The "experts" Those guys that want to show off their knowledge by responding to your post, but not answer your direct easy to answer question. I was on the modelwarship web and asked what was the closest model master enamel color to the flight deck color I was doing. Even stated that the reason i wanted MM was I could get them from my LHS. So one guy gets on and gives me a disourse about the dates another color was put on, another wants me to buy an 80 dollar wooden deck that I'll still have to stain, another about a color I can order from his company in England. At least one told me that there was a MM acrylic color. I don't see that as much here, usually someone will answer the direct question, and then give out other related info. My point is....answer the poster's initial question with as straight forward an answer as you can, then add the confusing bits

Yes I agree with you Steve, It's nice to get straight forward answers whenever possible. Although I don't mind some "background info" that may come along with the answer, (i've picked up some valuable info this way). I find the biggest problem is that people are usually in to much of a rush to properly read the post, and thereby not reply pertantly to questions. ( I'm at fault at this as well )
I do find that generally speaking the answers at the big A are short and sweet

Steve there is one small problem to your post. There is no straight answer to ship colors. Now I don't see the need for an 80 dollar wood deck, but the colors are so subjective in most cases that it is very hard to give a straight answer. The people also don't know your skill level and how precise you want to be. You are almost better off just looking at the kit instrcutions and making a guess.

Here here...I tried asking a similar veined question regarding appropriate Model Master rattle can color for "Ambush" camo scheme and it was like pulling teeth...

Rob:

I was very specific on my post at the modelwarship web. Here I am just using it as a example that a lot of times people ask a question and those responding don't answer it, they go off in another area. To me, I want my question answered and then am quite happy to continue reading to learn other info. Most of the time here , you get your question answered quckly...Other folks post reponses that broaden out what the person asked. That's what I like.

I understand and appreciate that. I always like a quick and simple answer. My favorite responses are the ones that list paint color so parts you can no longer get. "I used to use MM #4 for that deck but you can't get it anymore. Look an ebay."

Thanks Steve
Couldn't have put it better myself. I posted a a couple of questions on the armor site about a new Dragon kit I'd just picked up. For the most part they were straight to the point and very informative. I did explain to them that I work on planes for a living and could they please put their " tankese " into english for me. Everyone that responded did both for me. Turned into a very informative thread for me.
Thanks all
Jerry

P.S. old Air Force definition of an" expert " " Ex " is a has been and a "Spurt " is a drip under pressure.
just thought I'd throw that one in for free.
Jerry

Steve, I hear ya on the Readers Digest version for answers. Short and to the point. Nothing I hate more than reading umpteen million lines of text only to find out that the author doens't know jack about the answer in the first place and yet continues with the Shock and Awe assault to which there seems to be no end in site. With that, I'll shut up. "Q"

Yes, but if you are short and to the point, you will get criticized for being too business like. That has happened to me, here at this site.

Funny thing, on HyperScale's Tank Talk, someone was asking about the availability of the "M1A1 early Sherman". What I see is a typo where the user hit "1" instead of "4" and really meant to post "M4A1 early Sherman".

Poor guy got jumped on for that error.

Thats one of the main reasons that I primarily lurk on that site. Too many experts there with no common sense. Not all of them mind you, but too many for my tastes. I think the big A is a lot more user friendly. "Q"

Some days i like the "buisness like" answers, especially if im needing the info in a rush, say if im stuck halfway through a build and need info on a certain part, then it peeves me if i get the posts that tell me everything i could ever wanna know...except the answer to my Q.

Matt
That's why I like this site to. Yes sometimes you get the confusing answer but you also get the straight answer. But I even learn something from the complex answers.
All I ask is that you remember I'm a "airpane meck " so please throw in a touch of english along with the "tankese", "Shipese", "figureses and all the other "eses" I missed. :-) . Thanks
Jerry

I concor totally, the extra info can be quite valuable. But sometimes like in my case I know all about the subject having researched the heck out of it. Then some guy gets on and tells me I'm all wrong with my color choice and gives all these references. If he had read the post he would have seen I was going late 1940 and he was carrying on about late 1941.

So true. People asking questions about a model, which have already been answered in an earlier post, or even in the original post.
Example: Post : I used Tamiya's M4A3 with a Verlinden conversion (I know, as if :-) ) . This will result in multiple post asking 1 which Kit did you use and 2 which conversion did you use. Or indeed both....
Read the thread!

Cheers
Henk