Be Nice to Newbies???

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by uncle janko, Aug 31, 2003.

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  1. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    When people post here for the first (or first few) times and ask questions about topics that we know to have been beaten to death, they sometimes meet with what sounds like indignation that they don't already know this. It's one thing to tell someone to use the search function with such-and-such a keyword. It's quite another to imply that they are the flea-infested whoreson dog of all time for failing to do so. This is a bit like saying how dumb people are for not reading what "I" posted or wrote years ago; why should they have done, exactly? We know you're brilliant and your work is unassailable by any right-thinking person, but you may have to console yourself about being ignored out in this dark world and wide by the brightness with which your brilliance shines within this narrow acre. Unless degreeinfo puts up a sign that says you must use the search function before posting a question or get clucked at schoolmarmishly, maybe we should just answer or refer sine ira et studio.

    After all, if we scare 'em off, how will we find out that they're really just repetitive whingers shilling for K-Y? Let's be nice and not ruin our own fun.
     
  2. Gus Sainz

    Gus Sainz New Member

    This doggie poop about being nice to newbies has been posted many times before. If you had first used the search function of this forum (instead of just sitting there vigorously scratching your head with your hind leg) you would know this.

    :D :D :D
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 31, 2003
  3. bruinsgrad

    bruinsgrad New Member

    Gus, would it help if we said "please"?
     
  4. plcscott

    plcscott New Member

    Uncle Janko:

    I agree 100%. Most people who come here may not have ever been on this type of forum, or do not know anything about the things discussed here.

    Trying to get some here to be nice would be like trying to trying to tow a car with a shoe string.
     
  5. Han

    Han New Member

    I agree, I agree, and I agree.
     
  6. Gus Sainz

    Gus Sainz New Member

    I guess subtle humor is lost on some of you. Here are a few tips that should’ve given away that my post was a joke. First, it was funny. Second, I accused Uncle Janko of being unable to use the search engine of this forum (few know how to use it as well as he does). Third, I (a couple of times) alluded to Unk’s “flea-infested whoreson dog” comment. Finally, just in case all else failed, I included three big grinning smilies. Anyway, I’m sure at least Uncle Janko got and appreciated the joke.

    On a serious note, although it’s quite possible that someone that does not understand the Internet, research, or netiquette may not be altogether ready to pursue a college degree, I see no reason for mistreatment. However, I don’t think that the newbies that are sincere in their reasons for inquiring about distance education are being mistreated on this forum. What we frequently see are individuals who seek some kind of validation for the choices they have already made. Others come to this forum already sporting a chip of Brobdingnagian proportions on their shoulders. Still others are simply seeking attention and don't really care if the attention is positive or negative. The bottom line is that many of the new posters that have a different agenda than honestly seeking information concerning distance education muck it up for those whose efforts are sincere. In other words, sometimes members lose their patience with certain newbies precisely because their posts are harmful to those newbies who are genuinely interested in distance education.

    For example, look at the kind and gentle way a new member who was burned by a degree mill yet still (albeit halfheartedly) defended his degree and alma mater was treated when he inquired about institutions that would accept his credits or degree (see here). I believe a newbie really has to do something to invoke the ire of another DegreeInfo member before he or she is called to task. The most frequent transgressions are usually posting misleading information and unsupported claims, both of which can be potentially harmful (particularly to the sincere newbies).
     
  7. plcscott

    plcscott New Member

    On a serious note Gus, why must you always do the Bill Clinton dance with your English? You write a diatribe paragraph, and then try to link an example. If you want to antagonize, and provoke at least have the pebbles to call the names. You do not have to do the dance. BTW, I have never referred anyone nor would I. Would you refer anyone to your alma mater?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 31, 2003
  8. DaveHayden

    DaveHayden New Member

    Scott

    Part of what Gus is saying and has been said before is that posts that support degree mills encourage less critical individuals to attend the same. That doesn't mean we can't or shouldn't discuss legitimacy and value of such schools and others. However, when shills like RJT show up and repeat the same old arguents (over and over and over...) while refusing to discuss the issues, there comes a time to make it more blunt.

    Personally, after witnessing the Steve Levicoff firestorms on AED, Gus seems relatively mild. Also the fact he is correct 90+% of the time sways me too. I have forgotten who posted it but a couple of weeks ago some one made a post about the veterans feeling they own this forum. Considering that Dr Bear and about 15 others have been posting continously for the past 4+ years I would hope they do.

    P.S. Perhaps Gus is Steve's alter ego? BBBWWAAHHHAAHHHAAA!



    :D :D :D
     
  9. plcscott

    plcscott New Member

    Dave:

    I do not know if Uncle Janko was talking about a particular post, or just making a statement in general. I just agreed with him. I never mentioned Gus, but he chooses to mention my very first post on this forum. Why? I know why, to provoke don't you think? He wrote a diatribe essay a while back when we were going at it that insinuated that a certain person was a shill, and seemed to try to match it to my posting history.

    Do you think I am a shill? Have I tried to steer anyone to any unaccredited school? I think if anything I have posted what I did, and why, and then said I would not recommend anyone doing what I did. I have steered several away from doing what I did. I did not come here with a vast knowledge of degrees, BB forums, or distance learning expertise. I came hear to learn, and participate. It seems that many come here, and do not take to kindly to the welcome they receive. It also seems that some of the same people are always the ones in the middle of heated discussions, but it is always everyone else’s fault. I am sure it is just a coincidence though.


    Regards,

    Scott
     
  10. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    Forget 'Vlad the Impaler'. Carpathians have been conclusively proven to have hearts of gold.

    I agree with Unk pretty strongly.
     
  11. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    I thought what Gus said was pretty funny, but what the hell do I know?
     
  12. Dr. Gina

    Dr. Gina New Member


    I made cookies for everybody! (Does this count?);)
     
  13. DaveHayden

    DaveHayden New Member

    Scott

    I believe you are sincere and in no way a shill. I think you add to the forum and your above comments are important. I think Gus can be abrasive and confrontational but that his points are well researched and supported. Bottom line I think you both offer something to this forum.
     
  14. Bill Huffman

    Bill Huffman Well-Known Member

    Scott, perhaps this is an example as to why one shouldn't make physical threats. Besides being uncivilized, it can just make people mad at you and it can also make one worried that someone is mad at you.

    P.S. I tried to send this as a PM but it said that your mailbox was full so I decided to just post it.

    P.P.S. I don't think that you're a shill.

    P.P.P.S. I don't think that you have a BSEE either (assuming that K-W says that they have bestowed a BSEE on you).

    P.P.P.P.S. I think that postscripts on letters are funny so I think that it is funny to do post postscripts.

    P.P.P.P.P.S. I agree with Dave that I like your posts.

    P.P.P.P.P.P.S. But I like Gus's posts better than your posts. :)
     
  15. Bill Huffman

    Bill Huffman Well-Known Member

    If you made enough cookies for the newbies as well then it counts a bunch.

    BTW, what kind and when can I eat my cookie and THANKS!
     
  16. Gus Sainz

    Gus Sainz New Member

    You are, once again, wrong. Please reread my post. I didn’t post anything that was antagonistic or provoking (much less untrue). Moreover, I never mentioned you. I simply stated that new members are usually treated with kindness and respect, and I provided a link to a thread that excellently illustrated my point. This thread was particularly exemplary because the newbie stated in his very first words on this forum that he believed he was “going to take a lashing for this thread.” In other words, the poster knew his comments were going to be controversial, and yet he was still treated with kindness and respect. I could have provided a link to this thread, but it wouldn’t have bolstered my argument as well as the one I originally linked to, nor would it have had the same impact.

    Contrary to what you always seem to believe, plcscott, my post wasn’t about you; we were discussing how DegreeInfo members treat newbies. Reread my post and pay close attention to the points I made. What you fail to realize is that, according to my assertions, because the members of this forum treated you with kindness and respect it could be inferred that you came across as sincere in your quest for information concerning distance education. If anything, my post was complimentary about the way you initially approached this forum, but I guess you are now just too busy looking for anything to attack to actually see this. Either that or your obsession with certain parts of my anatomy has, once again, clouded your judgment. :rolleyes:

    Wow! Did you really identify that closely with the irritating and obnoxious behavior that was so eloquently (albeit somewhat facetiously) described in this post? What can I say? :rolleyes:

    And participate you have (considering the volume of posts and the average posts per day), but have you actually contributed anything of substance? You are, I am sure, familiar with the term “signal to noise ratio.” You have almost 450 posts and only a few of them are requests for information. What constitutes the bulk of your participation? Can you point to a single helpful and informative post? Can you point to a single post that is not about you (what you believe, how you believe this forum should function, how you believe members are being treated, what you believe should be done to others, or just simply your critical, albeit unsubstantiated, opinion of other members of this forum)?

    For the record, I don’t think you are a shill; your behavior is more akin to that of a mere troll, and your belief that my post concerning the behavior of shills and trolls was descriptive of your actions only reinforces that opinion.

    This has now become the mantra of those whose unsupported claims and misleading statements have been debunked. I expressed an opinion to the contrary and provided examples to support it. I would like to see examples of the mistreatment and negative reaction that you are alleging. Obviously, you cannot use yourself as an example.

    I do not see anything wrong with heated discussions, but I am sure that those who post misleading and unsubstantiated claims (only to have them publicly and embarrassingly discredited) would. After all, this is a discussion forum. However, I do agree with Admiral Hyman G. Rickover when he said, "Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people." To that I would only add, “Miniscule minds discuss themselves.”


    Also for the record: I am placing plcscott (and this applies only to the member who posts here as plcscott) on notice that I reserve the right to publicly quote or disclose, on this or any other public forum, the contents of any future private messages or emails he sends me.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 1, 2003
  17. Mike Albrecht

    Mike Albrecht New Member

    Being a LCMS Pastor you should no something about hell at least. But just remember "it is by grace alone".
     
  18. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    Sir: I have been called a lot of things on this board and on others: religious psychotic, Nazi, Communist, even Republican, but LCMS pastor??????? Not in this bloody universe I ain't.
     
  19. Dennis Ruhl

    Dennis Ruhl member

    You said a bad word to Unk. Does the State of Wisconsin come to mind.
     
  20. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    Hi Dr Gina: Albrecht just made me puke, but multumesc foarte mult for the cookies anyway. I'm glad there's somebody who can play nice in this sandbox.
     

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