Forum Moderators: open
The best way I can answer that is to say that the aim at WW, as I know it, is to encourage discussions about issues, and not, as Brett says, "to do someone's homework."
The problem in the G forum is so much shopping the competition and stuff that there is no need for specifics in posts there. We aren't out to do peoples homework - we try to give the nudge in the right direction to teach themselves.
Apart from specifics that violate the WW TOS, there is a grey area that can seem tricky, but I think we can use our common sense about it.
However, there is another area that is just downright muddy. When discussing an issue, it's not necessary to make it specific to one industry, because you end up shutting out the majority of the WW members who don't belong in that industry- and miss out on some great ideas.
Furthermore, you run the risk of exposing yourself to your competitors, who may also be members. Not a good thing.
It's generally best when members consider a problem at the root. For example, I can say, "I can't stand working with John Q. Smith Enterprises. They're cheap!' OR I can say, "I've got a client that butters my bread but they don't put lobster on my table."
Ahhhh... Much better. Why? The issue isn't John Q. Smith- The issue is Cheap Clients!
Or take for example this thread [webmasterworld.com]. In it, someone asks a brilliant question on How to Create Content. What followed was a thread full of insightful answers that dried up when someone asked for a "Specific" so that they could give detailed advice.
Makes sense in theory- but in practice it doesn't work because it turns into "doing someone else's homework" instead of discussing brilliant ways to add content to your site.
Discussing brilliant ways of doing things or solving a problem makes for an interesting discussion.
The above are my opinions and my observations and do not represent WW official policy.
you end up shutting out the majority of the WW members
True, true. The problem with specifics is that while many can offer ideas, suggestions and insight on generalized discussions, few would have experience or knowledge with specific products. When the specific is introduced into the discussion (ie. deer repellant) no one posts anything at all, because he or she doesn't doens't have the experience selling/buying/using deer repellant.
I noticed the exact same thing on another thread in the past few days where the product given was too specific, and it sat on the "unanswered" list for a day or two.
Everyone can benefit from generalized discussions, while very few can benefit once it turns into specific products or niches.
