64 replies to this topic

[Michelle]

You can't kick around ideas with an article or research paper. Sometimes it's just fun to think of possibilities and what if's and to simply let your imagination run wild. Who am I to want to spoil the fun?

[evancj]

Saru, on 22 September 2012 - 04:41 PM, said:

Because this isn't a science project.

A lot of people are here to relax, browse the forums, connect with friends, comment on a few threads that take their interest or post something that they feel others would find interesting. Nobody should be expected to conduct an investigation or make phone calls to research a topic before being eligible to participate - that's ridiculous.

Nothing wrong with all that, and these things should be encouraged, however if someone is going to post something as a fact the least they can do is be able to back it up with a little bit of research. That's just common courtesy as far as I'm concerned.

I don't think Sakari said anything about research being a requirement participating in a discussion.

[orangepeaceful79]

I think that SOMETIMES - and only sometimes we get those folks who post simply because they like the interaction, they like to know that they said a thing and maybe somebody agreed with them.  We all seek affrimation in some way - some of us go out and find information, develop a belief or position from it and then publicly report about what we've found and I, at least, can admit to hoping someone will reply to it and want to either agree or disagree.

Other folks go on the forums and they want to tell about what they believe regarding bigfoot and see who believes along with them.  Its a natural human instinct to try and find people who align with our own beliefs....its part of feeling like we belong somewhere.

I think for those people, it isn't about the actual content so much as the way it feels to connect with others and at the same time have your beliefs validated.

At the same time, it is irritating when people don't use the search function and just yak up whatever drivel they conjure up, even though its been discussed to DEATH 2 months ago.  I try not to get irritated though because I'm pretty sure I did the exact same thing when I first started out here.

I'm reading back through this and wondering if I made a coherent point.  Hope so!  

[bLu3 de 3n3rgy]

Quote

At the same time, it is irritating when people don't use the search function and just yak up whatever drivel they conjure up, even though its been discussed to DEATH 2 months ago.

Another way to view it is if the site only had like 3 new members a week, then this could be understandable, but since that is not the case, the turn over and cycles of topics is pretty high and fast. Remember not everyone is at least 2 months old in membership, and to them it is still exciting to discuss something with both other new members as well as established. Also maybe it has nothing to do with researching but just starting somewhere to begin engaging with the community.  Whatever the reason is, who is anyone to judge or criticise that ? As for trolls who do this deliberately, well yes every community has that unfortunately, but they are usually sorely obvious and I think this site nails them down pretty efficiently being that religious, politics, and unexplained topics can be huge magnets and triggers for the very worst behaviour of humanity.

And there is also the added thing that just because you personally have been exposed to a topic to death, doesn't mean you have to read it or respond to it anymore. I have been here for 6 years and my contributions as a member have adapted over that time to zoning in on the topics and contexts that continuously interest me and never get old for me. Changing your filters to looking for what interests you rather than focusing on what is being beaten to death can greatly enhance your quality of time here.  Not just talking to you personally even though i quoted you, it's just another way to consider things, that's all i mean

[orangepeaceful79]

bLu3 de 3n3rgy, on 22 September 2012 - 08:34 PM, said:

Another way to view it is if the site only had like 3 new members a week, then this could be understandable, but since that is not the case, the turn over and cycles of topics is pretty high and fast. Remember not everyone is at least 2 months old in membership, and to them it is still exciting to discuss something with both other new members as well as established. Also maybe it has nothing to do with researching but just starting somewhere to begin engaging with the community.  Whatever the reason is, who is anyone to judge or criticise that ? As for trolls who do this deliberately, well yes every community has that unfortunately, but they are usually sorely obvious and I think this site nails them down pretty efficiently being that religious, politics, and unexplained topics can be huge magnets and triggers for the very worst behaviour of humanity.

And there is also the added thing that just because you personally have been exposed to a topic to death, doesn't mean you have to read it or respond to it anymore. I have been here for 6 years and my contributions as a member have adapted over that time to zoning in on the topics and contexts that continuously interest me and never get old for me. Changing your filters to looking for what interests you rather than focusing on what is being beaten to death can greatly enhance your quality of time here.  Not just talking to you personally even though i quoted you, it's just another way to consider things, that's all i mean

Good points. I just want to clarify that I don't find my UM experience as a whole to be irritating for these reasons, its just something that pops up now and then, and that I typically just deal with internally.  I don't recall ever having called someone out for not using the search function.  We are all at different stages of learning about the site, and even now I still discover things I didn't know on a nearly daily basis.

[notoverrated]

cause i do wat i want lol

[Jinxdom]

Does anybody recall the stigma of necroing old threads? If somebody has a question on a old thread and bump it up on other forums they will get dragged down and flamed off the boards. You search you read you want to ask a question post it then get bounced for necroing a thread. It doesn't look to be a rule here(There is one that's close but not the same) but it is common on the internet.

Interaction with people is also a lot more fun then reading a thread that may have members who are no longer present to defend or expand their own views.

Heck researching some of the these thread topics bring up interesting results even on this site you try to look something up and you will get slammed with opposing information all the time with wild inaccuracies. Not so much on the ancient history stuff but like the paranormal/Dreams/Religion stuff. After a little bit of time here and talking with people when I do searches now it is much more concentrated to find what I am looking for.

A lot of other good reason have been listed as well. Remember folks we are social animals

[Stellar]

Sakari, on 22 September 2012 - 05:11 PM, said:

I understand the browse forums, connect with friends, and comment on threads...

I guess I should have been more clear....If I am going to post on a topic, and state things such as " the belemontive canyon is 23 miles long, and can easily support a spaghetti monster ", I think I should check on that before posting it.

I never said anyone needs to make a phone call or make a email, I am only saying a lot of these topics are people asking for help, or answers, and yes, this is a good place to get them.

I am not saying to be eligible to participate requires making a phone call, I am just curious why some people do not do a simple google search themselves. Because many times, the answer is right there.

I find it ridiculous to not investigate something if one has questions about it....Isn't that what this is all about?.....Investigating is part of the discussion, a lot of times the discussions from all sides are " investigating ", and helping each other to find answers.

You mean people who talk about a topic in such a matter of fact tone that they would have you believe theyre experts on the subjects, yet really know nothing about it?

[Sakari]

Stellar, on 23 September 2012 - 12:53 AM, said:

You mean people who talk about a topic in such a matter of fact tone that they would have you believe theyre experts on the subjects, yet really know nothing about it?

Tone?....Not sure I can hear a tone on here.

If you give me a example of a topic, I can give you a answer.....I mean someone posting things like " chimpanzees tree knock, so why not a bigfoot "....Things like that. ( primates do not tree knock )......

[synchronomy]

Fact is, if everyone thoroughly researched everything before posting...they wouldn't be here!
This is called a discussion forum.
I thrashed hell out of Google, emails, phone calls, letters, interviews, FOI requests, libraries, bookstores and still came here for discussion.
If someone posts something that seems uninformed or unresearched...don't flame them, encourage them and point them in the right direction....they may come back to you later with something you didn't know, or do as many do, use it as an excuse to mount the podium and demonstate the exuberance of their verbosity on the topic.

Of course, if they are plain stupid, ignorant or rude...reach for the flamethrower!

[Abramelin]

Saru, on 22 September 2012 - 05:36 PM, said:

Moving this to 'Philosophy and Psychology' as it isn't really anything to do with Cryptozoology


This tends to be more to do with someone being stubborn and unwilling to admit to being wrong than it is about doing research.

Lol, I'd never thought you would ever admit that.

[Sakari]

synchronomy, on 23 September 2012 - 01:21 AM, said:

Fact is, if everyone thoroughly researched everything before posting...they wouldn't be here!
This is called a discussion forum.
I thrashed hell out of Google, emails, phone calls, letters, interviews, FOI requests, libraries, bookstores and still came here for discussion.
If someone posts something that seems uninformed or unresearched...don't flame them, encourage them and point them in the right direction....they may come back to you later with something you didn't know, or do as many do, use it as an excuse to mount the podium and demonstate the exuberance of their verbosity on the topic.

Of course, if they are plain stupid, ignorant or rude...reach for the flamethrower!

I do pass on information, I am not one that states " use the search function, that is what it is for ".....And as said, I do enjoy discussions here also.

As for podium mounting, unless Katy Perry is on it, I am not into that

[Hilander]

I do some research, I read the link most of the time but when you start reading the posts sometimes you end up responding to one of them. For the most part I am here to have fun and talk to others, learn what I can from them or get a good laugh.

[ThePhantomFlanFlinger]

So...what are we talking about again?


eta...dont you just hate beetroot...?..

Edited by BrianPotter, 23 September 2012 - 06:33 AM.

[Professor T]

Saru, on 22 September 2012 - 04:41 PM, said:

Because this isn't a science project.

A lot of people are here to relax, browse the forums, connect with friends, comment on a few threads that take their interest or post something that they feel others would find interesting. Nobody should be expected to conduct an investigation or make phone calls to research a topic before being eligible to participate - that's ridiculous.

What! where's your proof! Show me the evidence! I want to see charts.. Lol. just kidding to prove my point..
What I don't like is getting rebuttles like the underlined above.
If people dont agree, they should rebut with their own edivence or theories. If learning something is the goal then demanding proof from someone else defeats the purpose of the discussion and they'll end up learning nothing.