Non-specific & specific questions 2

[pennpiper]

I have been thinking about this for a long time. I just had to get it off my chest.
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On this forum and others there are two kinds of questions.

Type A - Questions that DO NOT relate to a real situation. The subject is general, non-specific or hypothetical. This type of question does not require specific information and only expects a non-specific (Type A) answer.

Type B - Questions that DO relate to a real situation. The subject is very specific. This type of question should be accompanied by the complete slate of details on which to base the very specific (Type B) answer.

In many cases the person who submits a Type A question ends up rejecting the Type A answer and pushes for a full Type B answer.

In even more cases a person submits, what they intend to be a Type B question but furnish no detail information. They are then upset when they only get a Type A answer.

If you want a specific answer to a question I suggest you provide information such as:
- Pipe size
- Pipe Material
- Pipe wall schedule
- Commodity
- Operating temp
- Operating Temp.
- Country of installation
- Piping Code
- Other

 

[JohnBreen]

AMEN!!! AMEN!!! AMEN!!! AMEN!!! AMEN!!! AMEN!!!

 

[RWF7437]

Ahhh, if only the world contained only two types of questions what a wonderful place it would be.

 

[dcasto]

But I guess thats why they come here. They don't know what are the variables. I could add 10 more things to the list. I kinda look at it like when lawyers draw out the truth though playing 20 questions.

And actually, if the OP had all the answers to the listed questions, they'd most likely see the answer.

 

[MJCronin]

penn..

Bravo..!!!! You hit the nail on the head...!

I have also suspected that there may be some type of "cultural agenda" going on in the composition and phrasing of the questions.

Often, a question is asked where there must be several follow up questions (as you specified in type "B")and, after a few responses, it becomes clear that the original poster is bright, but refuses to "be bothered" with submitting so much detail up front.

I suspect that, for some cultures, the whole process of asking questions to strangers is unpleasant or demeaning and this leads to terse, brief and incomplete questions.

Western cultures, in my opinion, often revel in thier technical confusion. An significant element of male bonding has always been the act of one guy helping out another....
That "aha" moment, in western cultures, forms the glue of teamwork...Many engineers seem to be just older children who love to understand how something works...

Again, just my opinion...

Another major issue that could be discussed is the broken english used to post many questions.....This also begins the tedious Q&A process of "what do you mean "

My opinon only

-MJC

 

[RossABQ]

What surprises me is how many "How do I pipe a nuclear reactor" or "can I use PVC for piping Silane" questions there are; where the proper response should be "Please give me your name and address so I can come shoot you before you kill someone". There appear to be a lot of young or inexperienced engineers who are working on things beyond their training.

No cure for the broken English; my chinese and spanish are not as good as their English. I find it more distressing how poorly many native English-speaking people write.

 

[JLSeagull]

Slow day, eh?

 

[Latexman]

I recall a former boss who summed it up as follows, if you want the right answer, you have to ask the right question.

Good luck,
Latexman

 

[MortenA]

MCJ it may come as a surprice - but this is not a 100% US (or even "native english speaking" forum). Im one of them. There are many nationalities represented and to my knowledge this is encouraged.

You may be fluent in other languages than English but to many persons even though they are intelligent and has lots of knowledge and experience language is a barrier. But still they try (endure?). What they dont need is snappy comments to their performance in this are.

Just my honest opinion on this subject.

Bestregards

Morten

 

[IRstuff]

I thk MCJ waz r4ing 2 n8iv OPs, not necessarily English or even Western posters.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[BigInch]

It appears to be assumed that an OP knows enough about a subject to ask the right question to begin with. Is that really a requirement to make a post?

.... and the PFD please.

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com

 

[IRstuff]

Hasn't stopped posters from posting...

I do think that OPs need to do some rudimentary websearching and studying before posting. Oft times, I see a question, do a Dogpile search, and within the first 10 hits is an answer, even on some subjects I know little or nothing about.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[europipe]

Sometimes people want a concrete answer and not a flood of theory and American codes.
When some of you don’t want to see or answer a question, don’t reply.
(just like watching tv, there is a switch on it)
(John, is that a serious prayer?)

Greetings

 

[GregLamberson]

I have to agree with MortenA - having lived & worked in coutries that do not speak English, there are some extremely sharp engineers that I would put up against any Western engineer. But when you look at what they write in English they come across as rudimentary, at the same time when I try and discuss intelligently in Spanish or especially Portuguese I look and sound like Ned & the 1st Reader - don't judge a book by it's cover, no pun intended.

The forum is here to help and if someone posts a question, they need help. And because somehting is obvious to one, it's not to all. It may be simply to advise them to do a Google or EngTips search (I agree there are many posts that a search would answer), or to give an opinion or maybe even make a calculation or confirm one, but I have seen some answers given that are a bit embarrasing. So, just as a reminder, everyone has had to start at the begining and this forum is a good place to get some both basic and detailed help.

Pennpiper - thanks for this post and getting a well needed discussion kicked off.

Greg Lamberson, BS, MBA
Consultant - Upstream Energy
Website:

http://www.oil-gas-consulting.com