A Noticable Trend - Advice Giving

I keep one thing in mind from now on when I visit this forum of ours...

"What can I do to make this a better place?"

Many of you don't know. The "old" folks, and many original members who still post here, as well as those who have been around long enough recall how simplistic this forum used to be still do. I don't mean that as a compliment. It was a standard forum, not much to offer anybody except a few dozen people who were bored with the way other forums were managed. There was a main page when you visited the web address, it didn't take you direct to the forums. Melbo's web page had links to articles and information, much of which has been fully integrated (such as "Articles" in the navigation bar) and downloads for military manuals.

There has been a lot of work through the years that has gone in to making this forum available, not to mention money and time. I only bring this up now because of the 10 year anniversary of Survival Monkey, and I like to think 10 years of my life actually counts for something. So, when I see people posting away and engaging in civil conversation, sharing thoughts and essentially storing all of this data into the SM archives, I smile. This is our home. Treat it like it's your home, and be a courteous host.

 

LOL!

Oh, man. You guys are cracking me up.

 

Seems a lot like a trophy for showing up. There is a significant difference between critique, criticism, advice and lip service. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss why i did something in a particular way then hearing some alternatives. I learn best by doing but I always want to do it better next time.

 

It's no great strain, I don't think, to suggest reading the blog in a post. That way, the reader gets to see the what, when, and how, and any comments that fall back into the thread can be readily ignored. "I did it my way, and your way may be an improvement. Take what you can use," or words to that effect. The idea that you created something might plant the idea in someone else's head and they can run with it from there. To my mind, "Here's how I did it" beats "Here's what you should have done" inside out.

 

Giddy up, buttercup. We've been lurking.

 

I guess you might consider the blog a counter offer

 

Well, a couple things come to mind-
After 70 odd posts, some deviation can be expected. If I were a little less PC, I might say "Get used to it."
Alternatives are not necessarily critical, and might be helpful to avoid exactly the OPs main point about over loading a simple idea with whatever it was called. Advice that didn't directly answer the question? You get that on forums, yes, it happens. Often. Frustrating? To some of a too tightly wrapped sort, for sure it is.

For the time being, request denied, since that is the one option you offered that is open at this point.

 

There is a lot of good conversation on Advice in this thread. Communication is the best skill one can have when it comes to teamwork. We are a team, a community of people....each with a unique set of skills,knowledge and experiences. I would dare to say, that we are all great in one way or another.... and worse in other ways, than many here. We are not in a competition here, to show who is the greatest survivor/prepper, who has the most knowledge, or the tightest shot group.... if you are, then you have already failed as a team member (I know I am going to get a "I am a lone wolf" from someone...cool).

As a friend here recently said.... in a room of Alpha's, the scale starts over. And I will defer anytime to learn from those who do the task better than I... or who is smarter, faster, stronger and so on...... as a team we are stronger than alone. As Monkeys, we are stronger working together, sharing knowledge and creating teamwork.

Bottom line is, we want to be welcoming to all and create an environment that entices folks to participate. It is frustrating at times to watch folks ideas marginalized because there is an error in their plan or missing information... or a lack of detail because they are trying to observe some form of OPSEC.... and they are beat up, picked on, marginalized, diminished for that. When in reality, we should be trying to help with quality input to what they are doing or attempting to achieve/learn.

I think the more experienced members need to try to be the guide so to speak and work on encouraging more participation and providing assistance. Instead of pushing someone back into the lurker status, due to conflict that they prefer to avoid... or bent feelings for being publicly called out for a minor issue in their plan/thought/question... what have you.

Be that person, that you would want to learn from....that you would want Advice from.

 

I think that's a pretty harsh response. Although most people come to enjoy the give and take of participation, there is nothing wrong with just lurking if the new member is more comfortable in that role. We really like to hear fresh voices but we're happy if the non-vocal members take some useful information from their time here. Its up to each member to decide exactly what's right for them. I'm not into trying to fit everyone into one mold.

 

I think that for me, the bottom line is that I don't want new members to feel they "owe" us anything. We offer what we know with no strings attached. We hope new members will give us the benefit of their experiences but its only a hope, not a requirement