How dare you accuse me of searching?!?!

Anyways, I just thought I'd bring this thread back to life since there's a lot of flaming going on with all these new posts. Trying to get people to think again about how they respond to new threads and why they do so in the manner they do.

 

It is all about how the quality of the question is asked and whether I think it's some idiot who knows nothing about the car trying to stir a hornets nest like "I hear these cars need new engines after 30k miles or a stupid question like "I have a Saturn Ion Redline right now and I think I want an RX-8 to drift with".

If it's legitmately a new owner, and they are interested in learning and the question is well framed and formed, I'll answer them.

Bottom line, if the OP sounds like a tool, I'll put on my "tool" hat and be a tool right back.

 

The site is not exactly 100% effective at placing FAQs and other "stuff every new member should read" in places that make it obvious for the new member to FIND. Kinda like this one (and the others at the top of the lounge)

 

Make them take a quiz before their first post. Like this one.

I have a question. I should
a) Start a new thread with my question.
b) Search for answers first.
c) Buy a crossfire.

If they get it wrong, their post will be denied.

 

I agree with the post about the credibility of the poster and question. If it looks like some thought, care, and searching went into the noob post, I'm more likely to answer.

Some people are just gullible.

 

My car doesn't get the mpg which was posted on the window sticker. Has ANYONE else here noticed that.

 

sonofabitch!! You're right!! And I truly believe the HP is much lower as well!!


[runs_off_to_file_lawsuit_against_mazda]

 

NO WAY!!!!!!!!!! Please don't tell me that the resale value is slipping too.

 

All the engines are failing.

 

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

omgz! can u guyz tell me y my car has to have oil put in it at every fill up?? this synthetic **** is expensive yo!!!!!!$$$!!!!!

 

OMG noob!! Search!!! Read the manual!! They say to use dyno oil!!

 

...and the elves are receding into the west.

 

All the leaves are brown, and the sky is grey ...

 

you can tell if the newbie asking the question has done their homework or not.

I'm sorry but if someone with 1 post and just joined comes and askes a question like, "I want an RX8, but I hear I will have to replace the engine after 30,000 miles. Is this true?"
Or the other classic, "I just got an RX-8 and I'm only getting like 15 or 16 MPG is this normal? Will the dealership fix it for me under warranty or will I have to pay for it cuz yalls know I'm broke LOL LOL LOL" no one here is going to take tho that kindly. Not to mention it proves how purely stupid and young the OP is.

And it seems that we have an invasion of sorts of the younger demographic who is much slower and not as informed as our previous younger dempgraphics (me included, I'm a youngen). Because our previous younger owners had to have the green to get the car, but now the RX8 is cheaper in the used car market, so a lot of 16-19 year olds are getting them either a) their own money they saved from mowing lawns, or b) mommy and daddy are paying for it. And most of the kids aren't doing their homework and just ask stupid, ridicilous, and over-asked questions and expect a nice warm welcome. It ain't gonna happen.

I seriously think this forum should adapt a rule so a person who just joins can not post a new thread until they hit near 20 posts of something along those lines. Maybe it would cut down on stupid *** threads.

 

Yea I think when it's your own money and you're looking to buy a car, you're more inclined (at least the smart ones) to research it before you buy it. But then again they come here to do their research and they get flamed for not searching through the forum.

 

Because the one's that get the search noob response are the ones that I haven't gotten around to banning people over and the ones that do get responded to are those that I've cleaned up and deleted many of the useless posts. We've got a HUGE problem with people being dicks to new members and warnings have been going out all day to various people who care more about their post count going up rather than giving a person a useful answer. Let's face it, our search feature is fairly limited. The next actions against people that are warned will be 3 day bannings. If people can't be nice, they need to leave until they can be.

Be nice to the new people. If you can't answer the question, DON'T!

 

Most the posts that come up when you search just end with someone saying do a search

 

Search noob!

 

It all depends who hits it first. If Stew or Car and Driver hit it first, you can guarantee it's a "S-E-A-R-C-H" type of response. Car and Driver loves those types of threads, because he can add on to his post count with minimal effort.

If people who aren't arrogant hit it first, the question normally gets answered. Imagine how dead this forum (or any forum relating to cars) would be if there weren't new people asking questions? It would be a bunch of regulars sitting around with nothing to talk about.

 

As stated before:

1) When someone asks a good question, I'll give a good answer.

2) When some knowitall new owner who doesn't know what they are talking about says something that isn't correct or true or proven in long term ownership, I will take a stand against what they said and introduce my own opinion and experience.

I admit my tone has been testy of late, but there are also just too many folks out there, and you know who you are, who spout crap like its fact, and I like to correct those wrongs.

 

no hard feelings, Stew. Look forward to getting some good knowledge from you in the future!

 

Stop posting where you give advice like its the Bible.

 

hey i said that with less words.. and i got my pee pee slapped last night..

now it is just a big cup of cant help you for the truly stupid.. and a link for those that try..

beers

 

Glad to see I wasn't the only one pee pee slapped...sadly, it makes the veterans less likely to help and the know-it-alls that know nothing give bad advice.

The blind leading the blind. Caveat emptor.