# Why are you annoyed I didn't do a search before I started this thread? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [November 4, 2015, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-annoyed-i-didnt-do-a-search-before-i-started-this-thread/736606 "2015-11-04T13:11:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-annoyed-i-didnt-do-a-search-before-i-started-this-thread/736606/21 "2015-11-04T17:50:19Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > Here’s a link to thread that OP started where he’s getting crap about not using the search engine. > > [9/11 - Great Debates - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=774194) > > It’s a 9/11 Truther thread. > > To answer the OP here: You’re being told to use the search function because your thread is derivative sealioning at its worst. You have no useful new information or original questions. It’s all just a rehash of questions that were asked and answered a decade ago. Popping in to “just ask questions”, when by “ask,” you mean, “repeat questions you heard on some dodgy website” is unquestionably aggravating. > > The reason you are being told to use the search function is because the answers to your rancid questions are all contained in threads we got bored with years ago. It’s the correct response. Deal with it. The OP of that thread is **jroth7** , a different poster from the OP of this one, **justmeetee.** I’m not sure what thread the OP is referring to. In a recent thread of his another poster made a polite suggestion that a previous thread on the same subject might provide useful information. I don’t see anyone expressing annoyance toward the OP. > [@Hummingbirds, wasps and poison](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbirds-wasps-and-poison/729751/3): > > There was a recent thread about this from another poster that might be worth searching for. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-annoyed-i-didnt-do-a-search-before-i-started-this-thread/736606/22 "2015-11-04T18:09:33Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > For making non-factual and irrelevant posts in GQ?:dubious:… **Colibri** , we have to talk. Why the nasty? Especially in out of nowhere in a silly standard silliness people do with Mods, especially mods they “know” and have had normal back-and-forths with. I don’t believe I’m being egotistical when I ask why I am such a bug up your ass? Have you or other Mods had to warn or noted me so many times or have had to move my threads so many times out the bazillion I’ve OP’ed and the thousands of satisfied consumers of SD of my wonderful posts that have been fruitful and you know, in the spirit of things and received and answered as such–including, a bajillion times, by you–who, I might add, I’ve enjoyably GQ-ed wth, you know, interesting, intelligent, and going with flow, light-footed with and without you mod hat on–and then forget that you will say things like the above. And despite this heartfelt post itself, hope to and anticipate will return after this spat. Am I considered in the company of the banned/suspensed/publicly-discussed-in-ATMB-to-be-in the running for derailing threads, or other jerkishness like those who, when you see their names, you know is just going to be a jerk? Look at my threads and posts as a totality. And it sucks that a throwaway personal of yours got turned into more than a throwaway personal because it’s public in ATMB and so different in tone (and by my reading _based on a long history_). Elsewhere, publcly, I’ve referred to your “more n sorrow than in anger” occasional notes to me, as I tried to put the and most civil face on it. But I read anger by now, and believe misdirected anger, and, hence, in this case, a little obnoxious by now. And please don’t say "this belongs in the Pit, because _you_ can go Mod anywhere, and that would be a brush off. If you want this to go on publicly, type away. Let others do their analysis of me or my posts. Start a new ATMB on the general point of what I’ve done that makes your posts like this, in the six years I’ve been contributing to GQ, be made often enough that some will, or should, be snarky about being thin-skinned. But please knock it the fuck off. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-annoyed-i-didnt-do-a-search-before-i-started-this-thread/736606/23 "2015-11-04T18:21:45Z")
Or add a smiley smile to the dubious smiley, fer Chrissake. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-annoyed-i-didnt-do-a-search-before-i-started-this-thread/736606/24 "2015-11-04T18:31:41Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Or add a smiley smile to the dubious smiley, fer Chrissake. 🙂 I might just as well ask why you were snarky about the fact that the post was not moderated as quickly as you would like. In addition, you acted like you wanted a reward for making an off-topic post in GQ. That’s what annoyed me more than the post itself. Look, **Leo** , a lot of your posts are OK, but very often they don’t contribute much, or even constitute hijacks. It’s fine if you want to just shoot the shit about a subject, but we have other forums for that. You don’t need to do it in GQ. As I’ve told you before I (and other mods) would appreciate it if you would put a little more thought into your posts. Sometimes you just post without thinking. This can cause problems. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-annoyed-i-didnt-do-a-search-before-i-started-this-thread/736606/25 "2015-11-04T19:13:24Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > So what do I get? I just want a lover like any other I only want a friend who will stay to the end ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-annoyed-i-didnt-do-a-search-before-i-started-this-thread/736606/26 "2015-11-04T19:58:16Z")
Ahhh, drama. ---
**Author:** ![justmeetee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@justmeetee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justmeetee)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-annoyed-i-didnt-do-a-search-before-i-started-this-thread/736606/27 "2015-11-04T20:00:00Z")
I see where I went wrong. I thought I was in a SOCIAL media forum when in fact I am in a serious technical forum. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-annoyed-i-didnt-do-a-search-before-i-started-this-thread/736606/28 "2015-11-04T20:11:20Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > That’s not the OP. Unless you know something I don’t? > [@Colibri](#): > > The OP of that thread is **jroth7** , a different poster from the OP of this one, **justmeetee.** Oh damnation - I am such an idiot. I am so sorry, **justmetee**. I don’t know why I confused you with that other poster just because both your names start with ‘j’. Too many drugs - not enough coffee, I suppose. But I was wrong, completely wrong, and I am very sorry. I will shut my damn fool mouth, now. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-annoyed-i-didnt-do-a-search-before-i-started-this-thread/736606/29 "2015-11-04T20:17:06Z")
> [@justmeetee](#): > > I see where I went wrong. I thought I was in a SOCIAL media forum when in fact I am in a serious technical forum. Greetings justmeetee, and a belated welcome to the Straight Dope! Yes, this is social media (though the message board precedes that term), but I tend to think of this corner of the internet as “Social media with a mission statement.” Our mission is fighting ignorance. So we encourage posters to work on their game a little. It’s not quite a serious technical forum though: it’s more of a general interest message board. Wise cracks are encouraged, but direct insults against posters are secluded to the BBQ Pit. Attacks on the post itself are proper, though General Questions has greater civility than Great Debates. In all forums it is acceptable to challenge unsubstantiated assertions, though in MPSIMS things are a little kinder and gentler. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-annoyed-i-didnt-do-a-search-before-i-started-this-thread/736606/30 "2015-11-04T20:18:30Z")
> [@justmeetee](#): > > I see where I went wrong. I thought I was in a SOCIAL media forum when in fact I am in a serious technical forum. Some of our forums are more serious (General Questions, Great Debates), while others are more social (MPSIMS and IMHO). For the serious ones it’s better to do a search for previous discussions of a topic. For the others it’s generally unnecessary (although to discuss breaking news it may be good to check to see if anyone has started a thread already). ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-annoyed-i-didnt-do-a-search-before-i-started-this-thread/736606/31 "2015-11-04T21:13:07Z")
Because you might use up all the bits and break the internets. There are only so many bits to go around, so don’t waste them on easily searched questions. ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-annoyed-i-didnt-do-a-search-before-i-started-this-thread/736606/32 "2015-11-04T23:40:20Z")
Consider this hypothetical: if all persons \*\*exhaustively \*\*searched for an answer before posting the query what would the forum look like? ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-annoyed-i-didnt-do-a-search-before-i-started-this-thread/736606/33 "2015-11-05T00:05:53Z")
> [@janeslogin](#): > > Consider this hypothetical: if all persons \*\*exhaustively \*\*searched for an answer before posting the query what would the forum look like? There might be a few more threads with links to past threads. Also better questions. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-annoyed-i-didnt-do-a-search-before-i-started-this-thread/736606/34 "2015-11-05T01:56:26Z")
> [@janeslogin](#): > > Consider this hypothetical: if all persons \*\*exhaustively \*\*searched for an answer before posting the query what would the forum look like? Looking over the first page of GQ at the moment, I would say that at least 95% are questions that would probably not be adequately answered by either a web or a forum search. (Some are about recent events, some are complex and require in-depth information, some are about very obscure topics, some posters are asking for help evaluating information they found by searching other sources, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-annoyed-i-didnt-do-a-search-before-i-started-this-thread/736606/35 "2015-11-05T09:15:49Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Looking over the first page of GQ at the moment, I would say that at least 95% are questions that would probably not be adequately answered by either a web or a forum search. (Some are about recent events, some are complex and require in-depth information, some are about very obscure topics, some posters are asking for help evaluating information they found by searching other sources, etc.) And, occasionally, someone will explicitly admit that they COULD get the mere facts elsewhere, but they post in the SDMB’s GQ because they enjoy the particular styles of answers that Dopers tend to provide (on a good day). I think that’s okay sometimes, as long as it’s a question that encourages nuanced (but still factual) answers. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-annoyed-i-didnt-do-a-search-before-i-started-this-thread/736606/36 "2015-11-05T18:19:53Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I might just as well ask why you were snarky about the fact that the post was not moderated as quickly as you would like. In addition, you acted like you wanted a reward for making an off-topic post in GQ. That’s what annoyed me more than the post itself. > > Look, **Leo** , a lot of your posts are OK, but very often they don’t contribute much, or even constitute hijacks. It’s fine if you want to just shoot the shit about a subject, but we have other forums for that. You don’t need to do it in GQ. > > As I’ve told you before I (and other mods) would appreciate it if you would put a little more thought into your posts. Sometimes you just post without thinking. This can cause problems. > [@Colibri](#): > > I might just as well ask why you were snarky about the fact that the post was not moderated as quickly as you would like. In addition, you acted like you wanted a reward for making an off-topic post in GQ. That’s what annoyed me more than the post itself… And you mention that in your original note with the dubious why…? “Well you’re a bad boy too?” Because you thought I was saying something bad about you? And you come up with something irrelevant but something annoying about me which is irrelevant except for showing “well so are you you do stupid stuff?” Talk about thin-skinned! How on Earth was that snarky about for-real moderating? (Snark is disregarding what the other person does in the humor to make a point about which you disagree.) What kind of asshole would complain that a mod hasn’t removed a thread fast enough for being in the wrong forum? And then following it up with the obvious silliness of continuing to “mock” his target by asking _for a prize_? And you forgot in your assumption of me being snarky that I’ve followed ATMB for years, and know that it can take awhile for mds to get in the loop on-less-than urgent threads. But, all in all, based on my reading of ATMB, I read this as you being justifiably thin skinned about that particular topic, judging from all the times you _do_ get zapped by obnoxious readers about why you/mods didn’t swoop in immediately and make everything better. But honestly, it was ATMB-style goofiness on the Life of The Mods, and you answered with personally directed snark-in-kind, as you say above, but there was none on my part, and I will stake my life and sacred honor that anyone of us who read that thought I was taking the piss out of you. What a stupid thing a proud SD member would do to its volunteers. Am I not to refer to your jackboots? Shall their no more be cakes and ale? Lenahan, of DBT, writes that in all emotionally charged interactions/arguments at first you should evaluate what is at stake (each a valid one) choosing among the three: to achieve the goal, to establish self respect, to preserve the relationship. I’ll take a little of #2, but would like to order #3 as the entree. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-annoyed-i-didnt-do-a-search-before-i-started-this-thread/736606/37 "2015-11-05T19:21:19Z")
Leo, I notice myself sometimes posting something that doesn’t really add to the discussion. It happens when I’m reading a thread, and something will pop into my head, and I’ll post it. Often in these situations it will sort of be an in-joke that only a few Dopers would be expected to get. Colibri took this opportunity to help you see that you do this, too, sometimes. He didn’t do it tactfully or gently, that’s true – so your defensive feelings are understandable (I’d feel the same way) – but it seems this is something Colibri has been thinking about telling you for a while, and saw an appropriate moment to do it. Let’s both try to learn from this! ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-annoyed-i-didnt-do-a-search-before-i-started-this-thread/736606/38 "2015-11-07T06:49:35Z")
Didn’t we used to have a rule-of-thumb here that threads in GQ were allowed to drift after the OQ (Original Question) has been answered, or after 10-or-so posts in any case? **Colibri** has modded me several times for making light-hearted or semi-facetious (well okay, maybe fully facetious) posts in GQ threads that were well after the 10-or-so posts boundary. ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2015, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-annoyed-i-didnt-do-a-search-before-i-started-this-thread/736606/39 "2015-11-11T00:21:26Z")
Any post will still bump it up. Right? I remember sometime ago I ask a serious question looking for an objective answer and the thread took off in some juvenile game playing direction and then down about twelve responses it got kicked up and someone came along with a correct answer to my question. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-annoyed-i-didnt-do-a-search-before-i-started-this-thread/736606/40 "2015-11-12T12:12:36Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > It’s not even a matter of annoyance for me. I figure I’ll put as much time into answering the question as you put into writing it. If a thoughtless question can be found Google, then I will invest an equal amount of time/effort by telling you that the answer can be found on Google. > > Discussion forums are a community, and a community works by everyone contributing. and that’s one reason message boards are dying. they condense down to a relative handful of long-timers who snarl and snap at newcomers who might ask or say something with “we talked about that six years ago! use the search, you dumbass!” if all you want people to do is search then why have a fucking \*discussion \*board in the first place? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-annoyed-i-didnt-do-a-search-before-i-started-this-thread/736606.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-annoyed-i-didnt-do-a-search-before-i-started-this-thread/736606.md?page=3)