Why don't people post pics???!!!

[landuse]

I really get annoyed when people ask for help, and then never post pics.

Sure, in you first post you may not have any...but if you are then asked for some before we can help you....POST SOME PICS DANGIT!!!!!

Every second post I see we are asking for pics, and the OP never posts any. Whats up with that?? Do they not want any help? Sure, maybe they don't have a camera (but who doesn't have a cellphone nowadays), or if they have some valid reason, I can handle that.

Please people....post pics! Even if I cannot give you some help, at least I get to see what you are working on. A thread without pics gets boring real fast

Sorry for the rant....

 

[gvfc2]

no need to be sorry about a rant. its good to blow off steam once in awhile. kinda like reading peoples rants

 

[OzFab]

no need to be sorry about a rant. its good to blow off steam once in awhile. kinda like reading peoples rants

As for the OP, with that too. There's nothing worse than reading something like "I've got this thing that's connected to this other thing but I don't know how it's supposed to work";
A picture tells a thousand words

Toystory had a rant on the same subject not so long ago, perhaps the message isn't getting through. The main thing that sticks in my mind from that post was "help us to help you" or words to that effect.

I have noticed that, usually, the main culprits are new members who, perhaps, aren't used to us or familiar with how we do things.

Perhaps Robert should instigate a PM which is automatically sent to all new members as a "welcome kit" as it were, outlining what we do & what we expect you to do... Maybe, coming from you, Paul, that idea may carry a bit more weight but, I'd be happy to throw it in the suggestion box

 

[landuse]

As for the OP, with that too. There's nothing worse than reading something like "I've got this thing that's connected to this other thing but I don't know how it's supposed to work";
A picture tells a thousand words

Toystory had a rant on the same subject not so long ago, perhaps the message isn't getting through. The main thing that sticks in my mind from that post was "help us to help you" or words to that effect.

I have noticed that, usually, the main culprits are new members who, perhaps, aren't used to us or familiar with how we do things.

Perhaps Robert should instigate a PM which is automatically sent to all new members as a "welcome kit" as it were, outlining what we do & what we expect you to do... Maybe, coming from you, Paul, that idea may carry a bit more weight but, I'd be happy to throw it in the suggestion box

Thanks Fabroman. I will ask the other Mods what they think of the idea and let you guys know what happens.

 

[Nodroz]

I have to agree with all the above posts.

@Fabroman, your suggestion isn't that bad. I like it.

 

[augidog]

the new guy should imagine walking into a real-life shop and asking real-life people for help...you tug on my elbow and demand my attention, you'll be scuttled right back out the real-life door, you betcha!

it has nothing to do with DIY or its members/staff, i've been plagued by the same problem for years with multiple forums about multiple subjects...this is basic "forum usage 101." welcome messages for new arrivals have never solved the problem for me altho, logically, one would think it's just the ticket.

and btw...the image-hosting with thumbnails rocks the house...when you use a huge inline image from a remote host that BLOWS UP the display, i immediately close the thread and move on.

and btw...on a tech/mech forum it'd be nice if the subject title had something specific in it instead of a vague "can't figure this out" or some other drivel.

and btw...it's called "spell check."

you wanna get new members inline with policy & procedure? easy...the core members simply have to boycott "demanders" who aren't willing to do their part. mention one time that you need pics, then everyone leave it alone until you get pics.

 

[landuse]

the new guy should imagine walking into a real-life shop and asking real-life people for help...you tug on my elbow and demand my attention, you'll be scuttled right back out the real-life door, you betcha!

it has nothing to do with DIY or its members/staff, i've been plagued by the same problem for years with multiple forums about multiple subjects...this is basic "forum usage 101." welcome messages for new arrivals have never solved the problem for me altho, logically, one would think it's just the ticket.

and btw...the image-hosting with thumbnails rocks the house...when you use a huge inline image from a remote host that BLOWS UP the display, i immediately close the thread and move on.

and btw...on a tech/mech forum it'd be nice if the subject title had something specific in it instead of a vague "can't figure this out" or some other drivel.

and btw...it's called "spell check."

you wanna get new members inline with policy & procedure? easy...the core members simply have to boycott "demanders" who aren't willing to do their part. mention one time that you need pics, then everyone leave it alone until you get pics.

I couldn't have said it better myself. What is up with the text speak. You aren't sending a text message from your phone, you are on a internet forum!!!

 

[augidog]

you caught me doing a lot of editing, nothing new for me.

congrats on the new moderator title.

 

[landuse]

you caught me doing a lot of editing, nothing new for me.

congrats on the new moderator title.

All fixed.

Thanks. I will now probably get to know what you already know about how people behave on forums.

 

[augidog]

hehe, yes you will.

first lesson...noone pays attention to rants from staff.

 

[Orange Krate]

I like to rant and then delete after it's off my chest. I never thought aboutthe mods catching me

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Toystory had a rant

Who? Me?

"help us to help you" or words to that effect.

Got me cold there. Yeah, there's a few things that are high on my peeve list. Among them are:

*Textspeak, horrible grammar, spelling, and 400 word paragraphs with zero punctuation. I should not have to put forth great effort just to figure out the question. (Disclaimer- Folks with English as a second language or otherwise linguistically-challenged members who genuinely cannot help this. Corollary: It has been my experience that ESL-members actually do quite well in this area and the offenders tend to be lazy umm- youths who couldn't be bothered to try). I love seeing younger members learning to work with their hands and learn new skills! But for Dog's sake, learn how to type!

*Lack of co-operation. This extends well beyond simply posting a fuzzy, dark cellphone pic. Most any troubleshooting situation is a process of elimination. This means I will ask questions, and I may ask you to perform simple, well-explained test procedures and report the results. It seriously grinds my gears when the OP cries for help, does not respond directly to my queries or cannot find time or put forth the effort to perform the prescribed checks. (And then continues crying for help).

"Effort" is the $50 word. None of us here are paid to be here. We (as a collective membership) are strictly volunteering our time and resources. So my attitude looks like this-

"If you are demanding that I put forth effort to help you, I expect you to put forth some effort to help me help you. I am willing to put forth the effort to help you, but if the effort is not reciprocal, or I have to put forth effort just to figure out what the he// you've typed, I'm out."

Perhaps Robert should instigate a PM which is automatically sent to all new members as a "welcome kit" as it were, outlining what we do & what we expect you to do... Maybe, coming from you, Paul, that idea may carry a bit more weight but, I'd be happy to throw it in the suggestion box

FTR, this discussion has been started in the Mod forum area for further deliberation. I am on board with the concept. While I recognize that it will not necessarily solve the problem in it's entirety, I subscribe to the concept that every little bit helps...

I like to rant and then delete after it's off my chest. I never thought aboutthe mods catching me

You do know that we can go back and read long-since deleted posts, right?

 

[OzFab]

and btw...it's called "spell check."

People in glass houses should not throw stones: the only place I see a capital letter is when you typed in ALL CAPS

you wanna get new members inline with policy & procedure? easy...the core members simply have to boycott "demanders" who aren't willing to do their part. mention one time that you need pics, then everyone leave it alone until you get pics.

Great idea. Now, how do we get everyone on board...?

welcome messages for new arrivals have never solved the problem for me altho, logically, one would think it's just the ticket.

FTR, this discussion has been started in the Mod forum area for further deliberation. I am on board with the concept. While I recognize that it will not necessarily solve the problem in it's entirety, I subscribe to the concept that every little bit helps...

I know it was my suggestion but, sadly, a welcome message is only effective if it's read

 

[augidog]

People in glass houses should not throw stones: the only place I see a capital letter is when you typed in ALL CAPS

caps have NOTHING to do with whether a word is spelled correctly or not, and have no bearing on the future searchability of the word...subject-searchability is key to a forum's effectiveness, at least to those who know HOW to use a forum. this is the internet, for cryin' out loud, just type your intended question into any search engine and it will correct your spelling for you, then you can just paste it into place on the forum, and come out looking WAY smarter than you really are.

and btw, if you do that, you WILL be smarter than you were a moment ago, eh?

Great idea. Now, how do we get everyone on board...?

you don't...you never will. those days are long gone. most folks haven't a clue (anymore) about what a forum is or how to make the best use of one.

I know it was my suggestion but, sadly, a welcome message is only effective if it's read

most newbies are too intent on leaping blindly over the hurdles in order to post a vague & DEMANDING "need help asap!" well, maybe you DO need help as soon as possible, but the best way to get it (from me) is to use proper spelling & terminology, and if you're the FNG in the house maybe try some manners too.

 

[Mcbreja]

I know it was my suggestion but, sadly, a welcome message is only effective if it's read

Even more so, reading such a message is no guarantee either.

 

[OzFab]

caps have NOTHING to do with whether a word is spelled correctly or not, and have no bearing on the future searchability of the word...subject-searchability is key to a forum's effectiveness, at least to those who know HOW to use a forum. this is the internet, for cryin' out loud, just type your intended question into any search engine and it will correct your spelling for you, then you can just paste it into place on the forum, and come out looking WAY smarter than you really are.

and btw, if you do that, you WILL be smarter than you were a moment ago, eh?

most newbies are too intent on leaping blindly over the hurdles in order to post a vague & DEMANDING "need help asap!" well, maybe you DO need help as soon as possible, but the best way to get it (from me) is to use proper spelling & terminology, and if you're the FNG in the house maybe try some manners too.

The sad fact is, not everyone is good at spelling. Correct, typing a word into google is a great way to check spelling, I do it myself & I consider myself above average when it comes to spelling.

BTW: Knowing how to spell a word won't make you smarter, just more educated...

Even more so, reading such a message is no guarantee either.

Very true

 

[augidog]

Knowing how to spell a word won't make you smarter, just more educated...

you got me on that one.

 

[landuse]

What also gets to me is that the OP is so desperate for help, and you try help the guy, and they just disappear. They were so desperate for help and now they are gone....whats up with that? I know this forum is not that fast with responses, but wait around for a few days, and you will get an answer

 

[augidog]

today's internet user is used to instant messaging, chat, texting.

like i said, noone really understands the purpose or structure of a forum...a general rule of thumb with a forum is: it takes a whole week for everyone to see everything, because everyone lives in different locations and on different schedules.

 

[landuse]

....because everyone lives in different locations and on different schedules.

You got that right. Most of the activity happens here when I am sleeping.