Accountingweb

DFL

Free Member
Aug 21, 2007
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Essex
Why is it that all of the accountants on here are helpful friendly people yet on Aweb it is full of intellectual snobbery, qualification snobbery and general posturing and condescending?

Is it because this forum attracts the smaller firms and the other attracts a bigger cross section of accountants from larger practices? is it because accountants who specialise in certain areas cannot emphasise with people who dont have sufficient knowledge in that area?

Whatever it is, Accountingweb used to be a great forum but has been overun lately by (mostly anon) idiots who have nothing better to do with their time than to put others down.

I can't be doing with it anymore, my blood pressure can't handle it.
 

Alpha

Free Member
Feb 16, 2004
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Stating the obvious but accountingweb, in the main, is for accounting/tax specialists to discuss areas specific to their realm of expertise.....i.e. accountant to accountant whereas on here accountants and tax specialists are answering the client type of questions.


I suppose therefore there is far more posturing and 'one upmanship' over on that forum.

Going back into the dim and distant there were numerous very knowledgeable and helpful accountants on AW that didn't mind helping out fellow professionals (Jay Tanner certainly comes to mind as he eventually had enough of what you describe and left) and those that received the advice were more than grateful.........I even remember when Jenni first came onto that forum:)

This forum couldn't take the place of accountingweb as the emphasis is different (we only rarely ask questions of each other and certainly less rarely in the public forum):)
 
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Jenni384

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  • Oct 1, 2007
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    I agree, it's very hard to get any friendliness going (though there are pockets of it here and there).
    I look it up occasionally and sometimes post technical queries when I'm having a blonde moment, but this is a much more friendly resource.

    Saying that, I think AWeb would benefit from proper forum software where folk can PM and such, and look up post history (anything David Winch said ever is probably very useful! :D ). However, the ability to use a pseudonym is also nice... but indeed encourages the wierdos and moody folk!

    Edit: wow, Alan, you mean back when I was a student?!?! LOL :D
     
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    DFL

    Free Member
    Aug 21, 2007
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    Alan - I agree with that but there are issues that come up on here where two accountants disagree with answers given but generally treat each other with respect.

    Not the case on Aweb.

    Sometimes I read it and wonder how the profession will ever shake off its dour, aloof image with some of the comments on there, it literally makes for embarrassing reading.

    To be honest, I quite enjoy having a robust exchange with some of them it's so easy bringing them down of their high horse, but when I see them attacking other posters it leaves a nasty taste in the mouth.

    As for David Winch, he is a legend - great advice and always there. One or two others but numbers dwindling.
     
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    Alpha

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    Feb 16, 2004
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    Actually before Sift took over this forum I did put forward the idea of having a similar private forum for accountants/tax experts and we nearly went ahead with it but there probably wasn't enough of us regularly on the forums at the time to make it worthwhile.

    I wonder if Sift would let us have a forum now?:D
     
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    Jenni384

    Free Member
  • Oct 1, 2007
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    Actually before Sift took over this forum I did put forward the idea of having a similar private forum for accountants/tax experts and we nearly went ahead with it but there probably wasn't enough of us regularly on the forums at the time to make it worthwhile.

    I wonder if Sift would let us have a forum now?:D
    Cor yes please!

    It's a shame that people get like they do on AWeb - most folk are scared to post a technical question for fear of "Oh my god, and you are practising on the public! How very dare you?!" style outrage that seems to be de rigeur over there at the moment. It's gotten rather boring rather quickly.
     
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    Alpha

    Free Member
    Feb 16, 2004
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    Cor yes please!

    It's a shame that people get like they do on AWeb - most folk are scared to post a technical question for fear of "Oh my god, and you are practising on the public! How very dare you?!" style outrage that seems to be de rigeur over there at the moment. It's gotten rather boring rather quickly.

    They don't understand the small practitioner....because I didn't have formal training in a practice (I spent many years in industry taking the mick out of auditors)there was a lot of very basic things I didn't know when I set up on my own......including what an agent maintainer was:D but I did know a lot of the more technical issues..

    The same with excel/Lotus, because I was self taught on both I found out techniques as an when required so I would know a lot about functions and macros but there would still be very simple things that I had never needed so hadn't looked up.

    Everything is simple when you know the answer:D:D
     
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    MyAccountantOnline

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    Sep 24, 2008
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    I too rarely now use AW primarily for the reasons you've mentioned and also that so many postings seem to get hyjacked by people selling their products and software.
     
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    Jaydee

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    May 27, 2007
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    Actually before Sift took over this forum I did put forward the idea of having a similar private forum for accountants/tax experts and we nearly went ahead with it but there probably wasn't enough of us regularly on the forums at the time to make it worthwhile.

    I wonder if Sift would let us have a forum now?:D

    I'm sure that I would part with my £36 if there was one - so Sift have an immediate profit now if they were to do it!
     
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    W

    Williams lester

    Actually before Sift took over this forum I did put forward the idea of having a similar private forum for accountants/tax experts and we nearly went ahead with it but there probably wasn't enough of us regularly on the forums at the time to make it worthwhile.

    I wonder if Sift would let us have a forum now?:D

    Yep, another vote for that idea from me.
     
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