Originally Posted by frcabot

Ah.. Kagehitokiri: here's a perfect example of a sarcastic AND vitriolic post. Actually, this is who I was referring to in the first place ;-).

Originally Posted by IceTrojan

P*ss poor analogy. It's more like your asking the entire table to pass the ketchup, when the ketchup is within your reach, and Mr. Y says "get it yourself." The presumption that the poster has already done a search is a HUGE presumption that has been shown to be wrong time and time again.

Originally Posted by oklAAhoma

And, of course, if you do pass the ketchup to X, guess what happens when he wants the mustard, also within his reach. So, he knows now how to get ketchup and mustard, but we all know that, so not much value. The Ys that know how to get BBQ sauce, onions, chipotle, etc. quickly lose interest in participating and go have their own Bar-B-Que rather than continuing to support the lazy Xs (and the spiteful Zs) of the group.

Originally Posted by oklAAhoma

Now I have a question: Why do so many here presume that "newbie" equates to incompetent, unskilled... even ignorant? Just because one is new to this forum, it doesn't automatically follow that he or she has no computer savvy (or travel knowledge for that matter). If someone found FT in the first place, they obviously have at least rudimentary computer skills. JMHO but I think it's disrespectful to assume that new members are incapable of functioning on their own.

Originally Posted by USA_flyer

In response to your question, I don't think newbies are stupid by any stretch, merely that the search function is poor and lacking in visibility.

Originally Posted by oklAAhoma

I agree. In fact, a friend suggested it might even be more like:

Asking the entire table to pass the ketchup, when the ketchup is within your reach. Then when Mr. Y says "get it yourself", Mr. Z says "Don't be rude. Pass the ketchup to Mr. X, and be quick about it, d@mmit."

Z then calls a police officer, and says "Y wouldn't pass the ketchup to X."
X chimes in "My feelings were hurt and I don't feel welcome here, because Y wouldn't pass me the ketchup". Then the police officer arrests Y, takes him to jail.

And, of course, if you do pass the ketchup to X, guess what happens when he wants the mustard, also within his reach. So, he knows now how to get ketchup and mustard, but we all know that, so not much value. The Ys that know how to get BBQ sauce, onions, chipotle, etc. quickly lose interest in participating and go have their own Bar-B-Que rather than continuing to support the lazy Xs (and the spiteful Zs) of the group.