Cruisers Forum Law

[Fluer de Mer]

Based on experience, I think I've uncovered a law of Cruisers Forum that I wonder if others think is a truism….

"As an online sailing discussion grows longer, the probability someone suggesting getting a lawyer increases exponentially."

[roverhi]

The only people who seriously say 'get a lawyer' have never been involved in a lawsuit whether plaintive or defendant, or are just plain crazy. Whether you win or lose, it just ain't fun except for the lawyers as they also come out ahead.

[four winds]

Yes, and a good chuckle.

Put another way,.... the longer a topic is discussed the more likely the discussion will degenerate into a back and forth between two of the many responders.

Then out comes the head banging icon (hate that thing) and it's downhill from there.

The value is usually in the first two pages, the rest is mild entertainment.

[Muckle Flugga]

Originally Posted by roverhi

The only people who seriously say 'get a lawyer' have never been involved in a lawsuit whether plaintive or defendant, or are just plain crazy. Whether you win or lose, it just ain't fun except for the lawyers as they also come out ahead.

Exactly.

[Muckle Flugga]

Originally Posted by four winds

Yes, and a good chuckle.

Put another way,.... the longer a topic is discussed the more likely the discussion will degenerate into a back and forth between two of the many responders.

Then out comes the head banging icon (hate that thing) and it's downhill from there.

The value is usually in the first two pages, the rest is mild entertainment.

Just for you: :b anghead:

[four winds]

As an example, a recent thread about anchoring sans engine is two pages now. Ending with the OP saying thank you.

A very good discussion that doesn't even mention a brand. Best left right there, or not.

[Muckle Flugga]

Originally Posted by four winds

Yes, and a good chuckle.

Put another way,.... the longer a topic is discussed the more likely the discussion will degenerate into a back and forth between two of the many responders.

Then out comes the head banging icon (hate that thing) and it's downhill from there.

The value is usually in the first two pages, the rest is mild entertainment.

Mores seriously though, I have found great value in discussions that have extended past scores of pages. Both adversarial and the "anchors setting" type.

[four winds]

Muckle,...... ouch!....ouch!ouch!......lol.

Oh, I did say usually two pages is good to go. There are very good long threads as well.

[Muckle Flugga]

Originally Posted by four winds

Muckle,...... ouch!....ouch!ouch!......lol.

Oh, I did say usually two pages is good to go. There are very good long threads as well.

:f lowers:

[jongleur]

Yes, it's sorta like Godwin's Law.

[deckofficer]

The LiFePO4 thread is an exception. Currently at 4,739 posts. It appears a lot of cruisers are tired of weak knee lead acid batteries and want to go with 21st century batteries.

[DavidLGCrawford]

Originally Posted by Fluer de Mer

Based on experience, I think I've uncovered a law of Cruisers Forum that I wonder if others think is a truism….

"As an online sailing discussion grows longer, the probability someone suggesting getting a lawyer increases exponentially."

I'm not sure it would classify as a "law".... maybe you should check that with your lawyer. :P

[Canibul]

I, too, have noticed that there is somewhat of a general but repeated pattern in the way replies come back to a specific question here. I think of it as a couple of direct shots followed by the rattle of loose debris.

I'm using a new test for technical or equipment/ operational questions. I heavily discount input from those who can't point to personal first hand experience with the material in question. There are a lot of opinions expressed just as though the poster actually knew what he was talking about. You can discard a lot of that if you realize it early on.

[dannc]

Originally Posted by roverhi

The only people who seriously say 'get a lawyer' have never been involved in a lawsuit whether plaintive or defendant, or are just plain crazy. Whether you win or lose, it just ain't fun except for the lawyers as they also come out ahead.

We "get a lawyer" frequently for advise about the law and the advise has nothing to do with lawsuits.

Much of the advise was free too even though we repeatedly asked to be billed.

If one is involved in a matter of law, one had better know the law or get advise from someone who does. That does not mean someone is going to be in a lawsuit.

I have not seen many discussions on CF following the OP's "Cruiser Forum Law.

Later,
Dan

[GordMay]

Some additional internet forum “Laws”:

Pommer’s Law:
“A person's mind can be changed by reading information on the internet. The nature of this change will be from having no opinion to having a wrong opinion.”

Scopie’s Law:
“In any discussion involving science or medicine, citing “Whale.to”* as a credible source loses the argument immediately, and gets you laughed out of the room.”

* Whale.to is a conspiracy theory site which includes such items as the complete text of the anti-Semitic hoax Protocols of the Elders of Zion, as well as claims that Aids is caused by vaccination programmes, and that Auschwitz never happened.

Sayre’s Law:
“The intensity of an online argument is inversely proportional to the value of the stakes at issue.”

Benford’s Law of Controversy:
“The passion in an online argument is inversely proportional to the amount of real information available.”

Russo’s Theorem:
“As anonymity increases, likelihood of incivility increases.”