Tech board stickies

cwoodham

espresso wrote:

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

Thanks espresso. You're right. They must have changed this in an upgrade. The thread on how to search is now incorrect and needs to be updated.

sra

cwoodham wrote:

Thanks espresso. You're right. They must have changed this in an upgrade. The thread on how to search is now incorrect and needs to be updated.

Done

I've been meaning to put up a post over on This Site to ask people to look over the a-z threads for bits that have changed or if any stuff should be added

Little_John

I was thinking about the stickies the other day after reading another I want a pc/laptop or I want to go wireless thread that we cover the same things over and over

Some people decide to post reasons why not to buy somthing and others post reasons why to buy them I feel that the OP deserves both sides of the story and I try to do that.

Renee

I've just seen Lord Chris's comments about people who ask stupid questions on this board.

I would just like to say that if I had only read his comments I would never again have asked for advice on this board but seeing the replies I feel confident that if I did I would not be treated with disdain.

I've been helped a lot, don't forget us silver surfers, we're still learning what you can do with a pc and what you can't.

For those that have helped me.... Thanks a lot. Youv'e saved me a lot of money.

Renee

Nile

Thank goodness for the sentiments in post #6 by board guide sra.:T

We can't all be techie savvy and I'd hate to think that a minority of unpleasant (swearing:mad: ) members could deter people from asking for help on any board in the MSE chat forum.:rolleyes:

We are extremely lucky to have such knowledgeable, patient and friendly board guides as sra and Fran.:A

Kind Regards

Nile

wolfman

I light of the above, I can see both sides of the argument. I can understand certain people's frustration. For example, to recent camera threads.

Good post
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=228724

Bad post
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=228862

I'm not trying to scare anyone away. Personally I'm more than happy to help, but can only do so much with the info I'm given.

I think it works both ways. As a techie I find the bad post puts me off getting involved as straight away I'd have to ask for more detail, and the poster doesn't seem to have done any research even to help give a vague idea of what they want. Generally the kind of post I'll leave alone.

It could be in everyone's interest to create a sticky as a guide (not rules) how people should phrase their post and what details to include. That way less technical people have an idea of what details to provide so that they can get the best answer from the more technical people, who'll have more to work with.

Also a sticky on searching, giving tips how to get the most out of the search functionality in the forum. The forum has a wealth of knowledge within it stored as old posts, we just need to show people how to find what they want.

LittleJo

Hi,
The idea of a pro-forma seems sensible.
it would save me forgetting to put in all the things I should have done.
Jo

sra

Here's the way I'm thinking -

I've thought in the past about a 'Look here First' kind of sticky, or maybe even a post recommending a template and suggesting how to search and post.

Today I started drawing up a 'Look here First' type post with recommendations on how to search etc - Just to see what it looked like written down and if it could be worded in a simple way. But it's a difficult thing to do -

When I've posted guides in the past for the a-z, I've written them trying to imagine that the reader might be a granny who's new to computers and is desperately trying to figure out how to use the forum to find out how to stretch her pension. Someone who'll be put off at the first hurdle if there's too much to read or look through
By this standard most my posts fail - but I try


Then I looked at the two posts Wolfman pointed to and I realized something - I really like the second thread!

That's probably why I came to this board in the first place. People can make a really vague, untechnical post, and when they do they're not shouted at "hey idiot! Go to the Read here first post".
Instead someone politely asks them to give more details about what they need.
(though increasingly they are being shouted at here)

Rather than thinking we should do something to get rid of vague posts, I'm thinking they should positively encouraged. They let people know it's okay to post here even if they're not sure what they're talking about.

Is it really such a horrible effort to ask a poster to be more specific??



I kinda have the feeling that most the regulars on the board will probably completely disagree with me.

But I do think there may be an urge (perhaps subconsciously) among techies to make this a techie board where novices come to kneel and receive wisdom - just like the vast majority of techie sites on the internet.
Bringing in an order and structure is part of that.


Whereas I think this should be a board for novices where they come because they know patient and friendly techies help

Where they can jump in at the deep end



phew that was a long post :shocked:

Nile

sra wrote:

Here's the way I'm thinking -

Then I looked at the two posts Wolfman pointed to and I realized something - I really like the second thread!

That's probably why I came to this board in the first place. People can make a really vague, untechnical post, and when they do they're not shouted at "hey idiot! Go to the Read here first post".
Instead someone politely asks them to give more details about what they need.
(though increasingly they are being shouted at here)

Rather than thinking we should do something to get rid of vague posts, I'm thinking they should positively encouraged. They let people know it's okay to post here even if they're not sure what they're talking about.

Is it really such a horrible effort to ask a poster to be more specific??



I kinda have the feeling that most the regulars on the board will probably completely disagree with me.

But I do think there may be an urge (perhaps subconsciously) among techies to make this a techie board where novices come to kneel and receive wisdom - just like the vast majority of techie sites on the internet.
Bringing in an order and structure is part of that. You're probably right sra and it would deter the technophobes from posting here and asking for help.


Whereas I think this should be a board for novices where they come because they know patient and friendly techies help

Where they can jump in at the deep end I totally agree with you sra, I hope the board continues to welcome everyone with all abilities.



phew that was a long post :shocked:

Your thread 'Unofficial A-Z (Look here first)' in the This Site: Questions & suggestions board is so useful, especially for new members. I'm sure you could do something for the 'Techie Stuff' board and make it a sticky thread.

Thanks

Nile

Fran

sra wrote:

That's probably why I came to this board in the first place. People can make a really vague, untechnical post, and when they do they're not shouted at "hey idiot! Go to the Read here first post".
Instead someone politely asks them to give more details about what they need.

................

Is it really such a horrible effort to ask a poster to be more specific??

I absolutely agree sra, if someone is asking a question they might not be aware there is an often complex answer to their question. This board has three times the amount of posts it had a couple of years ago and they slip down quickly.

To keep the links that I have done undere FAQ's up to date is a far too time consuming job for anyone now. There are some links that are apparently not going to be renewed after the site upgrades which is why some of them now don't work. I will get round to checking them all.

Any suggestions (by pm) to me or sra with threads that have exceptionally useful replies that could go under FAQ's would be welcome as no-one gets to read all the threads.

I think that this board drifts along nicely and has a nice atmosphere to it and ....... it ain't broke.