Jenoli42
- #1
Hey team,
What do others think about those that join the freshwater beginners forum, ask a bunch of panicked questions, but then never respond to any of the posts helpful members offer as advice?
My gut tells me it's some combination of the following:
I'm interested in other ways we can approach posts that help people stay engaged. I know many of us try really hard to be clear about "one option for you would be" or "given your specific situation, i'd suggest this option instead..." And that's kinda all I can think of.
I get intensely interested in some threads and want to help, so I guess that's why i'm posting.
In Dec/Jan when I was the panicked resurrected newbie, I was overwhelmed. I felt like the advice was conflicting or kept reasoning out why some didn't make sense as the panacea to all my worries. I did my own research and talked to others and finally realised that FL imo has the highest number of experienced, patient, helpful people whose advice is solid of anywhere I looked. I realised there are no panaceas because everyone's situation is different and 2 tanks from the same water can have different needs. So that's prompted me to reflect on other newbies' experiences...
What do others think about those that join the freshwater beginners forum, ask a bunch of panicked questions, but then never respond to any of the posts helpful members offer as advice?
My gut tells me it's some combination of the following:
- we unintentionally overwhelm them with advice that they don't understand and they don't feel they can tell us
- we unintentionally overwhelm them with advice they can't afford (time or money) to follow
- we unintentionally overwhelm them with advice they think is conflicting without us making clear (or without them understanding) that we're giving them options
- they decide the advice is too much for them and give up
- they get advice elsewhere and never check the forum again
- we don't see the post in time and because they're panicking it's too late once we reply
- they're looking for the "silver bullet" - a clear black and white answer or formula for a biological system that doesn't have one
I'm interested in other ways we can approach posts that help people stay engaged. I know many of us try really hard to be clear about "one option for you would be" or "given your specific situation, i'd suggest this option instead..." And that's kinda all I can think of.
I get intensely interested in some threads and want to help, so I guess that's why i'm posting.
In Dec/Jan when I was the panicked resurrected newbie, I was overwhelmed. I felt like the advice was conflicting or kept reasoning out why some didn't make sense as the panacea to all my worries. I did my own research and talked to others and finally realised that FL imo has the highest number of experienced, patient, helpful people whose advice is solid of anywhere I looked. I realised there are no panaceas because everyone's situation is different and 2 tanks from the same water can have different needs. So that's prompted me to reflect on other newbies' experiences...