Buttons with links to threads about References, Screening, etc.
but I'm asking for suggestions. What would make this board better more informative, and enjoyable for you?
I've moderated the newbie board for about 6 weeks now, and think that things are going well here. Still, can it be better?
Here in England, Good Friday and Easter Monday are both paid holidays. I'm looking at a four day week-end and haven't made any plans, so I have some extra time on my hands.
So what is happening on this board that you don't like, other than the endless repetition of the same questions?
What isn't happening on this board that you would like to see?
I know that we are limited by the rules of TER, the law, and technology, so I wouldn't expect that all suggestions will be put into practice, still I am interested in hearing your suggestions.
Feel free to post a reply, or PM me. If you are not VIP, and don't want to post on a public board, you can email me at [email protected] (this address will be deleted next week).
I'd love to hear your thoughts.
jazz32
-- Modified on 4/4/2007 12:22:48 PM
I think that everyone that posts on Tuesdays should be automatically unmoderated, and then sent to the New York or Los Angeles boards to ask newbie questions, where they will most likely be unceremoniously bitch-slapped for being new.
It will serve no real purpose, other than to amuse me and anyone else with my twisted sense of humor.
Other than that (and because I feel compelled to say something constructive), what about repeating the answer to the most FAQ by day of week? Such as, Monday could be acronyms, Tuesday could be how to get references, Wednesday is maybe basic research, etc. No wait, Tuesday is "unmoderate day". Oh well, you get the idea. Thanks for the opportunity.
I didn't know we had a UK based moderator on TER, that's somehow nice to hear.
I don't have a problem with newbies asking the same questions over and over again. When you are new to something, such as TER/the hobby, it can be a bit overwhelming and it's really not hassle to answer the questions and try to help others out.
If I were in the UK with a 4-day weekend, I'd be contacting Carrie of London. A tour of the city followed by desert. Wow.
Jazz, the newbie board is a great resource. As has already been said, you need to repeat certain posts (dictionary, references, VIP benefits, etc.) weekly.
And my dumb-ass cannot think of a good answer other than what has been said. I must say that after a long absense it was nice to come back and see things running so well. Keep up the good work and thank you for tolerating me.
Maybe FAQ re: definitions, abbreviations, and emoticons could get their own button to be clicked.
It's a great idea, I've raised the question myself. For some reason they refuse to do it.
How many times a week is there an acronym question?? One little button on the left could save alot of wasted time.
This question has been asked by you and several others over the years.
For legal reasons hobbying info on TER is posted by the public, not TER.
I think the answer is still, the one I received, it ain't gonna happen.
-- Modified on 4/5/2007 3:44:29 PM
Buttons with links to threads about References, Screening, etc.
it should then be open season on redundant questions asked within the 25 thread count per page.
Now understanding the legal liability issue I can see why it is up to the membership to inform; but when "What's a GFE?" is asked 3 times in 10 threads I begin to favor mandating minimum competency tests/licenses for computer purchasers.
but it is well outside of the scope of TER.
Your idea would eliminate a host of PEBCAC an id10t issues that frequently arise (these are not hobby terms, and will not appear on an acronym list, if you do't know them, just google them).
They're inanimate objects that proactively enforce "natural selection" amongst their more stupid of users.
but a modification of the welcome/rules header atop the Newbie board reflecting the ‘No ISOs and No ad/website’ rule be displayed along with the "Welcome to the FAQ for Newbies discussion board" link along with a STRONG recommendation to read it before posting.
If you do the above; Acidom's idea of throwing them to the wolves in NY & LA won’t be necessary because the resident, alias riddled smartasses here will have perfect justification to keep the bloodletting here at home. ;0)
But I was trying to be blame free.
at all... somehow, setup things so that anyone can post here... a newbie will be moderated at the get go as I understand it now... why? Let 'em ask, it is the only way to get them started... then you can send them to the NY and LA boards if they misbehave.
Seriously, Dancing Bear on Chicago Board has taken off the gloves and does not really moderate things at all any more... the community tends to take care of that for him...
A Brit eh? Greetings and salutations... my father was from Sunderland on the N. Sea.
It was TER that decided that every new member is initially moderated, and one's moderation status is for all of TER, not each board.
TER gives us moderators a pretty wide berth in doing our job. Given the nature of this board, I pretty much follow the rules, but being a kind person, I would much rather edit a post, and tell the poster where he/she went wrong, rather than delete, or obliterate it. Usually the poster receives the info he/she desires.
I have yet to put anyone into moderation. I've unmoderated a couple of new TER users, after making sure that they were active on their local board, and consulted the local mod.
Remember, moderation is an effective tool to keep things under control on a board, and from what I've read, Dancing Bear has no problem using it.
Yes, I am in the UK, but I'm an American from Phoenix. Work brought me here a year and a half ago. Living and playing in the UK is quite an experience.
When I joined TER about 2 years ago I was very confused, scared and aprehensive about the flaming that was thought to be common for new people joining any existing bulletin board type site.
Once I found the FAQ for newbies (there was a time I didn't know what FAQ stood for) it was great that a few nice people were willing to take the time to write a personal response which sometimes pointed me to an existing post.
That is one of the things I like about TER and this particular board. People are nice to newbies.
It is hard to remember that each new person is just that, new. It is not the same new person over and over. To them all of this is new.
So to me keeping on with the personal responses, gentle limits about the rules of the board, friendly advice (become a vip member, etc) are utlimately what makes it good. Yes, a click to acronyms would be nice, but the important thing is the quality of the people responding.
Sounds like you were not the moderator when I started but I felt welcome from my first day here. Pretty rare in the electronic environment.
So Thanks Jazz for making the board work. I appeciate all the mods. Who knows, if Altzheimer's sets in I may be posting here every day.
Beret