What happened to ]v[FK?

[Pharaoh]

Ok, serious business.

Although he search feature is great, it doesn't prevent new members from creating threads asking questions. You never know though, some may have already tried, but didn't know exactly what to type to get the results they were looking for. I couldn't count how many times this has happened to me. I typically find things I was looking for in threads that were completely unrelated.

As stated before, it's all in how you respond. I like to reinforce using the search feature, but throw in some helpful words to get them going. Something like, "Try searching for "DIY Awesomeness" or "Pharaoh" as most of you know him." haha

I joke, but this is about learning and helping others do the same. Not everyone learns in the same manner and some just need to talk it out, while some just like to post-stalk.

BTW, I think the "Use Google" comments are very insulting at times. I think we should try and keep that comment out of our collection.

 

[Clay]

Certain things will always happen on a forum, and they will be exacerbated by a growing number of posters:

1. People will have differing opinions on every subject. Even things that are too ridiculous to entertain. I would post a link but it would only further the next point.

2. Your opinion is wrong, mine is right. Even if we said the same thing, here's why you're wrong. Again, posting a link would only make me part of that!

3. People pass off regurgitated opinions as fact, and have no idea why it's opinion and not fact. Yeah, I'm talking about the varying mbu opinions here: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=350204

4. Factual posts get an angry response, usually with conspiracy theories, opinionated "fact" or personal insults. Yeah, I'm talking about the silicone threads.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=332598
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=342445

5. People will always ask NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES it has been asked or answered, "how many RBPs can I put in a 75g?" This question is asked on every forum and has been asked more times than I care to remember. I can remember back in 97ish on piranha.org (yeah, that forum was around a long time ago) when this was already the "old" joke. I am sure I asked it too
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=350221

So, what can you do about it? Easy, accept that people are going to continue to ask questions. There are some old time members that have a lot of experience and a wealth of knowledge to share. There are a couple of different ways to handle repetitive questions. You can take the approach Chompers and Pharoah have. They answer questions, post articles, and are generally helpful with most things. You can take the approach of letting other people answer the questions, and this also advances the hobby, which is ultimately what we're all hoping to do - increase general knowledge and make a better hobby for everyone.

 

[dbcb314]

It is easier just to answer the question nicely than it is to say "USE GOOGLE YOU ****ING NOOB" and start a flame war.

 

[krichardson]

It is easier just to answer the question nicely than it is to say "USE GOOGLE YOU ****ING NOOB" and start a flame war.

That's right.Everyone is well aware of Google by now and don't need to be told when to use it.If you can't ask a question here then what is this forum for?

 

[yogurt_21]

BTW, I think the "Use Google" comments are very insulting at times. I think we should try and keep that comment out of our collection.

Not to mention we could be leading the poster into a nightmare of bad info and it totally defeats the purpose of them being on mfk. Half the time google got them here I know that's how I found mfk. So if the presumtion is that google is supposed to be leading you to the answers and it lead them here, why not take the time to type out the answer? If you took the time to type out "use google" it'd probabally take you less than 60 seconds longer to type an actual answer.

the search funtion is one thing, the information is semi controlled and hopefully those threads contain good info on the topic. Personally it takes me less time to search and insert a link than it does to type out a response of "use the search function." This is why I don't mind those who simply post the link to the thread and nothing else. Some may take it as laziness but for me if it gets the op to the information requested it's fine.

 

[ballinouttacntrol]

Pharoah, clay and others....it was nice to hear the flip side of things. I always try to be helpful but i'll try to be more cautious.

The google discussion, google is great for images and if i say use google, it's usually not fish related. Here's an example.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=351337

 

[scalesandfins]

hey chloe thats good to hear an di guess i will forgive you

 

[importracer]

I been here off and on for awhile now and things just keep changing. When I first joined it seemed that most people here really wanted to help. Questions got answered with well thought out responses that were truly intended to help a fellow hobbyist. If you posted a pic responses would pour in from people either complimenting you or telling you how to improve your skills or questions about your stock. I love this site they're are so many kick *** people here who really know what they're doing have amazing stock and are always willing to help. However lately I've been saddened to see things changing for the worst. It seems like the majority of responses are between friends now and those that aren't are usually flaming or telling somebody to use google or the search function. Alot of people seem to respond selfishly either to stroke their own ego or to have someone stroke it for them. I don't know at least that's the vibe I've been getting lately. Am I wrong am I the only one who feels like this. I'm not saying it's everyone, cause they're still are members who totally rock and love to help just for the love of the hobby, but the tone in general seems to be changing. Those who do help I applaud you and thank you. However that doesn't seem to be the majority anymore or am I wrong?

Sup bra......Im from 2005, yeah it has been that long for me too to be a member on a fish forum, but it is second family.........As far as the "waves" of people, I figured it out........Every other two or three months a wave of newbies comes through....It is like a boot camp..There is a percentage, maybe 5% or 1 out of evry 10, who are just fooling around and trying the retard thing of pissing off old school members and seeing where we at in response to them....This is where the newbies from two or three months ago come in.......They start PM'ing these thread "hackers" to a point where they no longer thread "hack."If, and when, the going gets tough, a PM from a moderator(ranker) is sent warning the newbie to chill and learn, or be terminated.......Pretty much, it takes a solid month and a half to really get focused(hooked) on Monsterfishkeepers.com........The common questions is what I like:"How To Breed Convicts," or, "What MONSTER can I Fit In My New 100g........."Sometimes, and maybe a lot, depending on the group of the month, these questions are not answered really the way most would think to be answered...Some will respond by simply noting they should go a nd check out the search button or google it.....Most, however, like me, really asked the common question because we wanted to see who would take their time in thinking up an answer........I have "bonded" over the first months as a member and it really gave me a back bone.......Not only was the curiuosity of the hobby massaged well, but I also met with a lot of these poeple and actually turned out to be some the greatest deals in life.....180gallon-$200 for you Jason, OK.....

 

[buddha1200]

when i first joined i got jumped on by alot of so called know it all's. But what i relized over time is that those people never post pics of their fish or tanks,but seemed to act like they had all the answers. So i started paying atention to the posters that show and proved and followed alot of them and learned alot. you can tell who really enjoys being on this site and who is here to so say they are. I don't know about every fish but the ones i do know about any one can ask me and i will answer to the best of my knowledge. I think thats the attitude evryone should have,if you dont know dont be an idiot and just say use search or google to make it seem like you do(alot of people do that on here)and just dont want to answer the question. None of us started out great fishkeepers we all had to ask some one a question to get were we are today in the hobby.