I don’t know why it frustrates me. I realize that response is mine to manage. I wish that forum members would first seek simple answers to simple questions from simple search engines.

Then we can dialog. What do we think? What is our experience? What might be the best approach?

quote:

I realize that response is mine to manage.

Bingo. My take is that this is a you issue and not a forum issue.

Management here hasn't expressed any concerns about people asking questions about various topics. After all, this IS a discussion forum. It's meant for people to talk, ask questions, make comments, occasionally do some buying or selling, etc....

Several thoughts on this. First, I think the notion that simple answers can be gleaned by entering simple questions into a simple search engine may be somewhat dated in many cases.

I can remember when that was more often than not the case but now, all but the most simple questions are liable to take more effort than in the past. I often find myself having to go through at least several pages of responses to find one which actually is germaine to the original question posed. Consider the number of discussions in the forum about finding a capable search engine and/or browser.

The second point is that it's relatively easy, in most cases, to determine from the subject line whether or not you are interested in clicking on any given topic to find out more.

quote:

Originally posted by FiveFiveSixFan:
I can remember when that was more often than not the case but now, all but the most simple questions are liable to take more effort than in the past. I often find myself having to go through at least several pages of responses to find one which actually is germaine to the original question posed.

As much as I despise AI (and I think that we will eventually rue the day of its advent) I do find myself using Perplexity from time to time. It does seem to nail an answer to exactly what I ask. Google has become pretty worthless when you have to wade through six pages of BS to maybe find an answer.

I agree with the above though...click or don't click.

As mentioned above, it is a discussion forum. I find myself not asking questions on things here that I wonder about that seem complex, only because my knowledge is limited on the subject.
For example:
My SS number was breached, I was notified by Capitol One that it was found on the "dark web".
So, instead of asking here about it, I did some searching.
If a CC company can access the dark web, why can't they stop it?
I kept searching, and it goes on and on, to more things I don't understand.
For me, if I asked the question here would be futile do to my knowledge, but to others in here it would be considered a simple question.
Now if you were to ask what is the firing order on a small block Chevy, you might be able to find conflicting answers in a search, but it's still a simple question on a gun forum.
I don't see a problem with the simple questions, they may lead to some interesting discussions.

One of the things you will see here is members telling other members to use the search function for some of the questions that get posted repeatedly. So the forum is in part a search engine. Likewise, often members will find older threads and link them for reference to the person with the question. So it really comes down to the forum being a place for information with added interaction with people.

Maybe I prefer the advice and experience from REAL EXPERTS.

Not those commie assholes from “Google”.
AND, we all know Google is spying on us. I ask one simple question about plumbing, and now Im getting ads for plungers, pipe wrenches, and 20% off coupons for toilet paper.
You guys aren’t spying on me!

And if you are, at least you’re pretty cool, and probably going to offer bacon, bourbon, free ammo or something else nice…

SUCK IT GOOGLE!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
I don’t know why it frustrates me. I realize that response is mine to manage.

May I suggest:

I value and trust the membership more than a handful of mindless twats on the interwebs.

So, I understand why people ask here.


(I also grew up doing my own research for hours in libraries, and also my own FAFO "science", and learning everything I could about all things.)

As has been mentioned, sometimes a simple online search doesn’t exactly give specific info all the time. I like to ask here, as I believe I’ll get an honest answer from people who might have had the experience in whatever I am asking. I can look online for hours, but sometimes you need a more personal response.

Come to think of it, you do seem to tell people to "please do a search" a lot.

When I ask a question on this forum, I am asking it of real people, even if they aren't visible, not any search engine. Search engines have all kinds of chaff you have to sort through to get to the wheat, and sometimes you find even after all that that there is no wheat. And even with topics that come up multiple times a year, people's experience and opinions can change, technology updates, companies producing items go under while new ones start up, etc. The dash cam (a frequently recurring topic) that was hot shit a few months ago may turn out to be a steaming turd later.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
...

As much as I despise AI (and I think that we will eventually rue the day of its advent) I do find myself using Perplexity from time to time.

...

Interesting. I haven't used that app due largely to the yearly cost.

Like others have said real experience from others that we have come to trust over the months or years they have been on this and other forums.

I’m on a couple automotive forums and it’s amazing the bad information that is out there. One of those forum posters insisted that despite a horrendous failure rate (virtually 100%, not if but when) in a V8 Pontiac camshaft timing gear GM never changed its design. So I guess all of the steel replacement ones I handed out while those engines were a thing under Part Number 483047 was nothing but a hallucination.

A lot of times people have a deep knowledge of a obscure subject, one was posted today in another forum, again GM related during the time of the Mr.Goodwrench program inception. There was a question relating to a strange numbering system on a part, still the traditional all numeric identifier but a beginning two number starting with 11. Because I had a lot of experience with GM dealership parts pre 2017 I knew the answer, gave him or her a rundown how that came about (secondary price leader line) so they would know what they were dealing with. Unless you were in there at that time,middle to later part of the 70’s you wouldn’t have a clue, the numbers would go nowhere in the normal catalogs.

There's a difference between asking Sigforum a question with the intent of having a conversation and trying to learn something from people you trust, and shit like this.

SF has an unlimited amount of knowledge and experience in just about everything. Tapping into it seems like a no brainer for its membership.
I do not see it being abused or misused. Carry on guys.

SIGforum is the BEST search engine, by far.

Ask a question, and usually within seven replies you have the correct answer, often from an altruistic honest-to-God expert.

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:

(I also grew up doing my … my own FAFO "science"…

I think that describes the pre-legally an adult lives of most of us and the legally adult lives of some of us.

My magic 8 ball works for only 40% of my questions.

It doesn't hurt to add some criteria or context when you ask for help with a problem.
Just stating a problem and asking for a solution just makes me go right on by.

I write this in the spirit of the 2nd part of the Sigforum slogan "Quality Firearms, Quality Discussion". Quality discussion starts with a quality question not a lazy question. Here are two different contexts on what I mean by lazy questions:

something you could literally 3 click on a computer or smart phone and the answer is both immediate and accurate. For example, earlier in the thread sigmonkey used the acronym FAFO. 3 mouse clicks or taps on a smart phone and it's obvious it's Fuck around, find out. The 3 clicks is actually less effort that posting "what is FAFO?" and zero Sigforumites have to waste any keystrokes responding.

the OP writes the question with zero context like they're at step #1. Sigforumites spend time typing a response and subsequently find out the OP already tried that but was to lazy to post. Then, Sigforumites assume they understand the situation so type more responses and subsequently the OP reveals more details. For example, there is a big difference in thread quality between the OP posting "how do you get bubblegum out of carpet?" then after a few people reply the OP finally adds what they've already tried everything posted versus "How do you get bubblegum out of carpet? I've already unsuccessfully tried ice cubes, WD-40, and vinegar."

---

Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
It doesn't hurt to add some criteria or context when you ask for help with a problem.
Just stating a problem and asking for a solution just makes me go right on by.

I agree! I especially detest the "Hey fellas, find this easily searchable thing for me... lemmino what you come up with" posts that smack of sheer laziness.