UPDATE PLEASE READ: How we now handle people asking about Gas

[Dan]

http://www.ukplumbersforums.co.uk/t...eople-who-shouldnt-be-messing-with-gas.96735/

When we refuse help for people when they shouldn't be getting it, please be polite about it, or just don't reply at all.

I want the forum booming again. And we're putting off people far too easily it seems, just be replying with insults and telling them go get somebody in who knows what they're doing etc. That's not good enough.

We'll have a directory soon, of Heating Engineers, Bathroom Fitters, Plumbers etc - So we'll be able to professionally respond with links to our directory and actually still help them out. Rather than just insulting them, so they don't even ask about their taps or whatever in the future.

Is that okay? Or am I being unreasonable?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

fine but threads get locked so no one else can offer advice later down the road

 

[Dan]

Do they? Who said that?

Surely keeping them open and responding to them again with the stock message, soon gets the message across for lurkers.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Do they? Who said that?

Surely keeping them open and responding to them again with the stock message, soon gets the message across for lurkers.

see it happen and more work for the mods later down the road going through old threads and closing them

ask croppie or ap or any of the other mods

 

[Dan]

Yeah, I've seen them do it today. I don't like it. I don't think it's the future for the forum that. Whatever software and setup we had before clearly wasn't working. I've sorted the software, we need to come together now and sort the setup out.

I'm just hanging around and getting a feel for the place before I do anything. Shame you're not a trusted guy, I've just made a thread in there asking for help and whatnot. (Trusted guys - go fish.) I'll see what they come up with before rolling it down the line so to speak.

Hang in there matey. If you can just help with the being polite or just not replying to those types of threads. Even perhaps report them with 'one for dan' for me if you clock them and I'll take over. That'd be great.

 

[Dotty]

Do they? Who said that?

Surely keeping them open and responding to them again with the stock message, soon gets the message across for lurkers.

No, it doesn't @Dan.

Not only that but well meaning posters who aren't familiar with our forum rules can, and do, post up answers to the initial question which not only result in the original poster breaking the law but also putting them in real and immediate danger should they attempt a diy repair.

This is why we close down those threads, and as politely as we can.

It works. It protects you, it protects us, it protects our members and it protects the forum.

This is a policy we're not going to let you change, @Dan. Sorry.

 

[Dan]

Clearly whatever you're doing before now hasn't worked because we're still getting people asking.

It doesn't protect the forum's future at all. It's on its arse. And part the reason judging by a LOT of feedback I've got, is we're just too harsh with newbies and people not in the usual clique.

I'm going to keep going through some threads and see what I can suggest.

But closing threads isn't what we're going to carry on doing.

'You need to go find somebody who knows what they're doing' type response then shut them down just doesn't cut the mustard.

There are loads of other options. Make an informed decision and be informed of those first before sticking to your guns about it pal. This isn't the old forum setup, or software. That didn't work.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

As @croppie Said i echo those thoughts,we do what we do to protect the forum,the general public and its members,if someone where to die through advice given on ukpf,it would be a very different ballgame

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Yeah, I've seen them do it today. I don't like it. I don't think it's the future for the forum that. Whatever software and setup we had before clearly wasn't working. I've sorted the software, we need to come together now and sort the setup out.

I'm just hanging around and getting a feel for the place before I do anything. Shame you're not a trusted guy, I've just made a thread in there asking for help and whatnot. (Trusted guys - go fish.) I'll see what they come up with before rolling it down the line so to speak.

Hang in there matey. If you can just help with the being polite or just not replying to those types of threads. Even perhaps report them with 'one for dan' for me if you clock them and I'll take over. That'd be great.

get where your going but its down to safety weather you like it or not, think the forum would get more of a bad rap if we killed someone worse than closing a few threads,

make an account on the elec forum and ask how to connect up either a shower or a main switch you will get the same answers

also we always are well all of the reg members, the only times it goes south is when the op doesnt like the answer hes given and then quotes a load of bull and throws the toys out

gasman beat me to it

 

[Dotty]

Dan, seriously mate. Gas is a different beast entirely to all your other trades. It is the only one that is vigorously regulated. It is the only trade that can, and does, carry custodial sentences for ignoring the law.

This is what we're protecting you from.

This is what we protect have a go heroes with no idea of their own limits from.

And we will not allow information to be divulged that could result in peoples deaths.

That is why we tell posters to get someone in, the same goes for oil, solid fuel and unvented cylinders.

Get them wrong and it's not "oops, I got a little bit wet there." It'll be more along the lines of catastrophic building destruction and people losing their lives.

 

[Dan]

No it isn't. Electrics? Nearly all house fires are caused by electrics pal.

Look, don't shoot me down. I too don't want to advise the wrong people. What I'm saying is the way you're going about it, kills a forum.

A forum by definition means 'open discussion' and you're literally closing discussions. lol

This is my job, I'm one of the best in the world at it. I can come up with a solution, that's automated, using software and code. I guarantee it.

Here's an example I've just quickly thought of. Just to prove to you, so I have you guys to thank, but actually, it might work!

Say we have two key groups on the forum. Gas Fitters then Water Plumbers. Of which DIY and just your general bathroom fitter can fall under. And when you register to the site you choose which group you are (unknowing that it's going to stick you in a section on the forum) and when one chooses Water Plumbers, they can never get in Gas stuff. And have warnings saying not to post about gas. But if they do, there's no gas people in there anyway to reply, so nobody has really got an answer.

But then if they click Gas Fitter at registration, they go in the gas areas, away from the pipe benders, but they have a week or so to prove they're gas or they get removed automatically.

Or something like that?

There's no need to do it all at thread level, when the person is expecting a reply, it's too late, we've ballsed up already. And when we do, we look a twit either way. We reply and look like fools. We don't a look like fools. We've lost well before then.

Work with me and let's sort this out. But you're going to have to or I'll just work it out myself from browsing.

Putting your foot down wont work. lol

 

[Dotty]

No it isn't. Electrics?

How often do you hear of a moody electrician in court? Or a house being demolished because of dodgy electrics? Or a family dying of CO poisoning because they messed around with a couple of wires.

I'm not taking anything away from the sparkies but their trade doesn't carry the same potential to kill that ours does.

 

[Dan]

How often do you hear of a moody electrician in court? Or a house being demolished because of dodgy electrics? Or a family dying of CO poisoning because they messed around with a couple of wires.

I'm not taking anything away from the sparkies but their trade doesn't carry the same potential to kill that ours does.

Monthly.

I hear of babies dying because somebody got the wrong advice and they didn't protect a ring they extended for a baby's bedroom say. Or perhaps overloaded a ring main in a kitchen and trapped a family in a block of flats with a kitchen fire. Which kills silently just the same. Don't think I don't have risks on my other forums that equal death.

But what we do over there, because we're super professional, is work together on bettering the industry. Work with the various associations to get their official advice etc. Work with training companies and whatnot to make sure they're keeping up to date with the regs.

And then use the clever software. And more to the point, the power of LOTS OF BRAINS WORKING TOGETHER.

Don't shoot me down. We want the same thing here.

You're just not suggesting the right thing that'll work ongoing. And perhaps neither am I. But I'm willing to work on some ideas and test with you. Doesn't seem like you lot from the facebook club are to be frank lol

 

[Dan]

Here is some feedback "Congrats on the upgrade.
I'm not gas safe but visited here for quite a while. Just like to thank you for the new forum advice at the top about respect. There has been terrible arrogance on show for quite a while from at least one old hand who should know better. Think they want active participant count to be down to just the one! Why post if being non gas safe invites insults? Some of us are professionals in other spheres and it can be easy to take offence.
Thanks again,
Graham"

I literally just had that this second.

I have 3 dozen more.

Whatever you're doing lads, I'm sure it's for the right reasons, but it's not working for the forum. The forum nearly died.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

if there asking about gas safe advice and hes not gas safe i dont get how he would be affected ?

unless hes asking about how to change a diverter valve which requires you to be gas safe