Do we need a Tech Newbie forum?

Squire_Fulwood

On the point of dying threads I can use an analogy here since I have run or been a member of some clubs in the past. The biggest danger to a club is the lack of new blood. It is a mistake to pander to existing members who want to set the bar higher for new members. That road leads to a small membership.

Fifer

Not dying threads, but a dying board. Why would new members be attracted to a technical help board where there are lots of people asking the same question and few answering.

A forum board is not a club. The greatest danger to a forum board is low signal to noise ratio. It's poison.

rmg1

Having read the comments on this thread, maybe the answer is a few sub-boards on here.
You could have one for (possible) virus infections, one for PC/Laptop recommendation (similar to the sub-£350 board) and a few others in order to organise the question types a little better.

If they were clearly marked as such, it might point people in the right direction when they first appear and help the mods in moving threads to the right place to get the best help with their queries.

Squire_Fulwood

I just looked at the figures regarding the vote. 785 views, 36 voted and only 4 voted yes. Perhaps this is not a big problem.

free4440273

Squire_Fulwood wrote: »

I just looked at the figures regarding the vote. 785 views, 36 voted and only 4 voted yes. Perhaps this is not a big problem.

:rotfl::rotfl:oops, forgot to Vote. Rectified !;)

Fifer

Squire_Fulwood wrote: »

I just looked at the figures regarding the vote. 785 views, 36 voted and only 4 voted yes. Perhaps this is not a big problem.

I think there's a problem. I didn't vote. I don't think the answer is a new board.

Former_MSE_Andrea

Hi guys

Just to answer a few points.... (excuse the bolding and bullet points, I thought you'd be able to read it better like this)

• I've unstickied the under £350 laptops guide and asked our team member who now covers the MSE cheap laptops guide it's linked to, to start a new thread for the guide next week.
  
  
• I've stickied closed's thread - good idea!
  
  
• I'll look into whether there really is a need for another board guide on here or not and if there is then we'll get someone on board.
  

A couple of reminders though...

• Please remember board guides are volunteer forum users and have their own lives to lead. We don't ask them to look at the boards every day.
  
  
• They're there to be contacted. If you've seen a thread that's going to get more/better responses on a different board please send the link to the board guide and they'll take a look, otherwise they may not have seen it.
  
  
• If there's spam on the board please click the spam button on it, PM the board guide or report it to the Forum Team.
  
  
• If there's a thread that you feel would make a useful sticky for newbies please suggest the link to the board guide.
  
  
• If you feel the current stickies could do with an up date how about offering to do it yourself so the board guide can use that or, or ask them if they'd mind you doing a new up-to-date thread that they could sticky?
  
  
• The board is yours to use in the best way to help yourselves and others so don't be afraid to make suggestions.
  

Thanks to all those that popped a link to this thread to the Forum Team.

Remember, you can always talk to me too if you ever need to.

Have a great weekend

Andrea

debitcardmayhem

Hi Andrea,

debitcardmayhem wrote: »

To paraphase Lily(not andrew) we need mods who are (attr)active.

MSE_Andrea wrote: »

Hi guys

Just to answer a few points.... (excuse the bolding and bullet points, I thought you'd be able to read it better like this)

As I said , and you can be bold with me any time I will bite the bullet:o

• I've stickied closed's thread - good idea!
• Great

A couple of reminders though...


Remember, you can always talk to me too if you ever need to.

Have a great weekend
You too

Andrea

One other thought for you , please can we stop Newbies being able to
post their homepage in their details, it is just another way of spamming , before they get their post count up enough to post www.whatever.theyareselling ...
Thank you for posting, and keep up the good work (same goes to all board guides you know who you are)

RussJK

GunJack wrote: »

p.s. where have all the interesting virus infection threads gone ??

A very good question!

free4440273

tech newbie ? surely, an oxymoron . well, after reading MSE Andrea's post -- if it IS a possibility -- then perhaps it's a good idea. Not sure how it will be decided as to what constitutes a thread to be posted in the new Newbie sub-forum. We might need another vote/poll ....