Ask a question, then feck off

[tim_ber]

But there is another side to this ...

A couple of years ago on another forum - different subject matter entirely - I asked for opinions etc., and duly received same.

I then posted to say 'thanks, very useful' etc. - and was immediately hauled over the coals for 'wasting bandwidth'. I was told - very bluntly - that a post containing only 'thanks' added nothing to the general pool of knowledge or to any debate ... And my post was duly deleted by the mods.

Personally, I think it only common courtesy to extend thanks to anyone who has helped, or tried to help. But it would seem that not everyone, in this brave new technological world of ours, shares the same view.

I will often post a pm as a means of thanks to save bumping a thread to the top that others may no longer be interested in. Bit over the top by the posters of whatever forum you were on before to have a go at you just for saying "thanks".

 

[Quandary]

Flattery will get you nowhere, you of all people, should know that.
Cheers, and a Happy New Year to you too.

Now who else could I pick a fight with while this effn rain continues.

 

[electrosys]

Just out of interest ...

What's the protocol if a specific question is asked - say, how to go about fixing something - and the responses received do not address the question being asked.

So, they're typically, "I wouldn't bother repairing that", "buy a new one", "replace it with XXX", "I always use brand NNN", etc. Should a questioner really be expected to thank people for not addressing the question being asked, and for only publicising their own preferences ?

"Thanks for not answering my question" would seem a tad ... well, inflammatory.

 

[Billjratt]

Jeez, I thought it was just the Scots who had a chip on their shoulder.QUOTE]

I beg your pardon?



Perhaps it should be a forum guiderule that you mark or tag or whatever, any request you have made, and only untag it when you have closed the problem and thanked the participants.
I know that I sometimes forget to follow up posts I have opened especially if the problem had a simple resolution, or if it was obvious that the help available wasn't productive.

 

[Poignard]

Just out of interest ...

What's the protocol if a specific question is asked - say, how to go about fixing something - and the responses received do not address the question being asked.

So, they're typically, "I wouldn't bother repairing that", "buy a new one", "replace it with XXX", "I always use brand NNN", etc. Should a questioner really be expected to thank people for not addressing the question being asked, and for only publicising their own preferences ?

"Thanks for not answering my question" would seem a tad ... well, inflammatory.

All a bit academic really. Most threads end up with the 'advisors' being so busy fighting amongst themselves that the original question is long forgotten.

 

[afterpegassus]

Now who else could I pick a fight with while this effn rain continues.

.........the nail on the head. 2 1/2 weeks at home with shower after shower, gale after gale. Cabin fever is just below the surface .

 

[electrosys]

Bit over the top by the posters of whatever forum you were on before to have a go at you just for saying "thanks".

It's not just 'thanks' - but on some forums (fora ?), replies containing "+1", "me, too" etc., are also strictly verbotten - for the reasons given earlier. They even specify this in their 'rules of conduct'.

Yep - these are really fun places to visit ...

 

[Quandary]

I did not raise this because I wanted to be thanked, I don't actually care about that. What I am complaining about is raising half a question and then failing to provide the information needed to complete it or formulate an answer. That is starting a dialogue and then abandoning it before it is complete.
If you have the energy to ask the question surely you still have enough to participate in the resolution and if possible report the results to those that helped you.

 

[rib]

parsifal...........may be right imo

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

I am sure most people are very grateful for the replies, but in many cases threads can go on for ever; however, lets be kind and carry on supporting all who have the courage to ask questions.

 

[chewi]

I agree 100% - many is the time I have witnessed - and participated in - threads where the OP does not have the courtesy to thank or give feedback.

I'll extend the rant - so many cannot bring themselves to admit where they have been wrong and someone else has proved it to them - they just disappear, presumably licking their metaphorical wounds, without being graceful enough to acknowledge it.

Same circumstances from another point of view Barnacle. Some posters begin to bicker (not yourself as far as I know!), at which point I consider leaving the endless thread. Some might interpret that departure as being proved wrong and running way, but theres no point in exacerbating it .

 

[Downsman]

.........the nail on the head. 2 1/2 weeks at home with shower after shower, gale after gale. Cabin fever is just below the surface .

Well send some down here, please. The water supply mob are muttering about drought and restrictions...Today? Yep sunny, chill wind though...

 

[colvic987]

Now who else could I pick a fight with while this effn rain continues.

What rain?????

At least you get another BH tomorrow to repeat todays plans which might have been disrupted, back to work for us sassenachs...


Happy new year to all forumites

 

[BrianH]

Same circumstances from another point of view Barnacle. Some posters begin to bicker (not yourself as far as I know!), at which point I consider leaving the endless thread. Some might interpret that departure as being proved wrong and running way, but theres no point in exacerbating it .

A valid point, there are plenty of examples of that. No, I mean where someone makes an emphatic but erroneous statement that is refuted by a more knowledgeable contributor. It seems only fair to concede the point, but that rarely happens - it all goes silent from that poster, which seems a strange hang-up to me. Perhaps I'm so used to being wrong

 

[James W]

All I can say is that I have asked (far too!) many questions of the forum, but as I needed the benefit of the collective wisdom, I have always read, commented and thanked those that have helped.

Without the help of the more experienced, I for one would be right up the creek!

Cheers guys and Happy New Year!

 

[Lakesailor]

Cor. What a lot of whingeing.

The only thing that can be a bit annoying is the tyro who reads the first post and answers with all his substantial knowledge oblivious to the fact all his points have been covered already, if only he had bothered to read the rest of the thread.
Nothing wrong with agreeing with an already expressed opinion.

Bandwidth?? how much bandwidth would "+1" use?
Do people still pay for bandwidth, other than in blocks of gazillions of Gbs.

 

[DennisF]

There can be another reason for lack of thanks as well. People like me who are recent joiners to the forum have to have all of their posts reviewed by a moderator before they are visible. There is no timeframe given to this absurdity. Thus in my 'Milford Haven' thread I have placed 2 thank you posts which are still not visible over 48 hours later, which is an eternity in Internet terms. Time of this post: 15:19 on 2 Jan 12.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

It's not just 'thanks' - but on some forums (fora ?), replies containing "+1", "me, too" etc., are also strictly verbotten - for the reasons given earlier. They even specify this in their 'rules of conduct'.

Yep - these are really fun places to visit ...

I think that's stupid. If I ask what brand of varnish is best for example, and the first person replies tht xyz is, I have a recommendation from one person, who may be a complete nutter.

The more plus ones I get,the less the chance of a nutter and the higher the level of recommendation.

Just imagine if someone asked what anchor to buy, and one person said "Rocna" and then noone else said anything else.

 

[Robin]

I think that's stupid. If I ask what brand of varnish is best for example, and the first person replies tht xyz is, I have a recommendation from one person, who may be a complete nutter.

The more plus ones I get,the less the chance of a nutter and the higher the level of recommendation.

Just imagine if someone asked what anchor to buy, and one person said "Rocna" and then noone else said anything else.

+1

 

[Poignard]

Some people prefer less public ways of expressing their gratitude.

I recently advised someone here how to use a certain function on his Kindle. There has been nothing posted in the way of thanks from him but I am not in the least bothered. I'm sure that any day now a neat wooden box will arrive at my home containing a bottle of very fine malt whisky. That will be thanks enough.