Giving out information free of charge

[Octopus]

Is it me or is this forum giving out more and more information to DIY'ers??

I thought that the idea was for Electricians to swop information, ask questions and share information but increasingly we are getting threads like:

http://www.electriciansforums.net/e...moving-bathroom-shaver-socket.html#post447892

Should we really be doing this?

Sooner of later somebody is going to blame advice they got here

Sometimes I find it hard not to contribute, suggest the poster consults a professional, and its clear by their responses that they have absolutely no intention of doing so.

Thoughts??????????

 

[malcolmsanford]

Murdoch your right like you I have offered advice, but I try to tell them, as in my last post to him that what he is suggesting still does not comply and offered him alternatives that will, it is up to him if he don't take it.

I feel that even as a DIY'er at least he as come on here to ask and not just twisted the wires together with a band aid and slapped some pollyfilla on it, so I like to at first give him our view on what he should do.

But in the end if there are too many stupid comments or uninformed questions, I will say get a sparks in

 

[Octopus]

I really enjoy using the forum and learn something, or get reminded of something almost every day but some "contributors" do go too far, IMHO, offering very specific guidance which I'm not sure is correct.

I wonder what Dan and the moderators think about this?

 

[Rockingit]

I guess I have to hold my hands up on that particular thread. But making an assumption that the guy's going to do it one way or another regardless, which is better - leave him to a bit of choc bloc and tape or at least tell him how to make the joint safe and encapsulated?

 

[malcolmsanford]

I suppose it is down to where the mods want the forum to go, but the consensus would be to grow, and it can only really do that by encouraging as many posts as possible by as many different posters as they can encourage.

There is the famous DIYnot forum which is really a battle of wills and egos among a few there, and I think a lot of the DIY'ers that come on here have graduated from there to here.

I approach a DIY'er as trying to inform him rather than giving him a step by step guide on how to change your CU. I have not told that poster he needs to use this or do that, but advised him that what he is doing is not right, and the right way is this or that.

We are never going to stop them are we, as long as I have been doing this there have been DIY'ers, Bill from the Pub and Cowboys, I look at it if I can persuade him either to do it properly or get someone in that can, I can sleep safe.

 

[Octopus]

I guess I have to hold my hands up on that particular thread. But making an assumption that the guy's going to do it one way or another regardless, which is better - leave him to a bit of choc bloc and tape or at least tell him how to make the joint safe and encapsulated?

I'm not trying to blame anyone really, its the principle of the matter that on "our" advice the poster does something.

Locally to me there is a Postman, doing electrical work as a part time "skill" and his main source of learning is this forum.

Not saying he is right or wrong doing this, but off the cuff "advice" could so easily backfire and some of the advice "handed out" I would suggest, is taking the regs to the limit and beyond!!

 

[Rockingit]

Another part of the problem is that 'DIY' doesn't always equal 'bodge'. I went to look at a potential job last night where the guy is restoring/modernising his own house and based on what I saw is doing a better job than most 'pro' trades would. He's a pilot.

On the other hand, you've got the complete walking disasters who watch far too much TV and drooling over the ScrewFix catalogue but don't have the first clue about fundamental hand/tool/measuring skills so will NEVER turn out quality work, ever.

We've no idea on here (at first glance) which camp they are in.

 

[Octopus]

Another part of the problem is that 'DIY' doesn't always equal 'bodge'. I went to look at a potential job last night where the guy is restoring/modernising his own house and based on what I saw is doing a better job than most 'pro' trades would. He's a pilot.

On the other hand, you've got the complete walking disasters who watch far too much TV and drooling over the ScrewFix catalogue but don't have the first clue about fundamental hand/tool/measuring skills so will NEVER turn out quality work, ever.

We've no idea on here (at first glance) which camp they are in.

Agree, and when people ask for advice fixing "problems" I often ask the question, "what test equipment do you have at your disposal"

 

[AP Electrical]

I avoid putting comments on diy threads as when I mention anything regarding notifying or calling in a pro Its jumped on by others as an excuse to rattle on about part p being the invention of the ----'s and the ' its there house they can do what they want gang.......

 

[Rockingit]

So do those of us with PL and PI considerations to think about just watch from the sidelines and have a laugh back in here?

 

[Silly Sausage]

How about suggesting they ask Ban-all-sheds on DIYnot?

 

[AP Electrical]

Wonder how this type of site get's on in america with there law suit society ?. The thing I always consider is if I put something online it's there to stay and although the person who ask's the question seem's competant enough it does'nt mean the guy searching online with a similar problem three years down the line is, if you can understand that

 

[UNG]

The bigger problem is someone doing a search and finding advice that has been given and using it to repair what is it their opinion a "similar problem" without asking any questions and assuming that will be the correct solution

 

[Paul.M]

I'll post this in here instead of the open suggestions forum.

Create a new forum for none electricians/DIYers/home owners etc that is used solely for DIY questions and that clearly states "advice only".

On top of that we could have (although a headache for admin) only a selected group could reply on that forum? Arms members, respected advise giving members etc. Keep out the trouble makers that scare off these people with slagging of their abilities or experience of resolving their own problem? I'm sure something could be set up?

 

[AP Electrical]

I'll post this in here instead of the open suggestions forum.

Create a new forum for none electricians/DIYers/home owners etc that is used solely for DIY questions and that clearly states "advice only".

On top of that we could have (although a headache for admin) only a selected group could reply on that forum? Arms members, respected advise giving members etc. Keep out the trouble makers that scare off these people with slagging of their abilities or experience of resolving their own problem? I'm sure something could be set up?

Paul is all your new found spare time going to your head.......

 

[Paul.M]

Paul is all your new found spare time going to your head.......

I suggested this 8 months ago btw. Plus a learning forum, with the same set up.

No spare time today, I'm off in a min to look at an old cooker and I don't mean Telectrix ex wife . Oh sorry that should be boiler. (Beeston area btw Alex, I get all the nice areas ).

 

[trev]

When I started reading this thread I had in mind exactly what Paul suggested, great minds eh mate? or is it the other one

 

[oldtimer]

Yep I did highlight this on a previous mail in the Arms and have had to self restrain myself with the DIYers and because I was begining to get frustrated with guys who had passed all their exams in 3 months and then screaming for help because they were changing a CU for their assesment plus I have always beleived in sharing knowledge but yes I am the first to admit that the enthusiastic DIY guy is becoming to infect the forum so it may be an idea to have a different section .

Although one good point was a guy contacted me to say he bought a new light from IKEA and thought about putting it up until he decided to contact me:drool5:

 

[Rockingit]

I had cause to remember that story from a couple of years ago, when the lads on Top Gear got into a load of bother with some bloke who was stupid enough to crash his caravan/trailer/whatever after following their (clearly tongue in cheek) advice. Does make you think a bit.

 

[Adam W]

I think this is going to be one of those topics which keeps rearing it's head, like whether to use grey or black for neutral, whether to export a TN-C-S to a shed, if wiring something into a FCU means you don't have to PAT test it any more because the P stands for 'Portable', and whether or not you can really be an electrician in 5 weeks if you've shelled out enough money; in fact I've even started a thread on this subject myself.

I think one of the biggest problems is trying to help people and give a positive impression of the industry without being too suspicious - it might be pretty obvious to some what someone is going to do with information supplied if they ask exactly what their electrician will do in simple easy to understand stages including a materials list, or if they say they're doing the donkey work and their electrician will check everything at the end but he's not there to ask because he's on holiday for 6 months, but other members may take it at face value and give 'advice' in good faith where in reality a DIYer is trying to blag some free professional advice - there are of course umpteen things to look out for and remember which an experienced professional will do without even thinking about, and probably wouldn't think to mention if they are led to believe another professional is carrying out the work.

To refer to a topical example some guy wanted to spend a year living in Scottish wilderness 'like Bear Grylls' but was dead within a month; does this mean his family should sue Bear Grylls because the guy decided to try to copy what he'd seen on the telly?