[All Guppies] Your input and feedback needed...

Science & Technology Information Technology, Gaming, Machines, Gadgets
1

Hello and Salaamz to all,

I have been thinking about this for some time now, and a similar approach has been advocated by some ardent GS techies in the past as well… so I thought we’d give it a shot.

Now quite a few of the threads posted in the Comp Forum pertain to hardware and software problems that members experience on a routine basis, but often they are unable to express their problem completely. The idea is to take the guesswork out of troubleshooting by streamlining the process of posting a request for problem resolution.

In following the guidelines suggested herewith, I would appreciate your cooperation, and any further suggestions and ideas are welcome in further formalizing these guidelines.

Guideline # 1: The title of your thread:

In proposing a syntax for more legible thread titles, I recommend the use of square brackets and specifying an indicative keyword in the brackets. In addition to providing a scanning cue to members, such a scheme can also enhance the search process within the sub forum.

A preliminary list is provided for your reference:

  • [Application]
  • [Hardware]
  • [OS]
  • [Appliance]

Your desired thread title can then follow these keywords.

Guideline # 2: The content of your post:

A. Itemize your Problem Scenario -

You should start by specifying the problem and itemizing the scenario which will make it easier for us to diagnose the issues. As a bare minimum, please mention:

  • The type of hardware
  • The OS (operating system) used [like Windows, Linux, Mac OS, etc]
  • Software used

followed by details of the actual problem (read below)

B. Specify the problem –

In providing these details, make sure you include:

  • The type of error and the actual error message with the error codes (if available),
  • The events that you think might be the sources of spawning the error,
  • When did it first occur
  • did you change or add anything (hardware of software)

All Guppies (techies and non-techies) are now invited to post their suggestions and their feedback here.

In a few weeks time I will post a sticky here with the final guidelines.

Thanks. :slight_smile:

2

Re: [All Guppies] Your input and feedback needed...

sounds good to me :D

3

Re: [All Guppies] Your input and feedback needed…

^-- was waiting for you.. of course it sounds good. :smiley:

Thanks for helping me with the contents of the thread :k:

4

Re: [All Guppies] Your input and feedback needed…

NP mate - let’s hope this streamlines the process inshaAllah… all the more in stride to make our Comp Forum better. :k:

5

Re: [All Guppies] Your input and feedback needed...

Split the forum into two
1. n00bs (tech support)
2. nerds (general IT)

6

Re: [All Guppies] Your input and feedback needed…

^-- good suggestion 5Abi :k:

Lets hear more..

Before getting Preg.
7

Re: [All Guppies] Your input and feedback needed...

I say keep it how it is, too much 'streamlining' can make this look robotic and less unique. There isnt too much of a problem with the current way is there ?

8

Re: [All Guppies] Your input and feedback needed…

I 2nd the motion

9

Re: [All Guppies] Your input and feedback needed...

For Getting help these guidelines shoud be added:

-Before asking for help, search Google or Yahoo Search first to see if there's a answer there. Most of the time people who tell the answers just research the question from Google.

-The title of the thread should describe your question.
A bad example of a topic title would be "Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp!!" or "I don't know how to do this", etc.

A good example of a topic title would be "My router has port forwarding problems," or "How do you use FTP," etc.

-Don't flame users who give you 'simple' advice which you might already know, how are we supposed to know that you haven't done it already

10

Re: [All Guppies] Your input and feedback needed…

Go with it dude :smooth:

:bravo:

11

Re: [All Guppies] Your input and feedback needed…

I have a slight quandary with this…

I agree that splitting is very desirable from an ontological point of view, and have myself thought about it a couple of times before.

That being said, if you consider a sample of the threads in the current forum, then most of them have to do with a tech support type issue… so if we split the forum in its current state, you’ll end up seeing one sub-forum overloaded while the other running on the courtesy and support of a few of us like 5abi, Tofi, nos, Gizzy and myself included.

This can implicitly lead to a social stratification within the forum and also act to the overall detriment of the forum. Knowing myself, I’ll probably not even bother with the “n00bies/tech support” forum because it wouldn’t interest me at all. I’m sure we’ll marginalize a lot of other members as well.

Sazaa
12

Re: [All Guppies] Your input and feedback needed...

^ Ok, now in English please. :)

13

Re: [All Guppies] Your input and feedback needed…

^ mazaaq tow naa urraow abb :smash:

14

Re: [All Guppies] Your input and feedback needed...

Oh, and Gizzy... good idea. Will mods modify thread titles to ensure compliance?

And sub-forums... I remember the time when we first sub-divided Image Galleries and over-whelming numbers of Guppies complained that they hate it and they don't like navigating through subforums to get to threads and what not. Some even threatened that they are going to boycott the Image Galleries to protest the creation of sub-forums. And now, we have ppl actually asking for more sub-forums.! :)

Though, for Computer Talk, I'd think it may be a bit pre-mature.

15

Re: [All Guppies] Your input and feedback needed...

good guidelines

16

Re: [All Guppies] Your input and feedback needed…

I would Suggest.. not to go for Split.. Coz… Lots of Guppies wont be even able to Differntiate where they should put the Prob… :slight_smile: for IT ppl its simple and they think that this will be simple for others as well.. but its not.

The… PREFACE suggestions… to Identify the Thread is Gr8… :k: By this we can differentiate wat would be the Contents.

Keep it up GIZZ :slight_smile:

...Single Guppans...
17

Re: [All Guppies] Your input and feedback needed…

I like the idea Gizzy bhai, but I would agree with GS as well. Although, if I may, I want to make a suggestion, what if we write a brief intro (in simple english) of the streamline and tell the user to read it before posting their query. In this case, they wouldn’t have to go through the guessing game.

18

Re: [All Guppies] Your input and feedback needed…

This isnt about there being a problem with the current status quo. Its about growth and certain changes like splitting the forum into two are necessary to encourage growth.

Yep, you will have one sub-forum (tech support) loaded with threads like “help me” “heeeeeeeelp” “i got a virus” “My windows doesnt work” “My IE exploded” etc. I have found over the past 3 years here that most of these problems usually have a unique solution and can all be addressed singly in a form of a few sticky post at the top. This where the moderators come. They will have to take a lot more active role in doing this. Its ultimately their job to patrol the forum and help grow it, not just leave it on auto-pilot and expect some form of fission reaction. That wont stop people from posting threads about their issues again cos not everyone will read those threads before posting their queries. Currently there are a couple of stickies there about spyware but you still see people asking the same things over and over again. I like to help people but I dont like repeating the same stuff and that is what turns me off.

The other sub-forum can have all the threads posted by Tofi, myself, nos, DS, outy, you etc. Frankly, Im interested in these topics myself and not how to fix my windwos. We can already read these topics, articles and thread on other bigger tech forums/blogs/RSS feeds/technews sites etc. But the idea is to share it with the community here and have their participation as well. This is what at least me and Tofi (and g3nu1n3 in the past) have been doing.

I prolly will also wont venture out much in the n00b forum but I will go there to participate if the problem/situation is unique and hasnt not been asked before. I dont see how splitting will marganilze the members. It will im sure encourage them to participate in the threads posted by the few resident techies. They may even post threads of their own. This is how the forums grow. Have faith in your members :stuck_out_tongue:

Splitting the image gallery into 4 sub forums was not the brightest idea to begin with. Plus now you have Gupshup Gallery as well. There are way to many places to put the images now. I myself rarely venture into Image 4.

Yes many wont initially know where to post their queries but thats fine. There are mods here and they can guide them and move the threads. Sooner or later the members will get conditioned.

OK, folks my proposal to split the forum into 2 was only meant to help grow the this forum. Its not often that I give free advice like this. Consider j00rselves blessed :stuck_out_tongue:

19

Re: [All Guppies] Your input and feedback needed…

i 3rd that :mad:

the computer forum of gs is so lame, man yo noobs/nerds can post :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: here
while we the real “gurus” like me and tafi uncle and g3 and punwater chacha need no lame as$ place like this idiotic forum where @#$%@AWERG WERGM [email=“QW$JY@$OPJTYOPWCGT$%JTO@#P%JYGQERHJRGJOPQEROPT$”]QW$JY@$OPJTYOPWCGT$%JTO@#P%JYGQERHJRGJOPQEROPT$ !#UHJOT#$

it’s 50C here and lame ac’s are not working

:eek: :eek: :eek:

20

Re: [All Guppies] Your input and feedback needed...

Let's word (werd?) these sub forums this way:
1. Newbie/General help
2. Tech articles, news and higher end help request (non n00b)

5watery, we appreciate your advice, if i was employed I'd pay for your consulting charges :p
As I had posted in my thread a week or so back, this forum is running "fi sabi lillah" with no real guidance from the uber mods. With the suggtestions in this thread this forum may require a bit more work but would attract a few more people. But this way atleast the current members would enjoy the forum experience a lot more.

So there...