Why is the Calibre subreddit full of bad advice?

ownedbycats · 03-12-2026, 12:24 PM

"Is Calibre really unable to use a NAS volume for the library?"

The top comment, in sum: "It's probably fine." Except on MobileRead, we often get cases where it's obviously not fine.

I often see lots of other bad (or just outdated) advice. Its just a waste of time to provide good advice because it gets buried in the comments.

Sirtel · 03-12-2026, 01:02 PM

Most of Reddit is full of bad advice. Of course there is good advice as well, but it can be hard to find.

I've said before that the average IQ of active MR members seems to be considerably higher than on most other forums and social media sites.

theducks · 03-12-2026, 01:11 PM

Not a reddit user.

Simple:
They have been 'getting away with it' for years, so Kovid and the real experts ARE WRONG

In many cases, they may also be doing light-weight usage on a lightly loaded network. (???but these also have a NAS???)

kovidgoyal · 03-12-2026, 10:39 PM

I would surmise its because reddit is not a dedicated forum for ebook enthusiasts, which means the average comment is made by a person only lightly engaged with the subject. This is a general problem with all general purpose forum sites, you get driveby comments from too many uninformed people for whom the bar to commenting is too low since they are already members of that site for other reasons.

Mr_H_Poirot · Yesterday, 02:23 AM

I think this an excellent forum. I have also used AI (google gemini) to ask how to do things in calibre and said things like "Using quality sources including the calibre website and mobilereads forum, how can I [...]"

I get very good answers

03-12-2026, 12:24 PM	#1
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 11,641 Karma: 81419259 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	Why is the Calibre subreddit full of bad advice? "Is Calibre really unable to use a NAS volume for the library?" The top comment, in sum: "It's probably fine." Except on MobileRead, we often get cases where it's obviously not fine. I often see lots of other bad (or just outdated) advice. Its just a waste of time to provide good advice because it gets buried in the comments.

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03-12-2026, 01:02 PM	#2
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 14,815 Karma: 245111335 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	Most of Reddit is full of bad advice. Of course there is good advice as well, but it can be hard to find. I've said before that the average IQ of active MR members seems to be considerably higher than on most other forums and social media sites.

03-12-2026, 01:11 PM	#3
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,589 Karma: 62544528 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Not a reddit user. Simple: They have been 'getting away with it' for years, so Kovid and the real experts ARE WRONG In many cases, they may also be doing light-weight usage on a lightly loaded network. (???but these also have a NAS???)

03-12-2026, 10:39 PM	#4
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 46,077 Karma: 29579912 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	I would surmise its because reddit is not a dedicated forum for ebook enthusiasts, which means the average comment is made by a person only lightly engaged with the subject. This is a general problem with all general purpose forum sites, you get driveby comments from too many uninformed people for whom the bar to commenting is too low since they are already members of that site for other reasons.

Yesterday, 02:23 AM	#5
Mr_H_Poirot Enthusiast Posts: 35 Karma: 100 Join Date: Mar 2025 Device: Kobo Clara BW	I think this an excellent forum. I have also used AI (google gemini) to ask how to do things in calibre and said things like "Using quality sources including the calibre website and mobilereads forum, how can I [...]" I get very good answers

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