If you're looking for something, or information, try a search on Google, Bing, Ask, or any of the other search sites. Chances are you'll be able to find the information for yourself.

Sure, EZgoing, there are many cases of problems that contain variables not found in a search. But, there are an awful lot of questions posed here that are solved by others doing a simple search that the questioner could have done. I certainly don't mind helping someone out who really needs help, but he/she who helps themselves learns far more.

Sure, EZgoing, there are many cases of problems that contain variables not found in a search. But, there are an awful lot of questions posed here that are solved by others doing a simple search that the questioner could have done. I certainly don't mind helping someone out who really needs help, but he/she who helps themselves learns far more.

Sure, EZgoing, there are many cases of problems that contain variables not found in a search. But, there are an awful lot of questions posed here that are solved by others doing a simple search that the questioner could have done. I certainly don't mind helping someone out who really needs help, but he/she who helps themselves learns far more.

EZ is right. Racer, sure search engines will give you a lot of info, but there are many times when talking to someone who has actally done it helps quite a bit. Besides these forums are a lot more fun.

Racer, if you don't know how to phrase the question correctly, you either don't get an answer or you get so many that you can't check them all. I was looking for some info on a certain truck once. I got over a million hits. I tried checking the top answers but that didn't work. After over an hour of trying, I phoned a friend. He told me how to phrase the question. Got 5 hits with his phrasing. The 1st one I checked was what I wanted.

You need to remember some of us are challenged just to get to this site and post. Don't worry though, I won't come here to ask someone to help me find info on the net.

There's another thing to think about. The answers given here are mostly from trusted people who have a proven track record of giving good advice. They have earned the trust of the other members over the years. When you get an answer straight off the web, you don't know who is giving that answer. That is why students can't cite Wikipedia as a resource when doing homework assignments.

Racer:

EZ and jdeere have made good points. There are people on these forums that are real good at suggesting links to websites that may be helpful (Slug-gunner and Oldman come to mind). But for many problems there is more than one solution, and a varity of opinions is good in picking the solution that works best for you. A website is going to give you one experts (see definition below) opinion and nothing more.

Expert: "Someone who learns more and more about less and less until he knows almost everything about almost nothing" (I heard or read this somewhere but don't remember where so I don't know who to attribute it to).

Since we have members in almost every "trade", and many with years of experience in many different types of activity, I tend to come here first. The important thing is to post your question in the correct Forum, and supply enough information that you can get reasonable and correct answers.

Almost every problem will have more than one solution.

I often search the web for some research, but it may take several tries to get the right combination of words in the search argument to find what I'm looking for.

Taymdint, I have another definition of Expert that I learned in high school math class: " X is the UNKNOWN, and a 'spurt' is a DRIP UNDER PRESSURE".

I've been accused of being one on occasion - LOL.

Posted By Bubba_MoCity on 09-02-2010 08:36 AM

Taymdint, I have another definition of Expert that I learned in high school math class: " X is the UNKNOWN, and a 'spurt' is a DRIP UNDER PRESSURE".

I've been accused of being one on occasion - LOL.

Bubba, I tend to believe that that also applies to me on many occasions!

It's funny how many times a solution, (when this "drip" is under pressure), works pretty well, but then the old adage applies, there's a right way to do things and a wrong way.
Searching online with various search engines is one solution, matter of fact I tell many "Google" is your friend, but Lord knows what sort of answer one will get and it may not entirely apply to your specifics nor come from a trusted source.
That's where this forum comes in. There may be many "experts" in both senses of the word in here, and the bottom line I like to think is "experience". There's a wealth of experience in here, the type that helps individuals not to have to re-invent the wheel.
Then there's follow-ups', if the problem is not exactly as found with internet search engines, one can get the answers or solutions adjusted to specifics by asking follow up questions in the forum. I know that a couple of times an electrical diagram of mine did not meet the specifics of a member and I had to rethink a solution for that member. Try and get that from an email message to a random website! Good luck!
That partially comes down to reputation. You and all of the regulars have a good reputation of helping where you can in areas where you have experience. Everybody tries to keep that good reputation by giving honest, experience based answers to any question.
Web searches are a great source of "opinions" and factual information. Narrowing the "opinions" between just opinions and experience based solutions is hard. The easy way is to first ask here in the forums. But one ain't gonna learn!
Ain't gonna learn how to do independent research for factual information.
Like previously mentioned, a few people also have that "experience" with search engines to filter out the wheat from the chaff and offer links to solutions. That's another type of experience one can find in this forum.

Time for me to get off the soap-box... LOL

Gerry,
I love your diagrams. I always learn from what you explain - even if I have no need for that solution at the current time.

That is why I enjoy this website so much. You "nailed it" with the experience factor.
I feel like I aways have a group of (pardon the expression) "experts" in my back pocket that will help me solve any problem - no matter how simple or complex.

The fact that we can share such information - quickly - is wonderful.

Let's see; y'all have solved all of the following for me:
Applance problems,
Small engine problems,
Electrical problems
Plumbing problems,
Construction problems,
Woodworking problems,
Flooring problems,
Paint & Finishig problems,
etc.

And also kept me entertained with the mutual humor and sometimes serious needs.

We really are a "family".

Nobody on this forum is obligated to answer any questions/posts. If you feel you are wasting your time by helping out just ignore the post -- no one will ever know and you can feel satisfied and superior in all your self kept knowledge that you have gained by web searches. This of course is just my opinion

Posted By Horace Puckey on 09-02-2010 10:35 AM
Nobody on this forum is obligated to answer any questions/posts. If you feel you are wasting your time by helping out just ignore the post -- no one will ever know and you can feel satisfied and superior in all your self kept knowledge that you have gained by web searches. This of course is just my opinion

Bill, That was Great!

Of course, there's people like you and me that "want" to help with personal experiences AND web searches!

Don't get me wrong people, web searches are a great thing! I do them all the time.
But there's something about a personal contact with another via here our forum, that is the icing on the cake.

EDIT: Now if we can only get some Verizon DSL technicians to operate and participate in a forum like we have here, my DSL problems would be solved. LOL

Edit #2: Extending that to an area beyond comprehension, lets' go for the whole ball of wax and wish, yes wish, for a problem solving forum for the whole world with maybe the United Nations as the anchor host!
Only in our dreams.....

Bill:

I like your definition of "expert", never heard it before but it is good.

As far as internet searches, even a technoidiot like me does them, but like most of you who have commented, I believe in the "personal" contact on forums like this.

Don't be so humble, you aren't that great - Golda Mier

ChuckJ wrote:

There's another thing to think about. The answers given here are mostly from trusted people who have a proven track record of giving good advice. They have earned the trust of the other members over the years. When you get an answer straight off the web, you don't know who is giving that answer. That is why students can't cite Wikipedia as a resource when doing homework assignments.

I don't think I could have worded it better. I can google plans for any number of woodworking projects and get many plans and patterns, but who is to say they are accurate in their details. If i ask an individual here at HCOA, most of whom I trust, I will have more success at finding one that is tried and true and save me heaps of frustration and wasted materials. I learn alot from most of the contributors here, if all you have to offer me is "google it", save it for someone else, I already may have tried that. Ask, contribute, pay it forward, all the things that make these forums great. BTW, I've yet to make a friend on a Google search, but I like to think I made many here at HCOA!

Well said by all of you. The forums are for information EXCHANGE between the members,.
Any member that gives a solution to someones problem feels good that he could help.
And the he feels better yet when the recipient acknowledges that fix.

That attitude would be like sitting down with a friend for a cup of coffee and he asks you what the weather is supposed to be for tomorrow, and you brush him off by saying "don't bother me with a question like that, do a Google search on weather for your zip code". That is what happens here when you brush someone off and tell them to look for themselves. It sure does nothing to build any confidence or rapport with the other members who have paid their dues for the privilege to ask questions..