Need to Vent
- Thread starter anotherrunner83
- Start date
KidVermicious
New member
I've got an even better idea Zak, and I've been chewing on whether I should say something (because it's really none of my business and if I don't like what's going on I should just stop posting here), but I think this forum needs a noob section. Somewhere that folks who don't want to (or don't know how to) search first can ask their questions, and somewhere that other folks who are inclined to answer can do so without 50,000 "SEARCH NOOB" posts derailing the thread. Somewhere anybody can post any inane question that comes into their head without getting flamed for it, and in the process keep those threads out of the rest of the board and hopefully keep the clutter down and the flaming absent. When somebody posts a lame thread, members can gently remind them that they're in the wrong forum and if they keep it up, mods can restrict their posting privileges to the noob forum for a week or a month or whatever and everybody will be happy, and we don't have to have whiny threads like this one every month from some well meaning but completely clueless member who doesn't understand why the rest of us are upset about the continual onset of threads from lazy posters.
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zopperman
Moderator
Like I said in the above, it's prevalent in other sub forums as well
I think this would be helpful as well, I just think people may bypass it and thus it might be a better idea to keep the news to each relevant subforum and just have mods merge the newb threads into the master one? I dunno.
KidVermicious
New member
So you're thinking one sticky "noob thread" per gen forum? Could work, and it'd be less hassle to set up I suppose. Would it be more work by the mods on an ongoing basis though, and would you all get bored of merging threads and end up wandering away leaving the board right where we started?
Honest question, because I definitely would get bored and wander away.
Honest question, because I definitely would get bored and wander away
.
zopperman
Moderator
So you're thinking one sticky "noob thread" per gen forum? Could work, and it'd be less hassle to set up I suppose. Would it be more work by the mods on an ongoing basis though, and would you all get bored of merging threads and end up wandering away leaving the board right where we started?
Honest question, because I definitely would get bored and wander away
Haha fair. I'm not sure. I was going to guinea pig it in the 4th gen section and then post up my findings.
KidVermicious
New member
I say do it.
amen.
and for anyone complaining about the search function...use google. simply type "site:www.toyota-4runner.org" then your search terms and you will have all you ever need!! the search sucks is no longer an excuse!!
wnelax04sr5
New member
Like I said in the above, it's prevalent in other sub forums as well
I think this would be helpful as well, I just think people may bypass it and thus it might be a better idea to keep the news to each relevant subforum and just have mods merge the newb threads into the master one? I dunno.
So you're thinking one sticky "noob thread" per gen forum? Could work, and it'd be less hassle to set up I suppose. Would it be more work by the mods on an ongoing basis though, and would you all get bored of merging threads and end up wandering away leaving the board right where we started?
Honest question, because I definitely would get bored and wander away
i think the biggest issue zak and i had thought of and a couple other people brought up with the noob thread or noob section or any noob commune, is that it won't stop all noob thread posts, not to beat the damn word to death. thats probably something we will have to accept and tolerate a little of
anotherrunner83
New member
i'm wondering how my attempt to improve the experience for some of the less seasoned folks here makes me "clueless". i have not once been offended by any of my posts on this site. according to your sig, you're a first gen guy. why come into the 4th gen section and bust balls? if you're here to offer suggestions or just browsing for information, it's one thing. if you are just trolling and looking to insult, why bother? i just don't see why folks feel the need to jump all over someone else. that's all i'm getting at here. if this thread causes someone to think before ripping into to another member, it's been a success.
KidVermicious
New member
You're clueless because you're either unable or unwilling to comprehend that the rest of us big meanies are trying to improve "the experience" for everybody, not just the lazy and easily butthurt. You're clueless because you'd cut down a forest to save a tree, and you'd ruin this board to see one or two shiftless lackwits not get their feelings hurt. You're clueless because you obviously haven't around or weren't paying attention for the fifty threads previous just like this one we've already had, where guys like me patiently explain to guys like you why it's bad for the board to coddle those who insist on popping new threads to ask the same questions that have already been asked and answered ad nauseum. You're clueless for opening a thread complaining about board culture in the forum reserved for discussion of the fourth gen 4Runner, you're clueless for thinking that because I don't happen to own a fourth gen 4Runner I shouldn't be allowed to participate in your whiny little thread, and you're clueless for thinking that you can whine and kvetch and passive-aggressively insult all the guys on the board that are actively trying to make it a better place and think you won't get your clueless puss called out for it.
When we dogpile a guy for opening a blatantly lazy thread, it's not so we can get our jollies being internet bullies. It serves a purpose. Those threads are damaging to the usefulness of the board for many many reasons that I invite you to use the search function to discover. It's been discussed before, and by opening this thread you have made yourself just as bad as the lazy jackasses you think you're defending. When I said "aww hell, not this again", that was not a snarky response to your request. I fecking meant it. We've done this before, several times, and if you'd been around and invested the time some of the rest of us have in trying to make this board a better place you'd have known it. You are one of those "less seasoned" folks yourself, and I don't mean that in a negative or condescending way, but to illustrate that you obviously haven't been around, you're obviously not one of the guys that's sick of seeing the same questions over and over and over again, and you're obviously not one of the guys that's irritated at all the johnny come latelys who pop out of the woodwork every couple of months to start threads like this complaining about big bullies like me, when you don't have any fawking idea what you're talking about.
So, like I said... clueless. I invite you to hang around and get a better understanding of what's going on here so your own efforts to make the board a better place can be better aimed.
anotherrunner83
New member
i guess you feel that your 10,000+ posts gives you extra rights that the rest of the folks here don't have. is someone brining it to the attention of others that some folks are tired of seeing the negative crap from others a bad thing? i think not. there have been many more positive responses than negatives to this thread.
does the constant onslaught of tire and lift questions get old? yes. is it just as easy to keep scrolling, absolutely. if i have nothing positive to add, i keep my mouth shut. if i feel like helping out, i throw in my $.02.
i joined this forum one month after you did. i've seen the repeating posts. i've gotten annoyed. but who am i to call them out? you don't know their circumstances. you don't know how familiar they are with the forum's functions.
does the constant onslaught of tire and lift questions get old? yes. is it just as easy to keep scrolling, absolutely. if i have nothing positive to add, i keep my mouth shut. if i feel like helping out, i throw in my $.02.
i joined this forum one month after you did. i've seen the repeating posts. i've gotten annoyed. but who am i to call them out? you don't know their circumstances. you don't know how familiar they are with the forum's functions.
philskeeter
New member
I don't understand why anyone has to be a ass to get their point across. If you're nice about it people may respect you and then change their habits instead of freaking out and pushing them away. Maybe it's a southern saying but ever heard of, "you can catch more flies with honey than you can vinegar"? I'm not calling anyone out either I'm just sharing my opinion.
Everyone has bad days and there's no reason they shouldn't be able to come here to get away from them without worrying of making a mistake. Honestly we're talking about a forum about 4runners. This is so small in the big picture of life it's not even worth getting angry or upset about it. Just because other forums have an abundance of asses doesn't mean that it works or that it should be followed.
Everyone has bad days and there's no reason they shouldn't be able to come here to get away from them without worrying of making a mistake. Honestly we're talking about a forum about 4runners. This is so small in the big picture of life it's not even worth getting angry or upset about it. Just because other forums have an abundance of asses doesn't mean that it works or that it should be followed.
BlackWorksInc
New member
I'm on my phone so I will keep this brief, but I'll return later to expand.
I'm a patient guy who likes helping out, so much so this forum is my second job when I clock out from wrenching on cars. While I don't mind helping and I'm very patient with people, it's hard not to feel burned out when you see the same issues over and over; even more so when you're one of the members who spends hours making write ups and threads (some of which are stickied exactly for members to see such as our suspension sticky) and people seem to not bother searching when these members try to make them as easy to pick up with even basic search terms.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/132953-toolbox-how-use.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/151487-check-engine-trac-vsc-read-me.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/138149-noise-problems-recommended-guidelines.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/130732-2uz-fe-r-r-t-belt-water-pump.html
This is just a smattering of what I've contributed to this forum over the years and it irks me when someone just pops on and asks "my check engine light is on, what's wrong with the car?" I'm patient and try to educate members, but it still gets to me when I feel like the contributions I make are ignored. I can only imagine most everyone else who isn't as borderline insanely patient as I am on the forum can be a bit terse when they experience the same thing hour after hour.
I'm a patient guy who likes helping out, so much so this forum is my second job when I clock out from wrenching on cars. While I don't mind helping and I'm very patient with people, it's hard not to feel burned out when you see the same issues over and over; even more so when you're one of the members who spends hours making write ups and threads (some of which are stickied exactly for members to see such as our suspension sticky) and people seem to not bother searching when these members try to make them as easy to pick up with even basic search terms.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/132953-toolbox-how-use.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/151487-check-engine-trac-vsc-read-me.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/138149-noise-problems-recommended-guidelines.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/130732-2uz-fe-r-r-t-belt-water-pump.html
This is just a smattering of what I've contributed to this forum over the years and it irks me when someone just pops on and asks "my check engine light is on, what's wrong with the car?" I'm patient and try to educate members, but it still gets to me when I feel like the contributions I make are ignored. I can only imagine most everyone else who isn't as borderline insanely patient as I am on the forum can be a bit terse when they experience the same thing hour after hour.
philskeeter
New member
I agree with blackworksinc but (to me) it just makes sense if it makes you're that mad to post a negative comment, then don't comment. If it pisses you off but you still want to help just simply leave a link and say try this but it does no good to the forum to leave a comment talking to someone like a dog over a dumb question. Hell just let their question go unanswered and maybe they'll look on their own
MONTYMTB
New member
I certainly get what you're saying here KidV, but do you think that purpose ever gets served? Sure, that guy may learn, but what about the next one?
If I swat a fly that comes into my house, he won't ever cause me trouble again, but the next one that comes along doesn't have a clue what happened to the one that came before him. If a new member is too lazy/doesn't know to search, he certainly isn't going to take the time to see if someone else got bashed for asking a question that's been answered multiple times before.
As I said previously, I understand the frustration, I just don't know what the best method would be to cut down on it. Maybe it is time to try the noob section - nothing else seems to work.
wnelax04sr5
New member
i don't know about you, but i learn more from doing something wrong, than i ever have from getting something right the first time. doesnt work for every scenario, but getting coddled teaches you its fine to not search and put forth no effort, getting yelled at to search may make you think twice before starting that next thread to decide what tires you should get
MONTYMTB
New member
You and a bunch of other members have contributed a lot and really do help people out, so I don't think you should feel like those contributions are ignored. I know I appreciate it, and I'm sure countless others do as well. I honestly believe that there are probably just as many (or even more) people who have just done a basic Google search about an issue with their 4Runner, found a link to this site, and got the solution to that issue without ever even becoming a member. I found this site by doing that, but I don't think I registered and starting posting until a couple years later and had already found answers to more than a few questions that I had about my truck.
MONTYMTB
New member
Absolutely, but the OP was obviously just stating his opinion that there are better ways of going about teaching people the proper way to use the forum. However, as stated earlier, it's the internet - not exactly the place for folks without thick skins.
Dylan
Member
[MENTION=55855]zopperman[/MENTION] You could have a landing page redirect before each specific gen's section that lays out expectations for (new) members around researching topics already covered, perhaps requiring them to mark a checkbox saying they acknowledge the rules. Upon posting an unnecessary thread, a quick report from any member to mods will prompt deleting the thread as well as suspending the account, followed by an automated reminder e-mail about the rules.
A more extreme example would be a requirement to read the first 10 sticky threads in each respective section, followed by a short (or longer?) quiz to test one's 4Running knowledge with a passing score. :nerd:
Just a thought...
A more extreme example would be a requirement to read the first 10 sticky threads in each respective section, followed by a short (or longer?) quiz to test one's 4Running knowledge with a passing score. :nerd:
Just a thought...
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