Addressing a Person in a Thread Title

[mmnich]

Do you have any reaction when you see a new thread with a title like "Hey. <name of resident expert>, can you tell me what's wrong with my ..."?

I usually don't open that thread because to me it's saying one of two things:

1) "I don't really want the rest of you to weigh in - I only care what <resident expert> has to say" or

2) "I feel it's important that the rest of you see this conversation, but not to contribute".

A fundamental attribute of forums is group discussion. This type of thread implies the poster is only after one-on-one discussion.

I suppose some of you (the guilty ones!) might say, "I was only trying to get <expert>'s attention", but I'm not buying it - especially in a forum where the owner and moderator is the resident expert. It's self-centered and rude.

If it's 1) then please consider a pm and if it's 2) then, well, please try and get over yourself!

Or where am I going wrong?

 

[NanaReefer]

Wrong.

 

[djreef]

That's what the PM/IM is for. You can then post your dialog to the site for further discussion you can then choose to ignore if you feel the need to.

DJ

 

[twilliard]

I would call it over reaction depending how said title is worded :)

 

[evolved]

Or maybe it's a way to let everyone read the expert's response and thoughts.

Honestly, I think you're reading too far into this. :)

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I agree with @evolved. I think the idea is that regardless of whoever else chimes in, the OP wants to hear from said expert. Placing it in the forum (instead of pm) gives the other members here access to the info and even the ability to weigh in if they want.

Besides, this kind of post is common when there is a well-known expert who manages a particular forum. There's no reason to feel like it's a slight to anyone else.

 

[booth2010]

I have done that before and I welcomed everyones responces and read what they had to say, I just wanted to make sure the expert responded as well. Most of the time what the expert says expands on what other have or has an explanation as to why the answer is what it is. There have been times I PMed the expert only to wish I had posted in public forums so that others could have benefited form the question even though it was geared towards the expert.

 

[booth2010]

You can then post your dialog to the site for further discussion you can then choose to ignore if you feel the need to.

I dont think you are allowed to post private conversations on the open forums, which is why they are PRIVATE conversations. Even with permission I believe the are taken down.

 

[Tahoe61]

Honestly sometimes I do not feel motivated to read 5 pages of speculation. If I am seeking information I would rather get it from a hobbyist that has first hand experience and more than a couple turns at the rodeo.

In response, if I see a thread directed at a specific individual or group and I feel my experience is relevant or similar I usually do not hesitate to post on the topic regardless.

 

[4FordFamily]

Wrong.

I would call it over reaction depending how said title is worded :)

Or maybe it's a way to let everyone read the expert's response and thoughts.

Honestly, I think you're reading too far into this. :)

I agree with @evolved. I think the idea is that regardless of whoever else chimes in, the OP wants to hear from said expert. Placing it in the forum (instead of pm) gives the other members here access to the info and even the ability to weigh in if they want.

Besides, this kind of post is common when there is a well-known expert who manages a particular forum. There's no reason to feel like it's a slight to anyone else.

I have done that before and I welcomed everyones responces and read what they had to say, I just wanted to make sure the expert responded as well. Most of the time what the expert says expands on what other have or has an explanation as to why the answer is what it is. There have been times I PMed the expert only to wish I had posted in public forums so that others could have benefited form the question even though it was geared towards the expert.

Honestly sometimes I do not feel motivated to read 5 pages of speculation. If I am seeking information I would rather get it from a hobbyist that has first hand experience and more than a couple turns at the rodeo.

In response, if I see a thread directed at a specific individual or group and I feel my experience is relevant or similar I usually do not hesitate to post on the topic regardless.

These. X7 or 8 whatever we are at.

You're over thinking it. Relax a little :)

 

[ReefMadScientist]

But I thought everyone on this forum was an expert... :D:cool:

 

[mmnich]

Good answers (mostly)! :) Thanks. Guess I need to let it go...

 

[ReefMadScientist]

Good answers (mostly)! :) Thanks. Guess I need to let it go...

Welp here comes the frozen song...

 

[maroun.c]

Would rather tag the expert in the post this way he would be immediately notified rather than waiting for him to stumble on is name in a thread title.

 

[bobstir]

For me -- I'm one of the guilty ones -- it's absolutely because I value the experts opinion more than the average hobbyist (particularly @Randy Holmes-Farley). That guy is fantastic.

I did not make it a PM as I believe the answers to the questions I've posed could be beneficial / useful to the rest of the community.

Generally speaking, if someone has their own forum category, it's usually a good indicator that they know what they are talking about (not to mention all his advanced aquarist posts).

 

[twilliard]

For me -- I'm one of the guilty ones -- it's absolutely because I value the experts opinion more than the average hobbyist (particularly @Randy Holmes-Farley). That guy is fantastic.

I did not make it a PM as I believe the answers to the questions I've posed could be beneficial / useful to the rest of the community.

Generally speaking, if someone has their own forum category, it's usually a good indicator that they know what they are talking about (not to mention all his advanced aquarist posts).

I bow to this :-)
thank god this is the lounge!

 

[143MPCo]

Welp here comes the frozen song...

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!:D

 

[Oceansize]

Overthinking.

How many times have you used a search engine looking for the answer to a question, and found the answer because a discussion has already taken place and your question has already been answered? Probably a lot. The point is, most of these online "discussions" continue to have value to other people long after the original discussion has taken place, regardless of who the original parties to the discussion were. Wouldn't it be sad if all of those discussions happened privately.

I feel no shame whatsoever in posting a water chemistry related question directly to Mr. Holmes-Farley, mostly because I assume if others are having a similar issue they will be happy I asked the question publicly, and WON'T take it to mean they're being excluded from the conversation. He is an incredible asset to have, and it would be stupid to be coy about getting his opinion, and it would be a waste of HIS time if we all asked our questions privately.

 

[twilliard]

Overthinking.

How many times have you used a search engine looking for the answer to a question, and found the answer because a discussion has already taken place and your question has already been answered? Probably a lot. The point is, most of these online "discussions" continue to have value to other people long after the original discussion has taken place, regardless of who the original parties to the discussion were. Wouldn't it be sad if all of those discussions happened privately.

I feel no shame whatsoever in posting a water chemistry related question directly to Mr. Holmes-Farley, mostly because I assume if others are having a similar issue they will be happy I asked the question publicly, and WON'T take it to mean they're being excluded from the conversation. He is an incredible asset to have, and it would be stupid to be coy about getting his opinion, and it would be a waste of HIS time if we all asked our questions privately.

Again hands down to Randy!

 

[4FordFamily]

The best part of waking up is folgers in your cup.