Tech board stickies

shopbot

Following on from this thread...
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=225891

I was wondering if maybe the stickies could be adjusted or edited to more accurately reflect common questions on the board.
For example:
Help I've got a virus!
Paid for Vs Free Virus Scanners?
Best Web Browser?
Which PC should I buy?

This is not a criticism of the current board guides or the contents of the stickies. It's just that I often read threads and think this is discussed frequently and often on multiple threads. Maybe the solution would be to retitle/merge adddelete some of the stickies.

My vote would be to:
Merge the Malware Removal Guide with the Online Scanners Guide. Then change the name. Most PC users will understand the danger of viruses however might not understand what malware is. Maybe call it 'How can I Remove Viruses and Spyware From My Computer'.

Do we really need a Cheapest Laptop Hunt sticky? After all this is something you buy infrequently and maybe the best offers should be put on the Grabbit Board.

Browntoas excellent Malware thread gives the best recommendations for security software - do we also need What Security Do You Use.

I would add stickies on:
Best Web Browser
Buying a PC/Laptop
Best Web Browser
Best Free Software

What does everyone think?

albertross_2

I agree with most of it, but not sure best web brower needs a sticky.. there are only a handful to choose from.

I'd say wireless, viruses and malware, whichpc, backups (I wish everyone would do this, it makes recovery easier), help my PC won't boot, help my pc is slow, which ISP, are the common questions.

One Faq thread with links to these topics would make the stickies cleaner. The problem is that very few people read the stickies first, and post their query anyway.

Lord_Chris

can i suggest one?

how about: READ THIS BEFORE ASKING INCREDIBLY STUPID QUESTIONS

...on a more serious note i think there should be a kind of 'rules' sticky. this could include:

- a template for tech problems... i.e getting people to include relevant information such as their OS.
- some basic points on stuff, i.e. (from a recent post) someone asked what internal optical drives will work in their dell desktop... well as anyone with half a mind knows, if its a standard desktop computer, any standard optical drive will fit.

maybe just a kind of 'read before asking' sticky wouldn't go amiss as many people ask completely stupid questions where if they looked on google and hit the first result they wouldnt have to take up thread space which could be utilised by people who actually need help.

ohh, lets have a sticky simply entitled: "GOOGLE IT"

(just for anyone not getting the gist, google it is the polite version of FOFO ((F u cK off and find out)) ).

Lord_Chris

threads asking what desktop/laptop should i buy without asking specific questions etc should be banned and removed when posted. they help no one.

that gives me an idea....

wolfman

Hmmm a Wiki would be better for such a thing rather than having loads of stickies everywhere. That way we could build up a knowledge base, rather than having it spread amongst a load of threads.

I think Lord Chris has the right idea.

We need a "Read Before Posting" sticky, detailing how people should title and describe their post.

Also information on searching before posting, as a lot of poeple post the same thing over and over without actually searching for previous threads.

And finally, teaching people to Google. It is actually almost an art form, but would help in the long run. Kind of along the lines of "Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime".

sra

I'm just going to say one small thing for now.

Whatever happens to the stickies on Techie, I think I'll be adding one in the next day or so.
I don't know the wording yet but it will be basically reminding people of what's posted at the top of every page:

Remember there's no such thing as a stupid question, pls be nice to all MoneySavers!

I'm seeing an increasing number of posts on Techie that don't follow this.

It's annoying when people don't Google, and I know the frustration when people ask the same question again and again (The last time the Thanks button disappeared I merged 10+ threads over the following days asking where it had gone - I'm not exaggerating)

But this isn't a techie site where people are supposed to know about computers. This really should be a place where people can come and ask a silly question without being afraid of the response. This should be a place where people who have never posted on a forum before feel comfortable to post.

Although there could be suggestions about how people use this board, how to search, and places they might want to look first, that's all they would be - suggestions not rules.


Personally, I think I'll be changing my Board Guiding style a little and making a point of asking people to be much nicer to fellow moneysavers.

wonderfullife_2

Hi
I agree with Sra, some people are quite rude and obnoxious on here, and are treating people like idiots.

People are asking for advice and help, they certaintly don't need to be made to feel foolish, because that just stops them from asking..... and I don't feel that this is the purpose of this site.

Its an excellent site for asking advice and learning from others, so respect to all.

Just my opinion

Toxteth_OGrady

There's plenty of other forums where the self-acclaimed resident gods can 'flame the n00bs' and claim 'pwnage' in there '1337' speak. :rolleyes:

I hope MSE Techie never becomes that way.

I think the patient, tolerant, friendly and sympathetic way that the likes of albertross, browntoa, pchelpman, wolfman et al solve the same basic problems day-in and day-out contributes massively to the all-inclusive nature of this board. :T

:cool:

TOG

cwoodham

wolfman wrote:

We need a "Read Before Posting" sticky, detailing how people should title and describe their post.

Also information on searching before posting, as a lot of poeple post the same thing over and over without actually searching for previous threads.

I agree wolfman. I think part of the problem is that some (many?) people have tried search on MSE forums and didnt get the results they wanted because they are unaware that on MSE search you have to type your search keywords in lower case, no capitals, not like Google.

I know there is a thread on searching here, but many havent seen it because it's not at the top of this board. A "Read before Posting" sticky could contain basic info on searching and a link to the search thread. Here it is:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=325723#post325723

espresso

cwoodham wrote:

I agree wolfman. I think part of the problem is that some (many?) people have tried search on MSE forums and didnt get the results they wanted because they are unaware that on MSE search you have to type your search keywords in lower case, no capitals, not like Google.

Not true any more! Try searching for capital or CAPITAL and look at post #5 in this thread.

:eek:

shopbot

When I made the original post the intention was not to bash newbies!

I think that a change to the stickies would actually help newbies more than anything....

I agree that we should try and stamp out any element of techie elitism.