I would also add, that perhaps if you read the thread, you would see he DID indeed get the advice he requested.
The greater issue to highlight is that many of the players who sometimes share 'advice' are NOT knowledgeable. They do so for various and numerous reasons that are pointless to speculate on; the net effect is the perpetuation of uncertainty and misinformation.
So when you say take a step back and think before replying, I agree for entirely different reasons. A person should consider
1) is my response necessary? (we don't need so many people parroting the same bit of advice, particularly if it's already been given... especially because the illiterati wont read this and do the repeating anyway, and that is more than enough to drive home a point).
2) do I know it for a fact, or do i merely think that I am right? One of these is a truth statement. The other is your opinion, and potentially less accurate, inapplicable, and/or less relevant.
3) do I have the relevant experience to enable me to give sound advice? Look, you shouldn't take medical advice from a 7year old with a learning disability. You shouldn't take lessons on french cuisine from a cannibal. And so forth. But neither ought those people be stepping forward and propounding their views as good advice. If you haven't even finished your 25 cadet games, maybe you should be listening more than talking when it comes to weapons, builds, and mechs discussions. However, if someone is looking for advice on whether to save up cbills from cadet or immediately blow them, maybe you do have the relevant experience ON THAT point.
4) is what I have to say at all helpful to the OP? Because a lot of people post just because they think they are funny, clever, or intelligent (they fail on all accounts and do more harm than good). Other post because they are bitter, biased, or elitist (they also fail and do more harm than good). Some like to brag (fail) and others don't have the etiquette not to highjack a thread (kinda like what I am doing now). There are plenty of times I refrain from posting because "If you have nothing nice to say...." Although sometimes, that is precisely the shock needed to force a player to reconsider what they are saying.
and I have to add lastly, this is by no means the most toxic community around. That does not mean it is not toxic. It has its salt plains and toxic wastelands. New player help is more like a protected wildlife reserve sanctuary, so You don't see it much here (except from me).
Roughneck45, on 25 April 2017 - 08:52 AM, said:
To be fair too, "Help me pick my first mech" is a topic that anyone visiting the NPF would like to comment on.
Who doesn't like to gush about their favorite mechs, amirite?
it doesn't help the question asker, and so should be refrained. Gush elsewhere, like mwo uni> gen dis where it is appropriate.