Etiquette: Should I post anyway?

[BXMurphy]

I strikes me that I can find an answer to whatever I want just by searching around here a little. There is so much here already that posting a question would mark me as being lazy. Here's what I mean...

I want to know how to smoke chicken breast like a pro. I know the answer is already here in thousands of threads. I also know that I could simply pose the question. I also know that asking the question would elicit a couple dozen replies and that the folks who reply would enjoy the short conversation and some others would enjoy reading along.

Should I post for the sake of a great conversation or search for the answer and remain silent? Either way results in great chicken.

A poll is posted above for your convenience and voting pleasure.

Murph

 

[TNJAKE]

Search function here doesn't work to well. Just ask and people will be more than willing to help.

 

[SmokinAl]

I have to say, “Ask away, we love it”.
No one will ever give you a hard time for asking a question.
And no one on here will tell you to “Search first dummy”, or they won’t be on here long!!
We all came here to get better at our craft & we all were helped by the guys & gals on here. So we continue to pay it forward!
Al

 

[SmokyMose]

I like it when a conversation starts from a post.

 

[BXMurphy]

And no one on here will tell you to “Search first dummy”, or they won’t be on here long!!

That's what I love about this community. Thanks, Al!

Murph

 

[JLeonard]

Agree with TNJAKE . I've tried the search, can be a little hard sometimes. Ask away.
Sometimes I learn a little from the answer to someone elses quesion.
Jim

 

[SecondHandSmoker]

While it is your constitutional right to remain silent and if you have the time to read through perhaps thousands of posts, I think it is better to ask away for the reasons you mentioned.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking a question followed by good a discussion. Afterall, we here to learn and share knowledge. There is no such thing as a stupid question, only stupid answers

 

[BXMurphy]

What about the issue of too much clutter? How many smoked chicken breast threads are too many? Could that ever be a problem?

Me?... I like conversation and wonder about reviving old threads as being good form - or not getting replies to them.

Any thoughts on clutter and old threads?

Murph

 

[BXMurphy]

That's what I love about this community. Thanks, Al!

Murph

Maybe I should have left the word, "dummy," out of that option. Sorry about that. I know no harm is meant if someone chooses that option. That was a misguided attempt at humor.

Murph

 

[TNJAKE]

Maybe I should have left the word, "dummy," out of that option. Sorry about that. I know no harm is meant if someone chooses that option. That was a misguided attempt at humor.

Murph

I thought it was funny.......even more funny 2 folks chose that option lol

 

[Nefarious]

I find it extremely difficult to search, the answer is in many different posts and it is impossible to keep track of the different posts that I want to use. If I ask the question, all of the separate posts are usually brought together in a single post that I can easily book mark for future reference.

Add to that, it becomes a conversation and one gets the opportunity to virtually meet some new peole.

 

[BXMurphy]

I thought it was funny.......even more funny 2 folks chose that option lol

Thanks, TNJAKE. Some folks are free-wheeling. Still others don't like shuffling through fifty-million results to find the one piece of information they were looking for because folks like me post questions that have already been answered.

Murph

 

[Nefarious]

Thanks, TNJAKE. Some folks are free-wheeling. Still others don't like shuffling through fifty-million results to find the one piece of information they were looking for because folks like me post questions that have already been answered.

Murph

Most questions seem to be answered, but the techniques the guru's use changes over time so a new answer may have more information. Thats the problem with searching, potentially old information.

 

[BXMurphy]

I find it extremely difficult to search, the answer is in many different posts and it is impossible to keep track of the different posts that I want to use.

It's a real source of frustration for many folks and I think it's because the same questions are asked over and over again. On the other hand, a forum is meant for conversations and is great reading on subjects that you care about during idle time. Sure beats Twitter.

Murph

 

[motocrash]

Any thoughts on clutter and old threads?

I often refer people to older threads that answer their questions. When I can remember them and find them in Search.

 

[BXMurphy]

Most questions seem to be answered, but the techniques the guru's use changes over time so a new answer may have more information. Thats the problem with searching, potentially old information.

+1

 

[mcokevin]

It's interesting - I had this exact same thought yesterday when I posted a question about thighs. I guess you're more polite than me because I just decided to post it!

It got me to thinking that some kind of wiki / shared knowledge base might be helpful - somewhere to collate the mass amounts of information that have accumulated here on the site.

 

[BXMurphy]

I often refer people to older threads that answer their questions. When I can remember them and find them in Search.

I think that's the BEST approach. I very much appreciate answers like that. After all, isn't that what hyperlinks are for?

Murph

 

[Nefarious]

It's interesting - I had this exact same thought yesterday when I posted a question about thighs. I guess you're more polite than me because I just decided to post it!

It got me to thinking that some kind of wiki / shared knowledge base might be helpful - somewhere to collate the mass amounts of information that have accumulated here on the site.

I suggested to an admin that is posts used the tags in a structured way, we could use the tags to sort with. This mechanism is used on a technical site, stack overflow, and is very useful. The issue here is probably managing the tags, some people use them and others don't so it would be a big burden for the administrators.

 

[noboundaries]

I guess it really depends on the individual who has a question. There are those who want one answer, like a recipe. There are those who like multiple choices that all achieve similar results. And folks like me who enjoy the research process to arrive at their own style or technique.

I use the search feature, see what folks do, and use my instincts and knowledge to create my dish. I rarely find a recipe in a book or online that I follow exactly (keep reading). It always amazes my wife that I can watch one or more YouTube videos on a subject, not write a thing down, and often master the result on my first attempt. She needs to exactly follow a recipe.

I exactly followed a recipe last week to make whole wheat crackers for the first time. They were friggin' inedible and went in the trash. The next day I watched a Chef John YouTube video for Spanakorizo (Greek rice with spinach, dill, and mint topped with fresh lemon juice) and didn't write a word or look up his recipe. Made it that night and my wife has been raving about it ever since.

Self-teaching = search feature. Post questions if you can't figure out what went wrong. Someone will know the problem.

Ray