How do we make this part work?

[JasonW]

I love the idea of bringing the public in and helping them out with little things or showing them how complex some projects can be. The question is, how do we get them here?

I browsed through a few topics on another forum and saw a few H/O's and maybe some NOOB's get beat over the head like helpless baby seals. Even the Administrator of the site gave it a cold shut off and then pointed the poor bastard to another site (which he also owns). Ironic really. I was tempted to sign in and tell the guy there is a better place (here) where he could ask a few questions without being treated like that.

I would like to ask everyone who is on twitter, facebook, LinkedIn, or what ever to let people know they can come here to ask questions without the fear of being beaten down (use your own words) I've done this and so have others, but the more the merrier, eventually this can be a tool that makes us all look good and actually bring in referals as many here who post on DIY sites already know.

Let's all pitch in and give it a shot.

[Bodger]

I'm willing to help anybody. As long as they can formulate their questions in a somewhat erudite and non-argumentative fashion.

I think giving advice to DIY guys and HOs is fine, as long as they stay within the realm of their experience and capabilities.

I have noticed on other forums that some of these people log in and ask questions in an effort to find out how much profit a legitimate GC is trying to make off them on an honestly priced deal. And that sometimes gets them a flaming.

[JasonW]

I just don't understand why some people feel they have to be so harsh. It only confirms to the potential customer that Contractors are assholes.

There's a better way to educate the public and be a friend rather than be an Ogre.

[Mike(VA)]

Yes, people will come in and ask pricing questions, try to find out how much a GC is making, and how to do something themselves that they should stay away from. I agree with Jason that there should be a way to deal with that. We know what they are asking even if they don't and we certainly can take a minute or two to help them out.There may be a few who won't listen to reason, but why beat them up? If we just stop responding when it gets to that point, they will go away.

It will get old answering the same old questions but every HO we help is one more that is closer to being on our side.

Take the questions that try to find out how much a GC is making. I have no problem with telling them in generalities what is real. The HO wants to take that and beat up on some hack, who cares? If he wants to chizel down a decent GC's price, well, if the GC is savy, the HO won't get far.

[tomstruble]

there are actually people on the diy forum who do beautiful work

lets face it,there are always going to be homeowners that do their own work

help them or not they are still are going to do it
i think it good for us either way,people like that can stimulate their not so handy neighbors

and that where we come in

[DavidC]

I think it was Tim Uhler that said something to the effect of, sharing what I know is one of the greatest joys in life. Paraphrased of course. (In case he shows up and wants to know what I did with his quote.) But that's the gist of it for me. The little I know for sure is available to anyone.

Have I missed something again? I haven't seen any HO DIY types on the forum yet. Helping out who we can is one way to put a polish back on our professions. Sure, some will just want to know how much we make of a given job so they can maybe get a better price. But we don't have to help with that. Those with that for a goal will most likely get what they deserve with or without our help.

I'd like to see some real questions about how to choose a good contractor or solve some sort of a problem.

Good Luck
Dave

[Mike(VA)]

One guy named Harry showed up early and asked some lighting questions or something. Not a bad thread, really.

[Silvertree]

One problem we face at RC is being new and unknown. For the time we've been here its going better than expected.
Great members, I can't think of anyone who has posted who didn't have quality stuff to say.

We have many visitors who could be HO's. I'm with you guys on it being friendly and informative.

We built it and they will come!

[Ed The Roofer]

I love the idea of bringing the public in and helping them out with little things or showing them how complex some projects can be. The question is, how do we get them here?

I browsed through a few topics on another forum and saw a few H/O's and maybe some NOOB's get beat over the head like helpless baby seals. Even the Administrator of the site gave it a cold shut off and then pointed the poor bastard to another site (which he also owns). Ironic really. I was tempted to sign in and tell the guy there is a better place (here) where he could ask a few questions without being treated like that.

I would like to ask everyone who is on twitter, facebook, LinkedIn, or what ever to let people know they can come here to ask questions without the fear of being beaten down (use your own words) I've done this and so have others, but the more the merrier, eventually this can be a tool that makes us all look good and actually bring in referals as many here who post on DIY sites already know.

Let's all pitch in and give it a shot.



Jason,

Part of the reason that some DIY'ers get the stock answers firstly from forum members, is because they are intentionally charading as a professional contractor and are busted by the ignominy of their initial question.

Then, when a first contractor, usually semi-politely advises the home owner that they need to seek an engineer out for a particular structural issue, as was the case of the poster from CT the other day, which I think you are referring to, the home owner got all fiesty and beligerent towards the first and then the following posters who stated similar concerns, while also pointing out the vagueness of cross-country advice and lack of knowing what his specific individual codes and requirements were.

I also have seen and even let it get away for a while, other posters on CT, who I presumed to not really be contractors, but they did have the specific knowledge that was required of themselves to safely and adequately perform the tasks that they were inquiring about, so the topic in and of itself was worthy to allow to continue furthering that particular dialog about and I let it stay.

A fellow member made mention of a new variation of the Introduction Script that a new member sign-up would have to read and potentially receive in the welcome e-mail, which points out several key items that the new member should be cognizant about when first collecting information and asking questions and the administrator took that advice readily and is working on accomodating the updated introduction information to lessen the probability of new posters being shown the door and feeling out of place from the get-go.

If my reply to your concern seems biased, it most certainly is, because I see how much actually does get away with and I feel that the administrators very brief response to that poster, although not using the pre-formatted response script to send a poster to the DIY site, was direct, yet not offensive to that poster. That was the first time though, that I saw anything less than the pre-formatted, more polite sounding script used by anyone on the moderating or administrative team get used though, so I cut the guy some slack for being a bit too short.



In regards to your other statement, about actually getting more Home Owners and DIY'ers on this site, that will come in due course, but even with that being allowed, don't you see the complications that will also arise?

What if some Will Work For Beer Money Hack jumped in seeking advice for something that the majority felt he was unsafe and clearly not qualified to perform?

Would all members keep pinching their Rosy Cheeks and slap on the Joker's juxtaposed secretly hidden clownish-like smile, just to offer a community of benevolence and espirit de corp, even towards such an ignomious Poser Hack?

Pick and choose who we want to give advise to, or just randomly, out of goof faith, allow all who seek to be the beneficiary of our years of experience?

That is where the line must be drawn.....

Ed

[Silvertree]

As you say Ed, some will be posers and we will watch for that.

Good advice and I get your meaning. Your suggestion to qualify people asking questions may be doable.

[Ed The Roofer]

As you say Ed, some will be posers and we will watch for that.

Good advice and I get your meaning.

Your suggestion to qualify people asking questions may be doable.







I didn't realize that I had made a suggestion, DUH!!!

Maybe it is I, that need to respond and decipher only in the early mornings, with a fresh cup of SiverTree Coffee BlendedRoast tingling at my senses.....

Ed



.

[JasonW]

You picked the right tread that I saw Ed. Perhaps I would have seen it the same way if I hadn't stepped away from that forum for awhile. I really saw nothing that warranted the roughing up he got. There's really no proof that he wasn't someone in the trades before the lashings came. I realize that that forum is for professionals only, but having a swarm of guys on the internet, that claim to be professionals, acting like foolish children and insulting others for giving it a try is not a place I want to be associated with. Not to mention it makes us all look like dip shits as a trade.

I say let the H/O ask a question; let the hack ask! You have a choice at that moment, give your advice or say nothing at all. If they don't take that advise? Oh well. Still there is no reason for a bunch of professionals to jump up and down and beat their chest like a bunch of imbeciles. I for one am not that insecure about myself and my work that I need to beat up on an impostor or anyone else that doesn't know something.

[Len]

Now back to the topic of how to get them here.

We have our name getting out there in the media of the professional contractor.
We need to do the same in the DIY communities. Anywhere that you go, and someone is seeking some DIY type of advice please give them a nudge in our direction.

Secondly if any of you are interested in contributing something of interest to home owners we are looking at making some resources available to homeowners. Stuff like, short videos, pdf, photos (good vs bad). On anything from 10 fall maintenance tips, the difference/pros-cons in siding product 1 - siding product 2 and siding product 3, or video of how to dig and pour footing for a mailbox.

We will be looking for these type of resources to promote community between professionals and DIY seeking advice and information.

PM us (Len, Silvertree, or Servicezunlimited) in what you could contribute to our community. We will gradualy roll this stuff out as we grow.


It comes down to getting the word out and giving people a useful resource to stay and contribute.