One time posters who are never seen again ?

[BillK]

Seems like lately there are more and more people who sign up,ask a question and then disappear ? A bunch of others will waste their time answering but the original poster is never heard from again and never checks in again.

Maybe there should be a way to weed them out ? Possibly a 1 hr wait before they can post anything ? Its just frustrating. And it seems to be happening more and more on other forums also.

I sometimes really wonder if it isn't some type of AI bot making posts ?

Any thoughts ?

 

[ArmyVW_GuyInTX]

Seems like lately there are more and more people who sign up,ask a question and then disappear ? A bunch of others will waste their time answering but the original poster is never heard from again and never checks in again.

Maybe there should be a way to weed them out ? Possibly a 1 hr wait before they can post anything ? Its just frustrating. And it seems to be happening more and more on other forums also.

I sometimes really wonder if it isn't some type of AI bot making posts ?

Any thoughts ?

It will be interesting to see the "solution".
I left an automotive enthusiast group due their rules on posting in the classifieds. I don't live and breathe on the World Wide Web for a daily gig so restrictions on post count, delays. membership dues etc, may or may not have a role in the "one time poster".
The very large (30k sq ft) non profit workshop were I am member and volunteer has a somewhat similar issue with people that join for one month $60 or $40 and use the facility for their project and leave. Often leaving a mess in their wake. Some use the lift in automotive for major vehicle work, others it is the woodworking shop and its giant cnc router, or the four laser cutters. The larger machine shop has one time users as well. No AI - all humans ruining other human's lab, garage, workshop time and resources.
I am curious to see what folks here offer for this kind of problem.

 

[strutaeng]

Yes! I completely agree. And we've had similar discussions before about this.

Especially those threads we start arguing about and 3 months later, the OP is MIA. I feel like they are either bots or chinese. I'm sure some are legit, but they can't be all legit.

I say let new users post at least 25 replies before they can start a new thread. Like if you agree.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Sometimes what it is I think is someone signs up with a question, asks the question sometimes on multiple forums and forgets at least half of them maybe the tab gets closed on their phone or something and then they just disappear. On my other forum they usually run new members off because the posters have an attitude and tell them to search instead of asking something stupid so many never return to that forum lol. I don’t mind helping someone but it’s kind of a waste if they don’t check back in. Now if they check back in that’s a different story. Sometimes I wonder if someone’s plans change then they just don’t update and don’t come back.

 

[zmotorsports]

Yes, it is frustrating, but I haven't seen it happen too awfully much here compared to a couple of RV forums that I am a part of where this behavior is running rampant. People buy an RV that they did absolutely no research on then join the forum to ask a question that they state "need immediate response or help with" asking for information that they should have found out prior to their purchase and really only want people to validate their stupidity. Very thoughtful forum members waste their time trying to help only never to hear from the OP again. Many times follow-up questions are asked in order to help the OP drill down to the issue and they can't even come back and answer those to help themselves.

Frustrating enough that I have withdrawn from a couple of RV sites and completely left one site because they almost encouraged it.

 

[PCustoms]

The very large (30k sq ft) non profit workshop were I am member and volunteer has a somewhat similar issue with people that join for one month $60 or $40 and use the facility for their project and leave. Often leaving a mess in their wake. Some use the lift in automotive for major vehicle work, others it is the woodworking shop and its giant cnc router, or the four laser cutters. The larger machine shop has one time users as well. No AI - all humans ruining other human's lab, garage, workshop time and resources.
I am curious to see what folks here offer for this kind of problem.

That's simple, don't allow the initial membership period to be monthly, start out at 6 months. If they come in and make a mess for 3 weeks at least the group gets paid. Or require deposits.

$60 to use a CNC for a month, on as as needed basis? Sign me up!

 

[BillK]

Yes! I completely agree. And we've had similar discussions before about this.

Especially those threads we start arguing about and 3 months later, the OP is MIA. I feel like they are either bots or chinese. I'm sure some are legit, but they can't be all legit.

I say let new users post at least 25 replies before they can start a new thread. Like if you agree.

I think just one or two would weed out the real ones.

 

[ArmyVW_GuyInTX]

I say let new users post at least 25 replies before they can start a new thread. Like if you agree.

I think 25 is a bit much, half that yes or be a paid member (but if a paid member than no minimum post requirement and no refund).

 

[larry_g]

Me personally I don't typically engage with low count posters or those asking for opinion answers. If a low count poster asks a pointed technical question then I will help them out if I know the answer.

So instead of asking the forum to change the rules...Take personal charge of things that annoy you and do your own weeding.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[The Cobbler]

Keyboard warriors will be keyboard warriors no matter what, in my opinion.

make them reply x times before they can start their own thread? sure, so now they clutter up good threads with drivel so they can post their question .
some questionable posts go into a que to be approved before they are visible to regular users
I actually think Ryan has done a good job on here limiting spam & BS posts. it's not 100 % but it's pretty darn good.
just my $0.02

 

[T45]

The downside to min post limits is you risk get a bunch of low quality posts. Like "cool!" or "nice job!!" etc spammed all over the place. That being said, I think 24 hours and a couple posts isn't to inconvenient.

Its really something for the mods to keep an eye on and stay on top of, either way you choose to go.

 

[Wrench97]

Sometimes it spammers looking to up their post count so when they drop the payload " Hey I bought this great new product and it's really great" they look more believable if they have more then a couple posts.

 

[ArmyVW_GuyInTX]

$60 to use a CNC for a month, on as as needed basis? Sign me up!

As a "non profit" they don't allow commercial use of the equipment - but yes, CNC tools, Haas mill, recent cnc lathe(not my area-not sure of the name) 48"x96" plasma table, very large cnc wood router 60"x120" plus for the real machinists there are the non cnc machine shop tools.

 

[dchawk81]

Seems like lately there are more and more people who sign up,ask a question and then disappear ? A bunch of others will waste their time answering but the original poster is never heard from again and never checks in again.

Maybe there should be a way to weed them out ? Possibly a 1 hr wait before they can post anything ? Its just frustrating. And it seems to be happening more and more on other forums also.

I sometimes really wonder if it isn't some type of AI bot making posts ?

Any thoughts ?

I disagree. Since every thread devolves into bitching about self checkout and Lowes not having assistance except when it isn't wanted, there's no point discouraging new threads.

 

[BigGarage]

Seems like lately there are more and more people who sign up,ask a question and then disappear ? A bunch of others will waste their time answering but the original poster is never heard from again and never checks in again.

Maybe there should be a way to weed them out ? Possibly a 1 hr wait before they can post anything ? Its just frustrating. And it seems to be happening more and more on other forums also.

I sometimes really wonder if it isn't some type of AI bot making posts ?

Any thoughts ?

Thoughts? I have thoughts. A bunch of imbeciles are just dying to help out a new poster with a stupid question. You know the type, they register on a garage forum to find out about wiring a solenoid on an antique Ford car instead of going to a Ford antique car forum.

If someone posted here as their 1st post and wanted to find out how to build an atomic bomb you can bet your *** that people here will try to guide him/her/it.

Dennis

 

[shoot summ]

Yes, it is frustrating, but I haven't seen it happen too awfully much here compared to a couple of RV forums that I am a part of where this behavior is running rampant. People buy an RV that they did absolutely no research on then join the forum to ask a question that they state "need immediate response or help with" asking for information that they should have found out prior to their purchase and really only want people to validate their stupidity. Very thoughtful forum members waste their time trying to help only never to hear from the OP again. Many times follow-up questions are asked in order to help the OP drill down to the issue and they can't even come back and answer those to help themselves.

Frustrating enough that I have withdrawn from a couple of RV sites and completely left one site because they almost encouraged it.

Same thing happens on a popular woodworking forum and groups.

"Why did my farm table crack?" "How do I fix it?"

"What happened when I sanded this table?" "How do I fix it"

"What kind of wood is this?"

"Urgent, need unobtanium part for unknown branded tool that I just bought"

"Urgent, need value of tools I just bought and want to resell"

Then post after post repeating info that has been posted before is shared, and the OP is a once and done.

I don't think you can fix it, just learn how to not invest in the posts, just keep scrollin'....

 

[ctandc72]

24/7 access to information. People google search an issue. They don't immediately find an answer (as in page 1 of results to a likely very generic search term) but GJ or another forum pops up with somewhat related threads so they join and ask the question, likely going onto join and ask on other forums (like someone mentioned already) they likely get their answer or find it out themselves and forget all about their inquiries.

People are people. I see it on Facebook car groups all the time. That's why I ditched 'em unless I'm searching for something specific or for parts.

I literally posted to help a guy with a newer S550 Mustang with a bad Sync touch screen (out of warranty). I literally posted the Ford Part# and price and where to order it from (Ford dealer online) and how to replace.

Some idiot goes on a rant about "Don't buy that part online, it's only cheaper than your dealer because it's not a REAL Ford part, it's a Chinese knock off."

As that great philosopher George Carlin once said:

“Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.”​