Compulsive responder

[Quandary]

I am interested in sailing and in yachts and having raced offshore for many years I enjoy high performance. I like to visit this forum every few weeks when the weather is bad and read the discussion on topics when someone is looking for advice on a subject which interests me as there are often nuggets of really useful advice to be found. Some of the response I have read on subjects I do understand though are rubbish and this is unfortunate particularly when the query is from a beginner. However when you are not a forum regular, it is sometimes difficult to establish whether a respondent has real experience or expertise or is just a compulsive commentator who has a boat and likes to make comments on line.
I have taken to looking at the number of posts a responder has previously made as an indicator for this.
For the occasional user who wants to maximize the benefit of the information available on the forum how do you measure the quality of advice posted. I presume that some are regulars with expertise in particular areas and perhaps some one could post recommendations for those who have demonstrated real wisdom in particular fields and can be heeded.
Is there an average number of posts per year which can be used to separate the expert from the compulsive respondent or are the posts on the entertainment forums like scuttlebut and the lounge included with the total number listed on the PBO technical forum?

 

[BrendanS]

The total number of posts are across all the forums, and since the person registered (some would have much higher counts if previous incarnation of the the forums were included, or different user names)

You have to work out who really has expertise for yourself, by reading and seeing the results.

For instance on PBO forum, any post by Oldsaltoz on anything to do with GRP/fibreglass repairs I would take extremely seriously.

You may consider me to be a compulsive responder, due to my post count, so ignore my comments if you like! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

No one can really make a list of who posts the best answers on a given topic, as it's very rarely you will have everyone agree on a topic, even when it has been discussed many, many times.

For instance, try asking what the best anchor is!

 

[Richard10002]

I think if you have a modicum of common sense, and a variety of replies to a query, then you can work out the best solution for yourself. If not sure, make that clear and, hopefully, more responses will clear things up.

I tend to be fairly persistant, (sometimes to the point of tedium /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif ), in making sure I understand the best solution to my problem.

I could hazard an educated guess that more posts would tend to more knowledge, merely due to the fact that the individual concerned is exposed to many more solutions than the occasional visitor.

The amazing thing is that, if I have had a problem, (whether anchored in isolation in the bay at Taormina, or surrounded by boats full of experts in Lagos, a query here usually results in a helpful response within a very short space of time.

 

[Blue5]

Brendan is right you have to work it out for yourself and the only way to do it is (dare I say ) by spending a bit more time reading replies to subjects that are of interest.

There is always a couple of responders who will try to convince you black is white.

Oh and one more thing, dont take any notice of posts after 9pm when the alcohol has kicked in /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Enjoy, overall its a mine of information

 

[Cliveshep]

What you often get is advice from folks, like me for instance, a confirmed bodgitup addict, who, in times of desperate stress tries something which works, to everyone's astonishment. That then becomes a nugget of useful information for next time or when some other poor bugger has a similar problem on the forum. That's the way of life and experience. There is the conventional wisdom of the professionally trained, and there is the acquired wisdom of someone who has had to get out of a tight spot with only a knife and fork to do it and perhaps a lump hammer! (I'm in the latter category unless it's construction ashore in which case I become the professional).

 

[samwise]

"For instance, try asking what the best anchor is."

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!