calling other posters advice rubbish

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scottie

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It would seem that in the broken cable thread I have caused offence in suggesting that other replies were rubbish

I stand by my comment that suggestions to cut pieces off a control mechanism when the only requirement was to fit the cables correctly is rubbish

I understand that advice is given freely and in good faith and should be taken in that spirit
But as someone who spent more than 40 years with Volvo main dealer and one of the earliest Morse distributors it is very frustrating to see rubbish and not feel annoyed

Would members prefer to not have constructive criticism ?
 
When I give an opinion, it is usually one formed by considerable knowledge and experience of the topic under discussion. If it isn't, I hope I make it clear. I think most people know which fields I am expert in, as I know from observation which fields others are particularly knowledgeable in. I do find it annoying when people attempt to argue against my position, when I know that I am right and they are wrong! However, I don't rubbish their contribution; I attempt to point out why they are wrong, and if they continue with "ad hominem" remarks, I simply withdraw from the discussion. Often I am tempted to return with a tart rejoinder, but I usually manage not to give in to temptation :)
 
It is etiquette not to call other advice rubbish. You should state your advice and then logically give reasons why other 'advice' should not be taken.
You may also note that Professionals on here, like Politicians, are not universally believed just because they are what they are.
Yes, constructive criticism is good, but 'rubbish' does not constitute constructive criticism.
I hope that helps!
 
scottie said:
It would seem that in the broken cable thread I have caused offence in suggesting that other replies were rubbish

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Would members prefer to not have constructive criticism ?
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Calling other other peoples suggestions "RUBBISH" is not constructive criticism. It's destructive

Constructive criticism would be pointing out where, how and why the suggestions are incorrect, and then supplying the correct advice
 
AntarcticPilot said:
When I give an opinion, it is usually one formed by considerable knowledge and experience of the topic under discussion. If it isn't, I hope I make it clear. I think most people know which fields I am expert in, as I know from observation which fields others are particularly knowledgeable in. I do find it annoying when people attempt to argue against my position, when I know that I am right and they are wrong! However, I don't rubbish their contribution; I attempt to point out why they are wrong, and if they continue with "ad hominem" remarks, I simply withdraw from the discussion. Often I am tempted to return with a tart rejoinder, but I usually manage not to give in to temptation :)
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I'd like to agree with that, in fact I do. However there are occasions "when I know that I am right and they are wrong" where I've been wrong when I've known I'm right!
 
I haven't followed the thread concerned, but it seems to me that the better professionals use quite diplomatic language when trying to rubbish an opinion, somewhat like the House of Lords, where a statement might go "the noble lord is, I believe, in error in supposing.....". None of this applies to viago's medical advice, which is on a different plane.
 
And whilst we are at it..

Think about your heading.

"Advice needed" says nothing.

"Help with Volvo md22 starter" says it all.

"Bits for sale" WTF are you selling???

We see it every day.

Don't peeps wonder why they get no replies.

If you haven't the nouse to get attention in the heading, stay quiet!

Feel better now!

Tony.
 
scottie said:
It would seem that in the broken cable thread I have caused offence in suggesting that other replies were rubbish

I stand by my comment that suggestions to cut pieces off a control mechanism when the only requirement was to fit the cables correctly is rubbish

I understand that advice is given freely and in good faith and should be taken in that spirit
But as someone who spent more than 40 years with Volvo main dealer and one of the earliest Morse distributors it is very frustrating to see rubbish and not feel annoyed

Would members prefer to not have constructive criticism ?
Click to expand...

Most of the advice on this forum is good - even where alternative ideas are proferred. Very occasionally ignorant and perhaps damaging/dangerously wrong info is posted, which is worth having corrected.
But perhaps the best way of doing this, for technical matters, may be by making clear the basis / credentials for a counter opinion. Eg "whilst poster X suggested Y, having worked 40 years with a Volvo dealer I would suggest ....."
Then the OP and other users of the info can make their own judgements as to which to rely upon.
 
Amulet said:
I'd like to agree with that, in fact I do. However there are occasions "when I know that I am right and they are wrong" where I've been wrong when I've known I'm right!
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Well, I usually only consider that I know I am right when it is a matter of my professional knowledge, backed by getting on for 40 years of experience. I too have been wrong when I KNEW I was right - but not on matters related to my specialist fields (at least, not recently!). It happens that my experience in scientific and computational fields (including cartography and navigation) is unusually wide, but that's because of the career I followed.
 
I know three professional boat fettlers who no longer post their hard won opinions and DS solutions here as they are fed up of the criticism they have received from the ignorant, A valuable resource has been lost.
 
One of the skills one acquires from spending time on these forums is separating the wheat from the chaff as far as advice is concerned, and it became clear to me pretty early on that the force and confidence with which an opinion was expressed bore no relation to how soundly based it was. Like most people I have over time drawn up my own mental lists of those whose opinions and advice are worth listening to, those who are entertaining but not to be taken too seriously and those who merely generate noise. I may provisionally assign people to the first category on the basis of their claimed experience or qualifications, but I will only confirm their membership if their views are coherent, internally consistent and supported by evidence. Again like most people, I am readiest to listen to those whose views seem to align with what I already believe to be true, but the most valuable advice is that which has brought new realisation or overturned a previously mistaken position. This has been achieved not by relentless repetition, personal abuse or even argument from authority but rather by clearly set out reasoning supported by evidence.
 
One of the great things about the forum is that you get contradictory advice! As said above, this enables you to choose the reply nearest to what you were going to do anyway!
Seriously though, it shows that there is usually a number of different ways of doing the same thing, none of which is necessarily better than another but are a matter of preference. There are, of course, safety critical items where there is an accepted way of doing things and only one answer to buying a boat with an old poorly engine!
I have always been grateful to anyone who has answered my questions and try to help others if I can.
 
I have occasionally said another reply was "nonsense". In my view this means it is so wrong that constructive criticism cannot be given. I guess "rubbish" means the same, but perhaps more emotive.

Having viewed the thread in question, I agree with you that the bracket does not need to be modified, and your comments were not directed to any one person.
 
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I tend to treat advice on this forum like i treat weather reports. If it is what i want to hear then all well and good . If not i move to another one until i get the one that suits me best. Then i go sailing & ------blame poor reporting afterwards
 
My advice is to open your coolant seacock before reading or writing. All of us get things wrong, and most of us occasionally make intemperate remarks. Don't get to shirty in your writing, and if someone displays ill-temper give them the benefit of the doubt - it may be that they just dropped their scone overboard and are normally very nice.
 
I di not claim vast experience with boats, my youth days i was all about motor cycles and cars, fixing the from about 12 years old. Decided @ 17 i wanted a cleaner job for rest of my working life.

I ended up in electronlc security, installation then service, i worked for several companies large and small finally started my own company in 1986 (and still going).

The type of work often requires various skills, carpentry, metalwork, understanding of electrical work, I can claim to be resourceful, practical and versatile due to situations i have encountered, while i am not a carpenter, fabricator or electrician, but in the specialised areas where i need to be, i am often found to be more knowledgeable.

Big part is customer relations, on fault call outs you have to establish client or equipment error. the client usually not wishing to cop a large bill will often conceal the full truth, hoping to blame equipment. when i 'absolutely know' it is the clients error. Their lack of tech knowledge in my specialist fields will useuslly reveal this in questioning about what happened and 'hang them'.

never assum, as it can lead you up the garden path either way, nobody lkes to be shown as wrong, it is impolite to point out others mistakes, plain rude to shout it out even when they are, insulting to cast critism of all in a generalisation. trust me when you are (even if rarely) wrong, they will exact their revenge and mention it every time they get the chance.

Phrases like "not what i would do but try this...' go down much better than suggesting all other answering person/s are clowns or idiots.

People are more inclined to listen to, and take advice from those who talk with mutual respect and hopefully reason, that is how you gain respect, and surely far better than being seen as a bombastic self serving 'expert' - no matter how good you truly are,

i for one do not know much of any members back groind, if i'm doing my best to help who is anyone to damn me for it?

Alan
 
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