Who are these odd people...

[OakLeaf]

It's not (only) the marginal English - which you're right, is at least as good as my Spanish, French or Italian, and WAY better than I can write in any other language with or without a dictionary. (I gave up trying to participate in a French sportbikers' forum several years ago. )

It's that those people post statements of marginal relevance to 15-20 threads at once, often digging up threads that are months or years old.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I just read all the posts in question, and I don't find anything that 'odd' about them. Obviously someone struggling with English, but the posts all make sense and they all contribute a little something to the discussion.
I could point out a whole lot of way 'odder' posts by regular longterm members...including myself! lol!

[Catrin]

I just pictured myself trying to post on a French-speaking forum, and shivered. There is little doubt that I would be worse - at least we can get the gist of what she/he means.

If she or he is not a spammer and really trying to connect to a cycling forum in a language that they are, perhaps, learning, I wonder if she or he actually realizes just how old the threads are? They may simply be focusing so much on the content that they do not realize that some are so old. Of course, they had to do some digging to FIND those old posts, and the odds of a newbie finding so many old threads all at the same time considering the forum lists the newest threads first even in searches certainly does make me wonder.

Outside of the large number of old threads they respond to there is certainly nothing in their posts to say that they are either trolls or spammers, and hopefully that won't change.

I certainly have "odder" posts myself, especially when I start over-thinking things

[marni]

and for some of us, stream of consciousness is a way of existence, even when we post to email. Besides which I often type dyslexically, especially at night.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

For the record, Jolie has only posted in threads from this year, and mostly to Oct-Dec threads. Nothing unusual there.

Slight thread hijack- Speaking of poor language skills, I spend a few minutes each day helping people from other countries speak better English, while others there help me with my very poor French...all for free (unless you want to buy the really intense courses, which I don't), on this language learning site that I really like: http://www.livemocha.com It's a whole lot of fun, and it is exciting to actually hear audio clips of people from countries all over the world trying to speak English, hoping to get tips on their grammar and pronunciation- and they are helping me with my terrible French skills. You can do it on any level, and you can work on learning any language you want. Members can help others, and everyone gets help- very cool and makes learning language easier! I know I sound like an ad, but I am finding it really helpful.

[Biciclista]

ah, Lisa, what a coincidence! i do the same on livemocha, but llike you i don't want to spend on the higher level classes, so there is not much for me there except working with others.

i remember when i first came on to TE one of the first things i did was revive a few old threads because i didn't understand how the whole thing worked.

[Cataboo]

You know, we complain about newbies that don't search through the forum to read old posts before asking the same question than 800 other people on her asked once they joined (my hands and/or my nether regions hurt or I'm really really short, what bike can I buy?) - but now we're complaining because someone replied to old threads? If the old thread is relevant to their situation, that should be fine.

I don't remember what jolie posted about or on, I did notice her posts the day she did post and I didn't get the spammer impression.

But sometimes spammers just have a link in their profile instead of having it in their signature or post - I didn't go so far as to check her profile.

[Irulan]

I'm offended by this whole discussion. To me it reads of complaints that people are not posting to some imaginary standard... what a great welcoming way to treat new users. Re the whole spammer thing... that's why there are moderators and administrators, to track questionable stuff, and that's why we have a "report spam" button.

Honestly, picking apart this person's posts is so condescending... especially when I go back and read the posting history. Other "get well soon" posts and innocuous commentary from the regulars is ok, but not from a newbie? I'm sure if they are still here, they are feeling pretty unwelcomed by now. the way I read it, the poster was just following the status quo for replies.

from a thread with 30 other "get well soon" replies,

sorry to hear that. Hope you has already get well

from a thread with 29 other posts about eating lots of potatoes...

so many. unbelievable

from a thread with half a dozen other "sounds nice" type responses..

Maybe this is a good experience. So good photos. Don't think it too bad

and yes, even some bike content,

I don't think cycling shoes can washed by washing machine. I just wash it by my hand. Most of time I think needn't clean the inside of the shoes, for a long term wearing.

You shouldn't take too many tools for there is a long riding distance for you. Just take the basic repair tool is ok.