Help...or don't Help!

[2hapykdz]

This site is AWESOME....when it comes to asking for help with a specific question. I hate it when you ask an opinion question about a particular restaurant/menu item and ya get someone who makes irrelevant comments and suggestions........example.....I asked if anyone knew of any instances where someone was successful in getting a server to switch out a dessert for an app on the Dining Plan. I was expecting a whole lot of "absolutely not" "never gonna happen" "maybe a soup of a salad" all the way to opposite end of the spectrum of " my sister's boyfriend's mother's fiancee was able to do it at Via Napoli" etc..........and then I get ..."Well ...if you need to make changes, the Dining Plan might not be for you"......OMG!!!! NOT WHAT I ASKED!!!!!! First of all, It's Free Dining and I don't care.... and I'm asking if anyone had any luck....JUST SAY YES (FILL IN THE BLANK) OR ....NO (FILL IN THE BLANK)....CAN YA TELL I NEED A VACATION!!! LOL rant over.............................

 

[Pumbaa_]

Welcome to the internet

 

[2hapykdz]

Welcome to the internet

I know @Pumbaa_ ........I know!!!!

 

[sharonabe]

and then I get ..."Well ...if you need to make changes, the Dining Plan might not be for you"......OMG!!!! NOT WHAT I ASKED!!!!!! First of all, It's Free Dining and I don't care.... and I'm asking if anyone had any luck....JUST SAY YES (FILL IN THE BLANK) OR ....NO (FILL IN THE BLANK)....CAN YA TELL I NEED A VACATION!!! LOL rant over.............................

I hear you, I really do, but there is at least one more side to this. A month from now, a newbie comes along researching the dining plan and they come across your thread, and they think, "Oohhhh, if I could do that, I'd definitely BUY the plan." The comment was made to help you AND anyone who comes along later to know that if you need to make adjustments to the plan, it probably isn't for you.

And, in their defense, you didn't tell us you had free dining from the get-go; you just asked the question. Getting free dining does make a difference in how many people value each component.

 

[2hapykdz]

I hear you, I really do, but there is at least one more side to this. A month from now, a newbie comes along researching the dining plan and they come across your thread, and they think, "Oohhhh, if I could do that, I'd definitely BUY the plan." The comment was made to help you AND anyone who comes along later to know that if you need to make adjustments to the plan, it probably isn't for you.

And, in their defense, you didn't tell us you had free dining from the get-go; you just asked the question. Getting free dining does make a difference in how many people value each component.

YA missing the point......add a comment to the question...positive or negative.....dont redirect to another topic...that has no relevence.....thats all I'm saying!

 

[ToddyLu]

I would just state up front when you post a question that you only want yes and no responses. As aggravating as it is, most people genuinely only want to help and some situations are just ambiguous at best. People want to be helpful and most people with their anonymity on the net sometimes give more info than you think is needed. I for one can't stand...and I cannot even believe I am going to physically write them here...the words..."vacay", "siggies" and "kiddos". Now I need to go wash my hands.

 

[2hapykdz]

Just the other day.....someone asked about the best Italian on property....to which someone responded "if you really want great Italian food....go off property in Orlando to such and such" TOTALLY not what the poster asked. Just be helpful to what they ask....thats all I'm saying!

 

[CinderDuffy]

I would just state up front when you post a question that you only want yes and no responses. As aggravating as it is, most people genuinely only want to help and some situations are just ambiguous at best. People want to be helpful and most people with their anonymity on the net sometimes give more info than you think is needed. I for one can't stand...and I cannot even believe I am going to physically write them here...the words..."vacay", "siggies" and "kiddos". Now I need to go wash my hands.

Don't forget "appys," "ressies," the "dinning" plan, grown men & women describing food as "yummy," and the worst - "littles" - which is even worse than "kiddos."

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Bless your heart.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Yeesh. It's a discussion board. If someone veers off topic just ignore and move along. The extra info might help others who search topics before asking. I've found a lot of good info within various threads that were spun off of the original question.

That's how real life in-person conversations go too. They evolve. People go off on tangents.

Maybe post a yes or no poll next time if you literally just want yes or no answers.

 

[ZoZo]

OP, I feel your pain. In one of my first posts on the DIS, many moons ago, I asked for input on the best Town Car service (back in the days before Magical Express).

Most people provided helpful advice. One poster, though, proceeded to scold me and lecture me, basically stating that there was no empirical evidence that one town car service was better than any other. I was pretty startled, especially since I was new to chat boards at the time. All I could think was, "Jeez, all I wanted was a couple of suggestions. I didn't want to do a scientific study!"

In the many years since, I've learned to take everything with a grain of salt, and try not to take things personally.

 

[nursejackie]

I know exactly where you are coming from. I once asked a question about a restaurant and the whole thread was hijacked by people arguing about the DDP. I didn't mention DDP, I replied saying we do not do it and never will but the hijack continued so I gave up.

 

[jrmasm]

Just the other day.....someone asked about the best Italian on property....to which someone responded "if you really want great Italian food....go off property in Orlando to such and such" TOTALLY not what the poster asked. Just be helpful to what they ask....thats all I'm saying!

Maybe the responders think they are being helpful.

 

[DrunkJam]

Just the other day.....someone asked about the best Italian on property....to which someone responded "if you really want great Italian food....go off property in Orlando to such and such" TOTALLY not what the poster asked. Just be helpful to what they ask....thats all I'm saying!

I do see your point, if you wanted a very specific piece of information. On the other hand, a lot of the italian options on site are reported to be less than great, so, if the main point was good italian food, the comment about off site is useful, given that from the statement, we don't know whether good italian is the main point or on site is the main point, so, additional information is just designed to be helpful.

 

[jarestel]

Learning to separate the wheat from the chaff is an essential skill on public forums. Thank the wheat, ignore the chaff.

 

[KennesawNemo]

It's everywhere. Once I asked on a mom's group where I can buy the best gluten free nut free cupcakes. I got moms all over me suggesting I should be a responsible mom and made my own from scratch, with "helpful" recipe links. I wasn't even asking for myself! I think they really just wanted to pat on their own backs.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Don't forget "appys," "ressies," the "dinning" plan, grown men & women describing food as "yummy," and the worst - "littles" - which is even worse than "kiddos."

I truly want to scream every time I see the word "dinning." Why do so many people struggle with the spelling of that word? It's not hard!! I sooooo want to be snarky any time I see it and tell the person that no such thing exists. I have exercised good self-control, however, and not stooped to that level. But, ugh, that one really sends me over the edge for some reason.

And, OP, I know what you're saying. I think the best thing to do would be to just ignore any posts that you don't find helpful. The beautiful thing about message boards is that you can respond to anything you want to...or not.

 

[2hapykdz]

Just a rant...............LOL!

 

[WEDWDW]

Welcome to the internet

Or to quote the great Guns 'n Roses:

"Welcome To the Jungle"!lol

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

It's everywhere. Once I asked on a mom's group where I can buy the best gluten free nut free cupcakes. I got moms all over me suggesting I should be a responsible mom and made my own from scratch, with "helpful" recipe links. I wasn't even asking for myself! I think they really just wanted to pat on their own backs.

Yep.

Some people can't help themselves.

If they are totally, 100% sure that the dining plan will not save you money, they don't care what the question is. They simply have to tell you that you won't save money on the dining plan.

If they live in a city where there are 100 great restaurants, they just know you won't be happy if you eat on property.

If they always stay off site, or on, they will tell you that staying off site, or on, is the only way.

If they make homemade bread, stay at home/ work outside of the home, bottle feed/breastfeed, their way is the only way.

Their way is the best and only way, for everyone.

The problem is, everyone is different. I live in a small town, where gluten free is pretty foreign. So Disney Dining is pretty special. I have a scooter, so Disney transportation is easier than driving. And sometimes the dining plan does save us money. But all of that isn't true for everyone.

Like you, @2hapykdz , sometimes I feel like I wish people would just answer the question then move on. And sometimes, I get into the side conversation. I need to stop it with the side conversations.