Newbie - FAQ

You should learn how to do a search on this board. Any question...
BigPapasan 3 Reviews 413 reads
posted

...you have has already been asked by someone else and answered by helpful hobbyists.  For example...

hey everyone its sasha from nj :)  

can onee of u guys please teach me how to upload a pic onto a reply ??

thanks-a mucho!

xoxo

Sasha

you have to upload pics to a site like imagecoast.com.  Then each one gets its own URL.  That is the link you post.

Suggest you read the self help center.

Swi

thanks hun :)

Posted By: swimtrekr
you have to upload pics to a site like imagecoast.com.  Then each one gets its own URL.  That is the link you post.  
   
 Suggest you read the self help center.  
   
 Swim  
 

BPS, while I agree with you that people should learn how to do a search on here, many, if not most, who ask questions have not yet figured out where to find the answers they seek.  Lots of them have not yet read the self help center, as evidenced by the number of times we tell them to do so.   As a former teacher, I am used to repeated questions, so it doesn't bother me.  You are right, very seldom do we get a question that has not already been asked, but they don't know any better.  So, I cut them some slack.  Besides, if there were no questions, I might be out of a highly unpaid job.  lol

Swim

... to help newbies and minimize the repeat questions.

I'd recommend a REALLY BIG, like 2 inches, yellow button with bold font at the top of this page that says, "IF YOU ARE NEW CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE BASICS YOU NEED TO KNOW!!"  I think the self-help center link is just too subtle.  Also, I think the self-help center could be better organized.  It would make sense to have two main topics: 1) Getting Started - a guide for new clients, and 2) Getting started, a guide for new providers.  It's a bit of a hodge podge now, not really organized that well.  And in each section, the answers to the most common questions need to be listed first.  For guys, this would be the screening question that comes up here every week or two.

Just my opinion anyway

my opinion -  ;-)  
your suggestion has some good ideas ! perhaps you should put it on the suggestion board too -

How ever, I see NO problem with Newbies asking the same questions over and over and over and over....!!

After all, this is the newbie board , for newbies discussions,  and without the questions from the newbies,  there would be little discussion  ;-)   and boring!......... we don't need another cricket board LOL

The Newbie board is ,IMO, very active - many people visit this board - and lots of lurkers too. I refer people here often to get their questions answered :-) -  

 Asking questions, and the interaction with others helps many relax and feel welcome ;-) ! and keeps the board going

Much more personal and welcoming - IMO- than just reading an instruction manual

I think that those that frequent this board are all SO helpful to all the newbiews ! all of you ;-)
and Swim especially for your patience and guidance to the newbies -that  is what this board is all about to me

Cheer

I've only been at this for two years, so I still really relate, and come here often to weigh-in (I consider myself like a teen, I know just enough to cause trouble, lol!).  On the contrary, I think having the best answers to the most common questions "jump out" at newbies when they go to the help area would be tremendously helpful to THEM, that is my main point.  We know for instance "how do I get started without references" question comes up all the time - some guys who are confused about this but curious might stop short of actually posting the question here themselves for various reasons - but TER could make it such that the answer to this question jumps out at them within 5 seconds of going to a "How to get started: Clients" section.  Also this way, they get the best vetted answer to this (and other) basic questions.  And even with this, I have no doubt we won't run out of other good questions and topics on this board.  I think I share a similar perspective about this board, about treating newbies with respect, because no matter how many times you are I may have seen a question, it is still a "new" question as far as they are concerned.  But I think TER can do more to help newbs than just point them to this board and the hodge podge help center.

as i said in my post, your ideas are good! and it is GOOD you are here sharing with the Newbies! that was what I meant to convey in my post, that people sharing is better for newbies than just an instruction manual,  
not one or the other, but both ;-)  
I should have left the word 'however' out LOL ,
 when i said you should put your suggestion also on the suggestion board, really you should so TER Sees it !  
I had a suggestion once, i put it on the suggestion board, and TER used it !  
so, anyway,
 the rest of my post was just my opinion, not directed at You personally ;-)  
  I think is it Awesome that you and so many others frequent the newbie board, or else the newbies would not get so much valuable info ;-) cheers !

...The answers are there but finding them should come with a prize because it's often an exercise in futility. There are times I can't find them to post them even when I've found them before. Additionally some of it is old information. Based on my searches I'd say it's a hodge podge of posts made by present and former members and moderators that came about due to an apparent need. Though as the previous poster said it does lead to discussion.  

One thing I have suggested is once the registration process of joining TER is completed the next screen should be some explanation of TER guidelines. It could be short and simple it wouldn't supersede the Self-Help Center. An example of some needed information on this page would be about all new members are moderated & what that means. Another is now when a person registers if they are a provider they can choose to register as a provider by clicking "register as a provider". However from that point nothing is different from a non provider registering. The evidence is new providers coming on the Newbie Board asking for help because they registered as a provider but it doesn't appear to be working. I would assume this helps admin in some way but leaves the provider wondering what the hell!

I agree the Self-Help Center needs large attention getting button.

And each major FAQ certainly should have an easy to find link (it should be especially easy to find for you or me) - so that in about 5 seconds we could be providing the link to the thorough, vetted answers to the most common questions.  I like your idea about getting the TER guidlines upon registration.  And part of a "What's Next" screen could also direct them to the organized guides that I've suggested.

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