Have you noticed what happens to some TBN Members?

[livincountry]

For me it depends on my free time to surf the new posts. I reply if I have something of value to add (I hope). I have learned a bunch from various discussion boards I am signed to. I have been aggitated by some replies I have received but it's OK. We all have opinions...

 

[OkeeDon]

When I first found TBN, I was buying a tractor, I had questions, I didn't have time to lurk. I asked my questions, got good answers, and bought the tractor.

But, I vowed that I would try to repay the favor. I stayed with TBN, mostly read the New Holland threads, and tried to answer specific questions with my own (limited) experience. Occasionally I got off a good one, because maybe something unique happened to me.

Over time, I started wandering around the "community". I bet it was months before I started looking at the "photos" section. I got interested in "projects" and "building things". As I got more comfortable, I discovered the "rural living" and "related items" sections, and gradually became a blabbermouth, for better or worse. Now, I look there, first. It's a different TBN experience for me, today, than it was 14 months ago when I hesitantly asked my first question.

But, it all started with that first commitment to try to pay back the information I was given. Maybe we should spend a little more time encouraging first-timers to be sure to come back, that they will experience things that we never did, and remind them that even veteran TBN'ers will learn something new if they stick around and share with us.

Some of the best TBN experiences come in the most unexpected ways. I'm particularly enjoying the "flowers" thread right now, because it's amazing how much all of the differences in attitudes and opinions melt away in the face of some wildflowers. Newcomers who just fade away after their questions are answered miss all that. We should encourage them to become part of the community -- everyone here is valuable in some unexpected way.

 

[RobS]

Well said Don /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Poppa]

Don just described my TBN experience only mine has occurred in just two months.

When I first found TBN I was hot into looking for tractors. Read zillions of tractor posts and from all the different forums. When I had narrowed the search, I narrowed the forums. Finally, I ordered my tractor (a Kubota). Everyday afterward I would read everything Kubota.

Then the wait for the tractor became interminable and I stopped reading tractor posts because they made me long for my own. That is when I got into the "Rural living" and "Photos" and "Related topics" forums. "Projects" and "Build your own" as well.

Well, just found out the tractor and attachments will be here Friday and now I am back to skimming all the owning operating boards to see what is in store for me again.

The amount of information on TBN and the incredibly varied nature of the threads just naturally leads to an evolution of use by myself and I would guess others as well. Also, like Don said, after receiving so much good information I feel indebted to the other members. I try and share my meager resources when possible.

Like RichZ signs off, it has been a strange and wonderful trip and it will be interesting to see how I make use of TBN in a year.

Mike

 

[Bob_Skurka]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I think in many cases the post takes on a life of its own, bearing no resemblance to the original topic. Back in the days when you could modify the title of a thread it was possible to simply ignore those different directions. For me, personally, if I'm interested in the original topic but it takes a left turn, I often stop visiting that thread. Pete )</font>


I tend to agree with Pete, usually I jump out when the topic goes off track. But sometimes when the post takes that left turn is when I jump in. But then when it takes 2 left turns or a simultaneous left & a right, and the original topic is nowhere in sight, then I stop going back.

 

[OkeeDon]

You guys gotta stop talking about "left" and "right" turns -- too political. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif You can't mention "up" or "down", either -- too religious. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Now, "in" and "out", that's somethin we can all agree on. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( You guys gotta stop talking about "left" and "right" turns -- too political. You can't mention "up" or "down", either -- too religious. Now, "in" and "out", that's somethin we can all agree on. )</font>

Don, it doesn't hurt that once-in-awhile you get to be the "class clown" for a day. This must be your day. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[YanmarFever]

Maybe the reason you dont hear of them any more is because we either answered their tractor question-problem
Or they are out on their machine burning up diesel. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Then again look at my boycott on the 19th thread
you boys took me to task and racked me over the coals for that one, then it took a weird turn about economics & the wars, /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gifI just tucked my tail & went to another forum
where the lead flew a little higher. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
So it could be a number of reasons why they come & go.

Tractor Ernie

 

[Cliff_Johns]

I have moved into and out of several car/truck related sites which are similar in purpose to this one for tractors. I'd ask my questions, then leave when I found that the site just didn't hold my interest -- mostly because they went too off topic or because there was an atmosphere of one-up-man-ship or bitter dispute or because there just wasn't that much to talk about.

This site however, seems to be consistantly useful and has help me a lot, so, yes, I feel like I should give something back. I feel very good when I can -- which isn't very often yet, but I hope to be more useful to the board as time goes on.

One thing that makes a tractor forum different is that there's always more to learn about how to use a tractor to best advantage. At some point a car or truck is a car or truck, you drive it, you put stuff in it. But a tractor is too versitile too learn all it's capabilities.

I also find that humor seems to be welcome here (at least I haven't been kicked off yet) and I appreciate that.

Cliff

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue"> at least I haven't been kicked off yet </font>

That's in-part because you have a cute doggie. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The other part is you contribute to the community. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

If you think about it and go back and read... only a few folks tend to take a beating on the forums. I read those posts and wonder what makes them tick. Usually, as long as someone acknowledges my opinion(doesn't have to agree with me) in a kind manner, I'm satisfied. But once in a while some of us(myself included) tend to want to hammer on an issue trying to get the person to admit that our opinion is a valid one or worse, their opinion is stupid. Yikes!!! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Knowing when to 'let it go' is something that I continuously have to work on both here at TBN and in the rest of my personal life. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

As to the original topic...

I agree with the others that stated some folks just want an answer to a technical question or they want their daily affirmation and then they get out of there. They don't want to be a part of the community, or don't realize that there is a community here in their haste to find a techinical answer to a huge problem(at least it seems huge to them at the time). So, they get their answer and get out of there.