Don't Pick On The Newbies

[autobahn]

Well, to be honest, although there are genuinely a lot of very nice people on this forum, there almost appears to be some elitism or something prevailing with some.

I read the "Money" thread and to be honest there are some people out there who feel the need to make some (boring) sarcastic remarks toward newbie's answering "silly" questions, thinking they are funny. They really aren't. As if they are the PDC guru and anyone who asks about how cold the pool water is should be pelted with sarcasm. For some people, it may be the first time they have ever planned a trip (or even been on an airplane) and they may not be as "search" savvy as many of us. Or like someone else mentioned, it is their way to assimilate into this forum.

Really, if it bothers people that much, then when you see "money", "weather", "pool temp", etc threads, just don't view them...pretty simple.

"it's probably best just to move on if it is bothersome."

Someone else kind enough can answer or point the OP to related threads and then that's it.

And to say that these posts diminish the quality of the forum, I completely disagree. This forum probably gets a large number of new viewers everyday and if all the posts are just specifically related to people who have been coming to PDC regularly, they just may find the forum not very informative to their needs.

I don't know why I wrote this, but it really bothered me about the tone of some of the sarcastic remarks made in regards to "silly" posts.

[sctx]

Originally Posted by autobahn

Really, if it bothers people that much, then when you see "money", "weather", "pool temp", etc threads, just don't view them...pretty simple.

"it's probably best just to move on if it is bothersome."

Someone else kind enough can answer or point the OP to related threads and then that's it.

We're working on a better Frequently Asked Questions section and hopefully will make it readily visible to new members. I've personally never been a fan of the search function and I think duplicate threads such as "Dollars or Pesos" should have been merged by the moderators on a consistent basis as has been done with the "Weather" threads

as far as off topic silly responses within a thread, we're pretty much stuck with those

[melliedee]

One of the first threads I started (waaaaay before I discovered the political topics ) asked if I should be worried about barracudas "swimming up" and attacking me while snorkeling. Everyone was very nice about it, though in retrospect is was a pretty dumb question. Peeps started posting pics of barracudas and sharing their experiences and assuring me that they are not likely to attack you.

Also, I always thought being told to use the search function was some kind of inside joke. I get very strange results when I've used it.

[Bumper]

Originally Posted by autobahn

I don't know why I wrote this, but it really bothered me about the tone of some of the sarcastic remarks made in regards to "silly" posts.

The reason you wrote this is obvious to me. You feel a degree of frustration and a certain amount of annoyance at how things sometimes develop. Perfectly understandable. So do we all. It's rarely done with any malicious intent, as I'm sure you're perceptive enough to realize. But we're only mortals, after all, and we're trying to get better. Please forgive us our human frailties. It's never going to be perfect, but I think we can all resolve to try to make it better. I have now preached tolerance, patience, and restraint. Hopefully, I can take my own advice, but I dunno'.....feet of clay, and all that.

[james]

Originally Posted by autobahn

And to say that these posts diminish the quality of the forum, I completely disagree.

you can disagree if you like, but we, the owners of the site, get to decide our own guidelines, which pretty much line up with most forums everywhere, which specify that our guests should try to search for common questions before asking them. Over and over.

In any case, as I've stated, our policy is not to admonish people for asking them again, and we ask that such posting be reported.

[taotoon]

Originally Posted by james

Ideally, we would like to avoid having multiple threads about the same topic, with the same answers, over and over. Instead, each topic covered in one thread is the goal. The advantages in finding, updating and maintaining quality information are obvious.

Random idea...someone who knows this forum a lot better then me, should find the most informative thread about each often asked subject and make a stickid post with links. (If I could do it, I would but I have no clue how to even link a thread. I am interweb stupid ) I know the info is on the read more tab and that if people looked a little bit harder it would be right there but instant gratification is a popular things

[james]

Originally Posted by taotoon

Random idea...someone who knows this forum a lot better then me, should find the most informative thread about each often asked subject and make a stickid post with links.

SCTX kinda mentioned that we have that (very large) project started

[autobahn]

Originally Posted by james

you can disagree if you like, but we, the owners of the site, get to decide our own guidelines, which pretty much line up with most forums everywhere, which specify that our guests should try to search for common questions before asking them. Over and over.

In any case, as I've stated, our policy is not to admonish people for asking them again, and we ask that such posting be reported.

Yes, it is your site and your guidelines...and I certainly appreciate that. I'm not saying people can't be directed to using the search function...that is a reasonable answer to a question.

ie: " this topic has been discussed very regularly, please use the search function to find related threads" ; not a sarcastic remark belittling the user for not knowing better.

That's all I have to say...

[james]

Originally Posted by autobahn

... not a sarcastic remark belittling the user for not knowing better.

agreed, and for that reason, we ask such posts be reported. It is our policy that such posts (for the sake of belittling) do not add value and have no place here.

[January Guy]

Originally Posted by autobahn

And to say that these posts diminish the quality of the forum, I completely disagree.

As if they are the PDC guru and anyone who asks about how cold the pool water is should be pelted with sarcasm.

A couple people questioned my "diminish the quality of the forum comment" and although you saw James' response, here is my brief explanation of why I keep saying it. When I go to the forum, I'll click on General - Playa Del Carmen section and scan maybe the first 15 thread topics for something interesting, some people may scan more but I imagine many people take a similar high-level look like I do. If people kept asking the same questions over and over again (like having 3 peso related threads going on at the same time), it may be interesting for brand-new newbies, but it would get boring very quickly for even them and I, like many others I imagine, would get disinterested in the forum. If people search more, it keeps the first topics that appear much more interesting to a broader audience.

Regarding your second comment above, people will get upset if you make comments like that which are unfortunately false. Your comment above says that we pelted someone who asked how cold the water was. If you read that thread, you'd see that he got very gracious answers until he basically called our forum members liars.

http://www.playa.info/playa-del-carm...ature-pdc.html

Kind of interesting as sarcasm is fairly heavy on the board, sometimes even when responding to newbies, but this is one of the first times I personally used sarcasm and it really stirred up a hornets nest. But, if it raises the quality of the board (some of you are now barfing I know) and helps people get along better, I'm okay with that.

In the end, James' opinion is the one that counts and he has asked us to do 2 things. Newbies = search more. Regulars = don't admonish them when they don't search. I will do my part and hope others will do the same.

[Shammy]

Originally Posted by sctx

I was really surprised to get that 40% raise last week... thanks man

Hey!

What raise?

[SunKneeMarie]

Originally Posted by Shammy

Hey!

What raise?

oh good, you too? I thought maybe they were just picking on the newbie mods...

[sctx]

Originally Posted by Shammy

Hey!

What raise?

don't worry, it won't affect our tax brackets

[Bumper]

Yeah, it would be nice to see a little something extra in this week's envelope....as long as it's not pink. Aw heck, I wasn't looking for a job when I got this one.

[MikeW]

Originally Posted by Shammy

Hey!

What raise?

40% of nuthin is, well . . . nuthin.