I wonder why someone will start a thread and

[Ross]

then not monitor it and respond to the answers and the questions as they are posted.
Are they endevoring to just make a statement or are they seeking real answers.
I have my opinions but would like to hear from others as to their observations on this subject.
In this case I am sort of on a rant but also bewildered by human behavior.

 

[Bob F]

Maybe its their 15 minutes of fame?

You never know.

I have always found this site be be very helpful and usually respond.

Bob

 

[Ed Schenck]

Benefit of a doubt.

I choose to think that they were well meaning, that something happened to distract them. I know my life issues have often taken me away from here for long periods.

 

[Ross]

Ed, That's true. But when you come back I presume that you look for the

answers to the questions you posted and acknowledge the responses. That is like writing a letter, getting the answer by mail and sending a thanks.

 

[Ed Schenck]

The age factor.

At my age I am lucky to remember that I even posted something. And I am being serious.

 

[Recess]

A thread seems more like a conversation

than a written correspondence. Sometimes people would just like to allow the conversation go where it goes without trying to guide it. I really do not think any Netiquette has been breached by not further posting to it. Would it be worse to start an off topic thread in subject specific area?

 

[Ross]

Ed you can be that old if you realize it happens.

;D

 

[Ross]

Recess I rather agree with you if the thread is the start of a conversational

subject. But if it offers a solution or asks a specific question then it should be attended.

 

[oldiesrocker2001]

Sometimes just conversation, but others....

I agree with Recess also, but sometimes maybe they just can't find the thread again(?). I theorize that on days when there's generally great sailing weather in many places there's less people on the the net wishing they could be sailing. In poor sailing seasons(yes, I know it's got to be good weather SOMEWHERE..)though, there can be many other threads in line to wade through before returning to the original one posted without going through the archives which seem to have a limit of days unless I'm missing something there.

 

[Ross]

Oldies, You are quite right This forum has a 5 day

life before the thread gets buried. I think the new operating system that Phil and company is working on will solve that (I have seen a very small example). I also know that some folk post with the best intentions and life gets in the way and they can't get back in a timely way. I think however we know the type I refer to, The ones that post and just sit back and watch the fireworks.

 

[kendall]

well,

Speaking for myself and only myself, there have been a few times I've posted a question then had some issue crop up that meant I couldn't get back to it for a while.
A while ago I was having trouble with a lathe, asked a question on a machining forum, then got called away for a funeral which hit me kind of hard, took a few weeks to go othering (personal term meaning to go off and think about other places, other times, and other things) and get my head straightened out. Needless to say when I got back there were a ton of very good responses, and probably a LOT of responders who were thinking I was some kind of (your favorite expletive here) for not responding.

One thing that realy irritates me about lists and boards is when someone asks a question, then says "please respond offlist". I mean, doesn't that totally defeat the purpose of a board?
Having the answer in your mailbox is totally useless to the guy searching the archives for answers to the same problem next week or next year. Why ask fo offline responses?

Another thing that realy irritates me is when people refuse to accept an answer because the guy that's charging them $500 an hour to fix a problem disagrees with the answer given. Basically they're saying that your solution doesn't cost enough so your answer can't be any good.
My actual response from a long while ago to a question concerning bolts constantly loosening was to chase the threads then use 'loctite' ($4.00 tube), accepted response was to " verify the candition of the threads then use a specialy formulated adhesive to lock the bolts in place and prevent backing out" (at $40 PER bolt.) Not 100% sure, but doesn't that effectively mean chase the threads and use locktite?

Must be in a typing mood, so I'll sign off now!

Ken

 

[Ross]

kendall , I love it and totally agree with you.

You did finally return to the machine shop forum and thank everybody for their replies. Yes?

 

[Patrick , S/V Shangra-La]

Some times you'll ask a question

it is answered by the first one or two respondents, then some one in the thread takes it in a completely diffrent direction. At that point there is no reason to continue to look for the answer to the original question.

Several times I've seen people who have started a thread, it go in a different direction, and they start the thread again with the same question.

 

[kendall]

Oh yeah

Got back and thanked those who had responded, along with a brief synops of the reason.

tolero vita redeo.


Been years, but best I can do!
Ken

 

[CalebD]

I like to think that if you make a post here that

YOU are hosting a question and that you should chime back in to encourage others who have responded. A recent example was SailorKevan from Ontario who got a lot of usage out of this forum by posting to his own threads a lot and elicited responses from many regulars. I guess I found his Netiquette or English a trifle lacking and flamed off a bit, but to his credit he at least kept coming back (where is he now? I suspect we will hear from him soon.)
It seems to me that many of us want to offer our 'wisdom' to folks that do not have our elevated view of the world (I just turned 50 and got the AARP letter in the mail). It is disappointing when the original poster does not respond especially when the title of the thread is 'Are all blow-boater's gay?' (which of course was a hoax and rightfully deleted by Phil). I see fewer and fewer stink pots on the waters these days so put that where the sun don't shine.
Maybe the point that Ross is making is that why respond to a thread that was started by XYZ (say) and 20 responses have occurred but XYZ has not responded after a week. Why reply again or anew?
Some of us can easily get a little 'chafed' by the younger generation of Blackberry (dingleberry), cellphone toting types who are seeking constant gratification without actually being plugged into anything.
Advice is cheap. Real help costs real money.

 

[Joe]

Not a chat room, please.....

I prefer to see a question or observation posted and let the answers develop among the responders. If you want to lead a discussion group, Ross, then so be it. But many of us don't... in fact most of us don't. What's interesting is to see question answered intelligiently..... or see and incorrect answers challenged by other forum members. It would be particularly annoying if everyone that started a thread felt compelled to comment on every single response.... BORING..... that's too much like being in a classroom.

Some of you may remember a few years back this forum had a quasi-moderator named Ladonna Bubeck. Irritatingly, she felt compelled to comment on every single post.... sometimes just to say " well, I can't answer that.... maybe someone else can." You know like all the posts were directed at her in particular.

In this forum I don't think a poster is obliged to monitor his thread by commenting on every response. In fact, I find it annoying if he does. I say it's better just to observe let the comments stand on there own. I do think, however, that a follow up by the poster some days later adds interest to the thread.

 

[Ross]

I was prompted to this question by several threads over the past few days

Those concerning the water gas generators for cars. The initiators are notably silent and one from a sailor with a family wishing the sail to Martha's Vineyard and another with a question regarding a means for covering an exposed wiring view of his instrument panel. Both men responded with their decisions and impressions.

If a subject is important enough to merit asking a question concerning it, then the answers are valuable enough to merit a response. If you ask me a question in person and I give you an answer and you walk away as though I had not spoken, I am left to wonder if you heard me or if you didn't like the answer or if you are rude.

 

[Jim]

My 2 cents and that is about what it is worth

The person that post the questions is just looking for some advice not to start a dialog with a board room. They want to get a problem fix and get back out sailing.

The best answer we get are a quick thanks post and the sailor is back where be belongs on the water! When you get an answer like that you can feel good inside that you have helped someone.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Alan]

Jim's right

Most people visiting here are looking for quick advice and move on, after all going sailing IS the goal. Making a mountain out of mole hill does nobody any good. There are more important things in life than checking every internet site you might have visited or posted to. If it ruffles some peoples feathers how others respond or not, well so be it.

 

[Buck Harrison]

AMEN Jim, AMEN Alan

Ross, rather than getting your panties in a wad worring about why people don't post back like YOU think they should; you need to be spending your time finding out how to get that Amtrack bridge to open