Forum suggestion

[ReemZ]

Oy, webmaster!

I've noticed a lot of people ask the same questions over and over again, without reading wiki and such, stuff you usually put in announcements or stickies (hmm...stuff to put in stickies...hmmmmmmmmmm.........), etc.

Maybe it's a good idea to bundle the first-and-most-important-top-priority-things-to-read-before-asking-anything into one list on the front page of the forum, so that everyone can see it right away, before punching New Topic?

A few examples:
World Updating 101 Pre 4.1 -- Read before World Updating --
Why, and how to add "[Solved]" to your post. Please read.
Resources For You
Sabayon Linux Forum Search Engine Plugin for Firefox

Whadyathink?

[Stupot]

In otherwords, a FAQ?

[ReemZ]

In otherwords, a FAQ?

Well it just seems like those stickies are all over the place (damn I really gotta choose my words more carefully! ) but hardly anyone seems to be able to find 'm, or something...

I guess...more like an opening page with a huge "CLICK ME, READ ME AND READ ME CAREFULLY!" button or summat

[Fitzcarraldo]

I agree with you, actually. It's something that has occurred to me too. I'm only a forum moderator and have no say in the design of the site, but I think such a thing would be helpful. In theory 'stickie' threads should cover this function but, as you say, they are not all in one place. They are also not 'in-your-face' enough. I don't think you mean a FAQ really, do you? More like a few links right at the top of the page right next to the POSTREPLY button? But I don't know if the phpBB forum software would enable this to be done.

[genfool]

Easy for me to agree, lot harder for me to suggest a reasonable cure That is actually doable.
How difficult would it be to go to the forum, and the first page was the stickies, all the important issues everyone should know about with a current problem. And from that page navigate to the index.
I'm thinking a few persons and 500+ hours combined...
The problem as is can only get worse if nothing is done, The search function is not adequate when the same question is asked and covered over and over again, proper keywords do not work, not many options, other than to ask again.

We have the sabayon home page with links to the wiki and forums etc, how difficult would it be to add a new or second homepage, in between with all the current stickies, before we get to the forums?
Just an idea, maybe others can add to it and improve it.

[wolfden]

Regardless it's up the user to do some research, we see people come into IRC chat and they don't even know we have a website, forum, wiki. So another web page wouldn't help them.

The wiki is open to people and we can put a global message forum pointing it to a particular wiki page and than that also would get them to the wiki to look around more.

[johnlvs2run]

The most effective way is to answer the questions that are asked.

This way people learn, and are able to answer the same questions asked by others.

All the pointing to wiki's and stickies and telling people to "read the internet" is not helpful.

[ReemZ]

The most effective way is to answer the questions that are asked.

This way people learn, and are able to answer the same questions asked by others.

All the pointing to wiki's and stickies and telling people to "read the internet" is not helpful.

Actually it ís helpful, for those that actually want to learn something.
You see, some known issues are to be found on this forum (e.g. the KUser bug), and most beginners' questions were already asked ánd answered -ty times before.
Now *I* happen to be in the luxury of having too much time, but I'm in no way skilled enough to help everyone, there are only so many questions I'm qualified to answer, and the people here that are, lack the time to repeat themselves.
Plus, getting help with any Linux distro is not a right, it's a privilege.
At least to me it is, I can't remember paying one single penny for the download or the use of Sabayon.

You know, you should try this on any other distro's forum.
You'll be lucky if you're not permanently banned on the spot, while we still prefer 'Try man command to find more info' over 'JFGI/RTFM', just as I prefer this elaborate post over a simple ctrl-w.

Suppose there's a subject in which you are the undisputed expert (and I'm sure there is).
You have one person saying 'I googled, I searched the forum, I did my homework, but there's just this one little thing of which I just cannot seem to grasp the concept, and me not getting this simply pisses me off!' versus a hundred people crying 'It doesn't work! Help me!'.
Who would you help?

[johnlvs2run]

Suppose there's a subject in which you are the undisputed expert (and I'm sure there is).
You have one person saying 'I googled, I searched the forum, I did my homework, but there's just this one little thing of which I just cannot seem to grasp the concept, and me not getting this simply pisses me off!' versus a hundred people crying 'It doesn't work! Help me!'.
Who would you help?

I agree this forum is more helpful than most computer forums. I obviously like Sabayon more than any other OS that I've used. From my own perspective, when someone asks me a question about exercise, for which I have much experience, I answer them. Even though it is one person, and I have answered the same types of questions for decades, this person has either never asked the questions before or not had a grasp of the answers. In athletics (running) I see experienced runners jumping all over each other to be helpful to newbies, though certainly quite a few have distain for beginners or those who don't "get" it, i.e. who aren't at least national class. To me, when a person asks a reasonable question, this indicates their interest, and they deserve the same respect as anyone else.

There are of course different levels of this. I don't have as much enthusiasm to help someone where I think the assistance will go on deaf ears, or not make any difference. But someone else will who can better relate to that person.

I have quite a bit of empathy for people, especially as people get older and can no longer pick themselves up off the floor, or go to the bathroom on their own. It would probably be frustrating to try and teach my Mom to use linux, but there are plenty of other ways in which we can relate.

[Stupot]

Helping people with linux is a lot like helping people with math. They'll come to you with a specific problem that they can't figure out and they want you to give them the answer. You can give them answer, but they won't learn how to do that type of problem. The other option, is you can attempt to point to them to information that will teach them how to solve this type of problem on their own, or at the very least understand the problem and learn how to gather information.

A good wiki entry is like a math text book. It's not as good as somebody experienced working with you, but at the same time the people who wrote it know what they are talking about and do a good job of explaining things as they go along.