BodieWavejammer Senior Member Joined: 21 Jan 2012 Posts: 23 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Expertise: Pro Barista
Posted Wed Apr 11, 2012, 5:05am Subject: Dealing With Cross Posting and Newbie Questions
Cross Posting... Who cares if it's done as not all CoffeeGeek members keep up with what's going on at Home-Barista, vice versa. I've seen people post the same question on 5-6 forums. They're simply looking for more input. No reason for anybody to get their panties in a bunch over it.
Newbie Questions... I understand the purpose of using search engines, but tracking down definitive info is usually more trouble and time consuming than it's worth and easier to just ASK. Of course those that ask the newbie questions seem to get reamed about not "searching" first. I don't blame them as it's a PITA to do so.
takeshi Senior Member Joined: 12 Oct 2002 Posts: 731 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Silvia Grinder: Super Jolly Roaster: Amaya Roasting
Posted Wed Apr 11, 2012, 8:48am Subject: Re: Dealing With Cross Posting and Newbie Questions
I've never seen cross posting used to refer to posting on multiple sites. It's generally used to mean posting in multiple subforums on the same site. No problem with the former but the latter is definitely not acceptable on any forum site I've been on.
As for searching -- if one doesn't feel that it's worth the effort to take the initiative and search first then why would one expect others to think that it's worth the effort to spoon feed answers? In many cases searching is a PITA because the signal to noise ratio is on the noise end due to people who can't be bothered to read up on the endlessly rehashed common questions. Its proper etiquette to search first and then ask. If you need help searching then ask for help searching. Search is a skill that everyone needs to have in their tool set these days. You can't expect everyone to hand you the answers on a platter every time you have a question.
Someone can give you the fish or you can learn to fish for yourself. "It's easier to ask and searching is a PITA" isn't a justification. Many worthwhile things aren't easy and are a PITA especially if you don't put forth the effort. Take the very topic of this site, for example...
Posted Wed Apr 11, 2012, 9:36am Subject: Re: Dealing With Cross Posting and Newbie Questions
Good advice and comments takeshi.
BodieWavejammer , I am guessing this post is a response to a new owner's post on H-B about espresso machine temps. Another member mentions cross posting across forums in response.
This topic has come up before - CG doesn't have a problem posting the same question here that was posted on H-B. H-B, however, does not want those posts. H-B pays for the space they use so they get to make rules as they see fit - doesn't make one good and the other evil - they just have different visions of what is considered constructive content.
I chew coffee beans with my teeth while gargling with 195 F water to enjoy coffee. What is this "coffee brewing" device you speak of?
Posted Wed Apr 11, 2012, 11:13am Subject: Re: Dealing With Cross Posting and Newbie Questions
BodieWavejammer Said:
Cross Posting... Who cares if it's done as not all CoffeeGeek members keep up with what's going on at Home-Barista, vice versa. I've seen people post the same question on 5-6 forums. They're simply looking for more input. No reason for anybody to get their panties in a bunch over it.
How is it cross posting when you're talking about two different forums and not all members participate on both? I've frequented as many as 6 coffee forums in a day and have seen the same thread posted by the same person. Nobody seems to mind so keep it that way.
Apparently you think it's fine to post and repost, even on the same forum. I consider it a waste of everyone else's time - the sort of behavior I'd expect from a troll, not a valuable participant.
BodieWavejammer Said:
Actually this is a ____________ forum and it's sort of fun taunting all the newbies and there are lots of them.
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,313 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Wed Apr 11, 2012, 11:44am Subject: Re: Dealing With Cross Posting and Newbie Questions
I personally would like some sticky posts at the top of each section that has the FAQ. I look for FAQ's when I join a board. Like the one posted every time someone asks the freezing question. I am sorta trying to write one for the I have less than 1000 dollars and I still want espresso post. Since I just went through that myself recently.
I feel like a few more FAQ's with links to the guides would be really useful to the noobies like me that do research before they ask questions. And we can point the ones that don't look to that one spot.
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,698 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Wed Apr 11, 2012, 11:49am Subject: Re: Dealing With Cross Posting and Newbie Questions
I agree that it's inefficient to post the same questions in multiple places on one site. Not just because the OP has to look to each thread for the answers, but then people who try to help end up typing the same thing over and over, and that is a waste of time and effort.
Not proud of it, but I've been guilty of posting a question without searching adequately first. It was definitely my bad and when someone did the search for me, it had all of my answers. My search had the thing I was looking for mispelled, so I got 0 hits. Having said that, I definitely see there is a huge lack of "signal" in the large field of "noise" one often gets from doing their own searches and it can be extremely frustrating and time consuming...and then end up being fruitless. I, personally, don't mind people just logging in and asking for the info they seek, but at the same time agree, the inquirer should do at least a minimal search to see if his/her topic is easily answered without (for lack of a better word) bothering someone else.
As for posting here and on HB. Well, yeah, they have the right to make whatever rules they want, and they can get upset, but I don't see any problem asking more than one "person" (in this case group of people) the same question. They'll argue that many of their members frequent both of these sites, but both sites have many members who very rarely visit the other site. Why should someone be restricted to who they can ask a question? From that perspective the rule is ludicrous. Again, it's their prerogative. My choice is to not bother going to their site, unless someone posts a link to one of their threads that I want to read. Besides, I like the people here and find this site extremely thorough and easier to navigate.
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,313 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Wed Apr 11, 2012, 12:17pm Subject: Re: Dealing With Cross Posting and Newbie Questions
Yes, it is a crazy rule if you post something on site A you can't post it on site B. They are 2 different sites. But I just spend my time here instead I don't like unfriendly boards.
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
D4F Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2012 Posts: 1,191 Location: USA Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID Grinder: Preciso
Posted Wed Apr 11, 2012, 12:49pm Subject: Re: Dealing With Cross Posting and Newbie Questions
I do not have a problem with the rule. It is explained well enough in FAQ.
"Search" does however cause some difficulty. I have found topics on CG by using Norton search or Google, and then could not find the topic again, later date, using search on CG. After I went to an outside search and found it again, I still could not easily find it using its title, swiped, in the CG search. I am a proponent of search first but that means a good search engine.
BodieWavejammer Senior Member Joined: 21 Jan 2012 Posts: 23 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Expertise: Pro Barista
Posted Wed Apr 11, 2012, 2:41pm Subject: Re: Dealing With Cross Posting and Newbie Questions
emradguy Said:
I agree that it's inefficient to post the same questions in multiple places on one site. Not just because the OP has to look to each thread for the answers, but then people who try to help end up typing the same thing over and over, and that is a waste of time and effort.
Not proud of it, but I've been guilty of posting a question without searching adequately first. It was definitely my bad and when someone did the search for me, it had all of my answers. My search had the thing I was looking for mispelled, so I got 0 hits. Having said that, I definitely see there is a huge lack of "signal" in the large field of "noise" one often gets from doing their own searches and it can be extremely frustrating and time consuming...and then end up being fruitless. I, personally, don't mind people just logging in and asking for the info they seek, but at the same time agree, the inquirer should do at least a minimal search to see if his/her topic is easily answered without (for lack of a better word) bothering someone else.
As for posting here and on HB. Well, yeah, they have the right to make whatever rules they want, and they can get upset, but I don't see any problem asking more than one "person" (in this case group of people) the same question. They'll argue that many of their members frequent both of these sites, but both sites have many members who very rarely visit the other site. Why should someone be restricted to who they can ask a question? From that perspective the rule is ludicrous. Again, it's their prerogative. My choice is to not bother going to their site, unless someone posts a link to one of their threads that I want to read. Besides, I like the people here and find this site extremely thorough and easier to navigate.
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