Do we need a Tech Newbie forum?

redcard

The forum now seems to be overloaded with "Microsoft called me", "Do I have a virus?" and "Which laptop is best" threads.

We really don't need a thread each time someone gets a 'tech support call', or wants to buy a laptop from Argos.

m5rcc

They're all probably on IE....

Browntoa

do we really need a Poll every time someone disagrees with the way the forum is run

1)no

2)yes

redcard

Browntoa wrote: »

do we really need a Poll every time someone disagrees with the way the forum is run

1)no

2)yes

It's hardly disagreeing with the way the forum is run.

Get over yourself, bud.

JasX

we don;t need a poll we just need a sticky. What we really need is an admin present on the tech forum once in a while to respond to simple requests like that and not leave us being flooded by repeat threads.

RussJK

The kind of people who need guided help the most will probably never use a search feature. A newbie forum would be no good of course without experienced users there to help.

I agree that there's been too many "scam call" threads - I replied to most of the recent ones at the same time yesterday to help make a point about that

I suppose I wouldn't object to two forums being made: Tech Help & Tech Chat

Linbox

JasX wrote: »

we don;t need a poll we just need a sticky.

Like the sticky about "Malware Spyware Removal Guide" That no Newbie/noob seems to bother with. Or the umpteen virus scares/removal threads that are available if one should somehow even bother to search the forum for.

Its all about hand holding.

Nine times out of ten the op wont even follow your advice no matter how long you spend going through each point.

I could go on but I'm boring myself now!

Browntoa

it does not matter what you do , people ignore it....

big sticky on Grabbit says "do not post codes" , but they still do

across the top of the Page , no spam or referrals , but people still do

could go on but point made

Lil306

No, what we need is forum mods who are active.

RussJK

I know for a fact though that there are people who do get help from reading the new 'virus removal' threads, as I'll often find someone has kindly taken the time to PM a 'thank you' when they have followed the same advice I've given to someone else in a thread.

The point is that in helping one person in a 'virus removal' thread, that we're also doing it for anyone else who chances upon the thread. Some users are competent enough to help themselves with the extra information or explanations given in the threads. Also we never know how many non-members find the threads via google as well, based on obscure keywords e.g. from the HJT logs.

Similarly we don't really know how many people do follow the stickied threads as the kind of people who use it effectively won't necessarily say so after reading them - but at 100k page views the Malware/Spyware Removal Guide thread for example must be doing something right.

free4440273

no, we do not ....stop ringing the changes ! oops -- must be Microsoft ! :laugh: