Am I using Fluther as a lame tool for polling, rather than a way to tap the substantive knowledge of others?

Were you being deliberately unclear on your point of view? I get tired of the poll questions (what is your favorite color, etc.), but we humans are endlessly fascinated with themselves.

GQ

I’m not sure how “lame” and “substantive” are unclear.

Yes indeed: fascinating…!

Mmm do you mean like this Q? ;)

Yes, PnL, something like that. Though to be honest, at least “counting sheep” is a prevalent and bizarre cultural trope. A few answers into that post, you get the relevant Wikipedia link. My feeling is that anyone stupid enough not to check Wikipedia for info on something that it might answer, rather than making us do it, should not be permitted to speak at all, let alone post on such a beautiful and refined site as this one. But again, at least “counting sheep” could have an interesting origin-story that someone might be more qualified than Wikipedia to relate. What about questions like “What’s your favorite color?” or “What did you think when X happened?” Ask me how to put together a fucking table or something useful!

(OK, I’m not very good at putting together tables. But if I needed help with that…could I come here anymore?)

I may be playing into something here but I am missing the point of the question. I don’t get what your asking. If there is sarcasm I am missing it.

I guess everybody has different needs for “tapping the collective.”

I think it is great to have a bunch of opinions from a variety of sources. It helps to spur an independent investigation of the truth because you are shown many points of view.

Of course, that is if you are looking for subjective knowledge, if you want objective knowledge, then I would go to the library. But I might first get some opinions on the texts I should be looking into when i get to the library.

If you need help with a table, I’m sure that someone here would help, assuming you posted a proper question. Just click the computer link in the topic cloud and see how many people have been helped with technical questions.

Ummm im confused.

“A few answers into that post, you get the relevant Wikipedia link. My feeling is that anyone stupid enough not to check Wikipedia for info on something that it might answer, rather than making us do it, should not be permitted to speak at all, let alone post on such a beautiful and refined site as this one”

You were talking about your own question….the one you posted…...your stupid enough not to check?<scratches head> i am so lost. does this mean you shouldnt speak anymore?

wtf is the point of this question? your guilty of what your bitching about

Sheesh, I gave you a good question, and you are all snarky about my response when I did answer your question. Very nice!

Also, it seems several other people did not find your question very clear either, so I think you ought to take it under advisement.

AH, I just understood the question.

According to the guidelines:
“Fluther is a collective of people sharing answers, insights, and advice.”

Couldn’t you just avoid the questions you don’t wish to answer?

“My feeling is that anyone stupid enough not to check Wikipedia for info on something that it might answer, rather than making us do it, should not be permitted to speak at all, let alone post on such a beautiful and refined site as this one.”

That is kind of harsh. Some times people want to be able to have the back and forth afforded them by fluther. Also, not every topic you find easy that they should look up on wikipedia is that easy for others, even if they could find it on wikipedia.

I found your question about upgrading to Leopard simplistic and duplicative in that it was easy enough to figure out and there were enough other similar questions to figure it out yourself. But, I would have answered it to help you. AND 8 other people were kind enough to do just that.

I don’t have any substantive knowledge to provide….so please keep throwing the soft questions out there so I can feel adequate :-)

I’m afraid so. Yes.

I still don’t get why you don’t read Fluther much anymore. I learn a lot here just by reading the answers.

I’m guessing that someone told you that you were “using Fluther as a lame tool for polling, rather than a way to tap the substantive knowledge of others”, took it personally and decided not to ‘read’ Fluther much anymore. Well that’s what I got from the question, anyhow. And I’m also guessing that you’re not answering on this question anymore because you’re embarrassed that you were bagging out you’re own sheep question… or wait maybe you were being sarcastic again…? scrolls back up ok yeah sarcasm noted. I think you’re exaggerating a bit by claiming that we think pollers shouldn’t be permitted to speak… it’s just that there are so many of them that I guess they just get repetitive. But that’s ok, just don’t answer what you don’t like, as others have said above. This was just a little whine, wasn’t it? That’s definitely not what Fluther is for.

Yes, a whine. Rule noted. Thank you for listening!

AH, I just understood the question.
According to the guidelines:
“Fluther is a collective of people sharing answers, insights, and advice.”
Couldn’t you just avoid the questions you don’t wish to answer?
“My feeling is that anyone stupid enough not to check Wikipedia for info on something that it might answer, rather than making us do it, should not be permitted to speak at all, let alone post on such a beautiful and refined site as this one.”
That is kind of harsh. Some times people want to be able to have the back and forth afforded them by fluther. Also, not every topic you find easy that they should look up on wikipedia is that easy for others, even if they could find it on wikipedia.
I found your question about upgrading to Leopard simplistic and duplicative in that it was easy enough to figure out and there were enough other similar questions to figure it out yourself. But, I would have answered it to help you. AND 8 other people were kind enough to do just that.

@soethe6: yeah, I kinda wish Fluther was more about “substantive” answers than the conversational tone it’s lately taken, but I do still enjoy it as a conversation site. And the conversation here is far better than most other places on the net – just take a look at a few YouTube comments for comparison to see what I mean. :)

And fortunately, when I really do need a substantive answer from an expert, Google still exists. ;-)