"Hit and run" posters / trolls

[alpinerabbit]

I've noticed we had a lot of new people here lately, posting very basic questions, usually "help me buy a bike" or "help me lose weight by cycling" type things.

There's no way of telling if they were genuine and satisfied by the responses, but generally if someone does not come back after a post or two, "hit and run" can be suspected.

Too bad for any genuines, I don't think I'll freely give out advice to a first time poster anymore. Potential waste of time and pixels.

[tulip]

I've noticed that, too. I think the best thing to do is to respond with questions (what kind of riding do you do, etc.) and a nice prod to do an introduction before jumping right into responses. If they bite, then I'll take some time chat. If not, no loss.

[beccaB]

Maybe some people aren't savvy about forum ettiquette? That might be me, because I don't know what "hit and run" means, other than it happened to me once while I was running.

[beccaB]

Also, maybe if they hadn't had a chance to test out the advice they've been given? I've been advised on a solution for the hotfoot and numbness, but haven't had the money to make a change in shoes yet, thereby not getting back to the people that gave me the advice.

[Kimmyt]

Or maybe they're not the type of people to join an online community, but just want an answer to a question?

Why do they have to be a frequent poster to rate a response to a question you have?

I mean, trolls are one thing, but a simple question... I dunno, what's it gonna hurt to respond to someone's question, if they respond back or not?

[alpinerabbit]

A thanks would suffice. It's not about the courtesy, just to show you're real.

[jobob]

I agree with AR. Just a simple thank you would suffice.

If the OP went through all the effort to post the question in the first place, then surely she can take a moment to acknowledge others' efforts at replying.

Reminds me of the time a couple of years ago when a mother frantically posted to the board begging for advice about what to do for her young daughter who just started her period the night before a cycling race. She received many helpful, supportive, well-thought out replies, and she never acknowledged a one.

[TxDoc]

A thanks would suffice. It's not about the courtesy, just to show you're real.

I agree that it would be nice - but I guess we are all guilty of laziness sometimes.
Too lazy to search the forums maybe, and thinking that it's just quicker to ask a question even if it could be a duplicate. And likewise, maybe once we get the answer we were looking for, then we assume we are done - and forget to throw in a 'thank you' to whoever spent some time trying to help. It would be nice to do that, but I'm sure I forget many times so I cannot complain about others...