Thoughts on "intro page" for new members

The matter that we are all 'new kid on the block' at some time is valid to point out. CR4 provides a wealth of authorized guidance via the FAQ section. Additionally, those first visiting can tour the site and view the many threads that address similar issues. As a generalization, most members are supportive and helpful to newcomers who have questions whichever place they ask a question in. The only real exceptions I've observed are where questions lack clarity, or the intent is not seen as serious. CR4 is full of humorous types (much to it's benefit in my opinion), though occasionally confusion can arise. Consideration is required on all sides over matters of language difference etc. A bit of good natured humour can go a long way to helping this.

Addressing what I think is your main point, many people fail to 'google' things before asking. There are many other search engines, and people often fail to notice similar threads within CR4 themself. I've found myself doing that many times. However, some discussions do die-off, and refreshing a question by asking anew is no bad thing. Also people often have a slightly different angle on very similar questions. Any 'hot' topic usually has at least 4/5 threads running about it.

That's my bit of a ramble case491, but I couldn't see a specific question and just aired a few '2-cents worths'. A lot of the time it's perfectly fine to ask whatever you want to know - member feedback is usually fairly informative as to whether the question is worthwhile or not. People seem to soon learn the 'feel' of CR4.

You are right that mostly I am bothered by being treated as "somebodies google searcher". We can all do that and having said that, again you are right we mostly just help and get on with it, just annoying I suppose and when I wrote this discussion I was just involved in a newbie responding very ott which pissed me off.

Managed, very uncharacteristically, to keep my composure and just told him to take ten deep breaths and smile but it still eats you afterwards, it does with me anyway.

Yes I now agree that we do not realy need to filter the uninitiated as it would reduce the input, further down somebody made another good remark about long standing members doing the same, that must also be very annoying.

Thanks for setting the balance back where it belongs man, much appreciated.

<flame>

Some experienced CR4 members ask questions which a simple Google search can answer - and then some. Thankfully these members are few in number. As an experiment (and I've mentioned this before) I was able to answer one member's questions entirely by googling for the answers, with the additional constraint that I could find the answers in 15 seconds or less. This member could have done the same, with the same results, but was simply too lazy to bother doing the work himself and instead relied on others here to do it for him. I've seen this member pull this stunt in various forms repeatedly and it really pisses me off.

<\flame>

I'm in a flaming mood this weekend, if you hadn't noticed.

Hi europium,

Yeah I had not thought about that yet and you are right it is childish. I have however decided now after reading you guys responses that it does not need any changes realy, we just need to keep being nice, even if it through gritted teeth sometimes.

Give me a question that I cannot Google! Just as an experiment.

Welcome tubenut, to the addiction that is CR4

Sounds like a new thread.

I've read of contests, where contestants try to come up w/a query that will only produce say 5 results.

I think your right on this,lol.

When I was a new member, I did ask what seemed like a question that could be googled. I had, but I guess I didn't use the right search words. The suggestion I got from the members were good. I had been so involved, I had not been able to see the answer. Sort of like "can't see the forest for the trees."

We have a lot of people here that come from very different countries with different languages and cultures. It must therefore be excused if some have a language problem, at least they are here trying to express themself which is excellent.

I do not like it when people get stroppy as the understandable silly answers pour in due to a silly or unclear question, but we all need to restrain ourselves and keep this site friendly so to speak, that is what I like about it, no uncalled for flaming just because you are not in the "IN" group.

Hi case, I like the structure that the CR4 blog site has going and I fear it will deteriorate as scores of "site seers" appear, ask a dumb question, logged on as guest and we have no idea who or where they are, and they ask vague questions.

In fact, I wonder WHY there is a box for me to check if I want to post anonymously?? If my question is that stupid or embarrassing, why ask it? Or if my reply is going to be non-productive or abusive, go somewhere else, we don't want to hear it! I like the humor that's bantered about but some responders border on humiliating another contributor which is immature.

I was impressed with the level of background MOST contributors have, which also keeps the forum informative, not just a gossip blog.

I think a new user page could help "navigate a newbie" in the expected etiiquette of this forum and it could be structured to cause the "just curious" to move on. In fact, the administrators of this site might consider whether its necessary to allow or offer anonymous guest posts at all ????

I like this site, there's lots for me to learn and there's also lots for me to contribute

Yeah you are right, why the guest option? should be removed for those who are already a member but allowed for real newbies. You want to give them the option of finding out what we are like here on cr4.

FYI, there was a prior discussion about why anonymous posting is allowed on CR4.

Thanks
- Mark

Wow, had I seen THAT thread, I'd have realized it's been beaten to death indeed, and not bothered to offer my 2 cents.

Actually, my comment was slightly different.... I just thought it odd that on my page it says I'm logged in as Sniccus and do I want to log in Anonymously? There's no good reason on the earth for me to log in anonymously when I have a screen name unless I want to conceal something I'm ashamed of.....

But the thing I found the MOST interesting by reading the various responses and viewpoints was recognizing my OWN prejudices! Think about that!!

Welcome Case491

Try this thread

tons of opinion & sillyness about guest posting

Weather intended or not Garthh, the link goes back exactly where Mark had just illustrated above you. It does perhaps illustrate how some of the more comic activity on CR4 functions and that we can all generally get on with learning/sharing stuff whilst keeping a degree of humour that is uniquely CR4. I'm herewith leaving this chat - the points have been well made by all. The humorous responses by people such as yourself help to keep things ticking along. Anyone newly visiting CR4 will hopefully get the impression that there is a blend of serious discussion and humour, they can then explore further and hopefully decide to join up.

The initial spelling error of 'weather' was one of my intended ones. Just to make the point that misunderstandings occur for many reasons, but with a bit of civility we can all progress. A modicum of humour can facilitate this, and I respect all who take the time and effort to explain such matters.

That was what I intended, I just missed Mark's post.

I vote for smashing the tub to bits, Nothing like a bit of destruction to cleanse your soul!

I'm herewith leaving this chat - the points have been well made by all. The humorous responses by people such as yourself help to keep things ticking along. Anyone newly visiting CR4 will hopefully get the impression that there is a blend of serious discussion and humour, they can then explore further and hopefully decide to join up.

Yeah, like this one time.... a mad squirrel typed in weather instead of whether and it changed the entire meaning of that sentence but he didn't notice and it was funny.

the end

cr3

I know, sometimes I'm just plain ridiculous.

Sulky pants ! And lay off them fags, you're putting honest Beagles out of work, and Marlboro Man's non too happy either.

Sulky pants ! And lay off them fags, you're putting.....

You do realize that expression translates very poorly?

It is Monday. Perhaps a facelift on Tues. Something to combat those pesky rodents!

You do realize that expression translates very poorly?

I hadn't realised it may have other conotations. Please accept sincere apologies if offence was caused.

Now if we could just get people to select the "Off Topic" box when they were posting goofy stuff then everyone would see the part of CR4 that they wanted to...

(hint, hint)

Would you shoot me if I copied that and re-posted it ad infinitum ? No worries, I'm bored of this thread now. Methinks the points is clear enough said, though I doubt it will stop such arising again. Adding a bit of detail to explain why your input has a certain 'gravitas' might help make the point. I sure as heck wouldn't want the awesome task of keeping this place running. Thanks for your tolerance etc.

Bye all !

It is not dumb question alone , but half presented , you don`t ask quetions while walking to somebody stranger (asking addresses is different) , how do you know to respond some q? like short forms for what , how , when ,why when a person doesn`t bother to provide information background for the posted discussion and question , it doesn`t mind what question has been asked , it is how it has been presented , it feels anoying when sluggishly formated , we often find simple problems complicated and going faraway from original thread , ok thats how engineer works ,explores further for any clues for better solutions , we people interact from so many different places around the globe simulteneously ,some people just post comments for notifications perpose as humour or with s/his experiance related closer to his field , it may intrest s/him for better solutions from experianced guys they may seem rude , humilating for some .

Just googling finding answers for someone not related to own field is it self ridiculous provided s/his curiosity and temptation makes s/ him do so, person asking something are not new to computers and internet they are aware of google , wikipedia , encyclopedias and most of the sites by the time they come to CR4 , even if guy doesn`t have technical background can post a discussion from his observestion point of view , and that happened too ,they used to declare there background and logically put things with better placement

Remember, it is you that decides to enter into discussion! you don't have to press the keys on the keyboard if you don't want to! As for the newbies, Yes, some post some pretty dumb questions (I'm sure I have!), some easy questions, or some questions that can be googled or winied, but how many times have you been a google buddy and found out something new and interesting about a subject that was 2nd nature or you thought 2nd nature to you? We are all pretty friendly people and even if I had a disagreement with one of you, It would only amount to a bit of leg slappin! I for one don't have a problem with newbies, for me, it is a good way to practice my typing and thinking! Bring on the newbies (Sang to the Stranglers song going by nearly the same name!!)

Some very good points and issues have been raised concerning this topic. Newbies asking vague questions soon learn that there are options out there that they can do prior to feeling embarassed by the responses. Like homework or Googling first. Maybe this is what they need to discover. We are not here to do there work for them, but we can guide them to these options. If you look at those who stay and become active members, they appear to emulate those that have contributed fine responses. IE: they ask pertinent questions as posters and responders and they show that the information is there for them if they look. If they cannot find it, someone in this group will.

They will hone there skills and hopefully become active members. I would certainly miss those comments of several "old timers" if newbies disappeared from poor postings. Sometimes we all need a kick in the @$$ or a slap upside the head before we all start sounding like Homer Simpson " Duh-Oh "

I think things are fine as they are.

We get some absolutely ludicrous posts (free energy scams come to mind), but we can choose to respond or not. One or two of our frequent responders post absolute gibberish, but I just ignore it. (We have a relatively new poster whose posts make absolutely no sense whatsoever -- I don't even try to figure out what might have been meant.)

The existing FAQs are fine, in my opinion. For those who can't be bothered to Google, an intro page won't help. As it is, CR4 works pretty well, I think, rarely degenerating into the "Your mother wears combat boots!" sort of drivel found on many forums.

It's perhaps a good thing that many threads can be dismissed almost instantly -- there are already too many interesting ones to maintain productivity in my real work. When I see a post like: "Dear Sir: Please tell me everything about AC motors and the ways of magnetism. Leave nothing out," I can only look at it as a source of a good chuckle -- it brightens up my day.

I enjoy the way that the site works right now, even though there are some silly questions at times that can be answered quickly. Even the "google-able" questions at least make me think of the answer so sometimes I appreciate those as well. When I have no idea and it is a simple answer I like to read the responses just to inform myself (read anything that has to do with electricity).

While most people probably come to this site initially to find a quick answer to a question, there are others (like me) who test the water for a while before posting a question.

In short, keep up the good work, don't fix it if it isn't broken.

I am re-posting my request at the bottom here (at least for now): Give me a question that I cannot Google! Just as an experiment.

Let us see now. I think maybe, & I may be wrong , but maybe not.
If everyone Googled & use Wikipedia this would be a lonely website!

Here's my thinking on this. This is somewhat of an interactive search-blog.

tubenut,

As I have responded in the past re: Google and Wiki, these are starting places. Always. They are, however, very seldom, if ever, my ending places. I have worked as an online researcher for a Fortune 100 company and learned my internet craft (researching) through their tutelage. But prior to that I learned the value of good researching skills utilizing antiquated sources such as: the public library, encyclopedias, periodicals, our in home library, the Dewey decimal system and others.

So I eagerly utilize Google and Wiki. These are my datums, from which I roam off into a very thorough and expeditious quest for cyber-knowledge.

The frustration is with those who stop there, assuming they have shared some insight or such without personal or further validation beyond the:

Results 1 - 10 of about 1,540,000,000 for google. (0.04 seconds)

(That's what happens when you Google Google!)

cr3

This is a very good point CR3. Failure to validate 'facts' found on google (and the net in general) is an all too classic mistake. I'm reasonably sure that these days the average teenager would be lost in such a thing as a Library. Mobile phones do little to develop their communication skills, and they often seem to having an aversity to just trying something science-based to learn for themselves ( sex/drugs etc excepted). Tonight I have my 'miserable old git' hat on. When kids do it (or rather fail to do it) this is perhaps understandable, but an ever increasing number of adults are the same. Bloody kids. I guess we all have to show tolerance to those learning. Many people in CR4 have pointed me in the right direction when I've asked a possibly naive question. < Kris skulls away to take meds and night-time milky drink>

FYI, we just added a section to the "Post New Thread" form to help new people avoid the most common problems. (See below).

Thanks
- Mark

Tips for Posting on CR4:

• Look for answers before you post. The answer to your question may already be on CR4.
• Provide as much information as possible. Questions lacking detail won't get answered.
• Give some thought to your post title. Don't use "Hello", "Question" or "Help". Be specific, e.g., "How Do I Install Replacement Brushes In My DC Motor"
• Please stay on topic. Posts and comments should be of a technical nature and engage some aspect of engineering, science or technology.
• Do not post the same thread multiple times. We will delete duplicate posts.
• Do your own homework. CR4 is not a homework cheat site.
• Post all advertisements in Commercial Space. Select that forum from the list below.
• For more tips see our FAQ.

Thank You!

You Should consider a link to Netiquette also.

Hello! I am new in this forum too!I am a new member in this community. I am happy to be here. Thank you!