BS Tech
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Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,696
Likes: 2,618
From: SE Florida
BS Tech
On another forum that I read the administrator has this as a sticky:
I think it's needed here, and on most technical forums.
I recently read a post where someone was asking for help with an automatic trans. Someone posted that he should check that the clutch is against the flywheel. When it was pointed out to him that that is impossible on an automatic, he replied that he didn't know anything about automatics, but he was trying to help.
Is it that important to raise one's post count? Who does it help to post things when you have absolutely NO CLUE on how something works? What's wrong with NOT posting when you don't know the answer? I don't get it.
Agree? Disagree?
I'm seeing way too many responses in this forum by people who have no idea what they are talking about. Good answers are getting buried. If you don't have a legitimate, technically accurate answer for someone, DON'T POST!
I recently read a post where someone was asking for help with an automatic trans. Someone posted that he should check that the clutch is against the flywheel. When it was pointed out to him that that is impossible on an automatic, he replied that he didn't know anything about automatics, but he was trying to help.
Is it that important to raise one's post count? Who does it help to post things when you have absolutely NO CLUE on how something works? What's wrong with NOT posting when you don't know the answer? I don't get it.
Agree? Disagree?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,857
Likes: 5
From: Northern CA
Good point, Mark. Absolutely agree. I spend most days 'round FTE just lurking.
Many times misinformation results in threads getting sidetracked and/or hijacked, rendering the OP useless.
I think the GNAC is an exception. Got to have a place where anything goes though.
Many times misinformation results in threads getting sidetracked and/or hijacked, rendering the OP useless.
I think the GNAC is an exception. Got to have a place where anything goes though.
Thread Starter
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Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,696
Likes: 2,618
From: SE Florida
I didn't mean in GNAC. I meant in the technical forums where people are looking for real answers on how to fix things. I agree this forum is much more open, and that's why I put this thread here. It would be off-topic in the forums that are having this problem.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Brunswick, Maryland
Yes, I agree with you. I realize that the moderators can't be on here all of the time but when they are they need to intervene everytime someone starts posting BS answers to peoples' questions. There have been instances also of a moderator giving out bad information. And, also, just as soon as a post starts getting off topic it needs to be pointed out. There are just too many self declared experts that really don't have a clue.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 24,418
Likes: 3
From: San Francisco, Ca.
Instead of 'buyer beware', it should be 'reader beware'.
Check, and double check anything you read.
Now, back to Wikipedia.
Check, and double check anything you read.
Now, back to Wikipedia.
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 387
Likes: 0
From: Cambridge, Ontario
I agree......
No advice, is better than bad advice IMO.... reader beware indeed but that should automatically be assumed IMO.. if you have a real issue, that could have repercussions from bad information you get from any open Forum on the "interweb".. well then perhaps you need to seek out a "real certified " professional in that field, rather than seeking advice from an open forum IMO....
I personally have found some sound advice on FTE, and try to offer advice based on what I am certified for and know very well. but hey don't take my word for it, research it further you owe it to yourself, to take anything on the internet at "Face value " is foolish IMO
No advice, is better than bad advice IMO.... reader beware indeed but that should automatically be assumed IMO.. if you have a real issue, that could have repercussions from bad information you get from any open Forum on the "interweb".. well then perhaps you need to seek out a "real certified " professional in that field, rather than seeking advice from an open forum IMO....
I personally have found some sound advice on FTE, and try to offer advice based on what I am certified for and know very well. but hey don't take my word for it, research it further you owe it to yourself, to take anything on the internet at "Face value " is foolish IMO
Elder User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 643
Likes: 0
as a rule taking your truck to a profesional is good advice but also opens up a whole new can Of worms. I would say never ask a question you dont already know the answer to, or at least a vague notion of what the problem is.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,868
Likes: 9
From: Rhode Island
I don't agree at all. A forum like this is a place to learn to help other people. If I post something and I'm wrong, I would like someone to correct it and explain it, not to be ignored or not allowed to post. If someone didn't correct me, I'd just keep going on thinking that I believed was true!
Think about, say your in school and your friend thinks something wrong on a math practice paper, and he asks you for help, but you also got it wrong (thinking you were right). Then the teacher comes over, and shows you and your friend what you did wrong, and how to fix it.
Now say instead, your friend gets it wrong, and would ask you for help, but the teacher said helping each other is not allowed. So your friend asks the teacher for help, he learns how do to it correctly, but then your are over there thinking you got the whole practice sheet right, then comes the day of the test, and you get all the answers wrong.
Seriously, think about it. How are people supposed to know when they don't have a "Technically accurate" answer when they think they actually do?
Think about, say your in school and your friend thinks something wrong on a math practice paper, and he asks you for help, but you also got it wrong (thinking you were right). Then the teacher comes over, and shows you and your friend what you did wrong, and how to fix it.
Now say instead, your friend gets it wrong, and would ask you for help, but the teacher said helping each other is not allowed. So your friend asks the teacher for help, he learns how do to it correctly, but then your are over there thinking you got the whole practice sheet right, then comes the day of the test, and you get all the answers wrong.
Seriously, think about it. How are people supposed to know when they don't have a "Technically accurate" answer when they think they actually do?
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 387
Likes: 0
From: Cambridge, Ontario
seems kinda obvious to me, if you don't have a clue about what your giving advice on, then your advice is anything but "technically accurate"...........
Although I do understand where your coming from, but when if asked for an educated opinion or advice on a specific topic I'd assume what you are looking for would be somebody experienced and offers sound advice in that field, not to exclude anyone, but perhaps if you don't know really what your talking about, don't offer advice rather sit back and listen and learn add what you do know, listen to what you don't know.
Although I do understand where your coming from, but when if asked for an educated opinion or advice on a specific topic I'd assume what you are looking for would be somebody experienced and offers sound advice in that field, not to exclude anyone, but perhaps if you don't know really what your talking about, don't offer advice rather sit back and listen and learn add what you do know, listen to what you don't know.
Thread Starter
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Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,696
Likes: 2,618
From: SE Florida
This person told what should be done, and then when questioned, admitted he had no idea how an automatic works. How could he think he had the "Technically accurate" answer when he knew he didn't know the "Technically accurate" answer? He was just making up his answer out of thin air.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,868
Likes: 9
From: Rhode Island
There's a big difference between being wrong and posting a fix when you don't have a clue how something operates. I have no problem with someone trying and being wrong.
This person told what should be done, and then when questioned, admitted he had no idea how an automatic works. How could he think he had the "Technically accurate" answer when he knew he didn't know the "Technically accurate" answer? He was just making up his answer out of thin air.
This person told what should be done, and then when questioned, admitted he had no idea how an automatic works. How could he think he had the "Technically accurate" answer when he knew he didn't know the "Technically accurate" answer? He was just making up his answer out of thin air.