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04.06.2014, 13:22
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Zurich
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| | Re: The Treatment of New Posters
If the question could have been easily put into search, would that be considered stupidity or how the question is put? Or just lazy?
Still.....anyone replying really should either be polite or not post a reply.
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04.06.2014, 13:26
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Zurich
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| | Re: The Treatment of New Posters | Quote: | |  | | | If the question could have been easily put into search, would that be considered stupidity or how the question is put? Or just lazy?
Still.....anyone replying really should either be polite or not post a reply. | | | | | ...but that's the whole point of a semi-anonymous internet forum, for passive-aggressive releases to sooth one's superiority complexes.
LMGTFY! | The following 6 users would like to thank Chemmie for this useful post: | | 
04.06.2014, 13:32
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Used to be Zurich
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| | Re: English Forum [complaint about negative responders]
I think noobs often make their first post(s) with a question because it is the easiest way to engage with the community. They may have already done a search, and they may even have an answer... and they may want to say something to the "worldly" EF members; so they start with a simple question that breaks the ice.
Then they get a rude welcome which is exactly what they were trying to avoid. Some of them leave and some of them don't. I think I have made at least one post per year since I started reading sometime around '07. So now I am down for my 2014 newbie appreciation post!
Most noobs pick up on correct behavior soon enough. So as long as a few people are nice to them, maybe send them a PM to not worry about their "welcome,"
then the EF will be fine. | Quote: | |  | | | While on the surface some of these questions look ridiculous, what you've got to remember is that people are coming here and very often don't understand a word of the language making finding what they want more complicated, add to that some products may not be available in the type of store where they would be available in their home country and you have somebody who ends up being frustrated as hell.
I remember trying to get some Ibuprufen when I first arrived here and scoured just about every supermarket trying to find the damn things. It honestly didn't occur to me that non prescription medicines would only be available from a pharmacy. I'll admit it seems stupid in hindsight, but in the UK, where I come from, you can buy general non prescription medicines in just about any supermarket or corner shop. | | | | | | 
04.06.2014, 13:39
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: CH
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| | Re: The Treatment of New Posters | Quote: | |  | | | I'm sure that's true in a lot of cases, but I also see plenty of snarky replies to perfectly polite inquiries. | | | | | Are there really? Some, sure, but plenty? I honestly don't see many comments that are truly not OK to questions that are indeed polite. Most so-so comments go to the one-time "where can I buy water"-posters.
And see my example on page 14, something might just come off snarky when it actually really isn't.
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04.06.2014, 13:41
| Forum Legend | | Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Zurich
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| | Re: The Treatment of New Posters | Quote: | |  | | | I'm sure that's true in a lot of cases, but I also see plenty of snarky replies to perfectly polite inquiries. Some people do seem to use the forum just to bitch at anyone newer than themselves. | | | | | Nonsense, I use it to bitch at old timers here too, who are often just as guilty as newbiews of posting stupid stuff. | The following 4 users would like to thank Chuff for this useful post: | | 
04.06.2014, 13:43
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Basel
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| | Re: The Treatment of New Posters | Quote: | |  | | | Nonsense, I use it to bitch at old timers here too, who are often just as guilty as newbiews of posting stupid stuff.  | | | | | .... Yep, Old timers get as much abuse as noobs!
I'm all for equality! | 
04.06.2014, 13:46
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Zurich-ish
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| | Re: The Treatment of New Posters
I think it's become better. People seem a lot nicer to the "newbies" here now than before (and to each other in general).
One thing that I think most "newbies" probably don't understand, though, is that many of us here are regular posters and sometimes post a snarky response just to get a laugh from the other regulars (while perhaps failing to realize that the newbie might not pick up on the sarcasm).
When I first came on here, I wasn't really use to sarcasm (which I think is used a bit more by the Brits than by Americans). So it took me a little while to get use to it and to learn to not take offense to you sarcastic f**ks. | The following 3 users would like to thank Pancakes for this useful post: | | 
04.06.2014, 13:48
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Germany
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| | Re: The Treatment of New Posters | Quote: | |  | | | Are there really? Some, sure, but plenty? I honestly don't see many comments that are truly not OK to questions that are indeed polite. Most so-so comments go to the one-time "where can I buy water"-posters.
And see my example on page 14, something might just come off snarky when it actually really isn't. | | | | | "Plenty" = Enough that I've noticed it in the short time I've been here. I do say later in that same post that the majority of posts are helpful.
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04.06.2014, 13:53
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Basel
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| | Re: The Treatment of New Posters | Quote: | |  | | | I think it's become better. People seem a lot nicer to the "newbies" here now than before (and to each other in general).
One thing that I think most "newbies" probably don't understand, though, is that many of us here are regular posters and sometimes post a snarky response just to get a laugh from the other regulars (while perhaps failing to realize that the newbie might not pick up on the sarcasm).
When I first came on here, I wasn't really use to sarcasm (which I think is used a bit more by the Brits than by Americans). So it took me a little while to get use to it and to learn to not take offense to you sarcastic f**ks.  | | | | | it's just a training service we provide for americans.
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04.06.2014, 14:16
| | Re: The Treatment of New Posters | Quote: | |  | | | When I first came on here, I wasn't really use to sarcasm (which I think is used a bit more by the Brits than by Americans). So it took me a little while to get use to it and to learn to not take offense to you sarcastic f**ks.  | | | | | Good points, particularly this last one. Sarcasm has been described as "the lowest for of wit" and suits us brits very well. We use it practically all the time, in conversation, in business emails even, and certainly in discussion forums such as this. Anyone receiving an apparent insult from a brit may in fact be receiving a compliment, as the writer has assumed a level of intelligence and understanding on the part of the reader.
Basically, it's not our fault if the rest if the world doesn't realise that we're just taking the piss and that this is perfectly normal, nay expected, behaviour. | The following 3 users would like to thank for this useful post: | | 
04.06.2014, 14:46
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Basel
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| | Re: The Treatment of New Posters | Quote: |  | | | Good points, particularly this last one. Sarcasm has been described as "the lowest for of wit" and suits us brits very well. We use it practically all the time, in conversation, in business emails even, and certainly in discussion forums such as this. Anyone receiving an apparent insult from a brit may in fact be receiving a compliment, as the writer has assumed a level of intelligence and understanding on the part of the reader.
Basically, it's not our fault if the rest if the world doesn't realise that we're just taking the piss and that this is perfectly normal, nay expected, behaviour.  | | | | | This, combined with what, at the time I started really posting, was incredibly prevalent sentiment expressed over and over, " HTFU" really made forum "life" a bit difficult for softies like me.
However, even without hardening the f up, I stuck with it and stuck some of the worst to me on ignore, so I could no longer see even the blobs they were throwing my way, and it got better. Quite a bit less need to harden, if you can learn to be blind.
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04.06.2014, 14:56
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Used to be Zurich
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| | Re: The Treatment of New Posters
Yes, we colonials have evolved... | Quote: | |  | | | it's just a training service we provide for americans. | | | | | | This user would like to thank My2pups for this useful post: | | 
04.06.2014, 15:36
|  | Junior Member | | Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: ZH
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| | Re: The Treatment of New Posters | Quote: | |  | | | I can't believe I am going to complain about this but I feel I have to as something needs to be said and action has to be taken by Admin.
The treatment of new posters on this forum is on occasions nothing short of disgraceful.
One simple example is an innocent question being asked by someone maybe new to Switzerland or new to the forum. (Remember, it's only simple if you know the answer)
The smartass replies are shocking, it's seem to be a competition to see who can get in there first with the most smart ass answer.
Yes people can use the search function, yes people should maybe do a bit more research, yes people should maybe know the answer etc etc but the bottom line is that not everyone is as confident as posting on a forum as 'you' are.
The reason it pisses me off so much is that I am pretty sure there have been countless new posters who have never returned because of this, or countless posters who don't post because of this.
I see it as detrimental to the forum.
Any forum always needs new blood otherwise it becomes a 'clique' with the same posters agreeing constantly and ganging up on those not in the 'clique'.
I am a member of several forums and have been for a long time however not everyone is as 'experienced' in using forums and don't quite know how to use search function or be up to date in forum etiquette.
As I said, I see this having a major negative impact on the forum and the forum potentially losing some good people who will bring something to the forum.
In simple terms this place is not very welcoming in certain occasions.
P.s. We were all newbies at some point! | | | | |
My Special thanks for this OP | 
04.06.2014, 15:44
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Used to be Zurich
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| | Re: English Forum [complaint about negative responders]
Aye, there's the rub...
but you have 650+ posts, so there must be some attraction  I left CH and still find it useful for a lot of things. | Quote: | |  | | | Not sure if a random accumulation of (mostly rude) anonymous internet users is a "community" anybould should have to give a sh*t "engaging" with. | | | | | | 
04.06.2014, 16:01
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Basel
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| | Re: English Forum [complaint about negative responders] | Quote: | |  | | | Aye, there's the rub...
but you have 650+ posts, so there must be some attraction I left CH and still find it useful for a lot of things. | | | | | Yes indeed! Where we are there is no EF to help us get around. We should try to meet before we move back to ch.
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04.06.2014, 16:27
|  | Junior Member | | Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Basel
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| | Re: The Treatment of New Posters
I'm very new to posting on the forum, so I can give you my experience. First, I read the rules page on the forum - that was helpful. Before I ask any question, I make darn well sure someone else hasn't already asked it as that seems to be the primary and most objectionable action. Then, I make sure to state in my post that I've looked for the question, so that if I missed it, at least then the Legends will know that I'm just bad at searching (what I'm looking for is sometimes called something different in England or Switzerland) and not simply lazy.
It seems as though most questions I had were here somewhere, in perhaps a slightly different variation, but I could get it. Some are not, and then I look other places for answers. In times of true dead ends, I cautiously post and then, I always get answers and I find that helpful.
As a newbie both the forum and the country, I do appreciate nice posts, and I have had lots of them. They make the forum feel welcoming. Moving away from family and friends and in our case our "loud" animals was extremely hard and sad and finding a place where we can make new friends and find out about new experiences is very valuable to me. While most are people and posts are nice, some of the posts are snarky and I just assume that particular person has been living with Switzerland's rules and regulations too long or perhaps just got yelled at for recycling the wrong way and is taking it out via forum. I do see outright mean posts as well, but I come from a huge family and we just learned to shake it off, and then go put a snake under that persons pillow at night.
All in all, I find it helpful and I'm glad this is here.
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04.06.2014, 16:31
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: The Village
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| | Re: The Treatment of New Posters Pride goes bef... Have a nice afternoon everybody, from the rubbish.
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04.06.2014, 16:50
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Zurich-ish
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| | Re: The Treatment of New Posters | Quote: |  | | | Good points, particularly this last one. Sarcasm has been described as "the lowest for of wit" and suits us brits very well. We use it practically all the time, in conversation, in business emails even, and certainly in discussion forums such as this. Anyone receiving an apparent insult from a brit may in fact be receiving a compliment, as the writer has assumed a level of intelligence and understanding on the part of the reader.
Basically, it's not our fault if the rest if the world doesn't realise that we're just taking the piss and that this is perfectly normal, nay expected, behaviour.  | | | | | When I was still living in the States, I was planning to go visit an old friend in London. He warned me that his (British) friends would probably make fun of me but that I shouldn't take it personally. He said that's their way of showing that they like me... whereas, if they just ignored me, it meant that they didn't like me.
Sadly, though, the trip never happened so I didn't get the chance to find out, either way. | This user would like to thank Pancakes for this useful post: | | 
04.06.2014, 16:52
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Germany
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| | Re: The Treatment of New Posters
Definitely true. We're only polite to people we don't like | The following 6 users would like to thank lucy_who for this useful post: | | 
04.06.2014, 18:19
| Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Zurich
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| | Re: The Treatment of New Posters
I totally agree with the OP.
I often have the impression that many of the comments are things that wouldn't have been said in person.
It is much easier to be nasty when hiding anonymously behind a computer screen.
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