Sought after answers?? (Sticking to the question asked)

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I just witnessed something that happens here all too often. A person known as J.C. ask a question about alternative houseing foundations. Answers came back making fun of his name, answers came back on slightly related subjects; he reentered the forum asking for only the answer he sought; so now the mob "stones" him with their cutest insults...ect. ect.

A couple of weeks ago I entered asking if anyone knew how to find GPS numbers for platbook maps numbers. The answers I got back ranged from aerial photograph web sites info to lectures on how a layman would have no capability of using these numbers, and it just goes on and on. The bottom line; a lot of people spoke out but no one answered the question

I fully understand how frustrating J.C. must feel when the writers of all the wrong answers got posted; I do not agree with venting anger in public as J.C. did, please remember that those who are really funny are on late night t.v. and make bigger saleries than we do.

-- mitch hearn (moopups1@aol.com), May 12, 2001

Answers

Response to Sought after answers??

Seems to me when someone asks any question of anyone, they will have to sift through the irrelevant subject matter, discard the useless, evaluate the what appears to potentially significant, and in the end, make up their own minds regarding the input they received.

Getting miffed about someone's effort to answer your inquiry is counterproductive. If you're looking for a mirror for the decisions you've already made, don't get pissed when the answers don't meet with your choices or expectations. Remember the old saying about opinions, what they are like and who has them... You just have to wade through them and take what may help and leave the rest.

JC in particular asked, "Can anyone with REAL foundation experience give me a reason why I shouldn't do this? Basically the top of the concrete would be level with the top of the ground and building from there up?"

And when he received reasons why he should not do this, he took exception with the answers: What the heck, Over? He seemed to want reinforcement for his idea, not sound construction techniques. Getting a few jibes in response to his scolding, well that comes with the territory.

And as far as the GPS answers, same song, second verse. You received a complete cross section of responses. Everyone was providing you with his or her thoughts, opinions and experiences. Were they applicable to you, did they satisfy the inquiry? Maybe, maybe not, but you did get more information to further study the subject and decide for yourself, the one you'll have to satisfy in the end anyway.

Anyhoo...

-- Willy Allen (willyallen2@yahoo.com), May 12, 2001.


Response to Sought after answers??

It does happen, and I share your frustration, Mitch.

HOWEVER, in this case it looks like JC (or whoever he is) set up the question and response to deliberately provoke a reaction. Jump over to the Freedom, Self Reliance forum and you'll see the same question with an even stronger provocation to responses.

The best approach for all of us is to not jump in when we see these things progressing, but to simply ignor them.

-- David C (fleece@eritter.net), May 12, 2001.


The comments about termites to JC DID answer his question. Protecting a structure from termites is one of several critical functions of a foundation and something that can make his house fail if he ignores.

The comments about accuracy and to some extent what reference frame used DID answer your question. Not directly as to how to get the numbers, but in the sense of 'Can I use a GPS to make my corners and if so how?' Why bother getting the numbers if the idea still won't work, or if that is not all the information you need. Simply getting one set of numbers off of a map will never be enough information, no matter how good the GPS unit is.

I have been on mailing lists that had a couple people who were experts in everything and would answer almost every question--even if they didn't have a clue--and would defend their answers when they were proven wrong. I don't see much of that in this forum. Most people who answer questions here are at least trying to help by providing some information.

==>paul

-- paul (p@ledgewood-consulting.com), May 13, 2001.


The thread on foundations sure did seem to be designed to be deliberately provocative - even obstructionist. However, assuming good will for the moment, one still needs to consider the nature of the forum. Notice that word - forum. Means any question is an open question and can be answered by everyone or anyone - or even no-one. It's basically an open discussion - if you like, a lot of people sitting round a stove in a country store, or having a civilised drink in their local hostelry. Someone throws in a question, everyone who wants to answers, the thread of the conversation may wander away from the initial question as people add on other things they think are relevant, and everyone can end up learning a lot more than they thought they would. Of course, what they learn may be about the character of people making the comments too. That's just the way this forum works.

If you want a straightforward answer to a directed question and nothing else but, then you can't necessarily expect to get it from a forum. Find an expert and pay the money.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), May 13, 2001.


My thoughts exactly, Don!

-- Nancy (sonflower35@icqmail.com), May 13, 2001.


Well put, Don! Seems like some few folks want this forum to be a preprogrammed encyclopedia of facts specially suited for their specific inquiry.........well it ain't........this forum is a place where people come together to have CONVERSATIONS.... friendly, respectful, and human......

Peace,

-- Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com), May 13, 2001.


I agree with what you said Don. About a year ago I responded to someone's question about starting a new business after they had already failed at one business and basically had left their creditors high and dry. I pointed out to him, very nicely I might add, that he should first work on clearing his credit rating by doing something about the old creditors otherwise a new venture capitalist would not want to loan him money. I got the most obnoxious, nasty e-mail back from him about who was I to tell him what to do. Duhh, I thought he just asked for advice. But I told him something he didn't want to hear. He wanted to just go merrily along having more people give him money so he could lose it and then write them off. I responded to him basically along the lines that others of you have said, i.e. take what you want from the responses and ignore the rest and asked him why he felt the need to blast me after I just gave my opinion as he had asked for. The problem came because he wanted technical advice about how to run his new proposed business so that was what he was expecting in return but the way he phrased his question it was any advice about starting the new business. So, my point is, that we all have to remember that when we ask a question, the words we choose, can be interpretted in many ways be each reader and that we should just take the advice we find helpful and ignore the rest. That's what this forum is for.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), May 14, 2001.

Mitch I agree...

However... and I did not go back, but it sounds like the sites I recommended... I wasn't talking about arial photos. The USGS, BLM and FS all have maps that list coordinates. I didn't mean to send you on a wild goosechase, if that's what happened. Sorry.

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), May 14, 2001.


Hello Folks, Enjoy the ride and don't criticize the driver. Sincerely, Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), May 14, 2001.

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