Just Venting

[Steve149]

In my short time being a part of the OCC family, and the proud owner of one of these fine working machines, I have gained a wealth of knowledge by reading posts from other members having issues, interacting in these posts if I have a similar issue, and in general asking questions if I don’t know.
I spent 23 years working for a Paper mill which closed down leaving me with a big decision, so I decided to go back to school and finish my degree in Computer Science, and for the past 15 years I have been a Network Administrator. In this time frame I have gained much practical experience from starting out not knowing to being the one they come to for answers. Having said this brings me to the point I am trying to make here!
There are many people on this forum that have years of practical experience from being around these tractors and that knowledge goes without saying. However, those of us that lack this knowledge and experience reach out to those that do. With that said, time and time again I see the rant about how this subject has been covered multiple times before…Or read the manual, try to troubleshoot it, then ask! Hello, have you used the search on here??? Maybe if you are lucky it will get you in the ball park, but if you aren’t really sure what the doohickey is you are trying to fix, how can you properly search for it? If I were to respond to my co-workers in such a way I probably would be out looking for another job!
I understand the frustration of repetitive questions, they are tiresome, but in a situation like we have here it will be an ongoing issue as new members come aboard. Most of the time I just laugh when I see this rant, but in reality if repetition bothers you no one is forcing you to answer! To be honest, the first time I saw this someone asked a general question about paint, the next person to reply stated “Here we go again” I thought really. How discouraging is this to someone new to cub cadet’s seeking an answer only to see this kind of response.
I have printed service manuals, owner’s manuals, and relevant posts which I have saved in my shop in a 3-ring binder so I have a physical reference; there is no internet. I know being a Network Admin one would think I would - WRONG!!!!! LOL
In conclusion, nothing makes me laugh more than reading how Jonathan hates snakes or so-in-so got another Lew deal all good fun! We are a bunch of good ol boys playing with our toys and helping out when we can – but we can’t lose sight of the fact that WE once were that new guy!
Just my 2 cents for what it’s worth!

[rwairforce]

Excellent and I agree.
We've all been the new guy. I've also been the guy that's been asked 100 times about something. As a very experienced IBM Service Engineer shared with me one day (I grew up when only mainframe computers existed) I asked him why others referred to him as "Expert" he shared with me a very simple answer. He said because I've screwed up more than anyone else has.
I've always remembered that. It was sometime in the 80s when I learned that valuable lesson. I was in my 30s.

[j4c11]

You are exactly right. I remember in my first year as a software developer I was asked to set up X12 EDI with BB&B, this is the kind of stuff no school anywhere teaches you. I was so clueless about it I didn't even know what question to ask or what words to look for to begin to understand. If you don't know the terminology you can't even search because you don't know what to search for!

[R Bedell]

You have a point.

I can assure you, there IS the other side of the coin. And I will just let it be as that.

[Steve149]

Originally Posted by R Bedell

You have a point.

I can assure you, there IS the other side of the coin. And I will just let it be as that.

Roland all to well I know where your are coming from!!!! Sad to say but true!
Here Here for OCC

[Tacosteelersman]

What about a list in the FAQ section. Could put a basic list together and when signing up on the OCC board new members could be directed to view the FAQ list possibly curbing some of the repeat questions.


I accually like repeat questions because it gives us another chance at seeing more cub pictures, I like the people that answer with " if we could see pictures we could help better".

[gsomersjr]

I agree with you completely. I also have to place a huge blame on our search engine. When you can't search a three character word or number you're pretty much screwed in the Cub Cadet world.

[gsomersjr]

And to expand on the FAQ suggestion: is it feasible to break down the categories beyond just IH and CCC? Maybe narrow frame and wide frame categories or by model number? Just thinking out loud here. I know it would be time consuming.

[jimbob200521]

Originally Posted by Steve149

In my short time being a part of the OCC family, and the proud owner of one of these fine working machines, I have gained a wealth of knowledge by reading posts from other members having issues, interacting in these posts if I have a similar issue, and in general asking questions if I don’t know.
I spent 23 years working for a Paper mill which closed down leaving me with a big decision, so I decided to go back to school and finish my degree in Computer Science, and for the past 15 years I have been a Network Administrator. In this time frame I have gained much practical experience from starting out not knowing to being the one they come to for answers. Having said this brings me to the point I am trying to make here!
There are many people on this forum that have years of practical experience from being around these tractors and that knowledge goes without saying. However, those of us that lack this knowledge and experience reach out to those that do. With that said, time and time again I see the rant about how this subject has been covered multiple times before…Or read the manual, try to troubleshoot it, then ask! Hello, have you used the search on here??? Maybe if you are lucky it will get you in the ball park, but if you aren’t really sure what the doohickey is you are trying to fix, how can you properly search for it? If I were to respond to my co-workers in such a way I probably would be out looking for another job!
I understand the frustration of repetitive questions, they are tiresome, but in a situation like we have here it will be an ongoing issue as new members come aboard. Most of the time I just laugh when I see this rant, but in reality if repetition bothers you no one is forcing you to answer! To be honest, the first time I saw this someone asked a general question about paint, the next person to reply stated “Here we go again” I thought really. How discouraging is this to someone new to cub cadet’s seeking an answer only to see this kind of response.
I have printed service manuals, owner’s manuals, and relevant posts which I have saved in my shop in a 3-ring binder so I have a physical reference; there is no internet. I know being a Network Admin one would think I would - WRONG!!!!! LOL
In conclusion, nothing makes me laugh more than reading how Jonathan hates snakes or so-in-so got another Lew deal all good fun! We are a bunch of good ol boys playing with our toys and helping out when we can – but we can’t lose sight of the fact that WE once were that new guy!
Just my 2 cents for what it’s worth!

First off, without egging on a debate about what you posted, I agree with what you said, 100%.

But I also want to point out that the above text I have bolded made me bust out laughing in my office. John; I think the snake thing is going to stick!!

Sorry, back on topic

[red56turbo]

Steve149,
Well said. I apologize from the OCC community that you feel this way, even though I shouldn't have to be the one apologizing. I have seen what you're describing time and time again and have spoken up before and it still happens. Just bear with it and shrug it off. Nothing personal to you or other "newbies", just the nature of the beast I guess. Does it have to be like that? No. Will it change? Evidently not. I will say there are some great members on here and most are not put out by newbs asking questions, myself included. You are correct, we were all new to this hobby at one time. Our goal is to get more involved, not run them off.

I also see Roland's side as well. There are FAQ's, but I have to agree, the search function leaves alittle less to be desired. (Nature of the beast with the website, of course, not Roland's fault ) Does it get frustrating answering the same question over and over? Yes. Are we obligated to answer that said question time and time again? No. So if you don't wanna answer or help out, just don't post on a thread. Someone else will. Now there are some people who don't even try to look stuff up in the manual or troubleshoot. They take the easy way out and just ask a question. That is frustrating. One of the best things to do other than surf the forum and learn is to read the manual, whether hard copy or downloadable. You'd be amazed at what one can learn by reading thru it and researching some. I've learned over the years from other collectors, "That they're only a freakin' garden tractor for crying out loud!"

Dunno, maybe I'm way off base. Maybe only "newbies" and I feel this way. If so, I'll take the big "Doh" and go wrench on some cubs. Oh, and go to Blunier's plow day next weekend in Roanoke and shoot the breeze with some cub buddies and turn some dirt. That's why I got into this hobby and joined the forum. To learn, teach, and make new friends...........................and play in the dirt.