Misguiding Newbies!

1. 69

   Ultimate Hubberposted 14 years ago

   I see it a lot often in these forums that people misguide newbies with their confusing and wrong answers. I am not saying they do this intentionally. Maybe they need to look cool or something. That was OK with me. But lately, there is one hubber who joined about 5 months back, he is continuously misguiding new hubbers and providing wrong answers to their questions.
   
   Any suggestions on this scenario?

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   1. 86

      Marisa Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      UH, the best thing to do is chime in and correct the mistaken advice when you see it.  You can start out doing it politely, but eventually you may have to hit them with a sledgehammer (i.e be rude) to get the message across that they don't know as much as they think they do!
      
      You could also try flagging the post - strictly speaking, giving inaccurate advice isn't against any forum rules but the team might take it down if they thought it was misleading people. However, I wouldn't do that instead of making my own post - I would do it as well as.

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   2. 79

      thisisoliposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Who's the person who needs correcting?
      
      The world of SEO is ever changing and the experiences of people can differ greatly on subjects which should be pretty clear cut.
      
      I have seen conversations which have been the blind leading the blind while being corrected by the blind (Mostly on the Warrior Forum)

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      1. 61

         Lisa HWposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         The "blind-leading-the-blind" thing I referred to isn't worth mentioning beyond acknowledging the fact that it does happen and can seem to go unnoticed.  It was awhile back and - really - it wasn't even people who are likely to still be here.  The one I had in mind had nothing to do with SEO.  (Just an aside, I've never even heard of the Warrior Forum     )

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         1. 60

            tobey100posted 14 years agoin reply to this

            One of the main reasons I try not give advice or answer too many questions.  I like to point the newbie in the direction he or she can get the CORRECT answer.  Not what I think.

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   3. 0

      Website Examinerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      These are serious accusations. As you know, all forum postings are official with a permalink. If you want to make accusations, why not post quite a few of those links, then give the hubber a chance to defend himself - and others can judge the fairness or otherwise of what you are claiming.
      
      http://hubpages.com/forum/post/1068131

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      1. 69

         Ultimate Hubberposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I won't!
         I am not here to quarrel and argue. If you have figured out its you who have been misleading newbies, then you should take the advice and stop doing that. You know very well you have been talking about things you don't know of!

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         1. 0

            Website Examinerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I do not know any such thing. In fact, I will report this thread for personal attack.

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            1. 69

               Ultimate Hubberposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Go report this thread. Do that!
               
               Now I will post those threads, only the ones you posted in past 24 hours. I will post them when you have done the reporting and nothing has happened.
               
               It is better to take advise instead of arguing!

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               1. 0

                  Website Examinerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  People are reading this thread now, so I would prefer if you were to post them now and give me a chance to respond.
                  
                  With respect to one thread, I believe that you may have misunderstood both what I was saying and the context in which I was saying it. I had guided a hubber on a linking issue on two threads, and none of the advice was incorrect.
                  
                  http://hubpages.com/forum/post/1068131
                  
                  http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/46249

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            2. 68

               Peter Hogganposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               This is hardly a personal attack, although what it is interesting is the fact that you have taken it personally.

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               1. 0

                  Website Examinerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Well, since I have been more active on advising new hubbers than anyone else recently, it is difficult not to take it personally.

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   4. 69

      Pearldiverposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Don't You Dare tell them that our Christmas Party donations are not required this year!

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   5. 57

      TerryGlposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yes. I would send an email to the person to keep it private and offer an opinion to them rather then to eventually call them out in the forum.
      
      But then again, who appointed me or anyone else to say that someone has said something wrong. I do not believe anyone here has the right to say someone is giving wrong or misguiding answers. Such a case is why we have forums, so everyone can pleasantly discuss threads and each others posts.
      
      This thread had only one way to go when it was started and that was south. After reading the cited links, personally I did not see anything wrong with the responses Websites Examiner gave.

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2. 74

   raisingmeposted 14 years ago

   And we newbies have to take some responsibility too.  When considering advice, before acting on it I check the "who" is giving that advice.  It is simple to find on Hubpages the many wonderful and helpful "older" hubbers that have worked hard to establish a solid reputation.  It is those hubbers whose advice I listen to, weigh and act upon.  When you are new to anything or any area of life it of great benefit to find the best mentors that are capable of and willing to lend themselves to the success of others.  Just one of the reasons I'm loving it here.  And the two names that appear at the top of this forum are two of the best!

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   1. 61

      Lisa HWposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      raisingme, you may be relatively new; but you're right about those two Hubbers (and I'm not new, so I've been around long enough to see how valuable their input is).      Your approach is one all new people should use.

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   2. 60

      Sparhawkeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I also listen to the more experienced users but I never discount the answers of the newbies either...just because they do not have as high a postcount does not make their opinions any less worthy.
      
      Unless they are idiots, then it is open season for the ridicule.
      
      What you have to ascertain is whether it is intentional to mislead or if they are simply misinformed...I often get pieces of information wrong such as dates or times (since numbers mean next to nothing to me) but someone coming along usually gets nearer the answer in time.
      
      I am not here to do al the work for someone, I prefer to lead them to a place where they can find out for themselves; however long that takes

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   3. 84

      viryaboposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      You are so right.

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3. 61

   Lisa HWposted 14 years ago

   Not long ago I saw a real case of the blind-leading-the-blind, and I started to "chime in" and then just started to think the whole thread was best left to someone else.  I don't know...   It just looked like none of them took the HubPages thing the least bit seriously, so I figured they'd be moving on soon anyway.
   
   Usually, though, I'll add something like, "I think .....", figuring they may not know who to believe, but at least they'll know they shouldn't just accept whatever they're getting on the thread as "gospel" and, instead, wait until some answers seem to agree with other answers.  In other words, I don't say the other person is incorrect.  I just say what I think (which, of course, conflicts with what the other person said).

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4. 78

   jondavposted 14 years ago

   My rule is that unless i'm 1000% sure of an answer i would rather not post anything.

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   1. 69

      Ultimate Hubberposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      The right thing to do!

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   2. 66

      itechposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Remove One zero for my surety...

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5. 69

   bigmikehposted 14 years ago

   There is alot of doubtful advice on HubPages, but that's no surprise - there's alot of doubtful advice all over the net. And when it comes to SEO there are so many different opinions based upon what may have worked for one individual, with one site in one  niche.
   
   I tend to go to reputable sources for clarification, eg, there are loads of Matt Cutts (Google) videos on YouTube where he destroys many of the SEO myths.

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6. 69

   Ultimate Hubberposted 14 years ago

   Website Examiner, you were so keen to post that link. I didn't want to post the ones you were giving wrong advice and wanted it to be a general discussion. But see this:
   
   http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/46384#post1067011
   
   I am sure I can find more like this one and I am not willing to go through your hubtivity. The waste of time is one of the reasons I didn't want to argue about it.

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   1. 0

      Website Examinerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I could have been more precise in my wording, and I conceded this immediately on that thread. I also clarified what I had meant and stand by that statement.
      
      http://hubpages.com/forum/post/1067563

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      1. 69

         Ultimate Hubberposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Listen WE, the clarification was not needed. Misleading information has been provided by you on more than one occasions lately. If you think I am attacking you in my posts, then let me tell you I am not.
         
         I would again recommend you to only talk about things you know of, otherwise you are better off just bumping the threads for others to answer. Take the advice if you want to and save both of us some time and energy.

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         1. 0

            Website Examinerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Ultimate Hubber, I have learned nothing from you. Nothing of what you are saying makes sense to me. You could have contacted me directly with your concerns.

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            1. 69

               Ultimate Hubberposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Good idea, I should have contacted you. But I didn't want this thread to be what it has become. I just wanted to have suggestions from other hubbers on the misguiding issue. You came here and took it personally.

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7. 76

   Uninvited Writerposted 14 years ago

   To me, if I don't know the correct answer or I am not sure, I will not give advice about it. I usually point them towards the FAQ if I don't know.
   
   All in all, it is best that people read the official documentation rather than depend on others to help them.

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   1. 0

      selrachposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      One of your good points in the forums.I have noticed that you don,t just give your best guess,but point people in the right direction.

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8. 68

   lrohnerposted 14 years ago

   UH, I think you read my mind when you started this thread. Fortunately, in almost every case that I've seen of bad, misleading or confusing advice by relative newbies, more experienced hubbers/online professionals have chimed in to set things straight.
   
   And yes--those folks listed at the top of this forum are some of the best of the best.

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9. 57

   Mrvoodooposted 14 years ago

   Five months sounds about right.  I've seen plenty of hubbers having spent a few days reading the work of Darkside, Mark Knowles, Misha, etc. turn into an SEO expert overnight around that point, spewing out half-understood sound-bites all over the shop.
   
   But being sent down a few blind alleys at the start is all part of the game, and a good learning experience in itself.

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10. 74

    raisingmeposted 14 years ago

    The only problem with blind alleys and learning is that you can go down one of them and get yourself into trouble or worse you can go down one of them thinking that you know when you don't know.  It is a really deadly alley to get out of that don't know you don't know alley.  I look at how long someone giving the advice has been on hubpages, what kind of feedback they have in their comments, what do their profiles say about them, how much experience do they have around the web in general - website, blogs etc.  I do not immediately act on the advice.  I read it and reread it, bookmark it, refer to it and when I have certainty that I understand it and can fully duplicate it (not as in copy but as in "get it") I proceed from there.  It's an education, getting an education is a process.  Sometimes when I am reading advice and tips and how to's from "older" hubbers I wonder that I will ever get to the level of proficiency that they have attained.  I value highly those who go beyond mediocrity!

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11. 38

    Julian Hooksposted 14 years ago

    Lol I see wrong information littered all over the links I just took time to skim over. When I want to know something about lets say Google pagerank, I go to the source aka Google. They provide all the information you need to know about the matter.. I mean they did create it. YouTube the Google Webmaster channel and I bet you'll come to find half of the things you thought were true aren't.
    
    For example I just found out that Google DOES NOT factor in keyword metatags in to their search rankings! Title and Description are important but keyword meta tags mean nada to Google algorithm.
    
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK7IPbnmvVU

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