Required Reading

[My_Two_Cents]

Have the powers-that-be ever considered making certain stickys required reading before new members are permitted to post? It seems we can't go a few days around here without the typical question:

-Why do I still have black bars?
-Why does my TV not look "real-life" like the ones in the store?
-Which is best, LCD or plasma?
-etc...

All of these topics and more have been discussed to death in stickys and mutiple threads if folks would just burn a calorie and do a little reading/searching before asking questions. I thought it would may help if the developers had a list of 4-6 threads that HAD to at least be clicked-on by the new member before they were allowed to create their first thread.

Anyway, just a thought. Opinions?

[Sussudio]

ive always thought that would be a great idea. include something about using the search before posting, make sure you post in the appropriate forum and with an appropriate title, just some basic stuff to outline before they go and post all over the place in the forum. good thread, ric!

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

Have the powers-that-be ever considered making certain stickys required reading before new members are permitted to post? It seems we can't go a few days around here without the typical question:

-Why do I still have black bars?
-Why does my TV not look "real-life" like the ones in the store?
-Which is best, LCD or plasma?
-etc...

All of these topics and more have been discussed to death in stickys and mutiple threads if folks would just burn a calorie and do a little reading/searching before asking questions. I thought it would may help if the developers had a list of 4-6 threads that HAD to at least be clicked-on by the new member before they were allowed to create their first thread.

Anyway, just a thought. Opinions?

...are you serious? Honestly, if you were a new member to a forum, how annoyed would you be to have what amounts to "click-through" information? I'd either skip through it and move on (not reading it) or go somewhere else.

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by aramis109

...are you serious? Honestly, if you were a new member to a forum, how annoyed would you be to have what amounts to "click-through" information? I'd either skip through it and move on (not reading it) or go somewhere else.

What's annoying are the countless threads started by these morons who can't seem to be able to do one iota of research before they ask a question that has been beat to death, resurrected and then beat again ad-infinitum. But I suppose this simply ammounts to "legislating ignorance", which never works.

Okay, how about this: New threads from new memebers are reviewed by a mod before they are actually posted, correct (I thought it worked that way)? If so, when any of these types of threads are started, they should immediately be sent back to the new member with a link to an existing thread. I don't think this would entail a lot of work, but I cold be wrong. Heck, I'd even volunteer to help review new member threads before they are posted.

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by aramis109

...are you serious? Honestly, if you were a new member to a forum, how annoyed would you be to have what amounts to "click-through" information? I'd either skip through it and move on (not reading it) or go somewhere else.

i think to have some sort of welcome page that shows up when each new member registers and includes basic info about posting, searching, etc is a good idea, much better than having newbs post all over the place and get ass blasted by frustrated members

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

Okay, how about this: New threads from new memebers are reviewed by a mod before they are actually posted, correct (I thought it worked that way)? If so, when any of these types of threads are started, they should immediately be sent back to the new member with a link to an existing thread. I don't think this would entail a lot of work, but I cold be wrong. Heck, I'd even volunteer to help review new member threads before they are posted.

i also think this idea could work too; however, you can bet just as many newbs would be just as frustrated to have to wait for their threads to appear and potentially come back rejected, even if it was for a valid reason

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by Sussudio

i also think this idea could work too; however, you can bet just as many newbs would be just as frustrated to have to wait for their threads to appear and potentially come back rejected, even if it was for a valid reason

See, I think this happens now to new members' posts. You see the occassional thread titled "how come my thread never showed-up", or something similar. I never saw this when I was new, but then I never started my own threads until I had been around (and learned) awhile.

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

See, I think this happens now to new members' posts. You see the occassional thread titled "how come my thread never showed-up", or something similar. I never saw this when I was new, but then I never started my own threads until I had been around (and learned) awhile.

very true, and you took a good approach. ill admit to joining and starting a fairly ill-received thread all in the same day ("is bluray going to be dead in 5 years"...you can bet that went over well ), but after a few weeks or so i learned the system and was very wary about reposts, using the search correctly, etc. i still think your welcome page idea is the best. wouldn't have to be a very long read, just a few pointers about starting up and posting and making newbies feel welcome all at the same time.

[xander]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

See, I think this happens now to new members' posts. You see the occassional thread titled "how come my thread never showed-up", or something similar. I never saw this when I was new, but then I never started my own threads until I had been around (and learned) awhile.

I've always wondered how those threads get through when there other's don't, you know? Kind of ironic.

I agree with you guys though, some sort of mandatory system would be nice, even if I imagine the rate of redundancy still wouldn't lower much.