Major Changes To Forum Policy

Bogof_Babe

Here's one to tax the MSE techies' brains... You know when someone starts a thread in what is perceived to be the wrong board, and it gets moved to DT or the Arms?

Well what if that thread gets thanks on it before it is moved?

Munchkim

MSE_Martin wrote: »

That was in our meeting too - and is being done - not a policy change though.

Oops, sorry, I just thought it might help:o

Thanks very much anyway

sidefx

aliEnRIK wrote: »

Whats your thoughts on the 'techie' thread Martin? The way I read that REALLY sounded 'exactly' like the techie thread in parts to me. Id just like it to be known that whilst I help on the techie thread doesnt directly save someone money as in saving 1% off their mortgage or whatever but ive certainly helped a lot of people save money by not having to pay for security or taking their computer to a shop for repair etc (As have a lot of us on the techie board)

Id ask you dont just 'discount' us

I hope he doesn't

And I'm sure he won't

You guys do a sterling job and offer a lot of help, support and money saving advice:T

fire**fly

Munchkim wrote: »

Thanks Korky, I saw that but what I meant was making the title of that thread bigger and more noticeable because a lot of people just click past messages like that in haste to post due to confusion when everything looks the same and incredibly daunting. If that post was highlighted as different by a different formatting on the forum it might direct people to it rather than just to post first....................does that make sense?

makes sense to me munchkim think it's a brilliant idea, make it stick out so people notice it more
took me ages to find it when i first came here


MSE Martin -
That was in our meeting too - and is being done - not a policy change though.

Thank you

RAS

I am struggling with some of the comments here.

Personally I was rather reticent; I read stuff for weeks before posting, but I made mistakes as a newbie. I had the option, others have the bailiffs at the door or the notice to quit because their rental is being repossessed.

I spend most of my time on DFW and Green finger, mainly answering newbie queries. I am a fingered as a "huggie" on some forums and have to remember to turn off my sig if I venture there.

Many of the DFW newbies are panic-stricken, desperate and distressed. Green fingers ask time and time again about the same thing; mainly new allotments and container gardening.

Fine. i do not expect newbies to know netiquette or forum rules or how to do an advanced search. It is not reasonable to expect that level of computer literacy or local knowledge. I am quite happy to do a search and link them to an existing thread. I also recognise that what appears on first glance to be yet another CCA query may be rather more complex on investigation. The chances are they do not understand or are too focused to think of thanks. So what, I value MSE for what I can contribute, not for the thanks button.

In the "real" world, I tell people that ignorance is where we all start, and that I am quite happy to answer the same question several times, because that is how long it takes some people to gain confidence in their knowledge. I have people with decent post counts rip into newbies on the BR forum, DFW, housing and money in relationships and it has taken some effort to retrieve the situation

I would very much like to see newbie protection, but think it needs to extend way beyond 3 posts. Anyone flaming a newbie should be treated more harshly than someone responding to a seasoned member, and ideally I would like to see people with low post counts protected when they first post on a new forum.

I honour people for what they have achieved rather then denigrate them for what they do not know, yet. I would like to see the same respect shown on MSE.

hundredk

Zara33 wrote: »

yes you were in my mind whilst posting that!

Now there's a place I'd like to be:D

morag1202

How about a sticky on each board called "How to search"? a lot of oldbies don't really know how, me included.

Think the newbie bubble is good, but should last for as long as newbie status does i.e. 30 posts.

An "agree" and "don't agree" button would be nice for DT (IMO)

MrSmartprice

I think that the 'Thanks' facility is useful to see who is a worthwhile contributor, whatever the board concerned. It gives people the opportunity to agree with a post without actually replying. If people simply quoted a post and then typed 'I agree' it sort of defeats the object. Thanks counts have little relevance, but this is the only one I can think of.:)

I also cannot help but chuckle at the irony of Martin posting his ideas on a non-moneysaving board and (as at now) over 100 have pressed the thanks button. Some seem to do this automatically to his posts, of course, but in this case his thanks count has been inflated for no moneysaving reason, using that logic.;)

fire**fly

michaels wrote:

Completely off topic there seems to be some suggestion that people are given r'spect based on how many posts they have done - I look at people with more than 60 posts a month and wonder what sort of life they have...

easy to get 60 posts a month if you post comps nearly every day or every day, chatting in the 'inn' with everyone, posting help if needed

ts_aly2000

Unfortunately I think the perceived nastiness is a reflection of people in general. As more and more people buy their first computers and find themselves here, where they can effectively post anonymously, then it's going to increase further.

There's quite alot of us 'older' members who simply lurk these days. The real 'moneysaving' posts are few and far between these days. Certainly in the past I had a Brother inkjet printer from Staples, with a money off voucher and another Father's Day voucher. Reduced from something like £150 to about £50 in the end.

Certainly the MSE forum has gained a reputation within other forums, as taking the moral high ground. Where advice given is not factual, yet is based on heresay and personal opinion.

Oh don't get me wrong. This is still one of the best and LARGEST forum communities on the net. That in itself is a great achievement. But, is it friendly? Yes, I guess it is. I've made a few 'friends' on here who I like to interact with. Yet there's a few people that have been darn right abusive and hateful. And I mean utterly HATEFUL. That's why I rarely post anymore. I have a life! (no pun intended).

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