Join in 7 seconds.. Existing users: sign in.

all forums, active | friendly talkzone, travel tips, visa & paperwork, renting, selling & meetups, politics & the war, espanol

'If you can't say something...etc'

Inspired by Peter's positive, I turn wearily to a negative: The type of post I really dislike. Or, more properly, the disagreeable reaction certain posts seem to provoke.

Very often someone, in obvious good faith, asks such perennials as: 'where does the word gringo come from?' or 'what paperwork do I need to get married in Colombia?'.

These innocent enquiries all too often cause some posters to start foaming at the mouth, fall to the floor and start chewing the carpet. 'Damn you' they scream in their outrage, 'this question has been asked before. How dare you ask it again?'. Or, 'You moron! Curse your audacity for asking for information about Colombia on a Colombian forum. What do you think Google is for?'

This species of sneering histrionics is breathtaking in its childishness and utter lack of generosity. So bloody what if a question's been asked umpteen times before, or a particular conversational gambit is doing reruns? You don't discuss a topic once in your life and then forbid its ever being revisited again in the non-cyber world do you? You don't wander into the pub, ask 'who do you think's going to win the Cup?' and find yourself being shouted down because someone else posed the same question last month. And, in the unlikely situation that you actually did, you'd be bemused to say the least.

If a newcomer asking a harmless, reasonable question is likely to set you off, why don't you just spare your blood pressure and forbear to reply?

Or, crazy as it sounds, just say something nice?

By kalder on Mar 28, 2008, 04:15 in Friendly Talkzone.

Peter (Moderator) says on Mar 28, 2008, 04:25:

Indeed. Kalder, you're sounding like my mom now.

Poor but snappy

kalder says on Mar 28, 2008, 04:46:

Or your monkey :)

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

Albatross says on Mar 28, 2008, 05:27:

"You don't wander into the pub, ask 'who do you think's going to win the Cup?' and find yourself being shouted down because someone else posed the same question last month"... rather a good analogy - LOL.

Peter, that's "mum"

“Democracy - a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H.L. Mencken

sloopskipper says on Mar 28, 2008, 05:28:

Right-on, Kalder! (AKA, "Oh no, not again! It's been discussed here a million times, look it up yourself, do a google search, or DON'T cut and paste news articles about Colombia without offereing YOUR opinion!")

If the title does not interest, don't open and read it?

miamimike says on Mar 28, 2008, 05:45:

New posters here should check out the search function first before asking a questions that's been discussed ad infintum here pbh previously. Peter even has posted soething to that effect elsewhere on this website. WHy use precious Bandwidth especially when good info on a subject is already here? I've mentioned it here various times hoping it may save a new poster some time. And will do it again. LOL

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? ... That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.,

podborski says on Mar 28, 2008, 05:57:

right on kalder

I recall once asking about the dates for semana santa (being an atheist and all I have no idea) and I got about 25 responses all saying any idiot must know the dates, they are the same all over the world, etc etc.

Well I had searched google, which gave me answers like ' good friday is 40 days before (some other obscure day/event)'. Didn't help me much. (Does anyone else find google nearly useless?)

Eventually someone just posted the dates, which I would have thought would have been easier than writing lectures about the benefits of search functions.

Bill Turley says on Mar 28, 2008, 06:00:

I agree with kalder. This should be an OPEN forum with all questions welcome. It would be nice however in my opinion if :
1) non-related personal comments be avoided, how one regular poster feels about another is not the subject of the post, send them an e-mail instead
2) Stick the the topic of the original post
3) Remember that many people form their opinions about Colombia by our comments and attitude

Mr. Bill Somondoco

gringoloid says on Mar 28, 2008, 07:14:

if we had the 'stickies', we wouldn't have this problem.

Robert Jorge says on Mar 28, 2008, 08:52:

#1: The problem is most newbies do not realize there is a search function. I went 6 months or more before I figured it out after joining. It takes a while for people to learn how to navigate new sites.

#2: Many of us forget that newbies haven't been bored with repeated questions. To them, it is brand new and unanswered. It is also nice for new people to get answers that people responded with just for their questions. I think that is called conversation.

The nastiness and smart-ass comments that have been thrown at newbie threads have unfortunately probably turned off many potential contributing members and even intimidated some.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

kat1 (Moderator) says on Mar 28, 2008, 09:02:

Is like we say in Colombia "Aqui uno no puede preguntar nada porque le contestan con cuatro piedras en la mano"

engage brain before opening mouth

RAAAY says on Mar 28, 2008, 09:06:

I don't like the stickie thingy.......but having something like Frequently asked Questions might be a nice idea......

.

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

Lisa Zee says on Mar 28, 2008, 09:11:

Yeah I agree with R.J and K.

Catfish35 says on Mar 28, 2008, 13:08:

I agree also, a FAQ section could be beneficial. I try to be nice to newbies, as I am one myself compared to you other old hammers! However, I recently asked a question that is extensively covered in the search about Pensionados. The reason was that that particular item seems to change with everyones opinion. Sometimes you can read the search and get basic but still not the info you want.

Yes, people are very quick to jump someone's ass, and still not supply anything. I like to dish it out because I like to be tortured back Butt thats me!
Just remember to take your nice pill in the morning!

GOOD POST! and reminder Kalder!

The grass is always greener over the septic tank

goin_south says on Mar 28, 2008, 13:26:

good idea RAAY.
Doesn't every website have a: F.A.Q. button?
si!

y, un mil gracias.

goin_south says on Mar 28, 2008, 13:27:

Of course, pow wow would want to have an: "Infrequently Asked Questions" button. lol

y, un mil gracias.

MaFe says on Mar 28, 2008, 14:38:

Kalder, I like this post. I agree with it! We do discuss things in life repeatedly, so I see nothing wrong in people asking the same questions...and I agree...just be polite. Also, not all of us have the tiem to sit here and read evey thread.

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

podborski says on Mar 28, 2008, 16:14:

if people were restricted to only posting comments/questions that had never been asked before, PBH would have about 23 posts with 10 comments each and that's it

Portena says on Mar 28, 2008, 18:01:

Yep.

I feel better! I can smile at it now, I feel better. Ohhhh, better! Gnarls Barkley

Man Tequila says on Mar 28, 2008, 22:40:

Gringoloid, if anyone has "the stickies", it's you. ;)

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)