OK - it's nearly the end of the year, so it's Soapbox Time ! One of my absolute pet internet hates concerns the above phrase - or rather, the lack thereof . It goes like this - in comes a pm from someone you've never heard of. 'Hi Martin, I'm looking for any info on xxxxx shot down on xxxxx. Can you tell me anything at all about this raid ? And how can I find out more ? You seem to have some cool info on Bomber Command....' Ok, innocent enough. So you dig through your books and put together some details, plus some guidance for further research, and compose an email. Don't get me wrong, it's quite good fun. And you send the return pm/email. And that's it. . No 'thank you'. No acknowledgement. Silence. Nada. Nothing. OK - maybe it's a generational thing. But you feel the same way as when you hold a door open for someone following you into a store - and they simply breeze past, nose in the the air. I mean, how long does it take to type those two words and click 'reply' ?? Fortunately, this Forum isn't the worst - in my experience, it's one of the best and regular members need not think that this applies to them. OK - I can get down off the Soapbox now and go to the sales......
Well I thank you Martin for all the good aircraft information you have put on the forum and the way you reply in friendly terms. Some like Texas Fred don't need to be on this forum, just nice people like you.
Well said Martin, it really does take no time at all to let someone know you appreciate their time in helping you. Perhaps some people just don't realise that it actually take up time to dig out information, it doesn't just pop onto the screen at the click of a button. Id be inclined to mail them back to ask if they recieved the information, since they didn't let you know. Though that could still be too subtle a hint for some people.
OK - it's me being grouchy again. We seem to have had a number of new joiners recently - who are always welcome. But some post just one question ( I guess for school work, or a private project ). Maybe they post the same question on a number of forums - I don't know. What I do know is that I dig through my files, check my book indexes, construct a reply, and then..... b*gg*r all ! No 'thanks', no comment, no nothing. And no further contribution to the forum. Sorry guys - but I've had it with that kind of behaviour. From here on, as far as I'm concerned, if someone is a contributor to this forum ( ie they've made maybe four or five postings ) then, make no mistake, I'll work to answer any question that I can answer. Otherwise.... Sorry. OK - down from the soapbox.
Now that Martin's had his 20P worth, I have a pet hate as well. Probably the similar group to Martin's who post a question but dont seem to have tried any research into the topic. "Can someone tell what happened at Pearl Harbor on 7/12/41?" This is not the only Forum with the problem, and some are genuinely seeking info, but often it seems that some are seeking a quick "paper" written on a History Topic without having to do too much work themselves. Thanks to Martin, and all others who provide mostly useful information here, sometimes the thanks gets forgotten.
Agree with with both Martin and Ali here. What is even worse is when they ago one step farther by asking you to email the reply to them. It pretty much tells you that they probably will not be seen in the forum again. Go ahead and stay on that soapbox Martin, common courtesy is something that too many people ignore anymore.
Absoutely right, Martin. I remember digging out some info on coastal batteries for someone on another forum. He was only in Glasgow, about 30 miles away, but since I don't have a scanner, I posted the stuff (about 3 pages). Never heard another peep, neither 'Thank You' or another post on the forum. I agree with Ali too; on the Templar History forum you regularly get people coming on with 'I have history homework on...'. At least they're being honest, so I don't mind helping so much. The thing is, no-one ever gives them all the info they wanted, so they're forced to do at least some of it themselves.
These stories are quite common I bet, the Internet makes normal people act very odd sometimes. I think the anonymity makes it so much easier to blow people off. I used to run a message board a few years back, and I would get the strangest requests for huge amounts of information, and these people sometime wouldn't even write their own names at the end of their emails! I'm sure Otto has his fair share of odd requests as well. The worst are the people that take advantage of the two things that the Internet supplies most: anonymity and an audience. It can be a deadly combo sometimes, but it looks like this Forum has so far been well protected from such trolls. Good moderators around here I guess.
Must say I agree with Martin! It´d definitely be nicer to see those people who ask for help to help us back. ( thanx to those who have!) Sometimes the request list seems even a bit hilarious " List all the weapons, vehicles and planes both sides used during the Barbarossa offensive. Thanx!" Right!
