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The importance of the Forum?

RJJ

RJJ

Co-Founder
Joined
Oct 17, 2009
Messages
2,939
Location
about 1' east of the white water
To all that read and don't part take and to those who are sawhorses and regulars. This has been on my mind for a while in regards to how this BB has value to those that support it and those who just come to read and do not part take in the debates? My real ? is why do so many visitors not join in? The second part is why do those that come sometimes not want to become sawhorse's?

My intention is not just to get more sawhorse, but rather to draw out those who are not raising questions or discussion on code items. I believe that there are quite a number of visitors that could have something to offer that would benefit us all.
 
chris kennedy said:
Why pay for something you can get for free?
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Short answer, I cannot get the information elsewhere, that I get here. I get a different prospective than I get from other forums, where the forums is either for or against contractors or AHJs. I think the professionalism found here allows both sides to discuss what should be our ultimate goals, sharing knowledge to insure quality and safety of the built product. There is very little of bashing the "other side". The questions are well written, as are the responses. And for me, this forum is not free, I paid for the privilege.
 
Chris nothing is totally free. My post is not just about money or more sawhorses. It is to try to bring forth those that are lurking behind the scene forward. There is a wealth of information here, I believe there is a great deal out there just observing. They need to pipe in. If that means becoming a sawhorse then so be it. Fireguy express a valid view. I know you are here quite often and contribute good solid response as do others. Looking for more activity of the same kind.
 
Why do so many visitors not join in?

When I first started lurking on the "old board" I felt I had nothing to contribute as the questions where answered. Then one came up that was going a direction I disagreed with so I responded with my answer and backed it up with a code section. The discussion changed course and after that it was pretty easy to be hooked

The second part is why do those that come sometimes not want to become sawhorse's?

I wanted to for over a year I just never took the time to join until a couple of months ago. It too less than 5 minutes.
 
RJJ said:
Chris nothing is totally free. My post is not just about money or more sawhorses. It is to try to bring forth those that are lurking behind the scene forward. There is a wealth of information here, I believe there is a great deal out there just observing. They need to pipe in. If that means becoming a sawhorse then so be it. Fireguy express a valid view. I know you are here quite often and contribute good solid response as do others. Looking for more activity of the same kind.
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I believe that some may be intimidated to post something that they want an answer to but feel that they may be looked upon as being less than knowledgeable to there piers.

I have been a technical trainer for a long time. During class technicians are given ample opportunity and encouraged to ask questions and participate. For the most part they will wait till a break or class has ended to line up with questions.

Any input positive or negative about a specific subject can be beneficial to all that get involved provided it is done in a respectful manor. Different views on the same subject can give you a better perspective of the intent of the code even if your input is not correct.
 
Greetings,

I get a lot from all of the folks here. I appreciate it a bunch too. However, I used to be a regular on a board some years ago (not related to construction) and I got tired of having my comments trashed by some. Some folks were down right rude. I dropped off from that board several years ago. Some comments on this board I thought were over the top as well. Fortunately they are few and far between. But I figure that's why some folks don't chime in. That and I agree with Gregg too. I wish some didn't feel the way Gregg describes but I'm sure there are some. When I was going to college for my master elect code studies in the 80's I was always 1st to jump up and do the problems on the board. Most folks wouldn't do it because the class got o pick it apart. Embarassing for some. However, I found it to be a great learning tool. The mistakes I made I did not forget.

BSSTG
 
Wonder if the percentage reflect the same reasons why people don't vote in elections; they think their voice doesn't matter. Lest we forget the reason this forum exist.

Francis
 
All above great individual answers. I have had many of the same thoughts. So the question begs for "a how to" get those none posters to post. I get many calls and emails everyday with code questions. Sometimes more that I want. Often a contractor will say, "I have a dumb ?" and my response most often is there are no dumb ?. This most often puts them at ease. However, between you me and the lamp post some questions are dumb but they are still questions.
 
RJJ,

I am the code guy in our office without any formal training. I went to the other site because I had no idea where to get answers while our projects are in the design phase. Now I am here.

I work for an engineering company and my main job function is to design work. Code review is a just a small portion of my tasks. I do piping layouts, HVAC system design, Architectural plans, drafting, and a bunch of other things for commercial buildings. I bounce from industrial work to commercial swimming pools / water parks to multi-tenant buildings.

Hardly ever does our office do any residential work, unless it relates to land development, so I am unfamiliar with residential codes.

I only frequent the site when I have a question or I get bored and need a break. The Off Topic area is my favorite, which is how I stumbled upon your question. ICE's pictures are usually good too.

The reason I barely respond to any threads not my own is because I do not feel it is right for me to read / answer questions while charging a client for my time when their project had nothing to do with the question I read. It can take me a half hour to an hour to make one response because I want to provide the best answer I can. (I think I am at least 30 minutes into this message trying to make a coherent response.)

Most of the questions are about a topic I have not run into before and I myself may not know the answer.

Once I leave the office, I hardly ever log on to the site.

Yeah, this is a rambling. Sorry about that.

There may be other lurkers on the board in the same boat as me.

Hope this gives you a little more insight.

Mech
 
Gregg Harris said:
I believe that some may be intimidated to post something that they want an answer to but feel that they may be looked upon as being less than knowledgeable to there piers. I have been a technical trainer for a long time. During class technicians are given ample opportunity and encouraged to ask questions and participate. For the most part they will wait till a break or class has ended to line up with questions.
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I think that nails it for most.

75% of the time I come here just to keep up, see whats going on and really just see what I didn't know about, often I don't know what I don't know and discussions like this forum presents always lead to questions I didn't even know to ask. (that keeps me pretty busy) The rest of the time I need specific help, which I usually find though its not always the answer I wanted or expected. Either way I always learn something, which is my daily goal. I was intimidated at first, didn't want to appear stupid. Now I don't care. Most of the time (though maybe not all the time) the only stupid question is the one not asked, but this is an anonymous forum (NSA?) so who cares!
 
The reason I barely respond to any threads not my own is because I do not feel it is right for me to read / answer questions while charging a client for my time when their project had nothing to do with the question I read. It can take me a half hour to an hour to make one response because I want to provide the best answer I can.
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Those of us on the public side forget that time is money to those on the private side. Some of us do not have to account for our time (billable hours). I admire your work ethics toward your clients and not taking advantage of them

Once I leave the office, I hardly ever log on to the site.
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I believe a lot of us are that way.
 
Mt again great post! Even when we are on the AHJ side of the counter our time is accountable to the Taxpayers. So if we spend time here we should be learning and or assisting someone else. We are always accountable for our work ethic.
 
Gregg Harris nailed it. Sometimes it requires thick skin, a lot of questions can get answered without an individual even asking because someone else already asked, so then it becomes a habit to observe and not participate.This is by far the best Code University in the world, and if everybody took part it can only get better. So to all you lurkers please join in, and as jpranch says let'er buck.
 
chris kennedy said:
Why pay for something you can get for free?
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I feel guilty not being a sawhorse, but I recently bought my first home and it's a fixer-upper, so money is tight right now. I do try to post relevant material when I am able to increase the value of the forum. Also, i do try to click on adds on a regular basis.
 
tmurray, don't sweat it, you are a welcome participant. I'd rather have participant that is not a sawhorse, than a sawhorse that does not participate. JMHO
 
I hope no one feels pressured to join; or even to post. Yes, this is a valuable place to learn and help others. I'm sure we have helped many more than what we see in the numbers statistics; and that's good enough for me. We formed this group to save our friends from being lost to each other; not for profit. We have reached our goal and kept many together. To me, everything else is gravy. Uncle Bob
 
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