Why Do Inexperienced People, with No Knowledge, Offer Advice ?

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by cheoah

Agreed. One bears the burden of insuring the advice they receive is good and using commonsense otherwise. On this forum, the answers can be seen my others and gets vetted. Pretty good system.

Chase

This place is terrific! And you're right -- misstatements are corrected, usually quite courteously. I have been given lots of bad advice in person, and since it's in person and we're all friends or friendly, most people don't jump in.

[sarafina]

The good news is, if you yourself are bright enough, you can carefully phrase your original question, evaluate your initial responses, refine your question by providing the additional information which you thought was irrelevant but now, as a result of the ensuing conversion, know was crucial to the resolution of your problem, and eventually winnow it down to the likely options for successful resolution of your issue.

And the cool think is this works speaking to professionals, experienced amateurs, idiots and rabble rousers, in person or on a forum or over the phone.

When I did my undergrad work we called this research.

Amazing stuff.

Just watch out for the hammers, and try to not look like a nail!

[atoll]

Originally Posted by GordMay

It’s funny how these myths get perpetuated through repetition; but then, why should facts get in the way of our prejudices and misconceptions?
➥ snopes.com: Congress Wrongdoings

plagarism? or journalism at its lowerlimits

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by Seaduction

A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE CAN BE A DANGEROUS THING!

My Mother always told me "I was too smart for my own good!"

[SkiprJohn]

I've been given lots of bad advice and lots of good advice from folks who really should know what they are talking about. I don't believe the bad advice was given maliciously but just a case of not knowing all the facts.

For example: "spray a combination of diesel fuel and fuel oil in the intake of your diesel engine to get it running after a rebuild."

Well, that might have worked if the fuel pump had been timed properly. In my case it caused the engine to misfire and burned the prechambers in the head. And, yes, I should have known better too.

kind regards,

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by atoll

Can you imagine working for a company that only has a little more than 635 employees, but, has the following employee statistics..
29 have been accused of spouse abuse
7 have been arrested for fraud
9 have been accused of writing bad cheques
17 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses
3 have done time for assault
71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
14 have been arrested on drug-related charges
8 have been arrested for shoplifting
21 are currently defendants in lawsuits
84 have been arrested for drink driving in the last year

Sounds like one helluva Xmas Party

[smackdaddy]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

It's only called "advice" when it involves me sending a bill (and no guarantees that even then it will be good)

Otherwise it is just talking things through / collecting ideas and experiances of others (and 90%+ of the time providing less information than would be needed for actual advice )...........before making your own decisions (often about making the best of less than ideal )..........real life and internet much the same.........

Of course some want (need?) to be spoonfed and complain when life is not like that after the age of 2 ..........real life and internet much the same.........

+1.

I often see the complaint about this mythical "bad advice" on certain forums (and I can't for the life of me figure out why - heh-heh). What does that really mean? And who makes that judgment?

The bottom line is that, IMUSO, forums are for talking about stuff in many different ways...from many different perspectives...not just seeking or dispensing "the golden advice". Most people are pretty smart and can separate the wheat from the chaff themselves.

DOJ nailed it, I'll pay for the real, valuable "advice" - in real life. On a sailing forum, I'll probably question it...just for kicks. Even though I don't know squat. It's a time-honored learning technique - perfected in the '60s.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by smackdaddy

+1.

I often see the complaint about this mythical "bad advice" on certain forums (and I can't for the life of me figure out why - heh-heh). What does that really mean? And who makes that judgment? ...

That would be I.

[smackdaddy]

Originally Posted by GordMay

That would be I.

But in what respect? Seriously.

How do you determine what's bad advice and what's not?

[sarafina]

I determine if it good or bad after I use it... easy to tell THEN!

[smackdaddy]

Originally Posted by sarafina

I determine if it good or bad after I use it... easy to tell THEN!

Heh-heh. The key is to only use the good stuff. Saves a lot of sanding.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by smackdaddy

But in what respect? Seriously.
How do you determine what's bad advice and what's not?

Fact check.

[s/v 'Faith']

I submit (and subscribe to) the notion that the Captain is responsible for his ship.

People seek information, and some is fit.. more of it is not.

When he takes advice then he, and he alone, is responsible for the outcome.

I am thankful for this place, and others like it. I do my best to help, and know
when to keep my mouth shut... many good things come from these discussions
along with the bad.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by SkiprJohn

I've been given lots of bad advice and lots of good advice from folks who really should know what they are talking about. I don't believe the bad advice was given maliciously but just a case of not knowing all the facts.

For example: "spray a combination of diesel fuel and fuel oil in the intake of your diesel engine to get it running after a rebuild."

Well, that might have worked if the fuel pump had been timed properly. In my case it caused the engine to misfire and burned the prechambers in the head. And, yes, I should have known better too.

kind regards,

Oh there's no doubt. People will give you the worst possible advice with the best of intentions and great surface credibility.

[hummingway]

Fortunately we have managed to evolve an organ for telling the difference between ***** and shinola, however flawed it may be.