New Users,,, New Standards?

[Jalbindi]

Isn't the help page the proper place to refer new users to?

That would be ideal but I'm just browsing through it, if we were to do that for new users couldn't we make it a little user friendly to navigate on the frontpage of the site? Maybe have a whole boxed section in addition to what we have there specifically for troubleshooting problems?

[Mike]

I think that there has to be a balance, and I try to approach each instance as a unique situation.  Sometimes, some people and/or some questions do need an RTFM answer.

Other times, a brief answer, providing a link or a jumping-off point for a search are enough.

I think that expecting a certain level of effort be made by newbies is appropriate, but so is providing support and assistance.  I just think that the determination has to be made on a case-by-case basis.

The more <solved> question threads, the more there is to search on, and the better the web of answers.

Also, truth be told, I find that the search function on the forum is often not terribly useful.  It is not the most refined nor reliable tool.

+1 Said exactly right..

[Mike]

there is a quick fix.. be patient .. be helpful ... be your pclinuxos family best .. and .. be it known that if I see an RTFM .. I will beat you so badly that you'll wish you hadn't the digits to type with.

  +1

[dcwbis]

I think that we have to be careful not to turn off new users by being too blunt with them.  I have been using PCLOS for 11 months now and one of things that I have liked is the friendliness of this forum (at least 95% +  of the time).  The times that I have posted a question I have always received polite and helpful replies.  In those cases I had already done a forum search and had not found any appropriate solutions.  However, I have enough computer / software background to know that searching first is the proper thing to do.  

It may be beneficial to guide new users toward the proper way of using this forum.  There probably aren't many of us left who actually read manuals when we get something new, be it a TV, cellphone, software package, or anything else.  Why do we expect new linux users to naturally read and follow our forum rules?

Wouldn't it be better to cajole them into proper behavior?  Instead of directly answering their question or telling them that they need to do a forum search, instead tell them (politely) that you think there is an answer in the forum and give them instructions on how they should perform the search.  If this continues to be the response that they receive for questions that have been answered many times, and it is given in a friendly and helpful manner, hopefully it is a behavior that they begin to adopt.

[T6]

i think that sometimes we try to be nicer with newcomers

i have said to user search first in the past and got replies telling me that i did wrong, many times

i like to help and i know that when you are new to a place you don't know how things work but sometimes the answer is there and all you have to do is look and unread posts, not even look, sometimes is the first post on the list

hard to decide but things are easier when the person asks nicely and shows interest, not just comes to complain

i only saw the rtfm reply once and i can't say who did it, but i can say that is not the rule here, specially knowing that there is no fking manual most times for what people ask here  

[jaydot]

like scoundrel and others say, be patient, be kind and remember how badly you fared when you first started and how joyful you were when someone's help got you going successfully.

i've just watched felix baumgartner's fall from space.  the team had setbacks, quarrels, hardships, fear and technical glitches.  they put that to one side, got on with the job and performed an astonishing feat.

being successful with linux is no different.

[joechimp]

Don't know where I would have ended up if not for the generosity of so many here. Being new to PCLinuxOS or to Linux in general can be an overwhelming experience for many.
Thank you all.

[T6]

back in the jungle?

[joechimp]

back in the jungle?

That is quite possible.

[T6]

when i am in the forum, i feel like i am in the jungle, but is a nice jungle, comfortable i must say   

[Crow]

You can receive many answers when you try to help someone, look at the message I received today, I include my answer

Too bad you don't say that in my face, only a coward pretend to be a bully writing from nowhere and using a nickname

Felipe

Stop whining, you little retard. Good bye.

This was the "offense", a simple question  http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,108547.msg943518.html#msg943518

I guess some enter the forum intoxicated with whatever they consume.

[joechimp]

That is quite unbelievable.

[T6]

You can receive many answers when you try to help someone, look at the message I received today, I include my answer

Too bad you don't say that in my face, only a coward pretend to be a bully writing from nowhere and using a nickname

Felipe

Stop whining, you little retard. Good bye.

This was the "offense", a simple question  http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,108547.msg943518.html#msg943518

I guess some enter the forum intoxicated with whatever they consume.

yes, i had that kind of replies but in personal messages, the person wanted to keep looking nice to the eyes of everybody else i guess

there is always someone that doesn't like of you and that is ok, none of us are a gold coin

sometimes you can blame the english language, i do that quite often  

now, could you ask a admin to ban this mofo for such reply?

also, do you want cheese with your wine?  

[Crow]

I sent a copy of the message and answer to a Mod

Many years ago in my city there was a saying between people who did drugs as a business "si no la manejan, no la consuman"  (something like: if you can't deal with it don't use it) meaning that you have to be always in control. I like alcoholic beverages but I don't like to lose control of what I do.

About the wine...  mmm  I'm still at work     but maybe someday we can enjoy some of that excellent Argentinian red wine    

[T6]

perhaps the cheese while you get to home, something of interest here?