In defense of Noobs.....

[Pem Tech]

On occasion I see single digit posters ask a questions that, for the majority of us old-timers, is bloody dang obvious or butt simple. Some of the responses are kind, helpful, and generally in good taste, but there are some more experienced members that seem to have grown tired of answering what are seen as repetitive, elemental questions. The responses from these experienced members usually refer to the forum search engine and admonish the noob for not trying the search first. I would ask that, even though the answers are simple for the more experienced, they are the Dark Arts to those that have no real experience.
In defense of noobs, I present my recent experience with the forum search engine and advanced search feature. My L2 build is requiring that I learn a number of these "Dark Arts" so I turned to the search feature. It was soon apparent that if you did not use proper phrasing or even the correct nomenclature, the searches give ya', nada, zero, ziltch, the big goose egg. Then having to sort through the massive list of results when the searches are successful is drudgery at best. I soon learned that rivets are not sheer pins, the term "ebay" did not produce results for only electronic bays, and I still haven't found a post on physically mounting electronics on avbay sleds. I'm not a newbie by any measure, but the trick is knowing enough to ask the right questions.

So, next time a newbie (or even a non newbie) pops up with a seemingly basic question, give them a little support and direction like proper search terms or correct terminology, instead scorn, reticule and derision.

 

[qquake2k]

I wholeheartedly agree, Layne. Who among us has never been a newbie? I know I wasn't born with a high power cert in my hand. And I also agree about the search function. It's haphazard at best. Unless you know the exact search terms to use, you'll either get zero results, or a guzillion results. I've been a BAR for a while now, am Level 2, and I still ask questions. That's how I learn. And likewise, I'm always patient when others ask questions, even seemingly simple questions with obvious answers. What's obvious to one, may not be obvious to another. And, when you get your questions answered, more often than not you'll get a solution you never would have thought of.

So yeah, take it easy on the noobs, guys. We were all there once.

 

[RWmarlow]

I wholeheartedly agree, Layne. Who among us has never been a newbie? I know I wasn't born with a high power cert in my hand. And I also agree about the search function. It's haphazard at best. Unless you know the exact search terms to use, you'll either get zero results, or a guzillion results. I've been a BAR for a while now, am Level 2, and I still ask questions. That's how I learn. And likewise, I'm always patient when others ask questions, even seemingly simple questions with obvious answers. What's obvious to one, may not be obvious to another. And, when you get your questions answered, more often than not you'll get a solution you never would have thought of.

So yeah, take it easy on the noobs, guys. We were all there once.

Great posts guys! I hope you speak for most of us!

 

[samb]

:w::clap::headbang:

RIGHT ON ! Layne and Capt Q !!!

 

[gpoehlein]

This goes hand-in-hand with Shrox's campaign for mor civility on this board. I'm totally on board with both!

 

[atxcple]

:clap:oint::clap:

 

[loopy]

Sheesh Layne...what a noob...*sigh*

 

[AfterBurners]

I agree with you guys. We were are there at some point and when you think about actually are. Each level you move is a new and exciting step and questions will be asked. I don't think no one knows absolutely everything about this hobby and ones that do are few and far between. For me anyways I feel I learn something new everyday partly from coming in here and building and designing my own rockets.

 

[qquake2k]

Sheesh Layne...what a noob...*sigh*

:rofl:

 

[Getmore]

I need help, what is a noob?:duck:

 

[ArthurSull]

I totally agree with you. Two months ago anything but an RTF was pretty much dark arts to me and I have asked many many questions that even to me now, a month later, are so simple!

Luckily I haven't experienced any negativity from older users, just great help and advice. On this forum I have progressed from a complete noob to building my own MPR in a matter of weeks. I still have the odd question that some users may snort at (see my recent chute question) but every one is a beginner at some stage.

By answering these simple questions you are in fact showing the noob the solutions that lead to them working stuff out by themselves. With a little guidance from this forum I've learned so much!

One thing I find in the UK is that there is a little bit of elitism or snobbery in some of the modelling world. When asking my local RC flying club about model rocketry in the area I was practically laughed out, and when I went in one of my local model train shops last week to get some paint the guy in there didn't let his feelings go unnoticed about what I presume to be either my youth or my dress sense.

One thing I revel in on this forum is the sheer friendliness and enthusiam of the more experienced and mature members.


Sorry, bit of a hijack, but thanks!

Ben

 

[RWmarlow]

I need help, what is a noob?:duck:

a quick search yields thisand

 

[DAllen]

So, next time a newbie (or even a non newbie) pops up with a seemingly basic question, give them a little support and direction like proper search terms or correct terminology, instead scorn, reticule and derision.

Unless their name is Layne Pemberton. Then you may taunt them a second time - or fart in their general direction...:lol:

J/k of course.

I remember back in '05 and '06 when I first started out how hard it was trying to find answers. Searches on the forum yielded answers about 80% of the time but what do you do about the other 20%? One of the things that really endeared me to the hobby was how willing everyone was to answer my questions no matter how basic they were...let's keep it that way.

Newbs are the future of the hobby so...BE NICE.

-Dave

 

[Pem Tech]

Unless their name is Layne Pemberton. Then you may taunt them a second time - or fart in their general direction...:lol:

J/k of course.

-Dave

Your Mother was a Hamster and your Father smelled of elderberries!

 

[Target]

It seems like a captain low and slow and And layn a are some of the best guys on the board there are many many many good guys but these 2 I've never seen it is much is a bad word from there post! Seems to me as though they are examples for the rest of us

 

[mkadams001]

It isn't so much as a new member asking questions as it is that they don't seem to do any research prior to asking the question. How many times do people have to ask how to use a rattle can, or what type of paint to use, and gluing, fillets, epoxy? Just because you are in a rocketry forum does not mean that you cannot use google to search for information on rocketry related information. Learning how to search the internet is key to getting the answers you need. I have a series of bookmarks that link to various rocket related resources and I have found great information in all of them. I found all of them by searching the internet and following links within various websites.

I learned how to spray paint rockets from the simple instructions on Estes kits and expanded on the experience that I gained from doing. I learned from my mistakes. When I need to build something I don't rush out and ask "how do I build this?" and expect someone to tell me. I take the time to think about what I am going to do, maybe sketch it out to work through some problems then maybe build a prototype to see if my idea works. I use the internet to see what others have done with similar types of builds and what their solution was to their problem.

I am not suggesting that a new visitor be given the cold shoulder or be treated rudely because they are asking a common question. I think that it is better to point them in a direction by giving them helpful links to threads within the forum or to other websites. Apogeerockets.com is a good start as he has a great library of newsletters and videos on his site.

 

[cwbullet]

Civility is a good thing. We need to not eat our young or the hobby will dissipate.

 

[Getmore]

a quick search yields thisView attachment 115664andView attachment 115665

No I don't think so, a newbie is a new guy right? So a noob has to be something dorky or along the lines of that right?

 

[ArthurSull]

No I don't think so, a newbie is a new guy right? So a noob has to be something dorky or along the lines of that right?

Noob is like, mostly used in the gaming world to refer to a new person (if you're being nice) or is sometimes an insult to someone who has no idea what they're doing.

 

[Spooks]

I live by this, noob or not, the only stupid question is the one you don't ask!

 

[Getmore]

So let me get this right. A noob is a gamer that has no idea of the game and being nice is sometimes a insult to someone who does not know what they are doing? LOL

 

[Peartree]

I have always felt that "noob" was basically a contraction for "Newbie" or "New-bee" (as in, the New Bee in the hive). It is, sometimes, used in a derogatory fashion, but often is not and simply refers to "the new guy."

 

[ArthurSull]

So let me get this right. A noob is a gamer that has no idea of the game and being nice is sometimes a insult to someone who does not know what they are doing? LOL

Hahaha even more confusing!

OP meant noob as in a new person to the hobby,

but some people use noob as an insult because they are not very nice.

 

[RWmarlow]

Remember " A rookie will take chances that a veteran wont-sometimes it works" - David Pearson

 

[Getmore]

Oh I get it now. I thought I was being a noob just trying to find out what a noob is.LOL :rofl:HAHA

 

[ArthurSull]

Oh I get it now. I thought I was being a noob just trying to find out what a noob is.LOL :rofl:HAHA

You could say that! Haha.

RWMarlow. That's a great quote.

Kind of what I'm doing on my build currently, half using this forum to help me out and half using my noggin to work out whether I will be smiling or crying in the 60 seconds after launch

 

[JohnnyRocket]

Thanks for this. Yesterday I posted an admittedly stupid question. I have 0 experience in rockets and fireworks. Once people explained to me my idea, while it may not be against the law, was very dangerous, I abandoned the idea. But that discouraged no one from saying "I wouldn't listen," or "I was going to do it anyway" or I "wanted to go to jail." I was accused of being a part of some elaborate troll network making up several users on the site, of being an ATF agent (WTF?) amongst other things. I did meet a few nice people, including a guy who has PMed me about learning a few nasty tricks. Hopefully the conspiracy theorists and paranoid people can die off and the people willing to help will help make this community better.

 

[RWmarlow]

It may be taught in schools from looking at this

 

[asheriff]

The forum search engine is ok, but I find myself using google's site search more often. Just preface the search term(s) with "site:rocketryforum.com". For example, the basic forum search engine returns 1 useless result for "binder designs galaxy" because it doesn't like the "s" at the end of "designs". Goggle is smart enough to fix it for me and find everything on the domain if I search for "site:rocketryforum.com binder designs galaxy".

 

[o1d_dude]

If we're going to toss around the term we should at least spell it properly: n00b.

That is a pair of zeros bookended by lower case "n" and "b".

As pointed out above, it is an "l33tspeak" abreviation of "newbie".

"New guy" is abbreviated "FNG" ("funny new guy").