Some people who lurk may not even be a FR member and may register just to ask questions or participate.
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Okay. But, I haven't seen the assertion that all unknowns to our threads must be shills. I've seen many an unknown join our ranks and I just want to acknowledge all the times that they've been treated equitably.
We're not able to agree on who is or isn't a shill so disagreements will arise without one side automatically assumed to be biased. I do recall asking for particularly gentle treatment for noobs only to have some trollage as a result, so there are legitimate concerns in play.
Long ago we suggested that perhaps we could direct noobs to tang-soo's Q Boot Camp, and our thread resource table, as visitors can't just believe whatever we tell them and must research for themselves. It also helps our thread harmony if we don't have to debate the troll/noob identity issue; reasonable people can disagree.
Also, we've been researching so long now, that despite our good intentions, we can't pull the thread back into introductory territory every time a noob question is asked. So connecting noobs to information that they can use to decide for themselves seems best (they select the sources and the quantity).
If we take on "challenge questions" like 'prove the tripcode', then we are rehashing territory already covered instead of keeping our eye on the ball and will likely entice a long series of trolls with endless questions (thread dilution).
So a) I think we may not be getting credit in this discussion for all the people whom were received peacefully and b) I think we might have more thread productivity if we point to info sources instead of being that source when faced with challenge questions or "just getting started" queries.
Thank you to all who have contributed insights into this sensitive thread issue.
Hear! Hear! Another great post from Ransomnote!
... reasonable people can disagree.
- Ransomnote
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How does that work? Someone disagreeing with me is, by definition, disagreeable. Disagreeable ain’t reasonable. That’s like two whole different words! Spelled different and everything!
Now, since I’ve proven that the world does, in fact, spin around me (prove it every time I indulge in the sacred fermented hops and barley), we can all just get along by going along with me.
See how reasonable I am?
noobs are different than 1999’ers dormant for years crawling out of their grave.
I say Judge Joy Bean justice !!
Thank you for your, as always, reasonable and actually beautifually stated comments.
I greatly appreciate you being understanding. I think my request for help may have opened this can of worms. I was asking for help with information, and this need was deeper than the Boot Camp and thread resource table. I am very familiar with both. They are very well written, with useful tools for bringing a newbie up to speed quickly.
I reached out privately by FR mail to a few Anons that I hoped could provide answers or at point me to where to look. The questions my son was asking were beyond the scope of these tools. I got some good help from you, Praying Medic, Cletus.D.Yokel, and others.
I think you summed it up the best with your comment, Ransom. “So, as a parent you’re “stuck” with someone uninformed who believes himself informed to a superior degree, and he wants to “educate you.”” Well said.
Cheers.