions not everyone will know the answer word for word. Some people like myself will Google the answer for that person or even give a link to an article from somewhere. Expecting people to do it for themselves isn't being rude or unhelpful but you could say expecting people to do it all for you is.
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
Now nobody is saying don't ask questions if you really cannot find something then ask away.
For many questions a quick Google search will get you a instant answer and as there are usually many answers to some questions a little more insight is never a bad thing.
Here are some helpful hints to make searching for answers a bit easier.
pipesmagazine.com
Yes that's right the very website you are on has many many articles on various pipe subjects.
Using the website search function can find many interesting articles. You can also find some on the lower left sidebar. It is a long scroll down but they are there.
SEARCH the Forum
As it has been mentioned before the forum search function is lacking but it can work. I have found things using it.
Google is your Friend
you can find out practically anything you want to know and then find some things you didn't realize you wanted to know.
If your Google-Fu is lacking then try using only certain words. "I want to find out about Cleaning a Pipe using Retort", i could type in that whole sentence. Missing some of the words can give better results.
So i type in "Clean Pipe Retort"
Youtube
There are many useful video's on Youtube covering many topics about pipe smoking.
Typing Pipesmagazine in with Google searches can usually work out better than using the search function
Anyone got anymore hints or tips?
