Okay, before I begin I would like to point out that I am all for helping folks and do what I can to do that. But sometimes folks need to stop being so lazy...........

My mini-Rant this morning is about members (often times with only ONE post) to a forum who just go in and post a thread asking a question that has been discussed and answered hundreds of times on the forum. Hey, the forum has been around quite a while and has hundreds of members (sometimes thousands), but my question HAS to be the first time it has been asked so why even bother doing a simple search, right?

WRONG!!!!! Do a search!!!!

This falls into the category of RTFM. If you have equipment that HAS a manual, before going online or calling a bunch of people (or even the tech line associated with the product) READ THE MANUAL! In most cases your question will be answered.

The same with visiting a forum. The "manual" is the "search" feature. USE IT!

I personally think it is lazy, selfish, and rude to just go in and ask questions and want the answers delivered to you spoon fed like a baby. In fact, I would LOVE it if when this happens the forum staff would just close the thread with a note to use the "search" feature.

Now this does not have to apply to ALL questions asked, but we all know the ones that get asked millions of times on forums and the answers are RIGHT THERE. In fact often times the issues have been discussed right on the first page of any given section, or are "stickied" threads.

This mini-Rant was not caused by this forum though (even though we see it here too), but because I Moderate an Auto Forum and see the same questions time and again (much worse than here... understatement). And personally I have NEVER asked a single question on a forum (concerning equipment, or forum/interest relevant information) without first doing a search first to see if it has already been asked and answered. Heck, many times I don't even have to BE a member of a given forum to get the information I need... without having to ASK for it.

SEARCH is your FRIEND, use it.

Now I am not posting this so we become "search Nazis", but there are some questions that even a simpleton should know are "basic" and would have already been asked and answered on any given forum. But even if not, do a search anyways.

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“It is easier to blow out a match than it is to control a forest fire.” - Me
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Agreed. I also find it amazing that people ask questions about their gear/markers and have no basic knowledge of the manual for said piece of equipment or basic working knowledge of it. I am one to get something and take it apart to see how it works and how to make it better. I work in automotive repair. I get stupid questions all day long. I am used to it by now. Remember, search button is your friend.

What the bearded one said.........

Oh wait, that is me to.......... ahh well I still agree

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I also find this very annoying. As Shartley said this site is not as bad as some but, there is definately room for improvement.

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There are no stupid questions, just stupid people.

that one of the reason i joined this forum. every time i googled a question about tippman or the a5 this forum always showed up, so i know that if i have a question there is an answer somewhere in the archives.

people should stop asking what the difference between an apex and a flatline is, there must be 100 posts on it

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oriundus objurgo, instructus interfectum, alacer abolesco, autem nunquam nutus

Thus explaining why I nearly ripped the head off of some 'baller a coupla months back when he asked me if I know how to chrono his marker.

Me: Is it your marker?
PB: Yes.
Me: Did it come with a manual?
PB: Yes.
Me: How long have you had it?
PB: A coupla of months.
Me: Do you have the manual with you?
PB: No.
Me: Did you read the manual?
PB: No.
Me: You have a manual for your marker that you have had for a couple of months: You didn't read it and you didn't bring it with you. And now you expect that someone else will help you chrono your marker. You are a fool. It is a shame that you can't chrono, it is a lovely day to play. I'll buy your marker for a quarter ($0.25), that way you will have change to call someone to pick you up and take you home. When you come back with the manual, you'll be able to find me; I'll be on the field playing with my markers. But the price will have gone up on this marker.

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I guess it come from years of doing tech support to pay for college, but it really doesn't bother me that much. Most of the time it is someone new, who is all flustered and upset, and really wants help.

Typically, I'll help them out and show them where to find the information they need and how to search for things in the future, you know - give them a sense of empowerment, but assist them with their problem instead of appearing to be a jerk about it and leaving them with a sense of "Wow, I should have bought a brass eagle, the people on the forums over there are so much more helpful"

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Hmmmm, that sounded awfully Chief like Bill.........


ROFL!!

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I think the best solution is to answer thier question if it is quick. If it is not suggest they start a new thread then have a MOD delete all of the off topic posts. When I find the thread that deals with a real problem only to have to page through 6 pages of garbage it gets old fast.