Loading ...Are you a forum bore?
Forums can be useful. If you are installing some software or the like, just pasting an error message into google gives you instant answer.
But who answers your questions? What experience do they have? And what support do you have if things go wrong? That’s right… another forum…
Do you really want to trust your computer, health, business, health of your children to a complete stranger with an even stranger “avatar” and a silly slogan for a “ sig”.
And notice who “pops up” minutes after almost every post with their opinion or thoughts . If it were software that did this, it would be very expensive…
It’s known as “perceived authority” where we subconsciously assume people who are loud and noisy know what they are talking about.
In truth though, they are the cyber equivalent of a pub bore. Where every conversation has to start or finish with them or be “approved” by them. And they feel the need to join in every conversation regardless how little they know about the subject.
You wouldn’t go to a complete stranger in the street and say
“Excuse me, can you help me with this problem with my computer please,
here’s the error message”
We have just read James Brausch’s excellent book “The Internet Business Book” and he offers some advice on the typical make up of a forum.
The owner – They aren’t really bothered about what goes on so long as it is legal and makes money.
The moderators – Enjoy the role of being a football referee and having the power to delete post and throw people out
Lurkers – People who just lurk around, sometimes posting, most of the time keeping their heads down
Trolls & Pub Bores – People who I have described above. People who enjoy winding others up and/or showing off their vast knowledge
People who answer questions – People who think that they are doing a public service answering questions asked by people who can’t be bothered to look it up for themselves
Advertisers – Again, similar to owners, they aren’t really bothered so long as they make money.
Want to see what we mean ? Post a link to this article in every forum you post in and see the chickens fly…
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Although I understand your point, I somehow have to disagree with you. Let’s take an analogy to explain.
You are stuck on the side of the road with your car. A stranger stops, you don’t know his or her credentials but looking at your car, he notice that you have a loose calble. He shows you how to fix the problem and there you go, the car works again. In the end, by chatting with the individual he tels you he is an accountant and that cars are a hobby of his.
Nont only did he fixed your problem you also learned how to fix it so next time you will know what to do. And, furthermore, you learned about mechanics from an accountant. You could have waited for the tow truck and send your car to the dealer service center. They would have fixed it, charged you big $$$ and never tell you what the actual problem was.
Forums are the same, they help you solve your problems yourself while learning about computing at the same time. I’ve been using them for a long time to fix my computer problems and I shall say that I’ve been successful at least 90% of the time. This is what online connunities are about: sharing expertise. Wether you are an expert, a newbie or a wannabe, you can contribute to the community. The sum of knowledge of a community is way higher of that of the best expert of this community.
I don’t care who is at the other end, I just want an answer to my problem. If his solution does not work, then I go to the next one. I may give them “perceived authority”, but what do I care, it does not cost me a penny and this is a learning opportunity. I understand however that this is not for everyone. Some people will prefer send their car to the dealer while others will prefer the “do it yourself” solution.
Wether you are looking for profit, power, notoriety or just an answer, to me this is a win-win solution since everyone get what they want.
Guy, many thanks for your comment.
This was posted after a few instances on (non IT) forums (I also admit that forums are not for private conversations) where I was having a ‘conversation’ with another person. Both of us were constantly interrupted by someone who had strong views on the matter but admitted that he had not actually read the material in question but relied on what he had been “told”.
I agree that most people don’t actually set out to deceive people but to use your breakdown example, Just suppose that the first 3 people to come along are not mechanics but once ‘watched’ someone change a spare wheel. They each insist on telling this to you, wasting your time, not actually helping you and leaving you to do it yourself.