A Plea for Direct Experience

[MT_Wyatt]

"Back in the old days" there would be some reminder posts, every once in a while, calling for folks to chime in with direct experience, and not simply repeat what the group was saying. There was also the infamous "parrot" accusations a while ago, ha. Snyder's UPS/Fedex truck review joke. Etc, etc.

"In my experience" of course can be extrapolated into some topics without harm, so I do not think this is a 100% all the time kind of thing. I'm sure I've broken faith with this "rule" at some point.

But I feel compelled to post, and ask, for this simple go/no go before posting - am I talking about something that I have direct experience with? Otherwise, groupthink tends to take over. This could apply to just about everything we discuss on here. Free exchange of ideas, experiences, and opinions is not in danger, but the validity of some of it gets watered down at times.

@robby denning, @Ryan Avery feel free to nuke this if it does not apply anymore or you don't agree.......feels like it is time to float the idea again.

 

[Trail&ErrorAK]

Good call out though - If you were in person and had to back up what you were saying would you still say it. Same should go for on here overall.

 

[Cwsharer]

Do memes count?

 

[Ryan Avery]

"Back in the old days" there would be some reminder posts, every once in a while, calling for folks to chime in with direct experience, and not simply repeat what the group was saying. There was also the infamous "parrot" accusations a while ago, ha. Snyder's UPS/Fedex truck review joke. Etc, etc.

"In my experience" of course can be extrapolated into some topics without harm, so I do not think this is a 100% all the time kind of thing. I'm sure I've broken faith with this "rule" at some point.

But I feel compelled to post, and ask, for this simple go/no go before posting - am I talking about something that I have direct experience with? Otherwise, groupthink tends to take over. This could apply to just about everything we discuss on here. Free exchange of ideas, experiences, and opinions is not in danger, but the validity of some of it gets watered down at times.

@robby denning, @Ryan Avery feel free to nuke this if it does not apply anymore or you don't agree.......feels like it is time to float the idea again.

It was on my list to post something similar after the first of the year.

If you haven't done it, STFU!

 

[FrankieP1988]

I just assume everyone is this guy on forums

 

[FrankieP1988]

In all seriousness, haven't forums and social media groups always been this way though? I think there has always been a need for some vetting when looking for advice or real world experience online. It generally doesn't take much to see who is spitting facts vs bs

 

[MT_Wyatt]

 

[jolemons]

Thanks for the PSA. I feel like since RS has grown over the last ~12 years that there has been a dilution of the expertise that once existed amongst the members.

Sent from my SM-S936U using Tapatalk

 

[Hnthrdr]

I get Rokslide gets called out for “groupthink” but honestly this forum seemed to be the one forum out of most where guys proposed “theories” and then went out and conducted it tests and then posted said results… wanna talk about group think most of the hunting world thinks shooting an elk with a match bullet in .223 is absolutely bonkers, they also think Loopy’s are the gold standard ect ect… but yeah I think everyone should take a lot of stuff people say with a grain of salt and vet things for themselves