Hello, fellow SIGforum members,

I'd just like to weigh in on asking a specific member for help, and asking for help in general:

Feel free to ask a specific member for help with whatever you'd believe they'd be helpful with. They are, however, under no obligation to respond.

When someone, anyone, asks for help, we're all under KNOW obligation to respond.

Get it?

If you don't know, don't guess. That's not help, that's obfuscation.

If you have no direct knowledge or experience with the topic, let people who actually have first hand experience answer.

Did the topic drop like a stone, and no one has responded for quite a while? OK, perhaps it's time for some brainstorming.

We are all presumably good natured and eager to help one another. Part of that, should be not muddying the waters of a pursuit of knowledge.

There is a well known member here who left the forum for that very reason. And then when he would offer the advice he was solicited for, members would come into the thread and tell the OP why the requested advice was wrong. He stopped coming here for that very reason.

No announcement, no fan fare, just stopped.

Thanks for posting this Arc.

An example, but this isn't limited to the lounge.

If someone is asking a question about firearms, and you don't know the answer, then you don't need to pitch in.

Are they asking simply for an opinion? Then that is different. Everyone has an opinion.

If you lack expertise in a topic, please pump the brakes.

quote:

Originally posted by arcwelder76:
When someone, anyone, asks for help, we're all under KNOW obligation to respond.

ITYM "NO?"

quote:

Originally posted by arcwelder76:
If you don't know, don't guess. That's not help, that's obfuscation.

If you have no direct knowledge or experience with the topic, let people who actually have first hand experience answer.

I've at least a couple times formulated an answer in response to such requests and realized "I don't know any more than the member asking" and dumped it--for that very reason.

Just to add...when someone has a problem or asks for help/advice why are some members compelled to post something that they think is clever but has absolutely nothing to do with the OP's question/problem?

Example being the well worn "that'll buff right out." Really, all it does is trivialize the OP's request and make the member look a bit stupid as well.

quote:

Originally posted by RogB:
Just to add...when someone has a problem or asks for help/advice why are some members compelled to post something that they think is clever but has absolutely nothing to do with the OP's question/problem?

Example being the well worn "that'll buff right out." Really, all it does is trivialize the OP's request and make the member look a bit stupid as well.

Unless the OP is asking about how to cure his Wife's Mother's Dog of cancerous AIDS, I'd say that such comments are harmless attempts at humor, they can be tolerated. The gravity of a question should indicate whether humor is in order.

You are overruled.

If you're going to post when a member is asking for help.

Do you have experience?

What is it?

Is it valuable to the topic at hand?

You have one job, to help.

Do your job.

I generally don't answer these threads anymore, even when it is something that I am a national level expert in. There are just enough posters who are that unique blend of anti-intellectual/know-it-all to make it not worth the grief and challenge back that inevitably comes from one of a few members.

I'm sorry that this means I don't help in as many situations as I might, but if it is something critically important and the OP has an email I'll get in touch out of the forum sometimes...

quote:

Originally posted by ChuckFinley:
I generally don't answer these threads anymore, even when it is something that I am a national level expert in. There are just enough posters who are that unique blend of anti-intellectual/know-it-all to make it not worth the grief and challenge back that inevitably comes from one of a few members.

I'm sorry that this means I don't help in as many situations as I might, but if it is something critically important and the OP has an email I'll get in touch out of the forum sometimes...

Having to wade through that sort of thing, is part of what I'd like to cut down on. All in the interest of such threads actually being of use to the OP, and the rest of us.

quote:

Originally posted by ChuckFinley:
I generally don't answer these threads anymore, even when it is something that I am a national level expert in. There are just enough posters who are that unique blend of anti-intellectual/know-it-all to make it not worth the grief and challenge back that inevitably comes from one of a few members.

*shrug* I get that. We all do. I don't let it stop me from trying to help. The one or two that have been egregious in this respect I've simply put on "ignore."

I agree. As someone who is ignorant on more topics than knowledgeable, I go through help threads to learn what to do, not just someone’s wild ass guess that they don’t bother disclosing is a wild ass guess.

I understand expert opinions may differ but swags (Scientific Wild Ass Guesses) should be avoided as there are a good number of real experts in Sigforum on any number of topics.

quote:

Originally posted by Ronin1069:
There is a well known member here who left the forum for that very reason. And then when he would offer the advice he was solicited for, members would come into the thread and tell the OP why the requested advice was wrong. He stopped coming here for that very reason.

No announcement, no fan fare, just stopped.

Appliance Brad was extremely generous with his help. I know I benefited from him via emails which I very much appreciated. He hasn't been active since last November which I personally consider a huge loss for this forum.

Arc thanks for starting this thread. Folks need to understand the consequences of their actions.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by arcwelder76:
When someone, anyone, asks for help, we're all under KNOW obligation to respond.

ITYM "NO?"

I thought he meant "know" intentionally. As in, if you don't KNOW, you're under NO obligation to respond with obfuscating opinions & maybes on the matter.

quote:

Originally posted by Ronin1069:
There is a well known member here who left the forum for that very reason. And then when he would offer the advice he was solicited for, members would come into the thread and tell the OP why the requested advice was wrong. He stopped coming here for that very reason.

We don't know that, but I think it very likely. I'd get annoyed too.

I am personally happy to respond to "paging egregore" posts and private e-mail communications, but remember who's doing who the favor. It is not to be taken for granted or overused/abused. (No one has, and the exchanges I have had have always been positive.)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: egregore,

Lots of things can dissuade a member. I don't think it was a major factor. He did garner a high number of these threads though.

quote:

Originally posted by Ronin1069:
There is a well known member here who left the forum for that very reason. And then when he would offer the advice he was solicited for, members would come into the thread and tell the OP why the requested advice was wrong. He stopped coming here for that very reason.

No announcement, no fan fare, just stopped.

What in the world are you talking about? Who are you talking about? Be specific. Name, please.

Sorry Para. It’s his story to tell.

If you want to ask a specific member a question, maybe you should just email them. IMO, posting to the open forum is opening yourself up for comment.

But I do agree that if one doesn't know what he's talking about, he should be quiet. But that's a pretty general human rule.

quote:

Originally posted by Ronin1069:
Sorry Para. It’s his story to tell.

Then what are you doing even mentioning this? And how can he "tell his story" if he's gone?

If you feel that you cannot mention names, you need to not mention it at all.

quote:

If you feel that you cannot mention names, you need to not mention it at all.

I cannot argue with that. Won't do it again.