The real question: Why do you visit Internet forums?

[Four Suns]

So... It appears that a lot of people use Internet forums for various reasons. The real question is "why?" So here's the next poll.

Also, if you do print out/bookmark/archive information, how do you do it? Stick it in a folder, use a software product like OneNote or an RSS reader, or save it to your computer?

 

[tc410]

Personally, I love the sarcasm, criticism, judgement of others, and of course, all of the posts that stray way off topic. Oh, and I love to hear from people looking for "advise" when they are really looking for advice.

 

[dpvandy01]

I was introduced to this site by a Sea Ray Representative at Customer service when I was researching my 280. She clearly stated the there was no affiliation between Brunswick and CSR but advised that there was a tremendous amount of useful information from dedicated Sea Ray owners. She did not mention that there was also a tremendous amount of useless information here as well. That was up to me to figure out. And I have. I come here for information, quasi friendship, a bond of common interest and fun witty banter. All is taken with a grain of salt and everything is run through my own personal filter. When the question is mine and I find salient points made towards my concerns, I cut an paste to my hard drive in MS Word. I smile at everything else and often "tune in" for the carnage.

 

[lorenbennett]

Personally I use the net for every type of info research I can think of including shopping. I generally try to organize the info in directories for quick look up. The boating forums have saved me many hours and money and are the greatest. As I work as a construction manager for water and wastewater I have to keep up on the latest innovations and keep up my continuing education hours.:thumbsup:

 

[xravenx]

Last summer when I was diagnosed with bilateral acoustic neuromas (brain tumors) I wanted to know everything about these little bastards. I found an Acoustic Neuroma forum and gained so much knowledge and it helped in my decision to have surgery..........go ahead ask me what the middle fossa approach is, or the translab procedure........LOL

John

 

[Pseudomind]

I was introduced to this site by a Sea Ray Representative at Customer service when I was researching my 280. She clearly stated the there was no affiliation between Brunswick and CSR but advised that there was a tremendous amount of useful information from dedicated Sea Ray owners. She did not mention that there was also a tremendous amount of useless information here as well. That was up to me to figure out. And I have. I come here for information, quasi friendship, a bond of common interest and fun witty banter. All is taken with a grain of salt and everything is run through my own personal filter. When the question is mine and I find salient points made towards my concerns, I cut an past to my hard drive in MS Word. I smile at everything else and often "tune in" for the carnage.

Ditto, I am interested in learning and helping if I can. About the only criticism I will comment on is this, that when those who have the knowledge, take the time and think of the term "technical writing." The audience one is addressing.

Usually if someone is asking a question, they are not asking for some smartass reply back. I have noticed that at times those proclaiming to be so knowlegable are at times incorrect

Here again when a reply is incorrect, all I care to see is the correct answer, not a berating of the poster. Someone can just as easily make a posted reply which simply says, "that answer is not quite correct" and then proceed to give the correct answer. Like I stated I wish to learn

:thumbsup:

 

[Beer Thirty]

I use internet forums mainly for learning about my projects. I'm on an S10 site for S10 info, fullsize chevy site for my DD and of course this site for my boat. I find it helpful to read about other peoples situations when im trying to figure something out. You cover alot of ground on the net. more than you would locally. Its alot quicker and easier to read about someone in Texas's problem with there truck/boat/whatever than to find out the hard way because none of your friends/local mechanics have ever dealt with the same issue.

Not to mention its alot nicer to see how someone has modified trucks like the ones im building and decide "that looks like crap. definatly not doing that mod now" lol.

 

[Sorrento 25]

I tend to believe I know quite a bit about all things mechanical and hence don't learn much here with the exception of some diesel info, but I find that there are an abnormal number of extremely intelligent people on this forum, and most of what I have learned here has had very little to do with boating or Sea Rays! I do try to share what I do know a lot about such as fiberglass/gelcoat/inverters/electronics but there are plenty of more eloquent writers here who know an equal amount regarding those topics too, so generally my mouth stays shut.

 

[Turtlesboat]

They're interactive. Generally not driven by greed. Allows for more than one opinion unlike blogs etc... A group brought together by a common interest. Kind of like a bar but without the stale peanuts.

 

[Larry&Leisa]

stock tips

 

[Turtlesboat]

I hope we're getting paid for all of this market research.

 

[Four Suns]

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[Turtlesboat]

at least it's not as invasive as the suppository market research I participated in last month.

 

[Nehalennia]

They're interactive. Generally not driven by greed. Allows for more than one opinion unlike blogs etc... A group brought together by a common interest. Kind of like a bar but without the stale peanuts.

This is exactly the way I feel. I view it more like an online Marina. There's all kinds. The only down side to a forum is many of us wouldn't say the things we say on a Dock that some do here in "type". Yes we may avoid the other boater's if we see the thing's that don't interest us at a Marina, but here sometimes it's just to tempting for some(depending on the topic).
But, if some of the things that are said here, simply because of brutal honesty, were not said, some of us wouldn't learn or view it as important as it should be.

The other reason is, I love boats and my SeaRay, like to help people solve problems and be a smart a$$ if the gate is open.

 

[Turtlesboat]

Ok, to answer your question on how I save and use the info.

younote on the iphone. this allows me to geo tag notes, pics, websites, drawings, audio recordings.

Younote allows me to sync my notes to my laptop wireless. I can edit them and sync them back to my phone.

Scenario:

Buying my truck. I start a new note like "Avalanche". I then go to various chevy truck forums and mingle. If I find something useful or interesting, I can either capture that screen or copy the text and store it in my new note folder (look out for popping noise in steering wheel, hard shift between second and third) As I go hunting for my truck I take pictures of the various ones i'm looking at (note: I don't have to document which truck was where, it's Geo tagged when I took the pic. when I select the pic, a little map pops up and shows me where I took it) I can jot down text about the mileage, options, sticker price etc... I can even surf to the dealers website and capture the screen on my phone. Go back to the forum and compare options, things to look out for, prices etc... and update my notes and sync them back to the phone. I go back to the dealer and set my phone on the counter, I hit record when he starts promising me this and that and what he'll give me for my jeep. I go to another dealer and do the same thing.

Now I go back home with my info and do some research. Bounce things off other forum members and update my notes.

Back to the dealer armed and ready. I lay down my offer and they question it. I play the recording of the other dealer offering me this and that. they question authenticity, so I show them the pic of the truck which is geo-tagged, website of the dealer, current trade in values for comparable trucks that I have captured from various forums.

So if what you are looking for is total mobile integration with the ability to edit, store, backup, search, organize, etc... there is a huge huge market and hole that needs to be filled. The way I do it is hackish and crude. To be able to effortlessly do this would great and very uselful.

If you develop it, I want a discount.

 

[timinfla2]

So... It appears that a lot of people use Internet forums for various reasons. The real question is "why?" So here's the next poll.

Also, if you do print out/bookmark/archive information, how do you do it? Stick it in a folder, use a software product like OneNote or an RSS reader, or save it to your computer?

Store it in the cloud, Man - Google bookmarks is a dream come true.

 

[Sundancer]

The other reason is, I love boats and my SeaRay, like to help people solve problems and be a smart a$$ if the gate is open.

Somehow a$$ and open gate shouldn't be used in the same statement! :huh::smt043:lol::wow:

Sorry, I couldn't resist! :thumbsup:

I do notice a difference between this and a local boat forum. The locals seem more civilized knowing they could run into someone on the forum at any of the places they might be. They are less apt to take a stance that might offend someone or create an argument.

I use it primarily for information. How to's, what to watch out for, when to do something, researching boats and best of all, planning our trips!! I guess that would be classified as entertainment too? There was a huge thread that started regarding our San Juan trip last year. There was even more that occurred behind the scenes in the form of private e-mail. That was invaluable preparing for salt water immersion, places to go, what to plan for and a host of other issues. So, now we've got a Snake River run, a potential Chelan run and another San Juan trip in the works! Can't wait!

 

[Four Suns]

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[First Born]

I voted for I use it to get useful information and archive certain articles (print out, save to computer, etc) . I think when I first started moderating CSR I was trying to make it this and only this and after getting beat up left and right about overmoderating decided to let alot of things go. I think we have lost some of the above however I think we have gained more of a community feel as well. Tough call would be nice to have it all but that never seems to work. I think there are several members that would prefer it to be only the above and I think there are several members that could care less about the above. :huh:

 

[Four Suns]

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