They join, they enquire and then immediately disappear. Why ?

Tonyv

You can relax.

Your views on polticians are hardly likely to engender much offence from other members and saying a few nice things about veterans won't earn you many enemies, but, with respect and regretfully, your response hasn't added much to the general discussion that I had hoped to raise concerning those who I would now describe as fly-by-nights.

I went back to the members list, literally picked the first member who had made just a single posting and now reproduce it below to illustrate my point:

Need info on my WW2 Parachute Regiment bugle... please help!
Hi, iv'e just bought this Second World War bugle.
It has had the badges of the Parachute Regiment soldered on and is stamped with the names of battles that i assume the men who owned it had been in.

BRUNEVAL 1942......TAMERA 1943......BREVILLE 1944......ARNHEM 1944...
BURES 1945....... and RHINE 1945.

It has the King's crown, a Parachute Regiment beret badge and the 'REGIMENT' section of a brass shoulder title soldered onto it.
The 'PARACHUTE' section has obviously gone missing.
The bugle was made by 'Mole & Co ltd .... London .... 1940' it also has the little arrow stamp.
Iv'e attached a couple of pictures.
I'm just looking for any info possible on this, as if it is a one of a kind made by the company, i might donate it to a museum or some such.

Thanks for looking.



True, there was but one reply, but this was a detailed and helpful response from Andy that deserved at least some comment from our FBN (Fly-by-night), but no.............. he was gone........... never to return.

I'm sure that if I was to go through the whole member's list I would find this un-chivalrous act repeated ad nauseum and yes, I'm still seeking a logical reason for this behaviour.

Ron

 

This subject has been raised before in a thread that was entitled 'Manners' and thats what in my opinion it boils down to 'Manners'
I know many of you like myself are becoming more and more angry with these people and it's devisive, as i will now only give basic info to first posts on a subject on which i have some little knowledge, so let them do the work instead of me spending hours on it with not even a 'thank you' which takes a second to type in costs nothing and goes a hell of a long way.
End of rant!
Rob

 

Ron, without wishing to suggest anything in the case of the example which you've reproduced, forums dealing with old vehicles are deluged with eBay sellers hoping to have their parts identified for them. It's quite common to see forum answers used to substantiate provenance.

I think that Rob's answer is getting to the root of the problem although I think that it goes beyond simple manners. It has to be a two-way thing and most of us learn from the questions and answers. In my opinion, this places a moral responsibility on enquirers to report back with their findings.

When all is said and done though, I've learned a tremendous amount and made some very good friends through internet forums. As in most spheres, a fully functioning BS detector is always handy !

 

Hi Ron

I agree, it comes down to manners. A reply is worth acknowledgement even if it tells you something you already know as the person has put some effort into it. Manners, like respect and responsibility, are sadly lacking today but everyone knows "their rights". I like dbf's thoughts, and if in the future I read something that has had a bit of work put into it, where it is not thanked, I will try to add some encouragement!!
It all helps
I too have appreciated the answers given, and also am disappointed where a question has not been answered, but realise that some of my questions will not be answered, so that is ok.
I also realise my input is limited by my knowledge and interests.
AS for logic, well I dont think there is any quick answer to that one, it is just rudeness!
Let's focus on the good stuff!!!

regards
Robert

 

I joined a forum called paratrooper.net, called pnet for short. That was when the ww2f was having server problems and a lot of us from there surfaced here for a bit. I thought that this was a nice little place to hang out from time to time, but decided to spend most of my time at ww2f when things got back to normal, if you can call things normal. At the time, after a few posts and lurking about on the pnet, I found that the place wasn't for me, and I seldom go there anymore, maybe once a year or so. So far they haven't closed my account, which wouldn't hurt my feelings at all. With spending time here and ww2f, and regular emailing, I don't feel that there is a need for me to go anywhere else for now, unless I am digging for specific information that I need at the time. Just my 2 cents worth of course.

We get a lot of low number posters at ww2f who do the hit and run thing, and I am glad for that. There's a lot of crazy people out there. And some lazy people who want us to do their homework for them.

 

Hello Everybody,

I consider myself as a taker from this site. I was not (thankfully) part of this or any other war. My knowedge is therefore not first person, and I have nothing to offer in the way of knowledge

I have 2 overall interests in WW2, one is my undying admiration and indebtedness to all who had any part in fighting, dying and giving up their life and freedom so that I may live the life I enjoy, that feeds into a natural curiosity. The other is the part my father and his family had in the war.

Having no knowledge I post very rarely, but have found this site a font of rare knowledge, a friendly and helpful place and have rarly missed visiting it daily since I joined, and have learned much in doing so.

I have had wonderful support from members who go to extraordinary lengths to help people such as I who incesantly ask questions and I hope I have remembered to thank everybody - if I missed anybody please accept my sencere thanks.

Please keep on keeping on people, this knowledge is getting rarer by the day, the National Archive seem considerably less than helpful especially to people such as I who live overseas and by default you are becoming the source of knowledge which you can back up with incredible memories and photos. Further as time goes on the history is being rewritten and sanitised and postings like Adam's on VJ Day are needed to keep the truth alive. Someone asked what will be disclosed when a time limit is reached in the future, wonder what odds those documents never see the light of day.

In a sentence, please be assured that you all are very much appreciated, and because we don't post doesn't mean we are not watching.

Cliff

 

If the forum can help as many people as possible then every so often a pearler comes along.



Then, you look the other way and something like me crawls in through an open window. :wow:

Tonyv

You can relax.

Your views on polticians are hardly likely to engender much offence from other members and saying a few nice things about veterans won't earn you many enemies, but, with respect and regretfully, your response hasn't added much to the general discussion that I had hoped to raise concerning those who I would now describe as fly-by-nights.

I went back to the members list, literally picked the first member who had made just a single posting and now reproduce it below to illustrate my point:



True, there was but one reply, but this was a detailed and helpful response from Andy that deserved at least some comment from our FBN (Fly-by-night), but no.............. he was gone........... never to return.

I'm sure that if I was to go through the whole member's list I would find this un-chivalrous act repeated ad nauseum and yes, I'm still seeking a logical reason for this behaviour.

Ron

Exactly!

You who post little, but read a lot, welcome to my club. I know that I add very little substansively to the WWII discussion, since it seems to be oriented around the Commonwealth experience, but there is much to read. Plus, I enjoy pulling all the Limey's legs about how I talk.

As Ron verified, it is those who lack manners enough to say thank you those we are talking about. I don't care if I pass my daughter the catsup at the dinner table, she is expected to say thank you or some other gracious acknowledgement. Manners are always important and especially so to me. Right Mr. Goldstein?

On the other side of the coin, we do have those who stop by, obtain information, offer salutations and then move on, only to return a few months later with more information or some good news. Those, I appreciate greatly.

So, keep posting as little or much as you like...but do so at least every 30 days, so you'll show up as a regular member.

 

Ron,
Sadly I don't think there even has to be a logical answer, and there are probably as many reasons as there are guilty people.

Chaps,
As I said before, there'll come a time when another person's search could be answered by that unacknowledged yet informative post. After all your info is 'out there'.

I tell you what - next time we see a fellow forumite's post go unacknowledged, why not put up a 'cheers, I thought that was interesting to read / learn about ...' I've noticed there are a few who do that already and their input is appreciated.

I'm with you on this one D.
W

 

I too feel that I have taken more than given on this great forum.

It does annoy me very much when posters do not acknowledge someone's informative reply. It does worry me that is a reflection on today's society, where things come too easy and are not considered worthy of acknowledgment!!

This forum does not suffer as much as others in regard to this disease. I answer a lot of queries on another site, close to my main research focus, here I can only expect a 50% positive response to any info or answer.

The reason it does not stop me from trying to help is that I believe in information exchange and had it not been for people willing to share, I would have got nowhere in trying to trace the exploits of my Grandfather and his colleagues. The rule is, 'you give willingly and someone will do the same for you'.

Bamboo.

 

DBF:
I was indeed mistaken as Ron has clarified. His question is strictly confined to those who disappear after asking a question. Please accept my apologies.
When he also asked if anyone had any thoughts on the problem I made a mistake in thinking it was a more general question.

It is not an answer to the question Ron put but I think my post has some relevance as to why some members never persist. The Post Paul Reed wrote illustrates I think, quite well, what I am taliking about. "If I think the Forum is such an unfriendly place why do you persist?"
That he doesn't agree with me is perfectly acceptable but is it necessary to put in such a comment? Some might suggest that it is a perfectly reasonable question but I believe most would look at the tone of it and think it unpleasant and not particularly polite. It does put some people off.
In any event I think there are various reasons why people leave the Forum and I was, despite what some might think, trying to be helpful and constructve.

 

DREW:
I do indeed remember that some were helpful. Had I cut and run after the first few snide remarks I would have been the loser to what has become a wonderful source of information. Thanks for reminding me.

 

It does annoy me very much when posters do not acknowledge someone's informative reply. It does worry me that is a reflection on today's society, where things come too easy and are not considered worthy of acknowledgment!!

My grandmother was known for saying: "The only place you'll find gratitude is in the dictionary." She died nearly 45 years ago, so I suspect this is nothing new.

I agree it seems to be getting worse, but I think that is probably just an illusion that comes upon us as we get older: our experience and knowledge of the world grows (and so therefore does the value of our input) and any help that we do provide to others tends to involve more effort on our part than it did when we were younger. Not unreasonably, we expect to be thanked.

Of course, none of this makes it acceptable. I detest not being thanked when I have gone out of my way to be helpful (it's happened to me a few times recently, though not on this site) and if I was a WW2 veteran on this site I'm sure it would infuriate me.

 

Ref Ron's post (Number 41) It's amazing what a gentle PM can acheive.

After Ron quoted the thread I searched for it and PM'd the member last night. He contacted me this afternoon and the rest as they say is history.

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/other-research/15058-need-info-my-ww2-parachute-regiment-bugle-please-help.html

Cheers Ron for bringing it to my attention.

Regards
Andy

 

Shame really. Seething about other people's rudeness is much more enjoyable.

 

Right Chaps. That's the first one sorted. Who's next on the list ?

"Reply to the thread or we'll put Andy on the case ! "

 

I just love a happy ending

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/other-research/15058-need-info-my-ww2-parachute-regiment-bugle-please-help.html#post312347

Ron

 

To all those who have been kind enough to communicate with me privately, my sincere thanks again, not only for your expert advice and help, but your encouragement and positive response. The WW2 Talk site has given me a huge insight to all aspects relating to WW2.

There is hardly a day goes-by that I don't check for a possible reply to my enquiry, and, as each day passes, I learn more and more. Thank you all for your contributions to this site which go towards ensuring that all those who played a part during WW1 and WW2 will never be forgotten.

"Nothing Is Impossible"

 

I was obviously not meant to respond to this because every time I am close to posting the phone rings or someone comes to the door and I lose my post!!

I suspect that I may fall into this category of people.

I joined several years ago from the BBC site trying to find out about my Dad. As it turned out it has been a fruitless search. In answer to Ron's question, I can only speak for myself but I was unsure whether to acknowledge every poster immediately thereby peppering the thread, or wait until I thought that it was nearly exhausted (? guesswork on my part) and then thank everyone. I also think that, particularly for people of my age it is hard to get the "tone right" in terms of either posting or understanding a post. I have absolutely no desire to rake over old coals, especially since there appears to be a different set of active members now, but I was greatly saddened by the posts made about an old member who had clearly contributed so much to the knowledge base and growth of the forum.

So although I lurk occasionally I very rarely log in because there is little that I can contribute.

Perhaps another consideration is that maybe the enquiry unearths information which is truly best left buried, hence this is not shared in open forum. This hopefully does not prevent individual thanks.

Finally if I did inadvertently omit to express my gratitude to those who did try to help, please accept my apologies.

 

CT nana -
Good to see you posting again - been a long time
Cheers