It is just one of those things. I was a little confused when I first started posting on this forum. I had been on a motorcycle forum.. and the people over there on that forum were the opposite. They would complain whenever someone posted something making a new thread instead of contributing to an older thread with the same information contained therein. I kind of thought this was a common practice at the time. They would say things like, "this has been covered", or "I have already posted about that", or "have you ever heard of the 'search' function", etc...

In my opinion, I have found the way this forum does it is a much better way! The different issues people are having with their Jeeps are a lot of the time unique and multifaceted. I think it helps to eliminate confusion whenever you open up and start your own thread specifically geared towards your own Jeep issues and questions.The search function seems like it is better suited for helping to gain knowledge in this way for me too, when I can see someone else's Jeep problem having been resolved as specific to their own unique scenario. It is easier for me to apply this knowledge when it is like that without having the possible confusion of multiple other people's issues all tied together in one thread?

This forum gets a lot of great response too. When people here see a new thread being started, the members on this forum want to start and begin to help, and be able to see the resolution provided for this individual. Even if the same issue has been presented previously a hundred times, the experienced forum members want this person to have the resolution, and they have no trouble repeating common reasons behind the different issues that tend to resurface from time to time like they do...

(edited to add):
It used to bug me whenever a forum member elsewhere would comment to tell someone they need to use the search function first, instead of trying to help them. You won't really see something like that happening very much around here.. I cannot recall ever having seen that happen on here honestly.

 

There tend to be many new thread starts having to do with tire sizes or popular lift kits that are sometimes tedious to answer because they constantly get covered, but generally are not blown away with the "You should research it before asking" answer. One that IS, however, is the overheat scenario. I don't mind working with people that have done everything they can to diagnose the problem without result. The ones I hate are the ones you can tell haven't even opened the hood!

One episode I remember from my past was a guy who had problems with his first start on cold mornings. He had to use a hair drier on the PCM before it would start or he'd be late for work and was asking if there was anything he could do to fix it. I suggested he turn the key on for a couple of minutes before trying to start it, but that didn't work. After a few posts on that thread, I came to find out he lived in Hawaii and his idea of cold was 60*F whereas I'm sitting at my keyboard with -15*F windchill out side! I'm thinking cold solder joints in the PCM when after all, it was corrosion in the cable plugs. That was a mind bender until the location changed things.

Many times a newbie will post in the wrong section, as in XJ, ZJ, or WJ, and get scolded for it rather than answered. Since I have experience in all 3, I'll answer it if I can, then tell him about the other section.

 

Right on and I understand your points of view.

 

Yeah, I forgot about that.. lift questions. How does one get six inches of lift for around $100 - $200? I totally understand and get the responses.

(edited to add):
Its funny about the tires. Because that one specific motorcycle forum I was mentioning above they were really bad at sort of 'scolding' people whenever if-ever anything got posted before the poster did a search. However, tires were a completely different thing for them. They loved to talk tires! It seemed like to me every single member got a message or something to respond if the tires topic was brought up, and everyone had their say of the matter. I suppose tires are an extremely important aspect when it comes to keeping your motorcycle oriented correctly going down the road after all, and maybe that was it? And proper gear. Even when going just a mile away. Always have on your gear - was big... Protective gear always got big attention.

 

Now that's funny! I can't tell you how many people I've seen riding motorcycles with only swim trunks and flip-flops on! And a skinny little helmet with sunglasses! Then there's the guys in full leathers in 90* heat! If I'm going to be sliding on my back down the road, I want to be in leathers! Of course, I was riding in just a t-shirt and caught a bumble bee in the chest!

And OIL! Asking what's the best oil is like asking what's the best beer. Everybody has a different opinion.

 

Lol..

I absolutely love to be riding on two wheels! It is like my favorite thing ever! I wonder, but I probably have something close to at least 500,000 combined miles on my bikes over the years.

I am sure you know I have seen first hand 1000's of times the outcome of motorcycle accidents. Near where to I lived and worked in the ER there was a 4 - 6 week long timeframe each year when bikers from everywhere would meet. There is no helmet laws or anything here... Man! Only just.. Man!

I've been in my own motorcycle accident one time when a lady pulled right out in front of me making a left turn. I was doing maybe about 45 mph and there was no way to avoid it. In a split second decision with both wheels having already lost their traction to be able and help slow me down any further, I had to lay it down and began to slide behind the bike... I did not get up and walk away from that one, and I spent some length of time recovering from it afterwards too. I fully believe the helmet absolutely saved my life. My head smacked the pavement and it was lights out for me. The helmet I had on was quality, and it split itself almost into two halves.

But yeah.. flip flops, shorts, and no helmet. Ouch.. if you are lucky!

 

Yeah, I love riding too, but it scares my wife, and there are the kids to consider so.....

*sigh*

Interestingly, I have found that a cross country on a bike is less tiring and leaves me much less stiff than the same trek in car. I guess you just move more on a bike.


My son recently got hit on his moped. Driver fell asleep, and rear-ended him at 65. My son and his (former) moped did $7k in damage to the SUV that hit him. My son got road rash on his forearm, a bit on his back (like a 50 cent piece, but not deep), and bit on one knee. Again, not deep. A few places on his arm will leave lifetime scars, but no other injury. Oh, yes, the helmet was toast.

 

Most of my riding was in the woods on trails or in the dirt. A helmet saved my life once when I was standing on the pegs and hit a tree branch! I didn't go unconscious, but couldn't see for a while. There was a time when Bell would give you a new one if you split one of theirs and lived!

Boy, have we drifted! This should really be in "Off Topic Discussion."

 

The title does have the word "Life" ..

 

Yeah, it's time to drag this one out again!