Who are these people?

[AuntyRinum]

They sign on to this site. They ask a question.
With all our years and wealth of experience we answer the question. We save them huge amounts of money and time. The thread dissapears.
They never write, they never phone.
What are we doing here? Did they act on our advice? Did they get bored and just clear off? Did they ever read the answer? Am I dreaming all this and the site only exists in my mind?

 

[BrendanS]

The vast majority of people who ask questions come back again, and seem very thankful. It's only a small minority who come, ask, and disappear. Unless you are reading a very different set of forums to me. Are you sure the thread disappears? - unless you have your options set up to show threads by date of last post, you may well be missing many of them, as usually, infrequent posters come here at longish intervals, so the reply will have scrolled off if you are set up to see threads by date originally posted

Who in particular has twisted your tail?

 

[William_H]

There are also a huge number of non registered visitors ( hi Lance) who get ideas and general pleasure from reading the technical content of the question and answers. I was bailed up by an aquaintance on Sunday morning who unbeknowns to me follows this forum closely and recognised my crazy ideas.
He like me thinks it is the technical detail that gives the pleasure. I suggested he give it a shot too (making a fool of himself) but he admitted he was shy. Any way be carefull all those who use the forum as a chance for a gripe it doesn't look good especially to those of us foreign to UK. Hving said that I do agree, you wonder if the questioner solves his problem and if you have helped in any way. keep up the good forum will
regards will

 

[BrendanS]

What is amazing, is what goes on behind the scenes. Once people know you are genuine, they shoot messages to you by pm, and and even old work contacts come out of the woodwork (about 12 in the last month)

It would be great if the non registered lurkers signed in and just said hello, and that they like the forum though. We'd say hi back and welcome them, and overcome the shyness.

 

[BarryH]

Eh! What? I asked a question 4000 odd posts and almost 4 years ago. I'm still waiting for the answer!! Who said we don't hang about?

 

[BrendanS]

No one is going to answer your questions, they don't know which identity they are talking too! <G>

 

[jerryat]

Hi!
What I would like is for people to come back (some do I know) and let us know how, and if, their querie/problem was resolved, even if a long time has elapsed. Quite a few of those whose threads I've added my dubious knowledge to, have as others have mentioned, pm'd me, but that doesn't inform everyone else.
Having said all that, I think the forum works extemely well, and if the information and ideas we can offer helps a worried forumite to sleep at night, that's good enough for me!

Cheers Jerry

 

[scarlett]

It could also be the pure daunting size of the beast. I try to follow the PBO and Scuttlebutt sites plus Livaboard. You only need to be busy for day and it is a full time job catching up. If any of these lost soles have a job plus a problem boat, maybe the response will get missed.

What gets me tired are the people who put non boating posts up without signaling the fact. It is a bigger problem on Scuttlebutt but maybe that is what the majority want. It seems to be a muddy mass of people obssessed with in-jokes which are not funny outside the in- crowd. Maybe that is what it is for?

 

[Anonymous]

[ QUOTE ]
It (Scuttlebut) seems to be a muddy mass of people obssessed with in-jokes which are not funny outside the in- crowd. Maybe that is what it is for?

[/ QUOTE ]Presumably - it isn't my thing either, which is why I seldom take part in threads there.

 

[Guest]

I have a rather different concern about the forums.

There are many sensible questions/answers, and one can always learn from them.

For example. I am just having ground tackle for a mooring made by o proffesional; he welds shackles.

However, there are some that display woeful ignorance or odd atitudes that a little reading/RYA shorebased course etc. would answer.

I just hope that these do not get used/misused as evidence for 'regulation not education'

 

[tome]

Agree with you, it would be nice to hear the outcome.

One thing which (only mildly) irritates is when the question relates to an area of expertise and the information given is challenged so that you end up going down a myoptic tunnel of correspondence and justification. Always seems to happen when you're at your busiest with proper work. Putting more detail in the bio would probably help but I prefer not to for reasons Brendan and others have aired.

Should add that I enjoy SB a lot. Over the time that I've been on this forum I've gradually met many of my fellow posters, and they are very good company. Once you've met somebody face to face it's easier to take a swipe without causing offence, but accept that it may appear cliquey to others.

 

[Ships_Cat]

You should become a cat or summink Tome, then you can be mildly amused (instead of mildly irritated) when someone who doesn't know what they are talking about (all of us some of the time but some of us most of the time) challenges. I get much amusment from people challenging the opinion of a cat - after all, how often do you see people on the street arguing with a cat /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.

John

 

[jjj]

Being relatively new to this Forum, I personally feel that the level of knowledge and practical advice offered is exceptional. The response to genuine Yachting/boating questions is superb. I think that the due to the variety of questions being summited, that people are naturally hesitant in posting a response.

 

[Anonymous]

[ QUOTE ]
One thing which (only mildly) irritates is when the question relates to an area of expertise and the information given is challenged so that you end up going down a myoptic tunnel of correspondence and justification.

[/ QUOTE ]But balance that with the fact that all advice is peer-reviewed which, IMO, is one of the most important benefits of forums and email lists.

 

[ashanta]

My only concern is that some questions are asked by people who do not fill in their profile details. This indicates to a reluctance to become involved and prevents forumites knowing something about them. Often we see requests for help by a new user without any profile at all and you do not receive any feeback subsequently.
I thinks it great when people update the forum with the progress of their project and the benefits achieved as a result.

Regards.

Peter.

 

[iangrant]

Tart

Ian

 

[tome]

Very true, hadn't thought of that.

 

[tome]

I'll give you tart you old slapper.

 

[SteveGorst]

Where has BrettH gone?

The question has been posed, our cages have been rattled, the replies are coming thick and fast. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Now I've got to shoot off myself

Bye

 

[Birdseye]

Dont know who they are, but they are doing us a favour. After all, we have all this dodgy advice and opinions to get off our chests and who else to give them to? If we do so at the yacht club bar, then we find a widening space on both sides as other members slide away. Wives are bored daft by our views on (for example) the merits of the CQR and they let us know so.

So apart from the dog, who doesnt pay much attention, whose ear can we bend?