DDF Tea Party

[dirah]

Noobies... what to do with them?

We were all once in that position, and we certainly wouldn't want to drive any new members away.
But its very annoying to see (on a daily basis) new threads started by noobies, with their fascinating questions: "Which credit card should I get?", "What do I do if I want to fly in the sky?" etc.

Two suggestions:

• Noobies (less than 25 posts) cannot start a new thread without MOD approval. [Lots of members in lots of threads have expressed support for this.]
• When noobies sign up, they should be told to post all their requests for information in the noobie thread. We can make a rostered shift of old-timers to spend a couple of minutes every week or two responding with links to the questions posted during that shift, and everyone else can ignore the thread.
  I think even the noobies stand to benefit from this, as they will get a response from someone who is interested in helping them, and not from people annoyed at them.

Whaddaya think?

[DovtheBear]

Also there are some very useful master threads, some of them that have links to other threads on that subject and FAQs.
These threads should be stickied (most are) thus new members will see them 1st,and more such wikis/threads should be authored.

[Yeki89]

I don't think anyone would volunteer to spend time directing noobs, nor is it fair to ask someone.

[whYME]

I don't think anyone would volunteer to spend time directing noobs, nor is it fair to ask someone.

-1

I think most people would rather respond with a link in that thread than have to deal with all the new, repetitive, threads.
And I think most of us are happy to help when the right questions is asked in the right place.

[DovtheBear]

And I think most of us are happy to help when the right questions is asked in the right place.

Isn't that what DDF is all about?

[dirah]

I think most people would rather respond with a link in that thread than have to deal with all the new, repetitive, threads.
And I think most of us are happy to help when the right questions is asked in the right place.

+1

[Finckmyster]

Maybe changed the name to grassroots. They are more responsible for education.

[real-brisker]

I like the first idea, as was suggested over a handfull of times by countless members.

Regarding the second idea, I was thinking more of creating a detailed thread called "ropes to the forum for dummies".

[bubbles]

I was thinking more of creating a detailed thread called "ropes to the forum for dummies".

Wasn't that supposed to be the idea of this thread?

[SavingsBigtime]

Also there are some very useful master threads, some of them that have links to other threads on that subject and FAQs.
These threads should be stickied (most are) thus new members will see them 1st,and more such wikis/threads should be authored.

that the #1 issue here they don't look first

[DovtheBear]

that the #1 issue here they don't look first

Granted they don't actively look, but if its in-their-face....

[SavingsBigtime]

Mabey , but got to be more down the line ,it's really out of hand already why can't pepole just search !?

[Am]

Granted they don't actively look, but if its in-their-face....

its stickied to the top! How much more "in the face" is needed!?

[Dan]

I've taken care of #1, you now need elite status to start a thread on DDF.

I do not know how to do #2 though.  I have stickied the "Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!" thread.

[DovtheBear]

I've taken care of #1, you now need elite status to start a thread on DDF.

I do not know how to do #2 though.  I have stickied the "Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!" thread.

Nice!

[real-brisker]

Dan - NICE!

[dirah]

I've taken care of #1, you now need elite status to start a thread on DDF.

THANK YOU!!!

I do not know how to do #2 though.  I have stickied the "Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!" thread.

Do new members get some form of welcome email or welcome page when they sign up?
Maybe if that could be arranged, with some clear instructions....

[CountValentine]

Whaddaya think?

I think you are mixing up post counts with someone’s knowledge of the subject.

[real-brisker]

CV - Post count is just a way of making sure the n00b hangs around a bit before jumping into starting threads. Nothing to do with knowledge.

[dirah]

I think you are mixing up post counts with someone’s knowledge of the subject.

Someone with a number of posts at least would have a minimal understanding of the culture at DDF.
I understand that a noobie might have a valid reason to start a new thread.
But it is unlikely.
They should have the ability to start a new thread, but only with MOD approval.