Types of posters

[mitchel674]

OK, i've been around long enough now to make some general observations regarding common types of new posters. Most of you are so kind and helpful, that I cannot fathom how you continue to try and help some of these folks who either cannot use the search function or simply just refuse to listen to good advice. Please indulge my locked at home musings.

1. Over-zealous fitness enthusiast. This person will ask lots of questions but is really not interested in rowing. Musings on heart rate and technique simply go in one ear and out the other. In the end, they usually complain that we don't know what we are talking about.

2. "New" rower looking for praise. I can't really understand this person. I just got a new rower and have never tried one before. This morning I tried my first 2k row. Is 6:14 a good time? I was a little winded but not too bad. Troll? Low self-esteem? What??

3. The "over analyzer". Usually an enthusiastic new rower. I like this guy. I'm pulling for this guy. He posts loads of questions about how to lose weight. Lists the times and analysis of each daily workout for several weeks. Then, poof, he vanishes. Likely another person who just did not stick with an exercise regimen and another rower sitting idle with some clothes draped over the top for concealment.

Any further thoughts? And, thanks again to all of you long time forum members who have been so helpful.

[winniewinser]

Lol......wonder which one I fit into

[Dangerscouse]

Hahahahahaha, I'm a sucker for punishment and finding that occasional gem of a new 'poster' amongst a pile of rubbish is good enough for me.

@Alex, you're in my gem classification

[Zuman]

Well...there must also be some thoughtful new posters who have a mix of commitment, enthusiasm, and the nervousness that comes from not having enough perspective!
There seem to be many people for whom indoor rowing has provided that "Eureka!" moment after a lifetime of searching for the right athletic and/or fitness pursuit. Those people will still be posting in five years, even if their early posts are less than well-considered.
Uh, take me for example.
I played rugby, ran, skied, cycled, and managed to hurt myself doing just about all of them. But I've now been indoor-rowing for almost ten months, have more than 1.5 million meters in, and have completed several challenges. And I've had no injuries yet! I am confident that I'll be around for the long-term (even though I'm 67).
Don't get me wrong...I'm an idiot, too! I often let my enthusiasm get the better of me, and I don't always engage my brain before putting my mouth in gear.
So I'll add another category to your list:
4. "The Promising Rookie" - Someone who shows commitment to indoor rowing and is willing to learn from the many mistakes he or she will doubtless make; someone who will cause others to roll their eyes, but who they are willing to bet will still be on the team years later.

[mitchel674]

So I'll add another category to your list:
4. "The Promising Rookie" - Someone who shows commitment to indoor rowing and is willing to learn from the many mistakes he or she will doubtless make; someone who will cause others to roll their eyes, but who they are willing to bet will still be on the team years later.

Zuman, kudos to you for perfectly describing a category I inadvertently omitted. I happily place myself in that category. Still a rookie, but at least I'm willing to listen and learn from more experienced rowers. I hope to still be here years later.

[mitchel674]

Hahahahahaha, I'm a sucker for punishment and finding that occasional gem of a new 'poster' amongst a pile of rubbish is good enough for me.

@Alex, you're in my gem classification

I agree about Alex! A great addition here.

[Dangerscouse]

Well...there must also be some thoughtful new posters who have a mix of commitment, enthusiasm, and the nervousness that comes from not having enough perspective!
There seem to be many people for whom indoor rowing has provided that "Eureka!" moment after a lifetime of searching for the right athletic and/or fitness pursuit. Those people will still be posting in five years, even if their early posts are less than well-considered.
Uh, take me for example.
I played rugby, ran, skied, cycled, and managed to hurt myself doing just about all of them. But I've now been indoor-rowing for almost ten months, have more than 1.5 million meters in, and have completed several challenges. And I've had no injuries yet! I am confident that I'll be around for the long-term (even though I'm 67).
Don't get me wrong...I'm an idiot, too! I often let my enthusiasm get the better of me, and I don't always engage my brain before putting my mouth in gear.
So I'll add another category to your list:
4. "The Promising Rookie" - Someone who shows commitment to indoor rowing and is willing to learn from the many mistakes he or she will doubtless make; someone who will cause others to roll their eyes, but who they are willing to bet will still be on the team years later.

Yeah, very good comment, and trust me, your enthusiasm, leading to making mistakes will never properly leave...mine certainly hasn't.

[jackarabit]

The cats and kittens of category 1 are a special challenge! Particularly fine specimen pushing the limits of rational discourse in training forum atm. There will be no mutually agreed upon premises nor conclusions with that one.

[mitchel674]

The cats and kittens of category 1 are a special challenge! Particularly fine specimen pushing the limits of rational discourse in training forum atm. There will be no mutually agreed upon premises nor conclusions with that one.

Agreed!

Hence my posting this topic down here instead of the training forum.

[Citroen]

Lol......wonder which one I fit into

You're the ideal forum user. You've asked pertinent questions, you've read the responses, you've come back with questions based on that. You've reported your successes (and failures). Stick at it.

[Citroen]

Well...there must also be some thoughtful new posters who have a mix of commitment, enthusiasm, and the nervousness that comes from not having enough perspective!

Oh boy, we've seen a few of those.

So I'll add another category to your list:
4. "The Promising Rookie" - Someone who shows commitment to indoor rowing and is willing to learn from the many mistakes he or she will doubtless make; someone who will cause others to roll their eyes, but who they are willing to bet will still be on the team years later.

You're doing OK at that and playing nicely, stick at it.

I'm in the fifth category: "Grumpy old b'stard".

[Ombrax]

I’m going to be optimistic and attribute most of the super-basic newbie questions that have been asked (and answered) ad nauseam, and could have been solved by 10 seconds of searching by the OP, to new users who are somewhat excited that they’ve found a forum to discuss a new toy, so without thinking too hard about how this will sound they quickly fire off a question that’s been bugging them. Had they thought about it they would realize that many other new rowers starting off on his or her own has gone up the same learning curve and asked the same question, so a quick check using the Search function would provide all the answers they need.

[Citroen]

I’m going to be optimistic and attribute most of the super-basic newbie questions that have been asked (and answered) ad nauseam, and could have been solved by 10 seconds of searching by the OP, to new users who are somewhat excited that they’ve found a forum to discuss a new toy, so without thinking too hard about how this will sound they quickly fire off a question that’s been bugging them. Had they thought about it they would realize that many other new rowers starting off on his or her own has gone up the same learning curve and asked the same question, so a quick check using the Search function would provide all the answers they need.

Nice idea, but it won't happen. There's exactly the same problem on https://raspberrypi.org/forums. Nobody searches before posting. Some forum systems I've seen have a "try searching first, when you don't find a match start this new thread", but that's not in phpBB3. Some of the problem is not knowing the jargon which makes formulating the search predicates difficult for the newbies (even with Google being able to do some fairly clever "I'll guess what you mean" processing).

The important thing is not to be too rude.
Post Read the Fine Manual (RTFM) or Read the Fine Web Page (RTFWP), but, at least, give a link to the fine manual or the fine&dandy web page that you'd like the newbie to read.
Don't post LMGTFY, that's just bloody rude. This isn't alt.indoor.rowing on Lusenet.

[winniewinser]

Hahahahahaha, I'm a sucker for punishment and finding that occasional gem of a new 'poster' amongst a pile of rubbish is good enough for me.

@Alex, you're in my gem classification

Shucks....too kind my man!

[mitchel674]

I'm in the fifth category: "Grumpy old b'stard".

I agree. I will go ahead and add a 5th category.