I remember the first time I posted on a forum. It's a lot like the first day of school. It's scary, especially when you have all these people who seem to be experts at what they're posting about. You don't know whether they're going to call you names, encourage you, laugh at you, or what. I think I have 6 or 7 forums under my belt now and it's still scary when I post in a new one for the first time.
I remember one of the first times I posted on a kayaking forum. Probably the first forum I ever belonged to. I was nervous since I was a beginner at both ( kayaking and posting), and Im not the most social person in the world. I lurked for a bit hoping my question would be answered without having to put myself out there. I experienced a lot of smart enthusiastic knowledgable people with good info. But I also noticed one or two 'Mr or Mrs know it alls' Who seemed to have an answer for everything, but never asked any questions. So I waited for the right time and finally posted my question. Some thing to the affect of which type of kayak should I buy, being that it was my first kayak. Im sure I went into more detail as far as my experiences, uses, where ID be kayaking .... Sure enough, the 'Forum A- hole' responded with a sarcastic " Why don't you get the red one". Basically implying that there are so many to choose from and that my question was very vague. Being a beginner at the time, I was kinda offended. Here I am trying to be a new member, putting myself out there to get advice, and he had to be such a D$%#. ( the answer was much more obnoxious sounding, I just can't remember, but it was clearly a rude, sarcastic answer). Problem is, that new members come on to a forum, not realizing the history or previous topic / questions answered, and often ask the same old thing ( that has been discussed 100 times before). Not their fault, cause its new to them. But for a more established member to make the poor bastard's ( me) first experience uncomfortable was a complete turn off. He could have engaged in a conversation by asking me to provide more info, or giving me a ling to previous discussion topics, websites ... I mean, the purpose of a forum is to be social and learn from each other. And a forum will never grow without new members. So, to make a new member feel inadequate in anyway made no sense to me. Luckily, others chimed in and provided me with good info . And yes, my first kayak was red ( not because he said so, but because I liked it). I was very polite and did not respond to his rudeness, but I'm kinda wishing the 'New Yorker ' came out of me that day
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