What Is With All the Links To Threads Instead Of Answers?
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We are a diverse group with one common denominator, pipes. I've never noticed cliques. I will admit that I am less drawn to postings from new members which have been answered ad infinitum.
Whether entering a neighborhood pub for the first time, attending a new church or moving to Missouri there is a "fitting in time". The new guy and the old timers eye each other across the floor before making any determination. Some of the old timers might be "hail fellow, well met" types with the quick handshake and others will take time to evaluate. Neither is right, neither is wrong.
The gregarious among us are quick to welcome. Those less so adopt the attitude, show me what you bring to the game. Me? If you can't find the shift key on the keyboard, chances are slim I'll ever read one of your posts all the way through. I not willing to expend the time nor the effort.
Such is not an indictment on the poster, more an indictment on me and my unwillingness to belabor myself for benefit of the inept poster. I'm just not that giving of my time.
Whether entering a neighborhood pub for the first time, attending a new church or moving to Missouri there is a "fitting in time". The new guy and the old timers eye each other across the floor before making any determination. Some of the old timers might be "hail fellow, well met" types with the quick handshake and others will take time to evaluate. Neither is right, neither is wrong.
The gregarious among us are quick to welcome. Those less so adopt the attitude, show me what you bring to the game. Me? If you can't find the shift key on the keyboard, chances are slim I'll ever read one of your posts all the way through. I not willing to expend the time nor the effort.
Such is not an indictment on the poster, more an indictment on me and my unwillingness to belabor myself for benefit of the inept poster. I'm just not that giving of my time.
I think Cosmic pretty much summed things up and touched on some good points. It takes some balls to lay that out on this forum.
Anthony, I didn't initially come to this forum all cocky with pistols a'blazing. I'm just stating my observations not only from my own personal encounters here but also by observing encounters of others that come (or came here). So I have to disagree with you if you are suggesting that my attitude got me what I deserved. In fact it's the complete opposite as my "poor attitude" came about AFTER my observations and interactions here.
And again, I'm not putting everyone into one rotten basket but it only takes a handful of people to sour the pot. "Forums" in general are all pretty much the same as I hang out in quite a few. Some I tolerate and enjoy the discussions and I've developed good friends (on and offline). And as for other forums that just grate on me a bit more than I care for, I just move on.
I'm just commenting on CM's OP. All online forums carry a vibe along with them and if a guy hangs out there long enough they get to know whether it fits their personal style. that's not to say it's all bad but it's just not suited to that particular guys likings....so people go elsewhere. No real biggy or drama imvolved...to me at least.
Anthony, I didn't initially come to this forum all cocky with pistols a'blazing. I'm just stating my observations not only from my own personal encounters here but also by observing encounters of others that come (or came here). So I have to disagree with you if you are suggesting that my attitude got me what I deserved. In fact it's the complete opposite as my "poor attitude" came about AFTER my observations and interactions here.
And again, I'm not putting everyone into one rotten basket but it only takes a handful of people to sour the pot. "Forums" in general are all pretty much the same as I hang out in quite a few. Some I tolerate and enjoy the discussions and I've developed good friends (on and offline). And as for other forums that just grate on me a bit more than I care for, I just move on.
I'm just commenting on CM's OP. All online forums carry a vibe along with them and if a guy hangs out there long enough they get to know whether it fits their personal style. that's not to say it's all bad but it's just not suited to that particular guys likings....so people go elsewhere. No real biggy or drama imvolved...to me at least.
In this one and other forums, posting links to already answered questions isn't uncommon. I don't see it as a problem if done in good spirit.
The problem is when a newcomer gets comments like 'can't you google it?', or 'is it too hard to do a search?', which often can be translated in the newcomer's mind as 'are you lazy or stupid or something?' or 'can you quit wasting our time?' Frankly, I haven't seen much of this kind of attitude here. Unfortunately, even with smileys, written text cannot convey all the nuances of human expression, and even links given in a helpful vein can be misinterpreted as 'here! now shut up noob' sometimes. Everyone's different and some are touchier than others: not something that can't be helped by those replying.
I can sympathyse with Warren on the issue of questions that have been answered to death. When you're in a place long enough to have seen that, it can be a bit tedious and even grating to see another 'how do I fill my pipe' question. On the other hand, a newbie who's doing his first forays into pipe smoking and pipe smoking forums, and who just found this place and registered, has quite likely never seen endless similar topics or threads. Truly, we can't expect or require it of him to read the Pipesmagazine Forum Ephemeris before saying or asking anything. We should be grateful if he has at least read the forum rules.
The problem is when a newcomer gets comments like 'can't you google it?', or 'is it too hard to do a search?', which often can be translated in the newcomer's mind as 'are you lazy or stupid or something?' or 'can you quit wasting our time?' Frankly, I haven't seen much of this kind of attitude here. Unfortunately, even with smileys, written text cannot convey all the nuances of human expression, and even links given in a helpful vein can be misinterpreted as 'here! now shut up noob' sometimes. Everyone's different and some are touchier than others: not something that can't be helped by those replying.
I can sympathyse with Warren on the issue of questions that have been answered to death. When you're in a place long enough to have seen that, it can be a bit tedious and even grating to see another 'how do I fill my pipe' question. On the other hand, a newbie who's doing his first forays into pipe smoking and pipe smoking forums, and who just found this place and registered, has quite likely never seen endless similar topics or threads. Truly, we can't expect or require it of him to read the Pipesmagazine Forum Ephemeris before saying or asking anything. We should be grateful if he has at least read the forum rules.
It's always nice if the link is accompanied by a sentence or two.
It's like saying, "Here's some info you might appreciate." before handing over a book, versus just walking up and throwing a book at someone.
I'm with Warren on the shift key, also general writing etiquette and STRUCTURE!
Icantstandthedroningwalloflettersthatresultfromsomeonewithnounderstandingofpunctuationsentenceorparagraphstructuremakesmyeyesglazeover
andlesslikelytoreadit...
It's like saying, "Here's some info you might appreciate." before handing over a book, versus just walking up and throwing a book at someone.
I'm with Warren on the shift key, also general writing etiquette and STRUCTURE!
Icantstandthedroningwalloflettersthatresultfromsomeonewithnounderstandingofpunctuationsentenceorparagraphstructuremakesmyeyesglazeover
andlesslikelytoreadit...
Now, as for new readers feeling ignored, discounted, dismissed and/or conspired against. When I joined up here a few years back, I have to admit that there was a learning curve. I was new to the hobby and had a lot of questions. Questions that I thought were original to me, but of course they were not. Mostly, I just read the archives, followed threads closely and only asked questions that I couldn't find answers to elsewhere. After a while, I felt like I was getting to know some of the folks here and was comfortable enough engaging in the kind of pointless banter that cements friendships and, apparently, alienates newcomers. But that's not going to happen for everyone. I've experienced the flip side with some of my other hobbies, where I felt that nobody laughed at my jokes and they were calling me Poopy Pants behind my back. So I just left. Quietly and without fanfare, and sought out a neighborhood more conducive to my personality. A neighborhood with a diner that served links, patties and fruit cup.
kola, I haven't found Forums members snooty nor unpleasant. Groups of mostly guys tend to give each other some grief, but that's standard. One time I misspelled Castello Costello, as in Abbot and Costello, and that was a popular target. But for online discussions, this seems to me to be orderly and sometimes even mannerly, by comparison. So much online stuff sounds like group therapy in the maximum security cell block. Or maybe somewhat worse.
Crashthegrey: "...when you are first starting out it is easy to feel a little ignored. Comments from a new guy sometimes seem to just end a thread."
While far from a new smoker, I'm still new here...so for fun, thought I'd peek back thru my post history. Yep...nearly 50% of my posts seem to have ended the thread. 8O :roll: Sorry guys, but there is a good chance that this one's done now. :lol:
While far from a new smoker, I'm still new here...so for fun, thought I'd peek back thru my post history. Yep...nearly 50% of my posts seem to have ended the thread. 8O :roll: Sorry guys, but there is a good chance that this one's done now. :lol:
Honestly, yes, it typically takes longer to find a relevant thread and link it. It also takes longer to read the whole thread in the context of your question. And, and, more often than not, you are going to walk away far more informed than if you had received a little one sentence answer. I know it isn't fun, but sometimes you get a well rounded response from a previous thread, and are thus able to better hone your new question that perhaps was not answered previously. And then you can get a 2 page response to your seemingly simple question.
The worst is when they post a youtube video, and you have to wait for a 5 second commercial, before it gets to the intended message, and by then, everyone has forgotten what the video is in reference to, and I end up just watching blindly for no reason, then my car goes flying off the road, no one is laughing, because it all wasn't funny to begin with, I go through a barbed-wire fence, get airborne at the ditch, bottom out and roll into the cow pond. My pipe is wet, my tobacco is wet. And I had forgotten what the whole thing was about.
Then I set down on the bank, but I can't smoke my pipe, so... I end up talking to a cow. Dammit!!!
Then I set down on the bank, but I can't smoke my pipe, so... I end up talking to a cow. Dammit!!!
You can't fool ME, George.
You just set up a wormhole loop trap.
I watch Star Trek and I KNOW better....
You just set up a wormhole loop trap.
I watch Star Trek and I KNOW better....
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