Harters
(John Hartley - a culinary patriot, cooking and eating in northwest England)
62
The repetitive question is the plaque of many forums, Chem.
I’m a longterm contributor to a non-food board and have seen the same questions asked many times (and the same subjects posted for discussion) over the years. It is trying at times but I like to thinkn that folk with knowledge to impart should act like a school teacher. Every year, a new batch of kids to enthuse, and they’ll ask the same questions and raise the same issues. The good teacher is going to respond as though it’s the first time that’s ever been asked .S/he is not going to tell the kids to go ask an older child who will have the answer from last year.
That said, I’ve also seen the many times, on CH’s UK/Ireland board, the posts that say “Where should I eat in London”. Rarely is there any extra helpful information like - cuisine, cost, location, etc - and, frankly, the only sensible response is “Use the search function, it’s what it’s there for” (although not now, of course). My favourite example on that board was the visitor who asked “Where should I eat in Manchester”. Now, over the years I’ve contributed to CH, I have pretty much contributed all the reviews about Manchester places (and it’s an extensive list), so I suggested she look up my past reviews. Response was that she wanted other views. “Well, they don’t fucking contribute do they, which is why there’s only mine there”, I responded - perhaps fortunately only in my head.
Agree with all that Harters said, as it applies to Paris as well. There are tens of thousands of restaurants in both cities, but these folks expect us to read minds. …then unfailingly get snarky because of some perceived fault in thw suggestion.
That and m"what’s the best" posts. Nodody has tried them all, and no two opinions are the same, so it’s a pointless question.
Well, the other things is that Chowhound isn’t set up anything like wikipedia. While there is information, the information is scattered and the search function is poor. In light of this, I try not be too harsh on people not looking up information – maybe because I myself don’t want to look up information too (on Chowhound).
That is a problem. Sometime people ask questions without any specificity.
Honestly, Yelp has one clear strength above Chowhound or even HungryOnion. All the reviews of a particular restaurant is accumulated on one spot. It is very easy for anyone to look up the reviews, say De Lorezeno Tomato Pie:
Chowhound’s strength (as well as HungryOnion) is the opposite. Questioners can directly interact with the community on a continue basic. We can do Questions&Answers
Specific demand:
Q: I will be in Philadelphia. I want to look for a particular Chinese restaurant which is good at this particular dish (say wonton soup).
Continueous support:
Q: I have a carbon steel pan. I don’t know how to season it.
A: This is how you can season it. Don’t use to much oil. Here is a video: XYZ
Q: I tried your method yesterday, but the pan has some red spots after cooking. Why?
A: Red spots are probably rust. Don’t worry. Try to remove it with some oil and salt along with papertowel.
These are our strengths.
P.S.: Also, if you want to know “Can I tip a Mexican waitress less due to her broken English?” You can only ask this on Chowhound.
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Harters
(John Hartley - a culinary patriot, cooking and eating in northwest England)
65
Yes, that’s what appeals most about the discussion board format. I hope it survives the new stuff - facebooks, twitter, blogs, etc.
Actually I like the “all in one place”. Egullet did it on their UK board (before it died). Try to start up a new thread on a place where there was an existing thread and the mods would actively merge it. It did mean you had some long threads and you had to jump to page 12 to catch the latest review but it was interesting to follow the development of a restaurant, particularly through chef changes. On the other hand, new standalone threads do mean that the latest post is, erm, the most up to date.
I think people get frustrated reading the same question asked over and over–it’s a bother writing the same answer over and over when someone can’t or won’t search. Repetition also makes searching more difficult, so MORE repetition ensues, and around we go.
The many (likely hundreds) CH threads on Le Creuset are good examples.
Well, every time there is a new Le Creuset color coming out, then there will be a new Le Creuset question about color matching. In all honesty, we cannot really ask people to go back to look for information because they are about new color.
This is probably why personally I find Staub posts less annoying.
My question was how much does it REALLY cost to eat at Eleven Madison Park. I had not seen that post before and searching is a joke on CH. I wanted honest answers and is it worth it. Turns out the honest cost is about a $1000/couple! If the person did not like my post she could have not answered me instead of having been down right rude
I know this is a little mean… which is why I didn’t post this video at Chowhound, but you may enjoy.
This woman started to collect Le Creuset (particularly pink) in the last 2 years. In 2 years, she collected 400 pieces. We are not talking about someone very wealthy neither. It is in Chinese, but I think the visual speaks it all.
I get it. It is her money. It is her free will. She is not hurting anyone. I get all that… but it still blows my mind.
Yes, the right thing. I guess I was kind of taken aback.CH used to be very helpful I expected it to stay that way. So much for that!!! Anyway, no more CH for me. I’m a ho.
No, I wasn’t referring to new color questions. Rather, to “Staub v Le Creuset” or most-useful-size, etc. There are many, many such threads needlessly repeated.
BTW, I think that Chinese lady has a pink problem, not a LC problem.
this is rampant on the boston board too. a vague query without any helpful details. when i get burnt out i just stop bothering. of course, in the last couple months there has been almost nobody asking!
That’s very funny because I thought it was because you were British. The word ‘clever’ suggested to me either intent or humor, but I agree with you that it’s usually not paying attention. BTW, I’m what most would consider ‘elderly’ too.
Let’s not be proud of a single suspension. Many of us received that email numerous times. I was suspended at least four times, barred once, invited back and suspended again after my first post. I had to do the mea culpa with the major-mod who went back to school.
Oh lordy, me too! Suspended at least two or three times and banned twice. And got the final heave-ho from vipgeorges no less. Imagine how Sam would be faring!
The word ‘clever’ suggested to me either intent or humor, but I agree with you that it’s usually not paying attention. BTW, I’m what most would consider ‘elderly’ too.
Many of us received that email numerous times. I was suspended at least four times, barred once, invited back and suspended again after my first post. I had to do the mea culpa with the major-mod who went back to school.
