Maybe it's just me.....new member posts asking questions

[ve9aa]

Why does it seem like these days more than ever in the past a lot (define "a lot"?), I don't know 15%+?? of new member first posts ask such a vague question with so little associated information as to nearly be laughable?

Am I just grumpy?

I mean, I am here, just like most of you, to learn about my relatively new tractor but also I like to be able to help when I can. I have decades of professional electronic experience as well as working on cars, shadetree mechanic style for decades also. I have nearly 2 decades on my TG1860 (diesel) and a few years on my BX, so I have some Kubota-specific knowledge to share but when someone wanders in (maybe doesn't even tell us what tractor it is) and says (something like)

"My tractor won't start".

I mean, c'mon,.....give us a little something to go on. At least model #, what you were doing at the time....Do you have any mechanical knowledge (we don't know you) and if you've done any initial troubleshooting.

I mean....we aren't all psychic, right?

 

[Bmyers]

I agree the recent questions appear to be very vague.

Yet, that could be from the simple fact the new poster(s) don't realize what is and what isn't important information. I would guess many of the long time posters on here have grown up/been around tractors/equipment to realize what information is needed to start down a general diagnostic road.

Yet as it has been pointed out, the owner's manual of vehicles from the 50s would talk about adjusting points, yet now days, the owner's manual talks about not drinking the battery fluid.

So, I think times have changed.

 

[ken erickson]

I get what your saying and yes, many times a question will be asked with little to no useful information.

I do understand that a lot of folks come here in desperation and frustration , many with no internet or forum experience, looking for advice on fixing their tractor. I would like to think we should have some understanding and prompt the poster asking for specifics and in general as a group we do a great job.

What turns me off is when a question is asked like "my tractor wont start" and a forum member will politely respond saying we need more information and specifics to help you , the original poster either gets defensive or completely non responsive .

Last thoughts, It is the internet with a wide range of personalities , experience etc. I doubt things will change on this front. It is what it is.

 

[Fordtech86]

Try being in the business everyday….

 

[Biker1mike]

I fear that for many it is like asking a very young child how a light works. You flip the switch and the light works. Power stations, transfer lines, fuse box, etc are unknown.
For some new tractor owners it may be the same thing You turn the key and the tractor starts. The hows and whys are unknown and they may not know what questions to ask.
A qoogle search gets as much wrong information as correct info.
Here is a good place to start. The people with the knowledge will ask specific questions and ask about items the new user never knew about.
I know just enough to know when to ask for help.

 

[ve9aa]

Try being in the business everyday….

I *AM* in the install and repair business everyday. Maybe that is *PART* of my grumpiness? I actually ENJOY helping folks.

Back in the "oldentimes" my "clients" would say "Hi, I have this XYZ machine I've used everyday for 12 years and it always does *THIS*. I've tried this, this and this and all I get is "this"

Now I get a phone call (or they send it in) and they say "the XYZ is broken"

Maybe it's a sign of the times.

 

[fried1765]

Try being in the business everyday….

I cannot even begin to imagine..... "in the business every day"

 

[GreensvilleJay]

NOT grumpy, just a seasoned professional tired of dealing with 'twothumbitis'.....

Used to own remote control energy management system. designed ,built,installed everything. 'Fun' dealing with Bell Canada ! They couldn't fathom how MY equipment KNEW where THEIR lines were cut, and never understood HOW I could still control my clients HVACs with their wires cut......

don't miss the 2AM 'no heat' calls though !!

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

It's been this way for years!

I've had to extract info out of people on every level to get to the real issue.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Ok, Now I think someone is messing with us.
That's 4 posts in one day?????
Is TBN down again, or did the Farcebook page go down?

 

[bearbait]

Try being in the business everyday….

Better you then me my friend.

 

[85Hokie]

Guys -

ya'll have been great reporting the "spammers" and they have been booted within hours of getting the reports. KEEP on reporting them. Most are spammers trying to get something out of us or sending information about everything OTHER than an orange tractor.

As for as the people that are asking questions without GIVING any clues the the problem - yup, we will still get those - treat 'em kind up to point. We had to learn somehow.

I will tell you this - I have been teaching 37 years - Teaching a class of Engineering - nothing too deep, not a lot math BUT a LOT of problem solving activities. Like everyone get a certain set of materials and they have to do something quicker, faster or better than the next student. Critical thinking is my goal.

Day one I gave a partnership, 12 pieces of thin spaghetti and 8 small marshmallows.

Their goal was to make a "tower" of some sorts that would suspend a ping pong ball for 3 seconds.

One group got 9" and said we are done!!!! - I said, improve, make it better, nope, they were satisficed for that little work.

Easy peasy - yeah?

I have kids that come into this class:
cannot read an analog clock
cannot fine 1/2" on a zero to one inch scale
cannot write their @#$#$@# name so it can be read
cannot place their @#$#@ last name on a paper
hell these little shts cannot even walk down the hallway on the right side.

THEY are soooo tied to that damn cell phone - nothing else matters!

I have some smart ones come through however - and they are recruited to the local nuclear manufacture here in town (do a butt load of nuclear fuel for military) and they are promised a job STARTING at $35 an hour -
BUT they CANNOT bring their phone into the building - MUST be left in their cars. AND THEY SAY -hell no, I aint taking that JOB!!!!!!

I too am cooked with the dumbasses of the world - they are our future leaders? LOOKING at what he have now, it is gonna be one hellva future for us. Add sarcasm where needed!

 

[D2Cat]

I am amazed that many do not do much, if any, searching to see if the question has been covered in detail previously. You can declare half of the internet search is wrong but do a search to see if you can learn something is spite of that. If someone doesn't have internet or forum experience they have to be over 50 years old and living off grid.

I've gotten to where if someone gives a short question, I may just return a short answer.

 

[Ktrim]

What I find most annoying is when someone ask a question or is looking for something, part etc.
You do research for them, respond and then they never come back.

 

[chim]

Some have no clue what's important to ask. Two things I think about sometimes are the times and locations involved.

The last few years I worked, it became more and more difficult to hire young people who could perform even simple mechanical tasks. We had some "growed men" who weren't sure how to check motor oil or change a tire.

Many people who are now reaching the age / means to have properties and equipment grew up in a culture much different from the one we septuagenarians did. When we were little guys we spent time getting into Dad's tool box, making "race cars" from old scrap wood and baby buggy wheels. We fixed our bikes. It offered a degree of mechanical experience that video games has not.

The experience of growing up in a small town and farming atmosphere also helped to develop skills building or repairing things with whatever was at hand. I'd guess that growing up in a city had its benefits for some, such as working on cars or making zip guns

 

[ve9aa]

It's been this way for years!

I've had to extract info out of people on every level to get to the real issue.

You have the patience of Job and do a great job NIW

 

[jimh406]

I don't think it's that much different, but I haven't been here that long.

 

[fried1765]

Guys -

ya'll have been great reporting the "spammers" and they have been booted within hours of getting the reports. KEEP on reporting them. Most are spammers trying to get something out of us or sending information about everything OTHER than an orange tractor.

As for as the people that are asking questions without GIVING any clues the the problem - yup, we will still get those - treat 'em kind up to point. We had to learn somehow.

I will tell you this - I have been teaching 37 years - Teaching a class of Engineering - nothing too deep, not a lot math BUT a LOT of problem solving activities. Like everyone get a certain set of materials and they have to do something quicker, faster or better than the next student. Critical thinking is my goal.

Day one I gave a partnership, 12 pieces of thin spaghetti and 8 small marshmallows.

Their goal was to make a "tower" of some sorts that would suspend a ping pong ball for 3 seconds.

One group got 9" and said we are done!!!! - I said, improve, make it better, nope, they were satisficed for that little work.

Easy peasy - yeah?

I have kids that come into this class:
cannot read an analog clock
cannot fine 1/2" on a zero to one inch scale
cannot write their @#$#$@# name so it can be read
cannot place their @#$#@ last name on a paper
hell these little shts cannot even walk down the hallway on the right side.

THEY are soooo tied to that damn cell phone - nothing else matters!

I have some smart ones come through however - and they are recruited to the local nuclear manufacture here in town (do a butt load of nuclear fuel for military) and they are promised a job STARTING at $35 an hour -
BUT they CANNOT bring their phone into the building - MUST be left in their cars. AND THEY SAY -hell no, I aint taking that JOB!!!!!!

I too am cooked with the dumbasses of the world - they are our future leaders? LOOKING at what he have now, it is gonna be one hellva future for us. Add sarcasm where needed!

I absolutely AGREE!
From a very selfish perspective though, it is a non issue for me.
I am nearly 83.
I have had a GREAT life, and am most grateful for it!

 

[fried1765]

You have the patience of Job and do a great job NIW

+1

 

[Daren Todd]

It could possibly be nerves. Thinking back to my first post and thread on this site...... I fell into that same category

It was my first time asking anything online as well as first time on a forum period.

People can be nervous about throwing a question out there and opening themselves up to ridicule.