Can we keep it positive

I have been an active reader of discussions on this forum for nearly a year now. I originally found the heated back and forth of new posters with the four or five veteran posters very educational and interesting. However, recently I have found the disagreements to be tiresome. With that said I want to make it known that I find the vets very knowledgeable so I am not taking that away from them at all. I guess I would like to see this forum become more welcoming to new posters in the hope they will actually stick around and become active posters. I think we would all agree there have not been any new regulars to this site for the past year.

I have found myself hesitant to post questions or comments because the blasting that might occur for spelling a word incorrectly or for asking a question that has been asked before.

I can see a reply to this coming back asking me not to visit anymore if I'm not happy and that would cement the purpose for this post. I think it would be nice if posters could post questions from the very elementary level to very complex and get a response that doesn't end in name calling because two responders to the post disagree.

I think we all see and experience enough bashing via our media so it would be nice to keep this site friendly and positive even if it can be frustrating for the very knowledgeable vets to this site.

You get an amen from me. There's enough negativity in life. Let's take care with each other.

notinthebiz,

I agree that some of the posts and replies are harsh to say the least. Yet, I truly believe that a large part of the negativity that you are witnessing could very well be attributed to the deluge of spam, scams, and pointless postings (every poster whose handle ends in "24") that have been occurring lately.

I have been active since 2004 and the sheer volume of crap that we have been experiencing is no doubt at it's highest level ever. It makes it very difficult to sort the feed from fodder. The moderators, though diligent, are tired and Kiplinger's won't give them the combat weapons they need to defeat the barrage.

One big point of contention is when someone makes numerous introductory posts about a concept that may be intriguing to a novice or easily misunderstood by the layman, but is easily transparent to a pro. This type of transaction usually ends up ugly for the seemingly innocent new poster. Unbeknownst to the layman, it is usually some slime being called out, then run out of town. On the surface though, it can appear that it was just an unwelcome response by the pros. In the end it is just justice and protective of the general reader.

Another point of contention for "vets" is when a poster asks a question that has been answered 40 gazillion times and can be read in a simple "topic search". There are many general questions that have been heavily debated by both sides in a 20-30 post thread, only to have somone ask the same exact question and start it all over again. This simply indicates an innate laziness by some new posters and makes it hard to start typing the same exact answers every time they ask a new (but same) question and a simple click of the mouse on their part can give them the info they seek. I mean, come on, if you really wanted to know, wouldn't you make some effort to gain a knowledge base by viewing previous posts on your topic before asking your question?

Many times, and I may be speaking for myself only, but I feel like I am giving thousands of dollars of obejctive advice to people who would never pay for it and therefore contributing to the spirit of Kiplinger's Personal Finance only to have someone come in and ask the same thing that has been answered dozens of time before. Honestly, it drives me nuts. Do a simple search and read something for crying out loud. Another one of the real peeves I have is exactly what you mentioned in another thread about Fidelity or Vanguard investors looking for allocation. Why don't they ask Fidelity or Vanguard? After all, they are providing the service aren't they? They have decided they can get the service they need from these companies, so why ask here?

In the end, I love Kiplinger's and I love helping people. I stay anonymous and always will because I believe it brings more meaning to the things I post. In the end, like the moderators, I try to be positive and knowledgable and a valuable part of Kiplinger's. I truly respect the novices and pros alike and I hope that we can continue to be the premier financial forum on the Internet. Well, except for Gary Spicuzza and Trust Group.

Price,

I can only imagine how frustrating and annoying it can be to read the same question posted over and over again especially for someone that has been an active member of this forum and has more knowledge than the average Joe. I did have a vet simply reply to my question once by referring me to a previous thread. I realize this isn't a habit many want to get into but it did work in my case and also made me realize to check threads before posting.

I really do get all of the frustrations that can occur with a public forum and especially when someone is asking for help when you don't think they are even willing to help themselves by doing homework on the side.

I appreciate the response and hopefully it will help clarify some of the vets frustrations and why a reply might come across a little more stern than normal.

My OP came from seeing how much knowledge many of you have on this forum but the very little new or returning posters we have. I've been to other sites where some state they are pros but even a novice can tell they are full of it.

Hey, not -

First of all, I appreciate your bringing this issue to light - sometimes the patience level gets a little low, especially when you consider all the things that price mention (spot on, by the way).

I've just spent the last twenty to thirty minutes going through and clearing out the spam from overnight. Not only does this require me to actually view each message and new response, but often I have to see some pretty disgusting things (in order to remove them from the general public's view). After doing that, I'm usually not in a mood to post much, so when I do it's usually pretty terse and to the point. And that may be construed as negative, especially when the message isn't what the poster wanted to hear.

But thanks for giving your perspective - as price noted, we wouldn't be here, pros or novices alike, if we didn't want to learn and help others. And if we can improve the forum experience for visitors, that's great. I hope the forum continues to be a positive experience for all, and a fount of knowledge for those in need.

Hey Blank,

Good to get an inside perspective. I didn't realize you cleaned this forum up, thanks for doing that.

I appreciate some of the vets posting a response because I wasn't sure how it would come across from someone like me.

i figured you were referring to me. i am still considering my response.

1MO, take your time. I really wasn't referring to any one person. I also realize you have an edge to your personality that you probaby have all the time so posters need to have an extra layer of skin to get ready for your response.

<jeopardy theme plays in the background>

Let's fire up a rasslin' video while we wait...!?!

Wow, either he's going to rip into this post like no one's business or he's left the building.

I hope to see a post by tomorrow morning!!!!

All-if I don't come out of this alive please know I meant well!!

Ah, if you don't come out of this alive, we shall prepare a magnificent funeral!

Then on the hill that hugest of balefires
the warriors wakened. Wood-smoke rose
black over blaze, and blent was the roar
of flame with weeping (the wind was still),
till the fire had broken the frame of bones,
hot at the heart. In heavy mood
their misery moaned they, their master's death.

speaking as if i were the most serious of offenders (whether i am or not is immaterial), i would point out that financial issues are a serious issue deserving of serious debate. it is unfortunate in our society that it has been relegated to the point that every opinion is a valid opinion. this is usually and dare i say patently false. in matters of mathematics and to a lesser degree law, there is a right and there is a wrong.

i agree that there can be shades of ambiguity when we get to dealing with people and their belief systems, but guys ... 2+2 is 4 and if you want to argue in opposition, bring it on.

too many times people come on here, and as price stated previously, get competent advice for which the advisor should be compensated. while the pro's here realize their work is gratis, and we dont expect you to email us $$$ for our time; it would certainly be nice for a thank you. while it happens on a rare occasion, it is often few and far between.

as such, when a poster comes on is it any wonder that we may be inclined to believe that THIS poster is essentially like virtually every OTHER poster (an ungrateful taker)? we may believe this even more strongly if the new poster is asking essentially the same question that has recently been asked, debated, and answered. we may believe this certain when the OP then rails at the advice or even moreso when another enters the fray with an escoteric point that is critical without merit or simply innane.

i, again speaking as the king of offenders, also find it very important to be abrupt for three reasons.

1. clear speaking may sound offensive, but i have found it to be the least open to interpretation by the receiver. further, if i am asked something; i choose to believe the person wants my viewpoint or wouldnt have asked in the first place.

example: "honey, does this dress make my butt look big?"

2. more adults act like children than many of us would like to imagine. my God look at the following super dave ramsey has over his cult. dave knows a little but treats his listeners like children and they generally respond as children ... by doing what they are told. if someone wants to make a point, i expect them to back it up. the blast furnace of kiplingers (fueled by my own posts on occasion) will burn away some measure of ignorance. how many long posted debates have we had over term and whole or managed vs index. no longer can a poster simply whine and run ... they should understand they better have some ammunition on hand for the battle. finally, my time is valuable (or so i think) and i dont broker stupidity nor ignorance very well. i would normally charge a nice sum for my time and my posts hopefully imply that i wont "waste" too much time on that stupidity or ignorance.

3. I originally found the heated back and forth of new posters with the four or five veteran posters very educational and interesting. while i personally strive to be educational (and most see i am heavy into metaphor), i hope that my posts can also be fun. so, i vote that i be allowed to keep being mean just to see if i can consistently come up with new ways to be mean to new people. wont that be interesting?

finally: I have found myself hesitant to post questions or comments because the blasting that might occur for spelling a word incorrectly... i was gonna address some spelling in your OP but you came back and edited it less than an hour after first posting. that said, i find your total inability to capitalize using the standard rules in harbrace to be quite disconcerting. i am; frankly, shocked by the education system that produced you.

I've been around for a few years, but I'm not a big poster, I search the topic, find the answer and move on. There's only been a few answers I couldn't find on this site. There has been some bashing but as it turns out it was for my own good (see American-Amicable Life) I wish I would have found this site before I started "investing" with American-Amicable Life. Being a novice sometimes I use the negativity to help seperate the facts from the fiction.

finally: i was gonna address some spelling in your OP but you came back and edited it less than an hour after first posting. that said, i find your total inability to capitalize using the standard rules in harbrace to be quite disconcerting. i am; frankly, shocked by the education system that produced you.

The final comment was a nice way to end the post, a sense of humor is a great thing.

I understand and appreciate your comments. I would agree that being very frank and direct is probably the best way to handle serious issues. I guess the little jabs here and there is what set my OP in motion and I can thank my wife and daughter for making me a sensitive male!!! Shoot I guess that is the cool thing now-a-days thought.

haha...peace to all....group hug..

I guess the little jabs here and there is what set my OP in motion and I can thank my wife and daughter for making me a sensitive male!!!

this is a great seque, on my website (see below) not only do i work on financial issues, but i have a new area "The New You" where you can upload a picture of yourself and it will tell you what your best colours are for make up and to match with your shoes and purse. try it out and if you enter the code "wimpy" then you can get your first assessment for free!!!

If it's free I'm there!!!

1MO, I'm glad I get your humor or else I'd probably fire back a post that would go something like this.

i find your total inability to capitalize using the standard rules in harbrace to be quite disconcerting. i am; frankly, shocked by the education system that produced you.

except that self deprecating comment was exactly what was so funny about my post! so, i beat you to it. better luck next time.

haha...peace to all....group hug..wchua24, you have just entered the Thunderdome by replying to this thread.

You are among the slew of new posters (since May, I believe) who post very frequently, sometimes actually being part of the conversation (your post above) and most other occasions either not saying anything relevant to the post, or something similar to, "what he/she said," just to have the most current post in a thread. Better than the ingrained porn, but not as entertaining as Zautobusiness (my new, favorite poster of all time).

Either you guys are semi-intelligent IA spam software (not likely) or ESL/ESOL challenged.

That said, I will now take my leave.

Your Eternal Antagonist,

Dingo

FYI,

This is the previous thread that got me all riled up.

http://forums.kiplinger.com/showthread.php?p=41648#post41648

Suddenly, now I am getting a bunch of automated phonecalls about a second warning about my car's warranty about to expire and faxes about discounted health insurance now. They must all be in cahoots! :D

Usually I'm tentatively lurking in the shadows digesting it all - but, not wanting to get slaughtered, I usually hush my gums.

But it appears we have a slew of illiterate contributors here recently :confused:

no one gets slaughtered! the worst that might happen is a little cutting. join in if you have something to contribute.