Is your google-finger broken? GRR!!!

[jamyers]

Is it just me, or are we getting a rash of people who apparently can't be bothered to read the sticky-FAQ's, do a basic forum search, or even google up replacement parts???

I know I need yet more coffee, I'm getting grumpy about this....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[landuse]

It is starting to get to me too.

 

[realfast89gt]

Yepsters i agree. It is like posting something on craigslist for $500 and having people offer half the asking price.......or clearly writing texts only and they call you.......genious

 

[ML-TOYS]

its not too hard to find parts anywhere online. the one that got to me in the past 2 weeks was the person saying "find this for me" ummmmmm try it yourself

 

[jamyers]

I'm saving this version of what I recently wrote as a text file to cut/paste, How about making this into a sticky-version we can just refer the lazy-butts to? Feel free to edit it...

-------------------------------

FINDING STOCK PARTS (aka: "Google is Your Friend")

To begin with, you MUST find and write down your engine's model number (if need be, google "X-brand engine model number location", where "X-brand" is the name in big letters written on your engine. ie, Predator, Honda, Tecumseh, Briggs&Stratton.

If price is no object and/or you NEED the part NOW, call your local parts store, give them the Engine Model Number and tell the nice person what part you need, then open your wallet. If you're looking for a good deal and/or can wait a couple of days, go to the next step.

Google: "X-Brand Model-Number Parts Manual" and look for an online parts manual with exploded views.

Find your part in the nice picture, noting the Reference Number pointing or nearest it.

Find the Reference Number in the parts list below the nice pictures, double-check the description, and get the actual OEM Part Number of whatever you're looking for.

Google "X-Brand Part-Number", and see what comes up. You might have to add in what the part is, like "Carburetor" or "Starter". Do some comparison shopping. Keep an eye out for ebay and amazon links, seems like most often that's where the deals are.

Note that you'll often find that the original OEM Part Numbers are superceded (replaced) with other OEM Part Numbers. This is normal - as time passes the parts suppliers look to reduce their inventory by combining similar parts/kits, and also as OEM upgrades to parts occurs. When you see this "Superceding" happen, take note of all the associated part numbers. Also, there are several aftermarket parts manufacturers like Oregon and Rotary that sell quality OEM replacement parts for far less money - and they'll have their own Part Numbers. It's a very good idea to Google all of these Part Numbers as well - you never know what deals you can uncover this way.

 

[RobertD]

<starting rant>

Hey guys, I feel your pain, but adding more stickies won't help. If they didn't / won't search in the first place, they aren't going to read a sticky about the fact that they should.

You should see some of the EMAIL I get asking me for junk.

All that said -- I very strongly don't like it when forums devolve into "Hey jerk, go search and stop wasting our time".

If it's a waste of your time, don't respond. Someone else (newer to the forum, maybe) might respond.

Why spend your time giving someone heck about a "dumb" question, when you could either 1) Ignore it, or 2) Answer it.

Anyway, that's how I feel and I hope we always keep welcoming new people, not repelling them b/c they "aren't up to speed yet".

Thanks

</rant>

 

[jamyers]

I don't like telling somebody to just "go search" , and don't want this place to be like that either. The main reason I hang out here is because of the welcoming and light-hearted attitude...and it's nice to be able to RANT occasionally as well...

Sometimes it seems a fine line between helping somebody learn and handing them something on a silver platter...

Perhaps you're right, the best thing to do may be to offer help, but if the other person isn't interested in putting forth any effort in return, dropping out of the conversation.

Maybe less coffee (oh the horror!!!) is in order?

 

[scott_shot]

All that said -- I very strongly don't like it when forums devolve into "Hey jerk, go search and stop wasting our time".

If it's a waste of your time, don't respond. Someone else (newer to the forum, maybe) might respond.

Why spend your time giving someone heck about a "dumb" question, when you could either 1) Ignore it, or 2) Answer it.

I agree some forums are so tight that nobody has a chance to establish them self as a serous member and not wanting t view pics, look at the for sale or ask "where can i get"......:furious2

This forum is the total opposite and i do read threads that seem to be the same silly questions so i feel for you more senior members,out must love this hobby Alot!

i say Robert's suggestion is right and ignoring more comments will force people to sort themselves out without being rude.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

When I find that my patience has reached the point of no return, I just stop responding/posting. There IS a recent example, wherein I've just simply had enough.

Yes- I have no problems answering the same 10 questions over, and over, and over, and ov... But every now and then someone comes along that seems entirely unwilling to do ANYTHING to help themselves. That's when it gets frustrating.

Silver platters come at a premium... Right Jammy?

 

[OzFab]

The important thing to remember is, at one point, we were all noobs who didn't have a clue, never forget that...

Every time you see a post like this, ask yourself
"way back then, did I know what everything was & where/how to get it?"

Yeah, I know, some of them are just way too easy so, the other thing to remember is kids these days are so used to having everything done for them that, when they have to do something for themselves, they have no idea how.

Case in point: The other day, my ex was telling me about her 17yo son who, in her words, "almost cut his finger off trying to cut watermelon." In truth, he didn't even break the skin but, due to inexperience, the knife slipped & scared him so he squealed like a girl

Having these young teens here asking what we consider menial questions means that, unfortunately, it's up to us to educate them; isn't that part of the reason we're here?

I'm a firm believer of the old addage "give a man to fish & he eats for a day; teach a man to fish & he eats for a lifetime." Unfortunately, if you tell the man to go & learn how to fish, he'll starve...

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Tony, you're absolutely right. But again- it's not the basic questions. It's the total lack of effort...

 

[souperman000]

When I find that my patience has reached the point of no return, I just stop responding/posting. There IS a recent example, wherein I've just simply had enough.

Yes- I have no problems answering the same 10 questions over, and over, and over, and ov... But every now and then someone comes along that seems entirely unwilling to do ANYTHING to help themselves. That's when it gets frustrating.

Silver platters come at a premium... Right Jammy?

See my sig I updated the other day...

Good suggestions by all though.

 

[jamyers]

...
Silver platters come at a premium... Right Jammy?

Yup, this guy delivers messages as well as answers...

 

[RobertD]

Tony, you're absolutely right. But again- it's not the basic questions. It's the total lack of effort...

I think that some people don't quite understand the 'net, or how discussion groups work.

As an example, I get email a lot asking me for a specific part, if I sell it, etc, and I don't even sell parts!!! It is annoying.

But we just need to remember that there are people that are just getting on to the net for the first time (yes, even in this day and age!) and if they are annoying, just let them be.

But now, if they are an entitled twerp, then I fully support tar and feathers! At least if we can't rehabilitate them!

 

[landuse]

I agree with everyone here. I know when I started out on this forum I was a TOTAL noob. Now I am just a SEMI noob. I remember being nearly too afraid to ask questions because I thought them to be so dumb. That is why I feel for some of the new members on the forum.

What does get to me though is when you point the person to the right place to get answers, and he comes back and continues to ask the same questions. A case in point is a guy that the other day was looking for something to do with comet CVT's. I pointed him to the Helpful Links sticky, which has more than anyone could ask for in one place (thanks to all the members contributions over the years). All he had to do was maybe scroll through a few other links in that sticky to find what he needed, but obviously that was a little too hard for him to do.

Like Chris says, it is the lack of effort that drains me and makes me not want to help. Tony made a good point though that kids nowadays are just maybe clueless and don't know how to do things themselves. They need to be spoon-fed. This world society is getting worse, and it won't get any better.

 

[OzFab]

Tony, you're absolutely right. But again- it's not the basic questions. It's the total lack of effort...

That's what I was getting at but, IMO, you can't completely blame the kids; a lot of them have been brought up having everything done for them because their parents (the poor dears ) were made to do chores when they were growing up...

But now, if they are an entitled twerp, then I fully support tar and feathers! At least if we can't rehabilitate them!

I remember one a few months back who started abusing people (espscially TS) because he wasn't getting the answers he wanted. He's the only member I've flat out refused to help

I have noticed a pattern in this behavior: After a few subtle comments the noob will either start to make an effort (if he's serious about the hobby) or disappear because it falls in to the "too hard" basket

I agree with everyone here. I know when I started out on this forum I was a TOTAL noob. Now I am just a SEMI noob. I remember being nearly too afraid to ask questions because I thought them to be so dumb. That is why I feel for some of the new members on the forum.

Like I always say, "there are no stupid questions"

 

[jamyers]

...
Like I always say, "there are no stupid questions"

Hahaha, I was in a Grad-school seminar years ago with a prof (Bob) who had a wicked sense of humor. First day of class he had that written on the board in BIG letters. Sure enough about halfway through class somebody asked a goofy question. Bob didn't say a word, just sighed, got a really sad look on his face, turned around and erased the board, then stood there with slumped shoulders...

...Dead Silence...

Until he turned around and yelled "gotcha!", LOL...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[GoodWComputers]

What's a sticky?

 

[Shomare]

Since I'm a noob here, I'll chime in. I do a search of the forum and Google before I ask here. I come here because if I can't find it, I hope someone here in the Know will point me in the right direction.

I've found lots of good info and support here. Thanks for those who contributed to my "stupid questions"

 

[Doc Sprocket]

I remember one a few months back who started abusing people (espscially TS) because he wasn't getting the answers he wanted. He's the only member I've flat out refused to help

I believe I know exactly the case you're talking about. I was stunned. I went to great lengths to point the guy in the right direction, and make suggestions that were geared (pun intended) to accomplish his end game. Then, he had the gall to suggest I was wasting his time. Seriously?

And it wasn't just me. A couple other members' advice got tossed by the wayside, too. That was just ignorant. Ask for help/advice repeatedly, then reject it all. Yeah. I won't name any names, (tacky) but this answer guy may be unreachable periodically... PMO