Pitmaster Decision Tree Version 2

[rickgregory]

I think this is nice work but far too complex. I'd look at either of the PDFs and run screaming if I were here for advice.

When I was more seriously into japanese knives I frequented Kitchen Knife Forums and they have a stickied post that asks some qualifying questions (it's here https://www.kitchenknifeforums.com/t...onnaire.63548/). They ask new people to fill that out and paste the Q&A in a new post. This lets members give targeted, relevant advice.It's more a 'help us help you' thing vs a 'run through this gauntlet to get to the answer' thing.

What you've done here is cool, but I think your approach is the wrong one for a forum. It's great for a store selling stuff online - answer these 7 questions and our system will show you the items we have that fit yout needs - but that approach requires data management so the right brands show for the right criteria etc.

If we're trying to make it easier for new folk to get help here in the forum, a handful of basic questions that we can all then react to is fine.

[WillTravelForFood]

probably better to implement via text than via flowchart decision trees.

all that work wasn't wasted if it helps drive a solution.

[rickgregory]

Yeah the KKF questions are pretty much the questions that they needed to ask when they would get new people asking very open ended questions, e.g. "Hey, I'm new, what should my first j-knife be??". Rather than the back and forth in each thread, having people do the form I linked gets them enough info that members can give pretty good initial advice

[Panhead John]

1. What type of cooker are you looking for? A. Smoker…….B. Grill …..C.Smoker/Grill Combo…..D. Pellet Grill……E. Gas Grill…..F. Griddle G. Not sure
2. What are your favorite foods you’d be cooking? ………….
3. What is your budget for this cooker?
4. What percentage of your cooks would be grilling vs smoking?
5. Do you have ample room for the cooker and would it be covered? Are you short on space and need a cooker with a smaller footprint?
6. How many people would you normally be cooking for?
7. If choosing one, do you have time to devote to smoking with a Stickburner and do you have a reliable wood source?
8. How important is smoke flavor to you? Here’s something I threw together in 10 minutes. I’m sure there might be a couple of more relevant questions I forgot, but this is a start. I don’t think we should bombard someone with 50 questions. I’m thinking around 10 questions or so would be plenty to give us an idea on recommendations. Something like this is all we need to help someone out, no flow charts required.

[WillTravelForFood]

What do you have/had and why are you interested in something new?

[Johnny Booth]

Panhead John I think you nailed it. Let’s have a drink and call it a day!

[Panhead John]

Thanks Johnny Booth and I’m with ya on that.

[WillTravelForFood]

Here are questions AI thinks are important:

• What type of fuel do you prefer? Gas, charcoal, or electric?
• How much cooking space do you need? Consider the number of people you typically cook for and the types of food you like to grill.
• Do you want a built-in or freestanding grill? Built-in grills are great for outdoor kitchens, while freestanding grills are more versatile.
• What is your budget? Grills can range in price from a couple hundred dollars to several thousand.
• How important is ease of use to you? Some grills come with advanced features like electronic ignition and temperature control, while others require more manual effort.
• What is your experience level with grilling? If you're new to grilling, you may want to start with a more basic model.
• What is the climate like where you live? If you live in an area with a lot of rain or wind, you may want a grill with a lid to help protect your food.
• What accessories are important to you? Grilling accessories can include side burners, rotisseries, and smoker boxes.
• How important is durability to you? Look for grills made from high-quality materials that will last for years.
• What is your personal style? Grills come in a variety of styles and finishes, so choose one that fits your aesthetic preferences.

[WillTravelForFood]

A.I.

Not "AL"

[Johnny Booth]

When AI is used for BBQ, I quit. This is not rocket science. 😡

[STEbbq]

We did discuss questions here for reference. Maybe we need a new poll on doing a questionnaire then.

https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/forum/charcoal-grills/other-charcoal-grills/1408826-the-best-pit-advice-for-choosing-a-new-smoker-grill

[rickgregory]

You guys have thought more than I about this but I would do a questionnaire with questions that then let us help the person vs trying to generate recommendations from the answers.

If I were talking to someone who said "hey, you know about smokers and stuff... what should I get" I'd ask something like this list:

1) Budget?
2) Do you plan to grill? Smoke? Both?
3) How hands off do you want this to be?
4) Fuel - Charcoal/gas/pellets/wood?
5) Is this your first/only rig?
6) How often do you think you'd use it?

All the rest is overkill IMO. But if someone answered all of those, I could give them guidance so I'd do something along those lines as questions

I just don't think it's possible, without a lot of involved stuff, to generate a list of products from a flowchart like this and anyway, this is a forum. Talking to folks about their gear is part of the fun

[WillTravelForFood]

This conversation has been fun too