Professional or Amateur Knowledge of MB

[grumpyoldgit]

Being a reletively newcomer to MB Club and the forums, from which I've gained some valuable help and information and tried to assist others with their problems, one thing has struck me on several occassions. It's difficult to know how reliable and accurate the information is likely to be, other than from a few obvious members.

With this in mind, what do others think of the idea (If it's possible) of adding an additional field to members statuses showing the extent of their MB and any relevant field of knowledge. I was thinking along the lines of:-

MB Qualified Technician
Expert MB Mechanic
Expert General Mechanic
DIY/Amateur Mechanic
Keen MB Enthusiast
Novice

or

Expert knowledge of MB
Good general knowledge of MB
Some knowledge of MB
Little knowledge of MB
Amateur
Novice

or even just

Professional
Amateur

Just a thought and it obviously depends on whether it's possible to add along with the members willingness to enter the info.

 

[wemorgan]

I recall that this has been discussed before and was general dismissed. Broadly it was said - who was going to govern/validate the status of each member? I think all posts need reading with caution, as with anything on the internet. Nice idea though - just not workable.

wemorgan
satus - pleb

 

[GordonTarling]

It's the Internet, we're all experts!

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Not sure it'd work, besides the obvious posters, how would you verify someone's credentials?

 

[sinewave]

Agree.

Bar obvious experts like Acid, Olly, Jaymek & Ian B Walker etc who run garages which specialise in MB's everyone else is just an enthusiast who though well meaning may unintentionaly give a bum steer.

 

[SavMan]

Can I have

Always right until wrong

 

[Creepy coupe]

I remember more than I've forgotten, so rank amateur.

 

[Ted]

Daft idea.

 

[wemorgan]

Daft idea.

Is that an Expert or Amateur opinion?

 

[Ted]

Both!!!

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Not a good idea IMO.

Picture the scene, 2 members give advice to another new user.

1 member giving advice is classed as a Novice, and the other a MB Qualified Technician.
The new user ignores the novice and listens to the 'technician' but the advice given 'Technician' is wrong.

Then what?

All forum info is to be taken with a pinch of salt. I have been given incorrect part numbers by someone classed as a 'expert' by someone in Sinewaves list above. Did I kick off? no, they were offering free help even though it wasnt 100% correct, its a free forum afterall.

 

[LTD]

Take the advice offered as it is presented - an opinion.

Most of the good advice given by experienced mechanics and enthusiats is often the right answer although there are always exceptions where a member might have had the same problem and the fix isn't always the obvious one.

 

[MicB]

You could start with me......I know nothing.

Mic

 

[ringway]

Agree.

Bar obvious experts like Acid, Olly, Jaymek & Ian B Walker etc who run garages which specialise in MB's everyone else is just an enthusiast.

What about Dieselman?

His broad engineering knowledge (and general) is phenomenal and it's very rare he's not spot on with his answers.

So what category would he be in?

He knows a lot more than a lot of run-of-the-mill garages.


I've had a few instances where I'm correct and one of the top ten is wrong, but I'd rather keep schtum. Nothing major but I was correct nonetheless.


I'm an enthusiastic tinkerer and if I give advice, I have to be 99% certain it's correct and even then I can make a blunder with a simple typo - 0.6mm instead of 6mm.


Putting people into categories wouldn't work, but if you have been on this forum for a while, you soon get to know who can be relied upon for good information. That said, I can't really recall that many duff answers to questions on MB Club.


Grober is another very clever contributor, but what category would he be in.

Oh, and the little seen Numbercruncher knows his stuff too.

There must be more clued-up members that don't spring to mind straight away...

 

[Aletank]

Most advice on here is from users own experiences, I don't think someone is purposefully going to steer you in the wrong direction.
You have to use your own judgement and commom sense.

 

[martyz]

Rating our abilities,posted back in July,sorry can't get link to work.

 

[carat 3.6]

Rating our abilities,posted back in July,sorry can't get link to work.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/133953-rating-our-abilities.html

 

[martyz]

Cheers.

 

[V12]

If someone does post incorrect information it won't go a day without being corrected on this forum.

 

[Dieselman]

If someone does post incorrect information it won't go an hour without being corrected on this forum.

Corrected ..