[Inter Alia]

I’ve been lurking on this board for over a year now. Thanks to everyone for teaching me a lot. After I graduate this year (from law school), I hope to buy my first car – a BMW 3 series coupe. As the time gets closer, I’m sure I’ll be asking questions. Thank you in advance for the sound advice.



One thing that has bothered me is the way board members attack others for not searching before asking questions. There are several reasons NOT to search before asking a question.

First, the last time the question was answered may have been a long time ago. Thus, new information may be available, such that the answer to the question is now different. For example, a new study has been done and it says that Brand X of oil is best for BMWs. If this study had not been done the last time someone asked, “What oil is best for my BMW?” then current inquirers wouldn’t have this new information if they only relied on old threads. Similarly, there are constantly new members with new opinions joining the board. Why should I limit myself to old posts that have fewer board members participating? It makes sense to ask the same question to new people. When US presidential elections occur, we ask each candidate what he or she thinks about immigration and health care, although these topics have been thoroughly discussed before. Why should it be otherwise on this board?

Second, searching is inefficient. There may be 20 different posts about the question I have. I’m a law student, and I don’t have the time to sift through 20 different posts. This is particularly true because many members post unrelated material in the threads, making it even harder to find the information I’m looking for. Why should I go through all of this extra reading when I can just re-ask the question, which then gives me new answers and/or allows a knowledgeable member to link me to the best of the prior 20 threads addressing my question?

Third, re-asking a question does not impose a high cost on anyone. I know some of you get annoyed, but objectively, some of your reactions are overboard. If the topic header says, “How Often Should I Change My Oil?” then don’t open it. You know the topic has been beaten to death (see, e.g., the icon of the horse being beaten), so why waste your time opening it, reading it, and then sarcastically responding to it? You could have just skipped over it after reading the title and continued to browse topics that interest you. You made the choice to waste your own time by engaging the poster.

Fourth, new members may not know they can search through old topics. As is the case in criminal law, you can’t punish someone for something they’re not on notice of.

I dislike the idea of having my first post be “controversial.” But I also dislike the idea of my first post merely introducing myself. You’ve all offered me some information, so I’ll try to do the same in the form of a thought out opinion.

Thanks for reading.

[!Xoible]

^^ wow.... u like to type

[Inter Alia]

Ha! Law school -- it does bad things to you.

[akack79]

I fear where this thread is going to go but nonetheless, welcome to the forums!!!

[dth656]

wow, a cogent, well-reasoned argument. it might be lost upon most, however...

[Inter Alia]

Gracias. It appears there are many nice and knowledgeable people on here, so it's my pleasure.

[Inter Alia]

Thanks for the heads up. Perhaps many others before me have made the same (futile) argument. Of course, I wouldn't know, because it would require me to search first. Ha!

[Ryan@Motorwerks]

wow an original thread.....nice work!

[Alpine]

Points well noted. I agree with you and always try to answer questions anyone may have, regardless of how often the topic is discussed.

Unfortunately, not everyone sees it this way.
Nice first post- Welcome to the forum!

[Inter Alia]

The icons on this board are awesome. They really bring the text to life.

[Year's_End]

I sense an angered Canucklion on the approach.

Regardless, I agree with you to an extent. There are times where a simple search can fulfill the job, but there are other times where making a new topic is completely fine. It is tiresome to see the thousandth "which color" or "coupe/sedan" topic. Still...

[Inter Alia]

Good looking out, Alpine.

[Inter Alia]

BL, to be fair, I'm a newbie here. Well, sort of. I've been lurking for over a year. Personally, I haven't been bothered by seeing repeat questions. As I said in point three, the reader can just skip over these threads. But maybe my opinion will change once I actually start posting on the board. I doubt it, but I'm willing to concede the possibility.

As for being Canadian, no. Born in AZ and going to school in CA.

[kpcoupe]

......jk. You took the words right off my keyboard.

[Inter Alia]

BL, I just got your reference (I think). You weren't asking me if I am Canadian. You were referring to the poster who has the icon with a cat in a beanie (or something like that). Yes, he (or she?) does get more angry than most people about this issue.

I'm open to a lively debate.

[asdflkijd]

pwn'ed, rofl. welcome to the forum

[Inter Alia]

What does "pwn'ed" mean?

[akack79]

owned= got handed to

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by Inter Alia

BL, I just got your reference (I think). You weren't asking me if I am Canadian. You were referring to the poster who has the icon with a cat in a beanie (or something like that). Yes, he (or she?) does get more angry than most people about this issue.

I'm open to a lively debate.

Haha, sorry I forgot to elaborate on that...but yeah, that's the guy I'm referring to.

[Jurisprudent]

Originally Posted by Inter Alia

I’m a law student, and I don’t have the time to sift through 20 different posts.

I'm a lawyer, I don't have time to read the same question asked 20 times.

As is the case in criminal law, you can’t punish someone for something they’re not on notice of.

Not quite true... read up a bit more on strict liability crimes, such as statutory rape and crimes involving minors.


Welcome to the forum though. I'm only kidding with you... except for the notice thing... but that's off topic.

[Inter Alia]

I definitely know what owned means. I just didn't know it could be spelled that way. Thanks for dropping knowledge.

I'm about to own some guys on the court tonight (IM basketball game).

[TofuTurkey]

Originally Posted by Inter Alia

There are several reasons NOT to search before asking a question.

Okay I can't resist this Sorry...

Everything you said is true. And in the perfect world, what you said should happen, will. But I'm not perfect: if it's early morning and I've not yet had my cup of coffee, I do and say stupid things. Similarly, someone who has just crashed his / her car, had a dent, had a bad day at work etc., they will respond with their first thoughts after they finish (or more likely half finish) reading the post. And their thoughts aren't likely to be pleasant. But they are humans, who err, who have unique experiences / cultures / personalities. There's not a snowball's chance in hell every one will behave the way I want them to.

When I read posts where people get flamed / knocked down, I think, "Wow, some folks have had a bad day." I try to see things from their point of view, try to imagine why they would respond the way they did. Many times I don't understand why , but I try to respect their responses nonetheless. Since there are so many people in this forum, chances are that there'll always be some small percentage of people who had a bad day.

I don't think human interactions are like gears that fit perfectly, there's always going to be tension and the need to tolerate and to understand, and sometimes to back off even when we know (or we think) we're the right. As the "aggressor", I should always try to control myself and tone things down. As the "victim", I should try to understand that there's always going to be that guaranteed small percentage of potential aggressors. I guess the most difficult thing to do is to see things from the point of view of the aggressors...

Conclusion: I'm sorry but it probably won't turn out the way you hope it would