Don't Pick On The Newbies

[Heather]

Well done, Bumper! I'm all for kindness to Newbies, I do always try to be gentle and kind.

Now what I'd like in return is for newbies not to get their nose knocked out of joint if I direct you to a couple of relevant threads where you can find your answer and then suggest ways in which you could find even MORE relevant answers using the handy dandy search function. Most newbies get it, some want us to just ANSWER THEIR QUESTION RIGHT NOW and those newbies can, well, you know.

[Bumper]

By the way, newbies, if you don't haven't been blessed with one, perhaps you should consider having a sense of humour installed. I don't know if Medicare will cover that or not? But don't take a great deal of what you find here too seriously, and just get over yourself. Get in and mix it up with the rest of us. "If you can't run with the big dogs.....stay on the porch."

[Mercy]

I agree, please be kind to the newbies. How would anyone ever graduate up the ranks (freshman, sophmore, etc.) if we scare them all away.

I'm a big supporter of all newbies... as per my self-proclaimed title... Defender Of All Newbies

[actran]

I think you should be considered a newbie (and therefore, everyone who is not a newbie should be nice, patient and kind with you) until you have 1000 posts.

[January Guy]

Originally Posted by actran

I think you should be considered a newbie (and therefore, everyone who is not a newbie should be nice, patient and kind with you) until you have 1000 posts.

And about 100 posts from now you'll up that to 2,000 posts?

[actran]

WTF!? That would make me still a newbie after 5 years. Okay, make that until 100 posts.

[actran]

Originally Posted by January Guy

And about 100 posts from now you'll up that to 2,000 posts?

[mnlakes56]

I say " poppycock"

[Bryzee]

I enjoyed your OP Bumper...

I do enjoy this forum...most of the time..My only beef is "seniors' that regularly hijack threads [some that started off bieng quite interesting]
to just have a very private and personal conversation with another buddy on here. It happens all the time! I get it...you know each other...you love each other...so be it, but some of you could be a little more respectful'
And then there are the peeps that post.....just to increase their post tally....or so it seems.

dos pesos,

[sctx]

Originally Posted by Bryzee

I enjoyed your OP Bumper...

I do enjoy this forum...most of the time..My only beef is "seniors' that regularly hijack threads [some that started off bieng quite interesting]
to just have a very private and personal conversation with another buddy on here. It happens all the time! I get it...you know each other...you love each other...so be it, but some of you could be a little more respectful'
And then there are the peeps that post.....just to increase their post tally....or so it seems.

dos pesos,

I'm sorry

[Sukidog]

Ok, look at my posts.......and now look at when I joined.....Yes, I'm still a newbie.....at heart any hoooo...and I looooove Bumper!!! Very wise man!!!

[Tracielynn]

Originally Posted by January Guy

As someone who would be accused of recently picking on newbies, here are my thoughts. As Bumper says, if we are not nice to them, they may never come back, and we don't want that. At the same time, if we answer every single question that is asked and don't encourage them to use the search function and explore a bit before asking any old question, we lower the quality of the board. Every repetitive question bumps another perhaps more valuable thread down the board and perhaps out of cursory eyesight.

Perhaps the following is a solution. Let's say hypothetically (or not) newbie asks a question regarding using dollars or pesos and there are already 2 other threads going on regarding that topic. We could just say, "Use pesos and get them at an ATM when you are in Mexico. By the way, not sure if you knew but we have an awesome search function (insert link to Babaloo's tutorial) where you can also get answers to questions like this if you choose. Welcome aboard!"

How's that?

JG

P.S. I believe we should still be allowed to be mean to newbies who tell our regulars that they are telling lies like mr water temperature dude.

I keep hearing you use the phrase it is going to "lower the quality of the board". Not sure what that means? When someone wants to find info about maybe their first vacation they may google Playa del Carmen and up pops Playainfo. If they ask a question I understand it may be frustrating for some but when a 'seasoned' or junior peep politely directs them to the wealth of info on the search function that should be enough. The thread keeps getting bumped up by all the responses of 'why don't you use the search function', then everyone has to bicker about it. I really thought Bump put alot of thought into his thread and all it is all very true.
All I know is if its your first time to Playa (or not even your first time,)months before you go you start to read every possible forum and thread about the place because you are so excited. Everyone I think has felt some of that. For some people it take alot of guts to up and ask a question on a forum, they may have been long time lurkers. Its disappointing to be shot down with a smart a*** answer. That imo is lowers the quality of the board.

[james]

Originally Posted by Tracielynn

I keep hearing you use the phrase it is going to "lower the quality of the board". Not sure what that means?

Ideally, we would like to avoid having multiple threads about the same topic, with the same answers, over and over. Instead, each topic covered in one thread is the goal. The advantages in finding, updating and maintaining quality information are obvious.

This is a common desire of most forums. If one Googles forum rules, forum decorum, netiquette, .... a common set of guidelines will become apparent. In a nutshell: Don't flame, don't spam, use the search.

Just like in real life, getting along is a two-way street. Hosts treat their guests well, guests behave according to the expected norms (on this site, they are posted in an announcement, and each new member must agree to abide by them and confirm having read them during the sign-up process)

Originally Posted by Tracielynn

If they ask a question I understand it may be frustrating for some but when a 'seasoned' or junior peep politely directs them to the wealth of info on the search function that should be enough. The thread keeps getting bumped up by all the responses of 'why don't you use the search function', then everyone has to bicker about it.

Are you still seeing this happening? We've really tried to eliminate it (I used to be very guilty of this).

Originally Posted by Tracielynn

For some people it take alot of guts to up and ask a question on a forum, they may have been long time lurkers. Its disappointing to be shot down with a smart a*** answer. That imo is lowers the quality of the board.

Agreed. Please report the post!

Originally Posted by Bryzee

I enjoyed your OP Bumper...

I do enjoy this forum...most of the time..My only beef is "seniors' that regularly hijack threads [some that started off bieng quite interesting]
to just have a very private and personal conversation with another buddy on here. It happens all the time! I get it...you know each other...you love each other...so be it, but some of you could be a little more respectful'
And then there are the peeps that post.....just to increase their post tally....or so it seems.

dos pesos,

Yeah, it's like having to sit through commercials. I don't think it's anything endemic to this site, it's just how humans are. We have a handy smilie you can use but it's probably best just to move on if it is bothersome.

This forum has grown beyond our wildest expectations (over 1.25 million posts to date) and while our moderation team is extraordinary (we're hoping that despite the tough economic times, we will be able to avoid any lay-offs) they cannot possibly spot everything that is out-of-plumb. Please help us out. Use this button to report any post for any reason.

[melliedee]

Originally Posted by Dale

You must be a Conservative. There's only about 5 of us around here.

We're still working on melliedee.

I'd like to report this post.

[sctx]

Originally Posted by james

(we're hoping that despite the tough economic times, we will be able to avoid any lay-offs) .

I was really surprised to get that 40% raise last week... thanks man