Completing posts

[Mike666Participant @mike666]

Dont leave us hanging

[Mike666Participant @mike666]

Hi, I wondered if it would be a good idea to encourage posters to complete their threads with a resolution post. Its true of many forums but often I find a post relevant to my problem, a few suggestions were made and then nothing. No idea what the problem turned out to be or how it was resolved. If these threads are to be useful to those newbies coming after you (like me) a conclusion would be really valuable.

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

It is a nice idea Mike, but it is in the nature of things today; sadly people don't even bother to thank you for solving [as far as you are aware] the problem they posted about, let alone thinking to tell us all later whether it worked or otherwise or was even something completely unrelated.

I think you are expecting gentlemanly behaviour when the custom for that ran into the rocks years sago

Brian

[larry PhelanParticipant @larryphelan54019]

Alas,Brian,only too true !

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

I hope that I don't fall into that class, but sometimes I do. The main reason is that I get so many suggestions for solutions that I don't have a clue as to the best one! I usually give up and do something else in cases like this. Much, much later, (once I have forgotten about my post!). I will get stuck in and do the job , then wonder why I had difficulties in working out the plan.

The thing that I have learnt is that if I consider all of the potential problems then I get very confused. If I just give the job some short consideration and then get stuck in. Then the job goes like clockwork (well mostly!)

Andrew.

[Billy BeanParticipant @billybean67480]

Mike raises a very valid point – politeness and good manners also come to mind.

Brian and Larry are right and I admit to being guilty but I take your post on board and will update from now on.

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

Many people do post thanks and the resolution but it is far from standard practice, nice when it happens though. Sometimes even though I have not taken part in the thread it would be nice to know what happened.

Mike

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Just one of the small problems with forums. As is the occasional thread starting like it is half way through the conversation, or a request for help with only half or less of the information necessary and various other things Mr Grumpy could complain about but today the sun is shining and I've just had to re-login as Baz.

[MWParticipant @mw27036]

It's not a bad idea if it was pointed out with a different coloured banner, but it would have to be optional for the OP because not all discussions can end in a resolution, (what I did today is a good example).

There is also the challenge if the website has the technical capability to do this.

Michael W

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

I think what everyone who has contributed to this are agreed on is the lamentable lack of good manners that is now the order of the day. I don't even get thanks from some of my own family for Christmas presents now, the ones living in the USA where we have to put money into their bank account for spending on whatever catches their fancy. The postage from the UK is crippling.

I couldn't for the life of me tell you what we 'gave' them this time, the day came and went and without even a mention, despite a Skype call. They were never like that, we didn't bring them up that way and I blame the culture over there for the contamination!

Rant over!

Brian

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

I have to say that recently I posted answers to two new member's questions, and when I got PMs saying thank you I was both astonished and delighted.

I used to get grumpy on another forum about people not thanking for not only advice but being GIVEN unobtainable spares etc, but have got over that now. All it did was stress me.

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

I have also in the past had thanks by PM and no one would know on the post that it was sorted.

David

[Joseph Noci 1Participant @josephnoci1]

I am not sure that the generalisation that folk don't thank is really fair…I certainly did when I was rebuilding my Alba Shaper – I was given lots of advice and encouragement and in my many post sI credited all those who helped.

However,..

Peruse the posts of help requests and see how many of them go wildly of-topic within the first 5 or 6 responses. After a while its a competition to see who can best the previous poster with what he has done, and two pages later the topic has nothing to do with the poor requestor's original question at all! Maybe, buried in that mush, is a response that sets you perhaps on the right track, but by now the requestor has , in hopefully only a little, frustration, buggered off to find his own solution – How does the poor chap maintain the frame of mind to thank that single helpful post? And if he does, the rest who 'contributed' are slighted and miffed, albeit that they contributed naught but to their ego's…

I thank where its due, but if folk want to help the requestor, stick to the topic..I suspect then that Thanks would more easily be given…

My gripe for the day..

Joe

[Richard S2Participant @richards2]

I could never not respond with thanks or acknowledgement to any replies, assistance or advice to a post that people have gone to the trouble of offering. Being one of the old 'Please and Thank you' era, I also cannot bear to see posts going unanswered (mostly on other Forums). I suppose there are people who join forums just to obtain an answer to their problem and not to frequent it.

I also have responded via PM, Facilities vary on Forums and many have 'Thanks' buttons which can be used for responses etc, but in their absence, I reply. Shame about the no responses etc, but suppose it has to be accepted these days.

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

If I may come in again, Joseph Noci has made a very valid point.

On the occasions I have sought help I thank all contributors for their input [ good or bad] and say that has given me what I needed to know sort out the problem and then sign off. Mostly that stops the tide of dross from even starting.

While I am as guilty as everyone else at passing on later feedback, this does make it easy enough to resurrect a topic and give the result, remembering of course to close the door at the end. That way you can see relevant material and ignore the rubbish completely

A new way ahead perhaps

Brian

On the subject of unanswered posts, I may not be able to help the OP but I make a comment saying so and hope that someone else will know—it bumps the question up to the top for a fresh exposure. Once it disappears from Page 1 it is as good as dead 

Edited By Brian Wood on 16/02/2018 17:44:48

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

One can already see the divergence from the thread starter. The thread is about how the problem was, or will be (hopefully), resolved. With many of the requests for help, there may be multiple solutions (more than one way to skin a cat, as they used to say).

All that was requested here is to see if encouragement for some form of notification of success (or otherwise), at the conclusion to the problem, could be included somehow. The options are generally (but not exclusively) included in the first few replies, after which the tread may continue down one or more of the possible diversionary or explanatory routes.

Thanking responders is an entirely different matter.

[Joseph Noci 1Participant @josephnoci1]

NDIY,

Your are quite right – this sort of divergence occurs in a jiffy..However, my point remains – If the requestor is deterred by the topic-drift, he is unlikely to come back and post his solution now is he? And by the same token, neither to say Thank You. Another observation – I spent a half hour digging through a number of posts and found a few that would annoy even me a little – eg, A fellow who asked aid WRT a particular clamping problem on a Warco mill ,suffered the precise topic drift I mentioned. No useful solutions were presented, but a lot of advice was given related to why he should rather have purchased the next size up mill…which eventually become a discussion on fitting a VFD to the bigger mill….

The fellow DID eventually post how he solved the milling problem he had asked about, and promptly 5 more responded, each saying that there was a better way to have done that, etc. Where where these know-it-alls when the chap first asked for help?? Enough to make him think twice next time..

I think some basic civility, manners, and humility to say you have no idea how to help, if you really have the need to post at all, will help all to be Gentlemen.

I used to post a lot on all my activities and doings, not to brag on the forum, but I felt the need to show what I have done in return for the many ideas I gleaned from other peoples postings of there activities. I have just by reading peoples posts, and looking at there albums, found a trove of info and ideas that help me in my ventures and hoped that my posts may similarly promote thought in others, and did this in a way of saying Thank you. Some of the responses however….And so, as I am merely a visitor here, I would rather not tread to heavily on others toes.

Joe

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I don't agree that people are becoming less well mannered or ungrateful in general. As someone who reads most threads my impression is that help is usally acknowledged with gratitude.There are always some people who are naturally that way, but I think most failures of communication are down to the fact that some people still find using forums awkward.

While the 20 years or so of forums, bulletin boards and the like mean that most of us are now pretty much familiar with the ettiquette of posting it is easy to forget that some people are still beginners at this game!

I think you'll find that all regular forum users occasionally lose track of what they have commented on, but usually give an update.

For newbies it's not so easy – many of them will not be sure of forum etiquette, and I think Joe makes a fair comment.

I do wish we had a 'like' or 'thanks' button for useful posts without going OTT, that makes it easier to show appreciation without having to make a detailed post.

Some beginners are embarrassed to finish with a post,especially if they feel they have been a bit foolish (doesn't mean people have tried to make them feel foolish).

Finally I do also get the odd PM of thanks, I always feel it would be better for people to post such messages on the thread, as usually the help given was a 'group effort' anyway. My assumption is that they will message others as well – but to a third party it looks like they have just walked away.

Neil

[Les Jones 1Participant @lesjones1]

This thread has prompoted me to see if we can get a proper conclusion to the Warco. WM280V-F problem

Les.

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Hello Les,

It is surely unlikely to have that effect as people following this may have no answers to or even interest in that thread; I think it would be more productive to direct your thoughts accordingly.

Regards

Brian

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Brian Wood on 17/02/2018 09:46:28:

… I think it would be more productive to direct your thoughts accordingly.

.

If you follow the link included in his post; that appears to be exactly what Les has done, at 08:27:35 this morning, Brian

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 17/02/2018 09:59:33

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

One way might be to add 'let us know how you get on' to the end of some of our posts!

Neil

[larry PhelanParticipant @larryphelan54019]

Hi All,

Some very interesting points have come up here

A Even though I may not get the answer to my question [I usually do ],still the amount of know-how I pick up makes it worth while to ask,in the first place. At times the tread tends to drift [like in a pub near closing time ],but still it,s worth reading. I recall one tread some time ago went way off the rails altogether,I forget what it started as,but it ended up talking about sheep on the hills !,and that did not take place in a pub!

As regards people saying Thanks for your help/time,dont hold your breath.I have lost count of the number of times I have obliged people [word gets around if you have a workshop] without getting a word of thanks. It,s as though that,s what you,re there for. My friend say,s I should just tell them to "Go Away",or words to that effect. Perhaps I should but sometimes the job is interesting.Strange thing is that they never ask about the cost of any material used !

To sum up,a simple word of thanks goes a long way,on the Forum or in the shop and is always appreciated. I hope I am never found guilty in this respect,since I have a great deal still to learn and access to good teachers.

My Thanks to all of you.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Or if starting a thread asking for help just sing of with "Thanks in advance"

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 17/02/2018 10:11:44:

One way might be to add 'let us know how you get on' to the end of some of our posts!

Neil

.

In the tradition of FWIW and WHS … may we abbreviate that to LUKHYGO

MichaelG.

.

Edit: I've just searched for LUKHYGO

… and discovered that it is already in use on some forums.

… such is my naïvité in these matters 

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 17/02/2018 10:32:45

[Author]

Posts