When do you "step in" and correct bad advice?

[TheDerb]

I was on (forgive me) the Jeep Gladiator Subreddit the other day. A potential new buyer asked about a Rubicon Vs. a Sport, and somebody piped up and said "a Sport with a rear auto locker is more capable than any Rubicon". Having been burned in the past by a RZR purchase due to bad advice, and having this cost me a lot of money in the end because I lost out when I immediately had to trade in, I said to the original poster that this was cow puck, and to go with a Rubicon if they can afford it and want to off road. It isn't that the sport is bad (especially with a locker), but it's fundamentally wrong to say that a Sport w/locker is "more capable" than a Rubicon.

This poster then took a shine to me, and I offered to pay his way to Windrock and show me how a Sport w/Locker is more capable than a Rubicon, and of course my offer was met with "Hur durr let's fight". At that point I just blocked the user and went on with my day.

As I sit here bored at work, I am curious- at what point do you all step in and call out bad advice? In person? on line? When it costs some unsuspecting individual money? When you are triggered because you, too, have also lost money from bad advice?

What's your line in the sand?

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[jac04]

Arguing an opinion on the internet is almost always going to go all sideways. It usually goes better if you are correcting a factual mistake and can provide verification of the fact. Like is often said, you need to know what fights to pick. Instead of arguing, try stating your opinion and let the potential buyer make their own decision. If the potential buyer on the internet is not smart enough to do their own research, then they will hopefully learn through their mistake.

If you are bored at work, take on more responsibility.

 

[TheDerb]

If you are bored at work, take on more responsibility.

I am paid an obscene amount of money to work for right around 10 hours per week. I could "take on more responsibility", but I would be doing more work for absolutely no more money. I didn't get where I am today by working for free, and I'm certainly not going to start today.

 

[jac04]

Some people just like to argue opinions on the internet. I think there are people who simply enjoy the back-and-forth internet 'sparring'. I threw in that work comment (my opinion) to see if you'd bite, and you did. It's all good though, you can't take any of this online stuff personally. It's just entertainment.

 

[Blade1668]

Well I've been almost banned from a few forums because "I did know what I was responding about" and decided I had to correct and I have been banned from a few. Some because I "stepped on toe's of old-timer, SME or MOD's" "that knew better" and that I didn't know S###. Some of the subjects I was and had been using or doing for 15 plus years.
In many (most) cases now, I find it's not worth it anymore especially at this point of my life.

Oh the Sport is better off-roading than Rubicon




Just pulling your leg.

Now seriously: If you're going to strip factory axles, suspension, shocks and tires off to replace them, you might as well start with a non-Rubicon Jeep.

 

[Hootbro]

I have been on both sides of the situation thinking I knew something but was corrected and have done the same correcting others.

I have come to learn that nobody is going to write on ones tombstone that you won an internet argument as your crowing achievement in life.

 

[Dartboy]

I am paid an obscene amount of money to work for right around 10 hours per week.

Do you need an assistant?

I'll correct mis-information where I can provide definitive proof. It's hard to change someone's opinion that a Sport with a locker is the equal to a Rubicon, but you can point out the differences in T-case gearing, sway bar disconnects, etc. You probably won't convince that individual, but you'll likely get through to the undecided.

Now a Max-Tow with a locker, that's a whole different story...

 

[Jaxmax]

I have in past messaged the OP that the advice he is being given is not exactly correct in my opinion, they usually thank me and agree they thought is was questionable.

 

[Dartboy]

Cunningham's Law- "The best way to get the right answer on the Internet is not to ask a question; it's to post the wrong answer." This refers to the observation that people are quicker to correct a wrong answer than to answer a question.

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