Should we?....

6 Jul 2006

I have noticed that sometimes when a new person joins the forum they often ask a question(s) that have been asked 1000 times already. (Hey this may even be one of them. lol

) Icertinaly fell into that 'trap' when I first joined.
Anyway I made a quip earlier about maybe we should have a FAQ sticky with aproppriate links but now I'm thinking that it wouldn't be such a bad idea!
Do you think that if we did do that, that it might stop people joining in, as often the first foray into the forum may only be to ask a popular question? If the see it in the FAQ they might not post and then may never return - obviously we could be missing out on some new fantastic forum members.
God I hope this is making sense? Anyway at the moment I am torn in two. Maybe the FAQ would be helpful to some, but we may lose out on their future contributions. dunno

What do you think?

6 Jul 2006

Yes i think its a good idea....
Maybe a different part of the forum though as it would be hell of a lot of sticky threads lol

Or how about a search button that fills 95% of the screen but slowly gets smaller the more post's a newbie has made lol

Shaz x

6 Jul 2006

it's a good idea in theory, but so many people just wade in feet first without bothering to look whats been posted already. how many times have you seen someone start a thread almost identical to one thats already running on page one.

6 Jul 2006

I think FAQ's would be a good addition to the sticky situation. I don't think it'll stop the questions though as some people don't seem to read anything in the cafe before they post thier first thread.
H.x

6 Jul 2006

Quote by Shaz_n_Tony
Yes i think its a good idea....
Maybe a different part of the forum though as it would be hell of a lot of sticky threads
Or how about a search button that fills 95% of the screen but slowly gets smaller the more post's a newbie has made
Shaz x

Now THATis a good idea! :thumbup:

Quote by meat2pleaseu
it's a good idea in theory, but so many people just wade in feet first without bothering to look whats been posted already. how many times have you seen someone start a thread almost identical to one thats already running on page one.

I know Meaty... I can't say that I'd ever do anything that annoying... redface

Seriously though if we had the FAQ we could politely direct them to it instead of employing Shaz to hunt out all the threads for the newbies (which is very kind of Shaz of course). dunno

6 Jul 2006

Kiss_Me
Have a look at the posting guidelines at the top of this forum, then have a look at the title of your poll. lol

Tell me if you think people would read another section of advice when all the other areas are ignored on a daily basis.
Mal
wink

6 Jul 2006

i did suggest at the other place that before someone is allowed to post in the forum, they are directed to a page of do's and don'ts, preferably with a time limit so they can't just click that they've read it and then post like a numpty.

6 Jul 2006

I say 'kinda' lol

i'm not sure about this one - the repeat posts such as 'should i shave?' etc drive me mad - i dont read them usually let alone post on them, cos its all been done before.
A FAQ section might be helpful - but it would stop the interaction between newbies and more experienced members, which is not a good thing.
'wading in feet first' posts also work as an excellent guide as to whether someone's really thought about this, spent time reading and lurking and finding out it all works and getting familiar with the site generally as well as the lifestyle.
but as I've argued many times before, often they're crap posts that someone types off the top of their head quite literally as a way of joining in, trying to start conversation or a bit of interaction - especially the 'can you help me' type posts. Sometimes any interaction at all is better than none, and unless you post something, 'we' dont even know they're here dunno

but it still irritates me - but what irritates me more is when someone simply replies saying 'the search button is your friend' - like that's suposed to help (which is different to using the search button yourself and posting the links for them to read) wink

6 Jul 2006

Quote by Mal
Kiss_Me
Have a look at the posting guidelines at the top of this forum, then have a look at the title of your poll.
Tell me if you think people would read another section of advice when all the other areas are ignored on a daily basis.
Mal

:cry:

Well maybe we could post a sticky called "Women Who Want Sex Now"?
That way it would definitely get read!
wink

6 Jul 2006

Quote by Kiss_Me
Well maybe we could post a sticky called "Women Who Want Sex Now"?

i'd probably fall for that on a regular basis redface

6 Jul 2006

Quote by meat2pleaseu

Well maybe we could post a sticky called "Women Who Want Sex Now"?

i'd probably fall for that on a regular basis redface

:giggle:
I doubt that Meaty... well maybe you would learn after the first 50 looks anyway? dunno

6 Jul 2006

Quote by Darkfire
but as I've argued many times before, often they're crap posts that someone types off the top of their head quite literally as a way of joining in, trying to start conversation or a bit of interaction - especially the 'can you help me' type posts. Sometimes any interaction at all is better than none, and unless you post something, 'we' dont even know they're here

The bit I've quoted from you Darkfire it what I think too. That's how I first joined really. Yes I did read the a lot of threads first but eventually I just took the plunge.
So I'm still in two minds! confused

6 Jul 2006

I like the idea in theory, but like has been said, who would read it.
We have a Chatroom Q & A thread at the top of the page, but it doesn't stop people posting their winges like they think this is the chatroom customer services department.
Then I thought if we had a FAQ thread at least we would have an easy link to refer people to and post the link to them. The down side to that is as Darkfire mentioned it does cut down the actual interaction with the newbies.
I think sometimes the questions they ask are just their way of taking the plunge and a response of "Go read here" could stop them posting again.
Oooh I can't make my mind up. Typical Libran!!!

6 Jul 2006

I'm not against a list of commonly posted threads per se, it's just that there is a stack of other information all over the Site in various forms which, as I said earlier, is ignored on a daily basis. We can't force people to read FAQ's, no more than we can expect them to read everything that's ever been posted before.
However, with the mentoring scheme, they get the opportunity to interact with a real person who can help them understand what would make good first posts and what don't.
Perhaps we should point them in that direction?
Mal
wink

6 Jul 2006

Quote by Mal
I'm not against a list of commonly posted threads per se, it's just that there is a stack of other information all over the Site in various forms which, as I said earlier, is ignored on a daily basis. We can't force people to read FAQ's, no more than we can expect them to read everything that's ever been posted before.
However, with the mentoring scheme, they get the opportunity to interact with a real person who can help them understand what would make good first posts and what don't.
Perhaps we should point them in that direction?
Mal

Good point... I guess I have to concede that it probably woouldn't get read anyway. RedPantherMan did a "welcome to your first post" thread which I thought was a good idea - but that died a death unfortunately.
Ahh well was worth a thought anyway.
biggrin

6 Jul 2006

................or even a mix of the two? A list of commonly posted threads AND point them to a Mentor?
Just a fort!! lol

Mal

6 Jul 2006

Quote by Mal
................or even a mix of the two? A list of commonly posted threads AND point them to a Mentor?
Just a fort!!
Mal

All this sensible discussion is making me crave my usual utter nonsense!
Seriously though I was just finkin of the newbies and I think you have hit the nail on the head.
smile

6 Jul 2006

Quote by Mal
................or even a mix of the two? A list of commonly posted threads AND point them to a Mentor?
Just a fort!!
Mal

I'd go with that. And to save having another sticky, could we maybe add the links into The advice thread?

6 Jul 2006

Kiss_me

I beleave I've given you this link before asnd the answer is still the same don't go there :scared:
http://www.swingingheaven.co.uk/swingers-forum/viewtopic/77127.html
and as I said last time as well please don't bump it up us I really can't be arsed and i'm off to work in a min lol

6 Jul 2006

Why are you confused

me Sheddy! sad

That thread was well over before I even joined and I have never seen it before - I was just trying to think of other newbies because I am one too.
Maybe I'm wrong (it happens often) but why was it ok for you to ask and not me?

6 Jul 2006

My suggestion for the first question in the FAQ....
Why don't people read FAQ's :giggle:

6 Jul 2006

Quote by Kiss_Me
Why are you me Sheddy!
That thread was well over before I even joined and I have never seen it before - I was just trying to think of other newbies because I am one too.
Maybe I'm wrong (it happens often) but why was it ok for you to ask and not me?

Ok so it's bugging me.....

6 Jul 2006

Quote by Kiss_Me
Why are you me Sheddy!
That thread was well over before I even joined and I have never seen it before - I was just trying to think of other newbies because I am one too.
Maybe I'm wrong (it happens often) but why was it ok for you to ask and not me?

i dont think thats what he was implying hun, hes implying that its an unresolvable issue......as in - doesnt matter now many stickies there are.....people still dont read them dunno

for what its worth i think it would be useful, but at the end of the day its only useful if we all use it to direct people to, instead of just flaming newbies who do what you just did and bring up something thats already been done....thats always going to happen and i believe its the way those posts are dealt with by us that makes the difference.

6 Jul 2006

Quote by Kiss_Me
Why are you me Sheddy!
That thread was well over before I even joined and I have never seen it before - I was just trying to think of other newbies because I am one too.
Maybe I'm wrong (it happens often) but why was it ok for you to ask and not me?

Ok so it's bugging me.....
Thanks Kitten kiss

Right lets try again...........................read through some of the times I've replied to you and in the early days I normally started the post with kiss me confused

As in not your user name but kiss me a sort of play on words if you so like and as Kitten has said I wasn't saying you couldn't ask (i've re read what I put plenty of times and no where does it imply that I mean that) it was a case of high lighting that I've raised the issue before and someplace in the posting guide lines it suggests use the search button to see if the topic has been covered before instead of stating a new thread. Now I know I said don't bump it up but as its me posting you can be certain to take that comment ever so slightly tongue in cheek or at least pretty much everyone else would.

6 Jul 2006

I tend to think the Forum is the FAQ. As most questions or ideas revolve in a fairly consistent and reoccurring manner.

6 Jul 2006

Quote by sheddy
Why are you me Sheddy!
That thread was well over before I even joined and I have never seen it before - I was just trying to think of other newbies because I am one too.
Maybe I'm wrong (it happens often) but why was it ok for you to ask and not me?

Ok so it's bugging me.....
Thanks Kitten kiss

Right lets try again...........................read through some of the times I've replied to you and in the early days I normally started the post with kiss me confused

As in not your user name but kiss me a sort of play on words if you so like and as Kitten has said I wasn't saying you couldn't ask (i've re read what I put plenty of times and no where does it imply that I mean that) it was a case of high lighting that I've raised the issue before and someplace in the posting guide lines it suggests use the search button to see if the topic has been covered before instead of stating a new thread. Now I know I said don't bump it up but as its me posting you can be certain to take that comment ever so slightly tongue in cheek or at least pretty much everyone else would.
:cry: <--- Sorry Sheddy
:rose: <--- Meant to be an olive branch....
redface

<--- Exactly!
Thanks for taking the time to explain Sheddy, instead of giving me a :sparring: Thanks too Kitten kiss

I think I was just really caught off guard, I won't make excuses though.
Ok maybe time to 'fess up' and possibly re-think my constant posting on here! I have mentioned before that I have synesthesia and dyslexia, but that's because I have Aspergers Syndrome. A useful link if you fancy looking is -
I'm not looking for sympathy or special treatment in anyway shape or form - I just think that some folk (who I annoy lol

) can understand that it's not personal and just my quirk and that sometimes I do get things SO wrong. I'm not depressed or sad about having Aspergers as it has given me certain 'gifts' too. I do try to think hard and make sure I understand before I post or reply but I'm not perfect - as much I like to try and convince everyone that I am! :silly:
Just thought maybe I should mention it before I go and get my self banned from SH! :
Please carry on telling me when I'm outta line, when I'm annoying and when to sod off out of it! (Well I know you will anyway!). biggrin

6 Jul 2006

Quote by Kiss_Me
but I'm not perfect

nor is anyone else hun........and thats the best thing about people.......if we were perfect the world would be a very dull place! wink

6 Jul 2006

Quote by Kiss_Me
Please carry on telling me when I'm outta line, when I'm annoying and when to sod off out of it! (Well I know you will anyway!).

OK

very nice new pic
H.x

6 Jul 2006

I've come across a few people with Aspergers (and also have an autistic family member) so know how difficult many find social interaction, and you're doing more than fine here honey kiss

6 Jul 2006

Kiss_Me and Sheddy (and Poshkate)
Sitting in a tree . . . . . . .
'ere ya go moi laaavlies . . .
I've had cause to use this a few ( redface

) times while I've been a member
Help yourselves kiss

Should we have an FAQ?