Ed,
I don't know the answer to your insurance question, but I think it is
important to recognize that many, if not most of the listers that
regularly answer questions do so directly to the inquisitor and not
publicly to the list. This saves the rest of us from reading volumes of
repetitive mail and saves time for all of us. This is even more
prevalent when the question is one that is repeated from previous
threads or is one of the "old standards". Since we don't post to
everyone, nobody knows if the question has been responded to or not.
The answer is simple, re-post the question as soon as you get impatient
and let the list know that no-one has answered. A response will come
quickly.
The other thing that happens, is that the old hands get tired of
answering the same questions over and over again. This is time
consuming, and often the answers are easily obtainable from places like
the VTR web page, where many of the answers to the "old standard"
questions reside in the maintenance pages. If the person asking the
question isn't aware of the resources, the answer usually directs them
to the best resource web-site.
Lastly, let me add how important it is that we thank those that help
us. Thanking list-wide encourages all of us to continue our efforts and
let's everyone know that the question is answered. Before I was
"Internet enabled", I spent a few years on the Prodigy "Triumph Lovers"
mailing list, and became completely frustrated by the lack of common
courtesy. I recognize that some people just take and some give and
take. It was worse on Prodigy, with all the 30 day free trials people
would come and go. I'm sure some of that happens here. The list is a
community and common courtesy is all that is required to make it work.
BTW, the insurance thread was very interesting and typical of the type
of subject that gets lot's of input from the list. I'm sure that it was
just a matter of most of the knowledgeable folks figuring that the
other guy will take that one. I'm like you, I read it but didn't retain
it, so I like to see the subject covered again.
Bob Kramer, Austin TX
Hill Country Triumph Club
TR6x3, TR250 x3, TR3A vintage race
rgk@flash.net
----------
> From: Ed Hutchinson <hutch837@juno.com>
> To: triumphs@autox.team.net
> Subject: Unanswered Questions - Venting
> Date: Tuesday, March 10, 1998 9:48 PM
>
>
> Some time ago a message was posted regarding a question being asked
of
> the members of this list and no response being given to the sender of
the
> question. He was quite thoroughly trashed for voicing his
frustration.
> After all, even though the question was a serious one to the sender,
> everyone on the list considered it "stupid". I cannot speak for
others
> on the list but I'm sure there are others lurking in the shadows who
know
> very little and are hoping to pick up what we can by reading the
> discussions carried on by the more experienced owners. Occasionally,
we
> venture forth with questions which are important to us. Questions,
whose
> answers may be obvious to the more experienced people and are,
therefore,
> not responded to.
>
> Those of you who have gained experience in various aspects of British
> cars started out much the same as those of us who know little. You
> gained your knowledge by reading, asking questions of others and
working
> on your cars. No one is born with the knowledge that many of you have
> gained over the years. Think of where you would be if there had been
no
> one willing to answer your questions.
>
> Too some extent, more experienced members of this list have, for want
of
> another word, an obligation to pass on their experience to those who
are
> new to the field of British cars. Being part of a group such as this
> does impose some responsibility on other members to pass along
> information. After all, we all are working toward the same goal,
which
> is the enjoyment of these British cars by keeping them on the road.
>
> This list is intimidating. When you know so little and constantly
see
> people who obviously know a great deal sharing information, it can be
> hard to venture forth with questions. Especially after seeing another
> list member being thoroughly trashed for venting about the lack of a
> response to his questions.
>
> The old adage "there is no such thing as a dumb question" could not
be
> truer. If someone poses a question this list it is because he or she
does
> not know the answer. To deny him that knowledge by not responding is
the
> "stupid" act. I would rather receive 50 responses from different
people
> saying the same thing than to not receive any.
>
> Which brings me to my point.
>
> The other day I posted a question asking the difference between the
> various definitions of replacement when taking out collision
insurance.
> There was some discussion recently which said that when taking out
> insurance be sure that you specify one type of replacement.
> Unfortunately, I do not have access to that previous discussion. I
> received one response which described what I needed to provide the
> insurance company when taking out the collision but not whether it
should
> be agreed replacement, stated value or whatever the term is.
>
> I will be taking out collision insurance within the next week or two
and
> it is important to me that I get the proper coverage. After all, if
> something happens to the car, I want to be able to repair it and get
it
> back on the road.
>
> I would hope that in the future when a question is posed to the list
> those of you out there with the expertise to provide an answer might
say
> "that's a stupid question but I'll answer it anyway because I'm sure
I
> asked a few dumb questions in my life". You have a lot to share with
the
> rest of us, if only you will.
>
> OK, I've had my say. Fire away.
>
> Ed
>
> 74 TR6 CF17687U
>
>
>
>
>
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