Help For The New Among Us

Sounds like a good suggestion.

I've taken to ignoring some of the nonsensical posts, out of exasperation. The FAQ is a little out of the way for newbies. My guess is that only a few, if any, read them before making their posts.

My bet is the newbies don't even know the FAQ exists.

The twists & turn a thread can take, before the actual question is well defined, can be quite entertaining/educational. Jumpping to conclusions, can be a mighty long trip.

You can tell that some members don't understand why some of the text is a different color & underlined [hyperlink] or define TLA's[3 letter aycronyms].

It's also interesting that there are a lot of questions by 'guests' that don't even bother to register...

Good idea.

Or a reminder that pops up when submitting which asks... Will this make sense to readers? Please avoid acronyms abreviations.

Or a special category of REPORT for incomprehsible questions so that Admin can bounce them, tidy them up, or offer an interpretation.

Del

Good points all. I'll get a sitewide announcement up about this today with links to the FAQ on posting. Of course, that still doesn't guarantee it will be read; but it should help a bit.

In terms of what hits the site, when we can, we do try to suggest to newbies that they should provide a little more information if they want help:

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/13055/powder-coating

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/13252/civil-engineering

We could also put more help/tips on the actual "create new forum thread" page... the form page is very sparse right now and putting help there ought to increase the chances that it will be seen.

Thanks
- Mark

I posted something a few minutes ago in relation to the "Off Topic" thread discussion that I hope to be of help. I also posted an admiration for the Aristotle way of discussing something in that thread that compliments CR4 for having categories and ratings related to on topic and off topic posts.

I gave examples of off topic to on topic.

I related it to aircraft pilot communciations with the controller.

I have requested since in short of the month membership that a Political Science Section be added.

I am working on understanding pure science better, and am grateful to Chtank and Del the Cat for some messages.

Overall globalspec.com and CR4 is right wonderful.

When I write something it is supposed to be strong, wise, beautiful, and humorous.

A joke is the right answer to the wrong question, or the wrong answer to the right question.

It is fun to mess around on CR4 thinking about things, though I was most distressed when someone posted a completely useless and false addition about turning an electric motor into a generator that would only be funny to people with a cruel or bullying sense of humor.

As a reasonably new member, the ideas presented and comments are good. Can I humbly add a suggestion that when we register initially, as well as the e-mail notification, there be an "introduction" mail sent to us within the forum so that we can "practice" using the internal mail system?

Such an introduction can then (maybe) seem a little more personal. I suspect that some new members in their zeal to participate, skim the suggestions as to content and write their question and then even when given the opportunity don't read it through before "submitting" it.

So far I've thoroughly enjoyed the site. Congratulations to the founders. Thanks for all the fun.