There are several issues here I think. These include:
1. As Bryan says, some people are unwilling to spend a few minutes Googling and rather expect to be 'spoon fed' with no effort made on their own part. This is certainly not confined to model boating forums but is a general attitude. You don't really learn much that way, you just pick up snippets of unrelated information with little real understanding.
2. It is much easier to help someone who has already done a bit of digging around as they will have picked up some background information which will enable them to focus their question better which in turn makes it easier to give a a relevant answer. And because they already have a bit of background, they will be able to absorb and apply that answer more effectively. Win, win all round.
3. People who ask vague questions risk being misunderstood as people willing to respond are then more likely to make assumptions which are incorrect which leads to confusion and sometimes irritation on both sides.
4. Given the resources available on the Internet it is not unreasonable to expect enquirers to do a little bit of homework before asking for direct help. To do otherwise smacks of laziness in my view. This Forum, along with others, does have a search facility which some people cannot be bothered to use.
5. People often overlook the fact that there exist some very good books on model boating which, if they are serious about the hobby, they really ought to read as most, if not all, of their questions will probably be answered and if they are not then they will have picked up enough background to ask specific questions on Internet Forums which will usually bring very helpful answers. Unfortunately these days certain people seem to make a virtue of 'having never read a book'.
6. I have always been happy to help with advice wherever I think it will help someone with their build and I recognise that the same old questions will keep coming up again and again. However I do get annoyed by those people who seem to assume that they can presume upon the time of others simply because they can't be bothered to do just a little bit of preliminary homework themselves. For example, I was recently a bit miffed when someone came onto a another Forum I belong to and stated that they hadn't got time to look up the answer themselves so could someone please tell them blah, blah blah! Reaction - 'Why the hell should we?'
7. Most of the more experienced model boaters on Mayhem are more than happy to pass on their knowledge and experience to help others but no one likes being taken for granted as an unpaid public service!
Colin