Mystery Deleted Post

[Ijack]

I'd be interested to know why a post that I made in this thread: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2469466/setup-financial-office-users.html has disappeared

Was it because I had the temerity to suggest the that OP might be a college exercise rather than a genuine query? Or is there some other reason?

 

[ex_bubblehead]

You don't need our help. You don't even know who we are and we are in no way accountable to you....

That statement was unwarranted and a violation of forum rules, thus the deletion. If you're not going to help then don't post at all.

 

[Lutfij]

Ijack,
This isn't the first time you've contributed to a thread with a snark attitude. It'd help you and the OP if you were to restructure your post(s) a little more politely. Furthermore your tenure here on Tom's should speak volumes in regards to exemplary delivery.

 

[Ijack]

I was trying to make the point that such decisions are so important that they need to be made with the help of an accountable expert, who can be relied upon to follow up any problems that may arise. We are talking here about someone who is gambling the fortunes of his company - and several hundreds of thousands of dollars - on this advice, not someone who wants to know the best graphics card to use for BF4.

If you feel it unsuitable to suggest that such a question is one for a paid consultant rather than a forum of anonymous users then I despair. I am truely astounded by your reply. I am also a little surprised that posts are just deleted without any explanation.

 

[randomizer]

While the tone could, as Lutfij noted, be improved, I agree with the intent of your post. It's mind-boggling what some people are willing to gamble online, though not so mind-boggling if it was an assignment. I remember doing a similar one. No budget given, they were just interested in pretty diagrams.

 

[Ijack]

I think subsequent changes to the post make it clear that it was an excercise, not a genuine enquiry.

I fear my statement "You don't need our help. You don't even know who we are and we are in no way accountable to you" must have been misinterpreted (though it seems fairly clear to me). It was meant to convey exactly what it says. None of us here know who other users on the forum are and so should express caution with advice given. Advice may be correct or it may be wildly incorrect - in the case of a project involving the spending of hundreds of thousands of dollars it would be foolish in the extreme to take advice from strangers who cannot in any way be held accountable for that advice.

Yes, I realize that I am often forthright in my comments - I come from a Scottish heritage and we do not suffer fools gladly but say exactly what we mean. That others read into that directness something that was not intended is unfortunate, but I'm unlikely to be able to change my posting style to suit their whims. To my mind the important thing is to give accurate answers to question; I would rather a forthright but accurate answer to any question that I asked than a polite but incorrect one.

Ironically, a moderator makes exactly the same point - in other words - in the thread. I'm also pleased to see that he has recycled other advice that I gave in my post, so at least the message got across to the OP.

Privately I must suspect that there is more to this than meet the eye.

 

[Lutfij]

I would rather a forthright but accurate answer to any question that I asked than a polite but incorrect one.

Buddy, you should know, there are people who offer correct and polite answers its only people offering correct answers with aggression that aren't taken seriously or the right manner although you may mean them good in every manner.

The saying goes, different strokes for different folks. Mind you people with ill intentions will always use politeness to get people to swallow their lies...i.e if the receiving end doesn't know better. For the record, though, people who pass off misinformation are always under our watchful eyes so breath easy.

 

[Ijack]

I am clearly not your "Buddy" and I take it as being rude for you to address me in that manner.

Now could you point out what is rude or aggressive about stating the simple fact that posters here are unonown to other posters and are not accountable to them for their advice? How is this simple statement of fact against the Forum rules? In fact, perhaps Randomizer - as a Senior Moderator - could enlighten me on this point.

I'm in complete agreement that rudeness to individuals - say addressing them as "Buddy" - is not acceptable, but my statement was in no way rude to the OP or to anyone else. And if the statement was in some held to be unacceptable, wouldn't it have been polite to ask me to modify it rather than just removing the post without explanation or notification.

A more suspicious person than myself might suspect that someone (or someones) wanted to teach me a lesson for past disagreements.

 

[4745454b]

I am clearly not your "Buddy" and I take it as being rude for you to address me in that manner.

You need to get over this. I find it "rude" whenever people from India always refer to everyone as "Sir". I don't find the word rude, just as I assume you don't find the word buddy rude, but it seems to be used without respect at all. Almost like it's a word they heard they should use, but lack the respect behind it. I understand this is a personal thing/issue with me however, and would never call someone out on it.

Now could you point out what is rude or aggressive about stating the simple fact that posters here are unonown to other posters and are not accountable to them for their advice?

As above, it's in your tone.

This isn't the first time you've contributed to a thread with a snark attitude. It'd help you and the OP if you were to restructure your post(s) a little more politely.

What you said isn't the issue. It's how you said it.

 

[Lutfij]

What you said isn't the issue. It's how you said it.

I'll agree with that mate!

 

[Ijack]

Surprise, surprise!

 

[jpishgar]

Parsing textual intonation can be a challenge, for user and moderator alike.

In this case, the interpretation of the initial response was apt. The benefit of the doubt should be given to original posters. Veracity of intent can be challenged by reporting the post to the moderation team to investigate (in this case, whether or not it was homework). Because civility is compulsory here, and it is so very important for us to maintain a warm, welcoming atmosphere, we have to be careful about the tone in which we approach users. Coming off as hostile or gruff can be self-defeating, even if the intent is well-meaning.

-JP