Making the Message Board work.........
Thursday, June 27, 2002 by Jafo | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
When people browse this board they are confronted with a list of thread topics, which, if they spark an interest/curiosity, will be clicked-on and read.
Makes sense, don't it?
Now, what strikes me as odd/strange/weird/pointless are the thread 'topics' such as....
'Help'...[that's a given]
'I have a question'.....[obviously]
'A little help'....[not TOO much]
'how to do it'....[we talkin' sex, again?]
or
'stupid newbie question'...[a question FOR a 'stupid newbie' perhaps?]
These, and several others probably really don't attract the attention that is 'wanted', because they aren't even lead-ins to the problem, except maybe to show a poor handling of a request for assistance....[so THAT'S the problem]...
It would be cleverererer to clarify the 'subject'....like...."Help, WB won't auto-load"....then in the body of the thread go into more detail.
As is the case with some of these threads, you 'almost' expect....
'Help!!!!'
[then in the thread]
'I'm being held captive by three-toed sloths in the Amazon rain-forest....who won the Soccer?'
I think you get my drift....
Makes sense, don't it?
Now, what strikes me as odd/strange/weird/pointless are the thread 'topics' such as....
'Help'...[that's a given]
'I have a question'.....[obviously]
'A little help'....[not TOO much]
'how to do it'....[we talkin' sex, again?]
or
'stupid newbie question'...[a question FOR a 'stupid newbie' perhaps?]
These, and several others probably really don't attract the attention that is 'wanted', because they aren't even lead-ins to the problem, except maybe to show a poor handling of a request for assistance....[so THAT'S the problem]...
It would be cleverererer to clarify the 'subject'....like...."Help, WB won't auto-load"....then in the body of the thread go into more detail.
As is the case with some of these threads, you 'almost' expect....
'Help!!!!'
[then in the thread]
'I'm being held captive by three-toed sloths in the Amazon rain-forest....who won the Soccer?'
I think you get my drift....
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craeonics
Reply #2 Thursday, June 27, 2002 9:23 AM
Reply #2 Thursday, June 27, 2002 9:23 AM
By the way, Jafoman, perhaps you should have titled this thread: "clueless newbies read this"?
craeonics
Reply #3 Thursday, June 27, 2002 9:26 AM
Reply #3 Thursday, June 27, 2002 9:26 AM
Um, make that "clueless newbies: read these board guidelines"
MikeB314
Reply #5 Thursday, June 27, 2002 9:39 AM
Reply #5 Thursday, June 27, 2002 9:39 AM
Hehe. I couldn't agree more. Also, it wouldn't hurt to actually read some of the previous posts before asking a question that has already been answered 5 times that day.
Chris
Reply #6 Thursday, June 27, 2002 9:40 AM
Reply #6 Thursday, June 27, 2002 9:40 AM
The problem is that this seems to be human nature that occurs on every board and newsgroup. I'm not sure what you can do about it though.
When you post a nondescriptive subject like: "HELP! WHADDA I DO?" your basically at the mercy of my boredom level: Do I click that intriguing message or do I continue my current task of cleaning the fuzz out of my navel?
On the other hand, its important that every sincere newbie question get answered with a genuine attempt to help them. Otherwise, the growth of this place will ultimately stagnate.
It would be nice if, on the main web page, at the top, there was a permanent section that said something like "Welcome to WinCustomize. If you're new to this place, why don't you click the link below to learn more about what this place is about".
Then have not only ettiquete suggestions, but real simple newbie FAQ items like:
What's WindowBlinds?
How to I install a skin?
Why doen't WiindowBlinds change my Start Menu?
What's LightSTEP?
How do I upload a file? (underwhich you gently outline the upload rules)
This info already exists in bits and pieces in the skinning primer, at the top of each section, and so on. But it needs to be tied together and presented in such a way to make it easily visible and accessible to newbies.
When you post a nondescriptive subject like: "HELP! WHADDA I DO?" your basically at the mercy of my boredom level: Do I click that intriguing message or do I continue my current task of cleaning the fuzz out of my navel?
On the other hand, its important that every sincere newbie question get answered with a genuine attempt to help them. Otherwise, the growth of this place will ultimately stagnate.
It would be nice if, on the main web page, at the top, there was a permanent section that said something like "Welcome to WinCustomize. If you're new to this place, why don't you click the link below to learn more about what this place is about".
Then have not only ettiquete suggestions, but real simple newbie FAQ items like:
What's WindowBlinds?
How to I install a skin?
Why doen't WiindowBlinds change my Start Menu?
What's LightSTEP?
How do I upload a file? (underwhich you gently outline the upload rules)
This info already exists in bits and pieces in the skinning primer, at the top of each section, and so on. But it needs to be tied together and presented in such a way to make it easily visible and accessible to newbies.
craeonics
Reply #7 Thursday, June 27, 2002 9:55 AM
Reply #7 Thursday, June 27, 2002 9:55 AM
Chris you no0b, it's LiteStep. And speaking about faqs, I've got this on the shelf: http://www.teknidermy.com/faq/
Koasati
Reply #9 Thursday, June 27, 2002 10:09 AM
Reply #9 Thursday, June 27, 2002 10:09 AM
If they're unable to see the info in the section, how would they find the link on the main page? I have suggested a sticky thread, here in the forum, with newbie info, but never received a reply.
crae..nice job!
crae..nice job!
Transmutate
Reply #10 Thursday, June 27, 2002 10:29 AM
Reply #10 Thursday, June 27, 2002 10:29 AM
I thought that a 'newbie' was a secret new skinning application....damn 
BTW - GREAT job, Crae !
BTW - GREAT job, Crae !
craeonics
Reply #11 Thursday, June 27, 2002 10:32 AM
Reply #11 Thursday, June 27, 2002 10:32 AM
(Unfinished job. I'll elaborate on this faq in Tek's next issue (if I ever get those damn bunnies drawn))
TasT
Reply #12 Thursday, June 27, 2002 10:38 AM
Reply #12 Thursday, June 27, 2002 10:38 AM
How bout a link at the top of the page that goes to a page that has FAQ's for each of the programs listed on WInC.
We could assign volunteers to answer the common questions for each program and place the Q&A in the FAQ within a few weeks most of the redundant stuff should be taken care of.
Also a "newbie/Help thread in the forum that simply points them to the INdex of FAQ's..
We could assign volunteers to answer the common questions for each program and place the Q&A in the FAQ within a few weeks most of the redundant stuff should be taken care of.
Also a "newbie/Help thread in the forum that simply points them to the INdex of FAQ's..
craeonics
Reply #15 Thursday, June 27, 2002 10:43 AM
Reply #15 Thursday, June 27, 2002 10:43 AM
Seeing the number of repetitive questions _and_ answers I see, it wouldn't be too hard to put something like that together. Keeping it up to date would be a bit more work though.
Fuzzy Logic
Reply #16 Thursday, June 27, 2002 11:40 AM
Reply #16 Thursday, June 27, 2002 11:40 AM
Help! Stupid newbie question... 
...where's the FAQ?
Everywhere else you go these days has a FAQ. Seems sensible to have one here given the large number of simple questions asked repetitively.
...where's the FAQ? Everywhere else you go these days has a FAQ. Seems sensible to have one here given the large number of simple questions asked repetitively.
KarmaGirl
Reply #17 Thursday, June 27, 2002 11:51 AM
Reply #17 Thursday, June 27, 2002 11:51 AM
WinCustomize is a community and is run by the community (and we want it to be run more and more by the community) SO, how about somebody making a faq and sending it to T-Man or Alexandrie? I'm sure that if it is good, they will put a link to it. We are working on a Stardock faq, but it does not cover much of WC. The Stardock faq (work still being done to it daily) is located off the support page at: www.stardock.com/support
Fuzzy Logic
Reply #18 Thursday, June 27, 2002 12:08 PM
Reply #18 Thursday, June 27, 2002 12:08 PM
Is there any one person you know who could answer all questions on all areas? I think not. Having someone in the community submit a FAQ sounds like a good idea, but in practise it would need a commitee. Perhaps volunteers for each specialist area?
Ande
Reply #20 Sunday, June 30, 2002 6:11 AM
Reply #20 Sunday, June 30, 2002 6:11 AM
I'm an inexperienced newbie and will attempt to be more exact when posting a thread question in the future.
However, reading many of the threads over the past couple of months makes me wonder if the Message Board is not a vehicle for the experienced to engage in one-upmanship in the joke department.
Perhaps it should be renamed "Chat Room for the Experienced" and links put on the Web Site directing all the Stupid Newbies with idiotic questions to to the appropriate Newsgroup Maze.
Just a thought from an idiot newbie dimmmer skinner. Ops I'm not smart enough to have designed a skin yet.
However, reading many of the threads over the past couple of months makes me wonder if the Message Board is not a vehicle for the experienced to engage in one-upmanship in the joke department.
Perhaps it should be renamed "Chat Room for the Experienced" and links put on the Web Site directing all the Stupid Newbies with idiotic questions to to the appropriate Newsgroup Maze.
Just a thought from an idiot newbie dimmmer skinner. Ops I'm not smart enough to have designed a skin yet.
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Reply #1 Thursday, June 27, 2002 9:23 AM