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| The diminishing quality of the forums as of late |
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| Gun Freak |
 Posted: 08/15/2010 14:23 PM Post subject: |
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The Anti Hybrid
Joined: 25 Jan 2010
Posts: 4210
333.21 Spud Bux
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Ok, I will tone it down, but I think this is a little extreme:
| SpudBlaster15 wrote: | 10:19 pm: We should petition to have a 1 month posting ban placed on Gun Freak
10:19 pm: The forum was so much nicer when he went of vacation
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| Fnord |
| Posted: 08/15/2010 14:57 PM Post subject: |
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reenigne
Joined: 13 Feb 2007
Posts: 1904
3926.49 Spud Bux
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We need a big, giant, PERMANENT, "How to get started" link on the front page.
You will always get people who just 'crawled out from under a rock' in this type of hobby and will certainly ask a lot of stupid questions.
If you can give them a kick in the right direction with as little instruction as possible, then you'll probably see less of this.
We have a wiki, but I doubt the majority of true noobs will go to it on their own. We need an abbreviated version of the wiki that focuses more on basic construction rather than explanation of every possible aspect. Complete illustrated how-to's for a sprinkler valve pneumatic and spray n pray combustion would probably help. Also maybe a cloud BBMG. There are tons of these already floating around, but they need to be right up there where they are impossible to miss.
Also, it should include an idiot's guide to the advanced search function. Teach a man to fish...
This would not be hard to do or take very long. It could easily be done with the existing wiki. |
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| maverik94 |
| Posted: 08/15/2010 15:11 PM Post subject: |
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Mandolin Man
Joined: 21 Jan 2009
Posts: 560
55.88 Spud Bux
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| Quote: | We need a big, giant, PERMANENT, "How to get started" link on the front page.
You will always get people who just 'crawled out from under a rock' in this type of hobby and will certainly ask a lot of stupid questions.
If you can give them a kick in the right direction with as little instruction as possible, then you'll probably see less of this.
We have a wiki, but I doubt the majority of true noobs will go to it on their own. We need an abbreviated version of the wiki that focuses more on basic construction rather than explanation of every possible aspect. Complete illustrated how-to's for a sprinkler valve pneumatic and spray n pray combustion would probably help. Also maybe a cloud BBMG. There are tons of these already floating around, but they need to be right up there where they are impossible to miss.
Also, it should include an idiot's guide to the advanced search function. Teach a man to fish...
This would not be hard to do or take very long. It could easily be done with the existing wiki. |
AMEN!! I certainly agree to this. When i was a noob I had no idea wtf I was doing both as far as posting and building. (I double-posted all the time and dug up 5 year old topics) Something like what you are describing would have been extremely useful to me had it been there when I was a noobie. |
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| Gippeto |
| Posted: 08/15/2010 15:28 PM Post subject: |
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Donating Member
Joined: 19 Jan 2008
Posts: 1883
4673.49 Spud Bux
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There will never be an end to seemingly "stupid" questions around here. It's a part of the learning process, and is to be expected.
The continuous "chat/crap" posts by the mentioned members, and how best to deal with the problem, is the issue at hand.
If the "community" deems it as "undesirable" behaviour, then it's up to them to speak up and say something. I know MrC, myself and now Inonickname have made mention of this to at least two on that list directly in threads.
Still the behaviour persists.
At times, consequences are required to effect "behaviour modification".
Perhaps three such complaints (once legitimized by a moderator) in a given time period could elicit the posting ban mentioned previously?
Say...three reports/week = posting ban for 1 week.
Not at all harsh IMO, and should get the message across.
My .02 |
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| clemsonguy1125 |
| Posted: 08/15/2010 15:30 PM Post subject: |
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Major General
Joined: 21 Jul 2009
Posts: 1486
1475.73 Spud Bux
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I didn't realize some of my post were that bad so I'll attemp to tone it down some.
Last edited by clemsonguy1125 on 08/16/2010 11:47 AM; edited 2 times in total |
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| Heimo |
| Posted: 08/15/2010 15:32 PM Post subject: |
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2nd Lieutenant
Joined: 25 Oct 2009
Posts: 219
363.59 Spud Bux
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| Fnord wrote: | We need a big, giant, PERMANENT, "How to get started" link on the front page.
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While that would be fine in theory, but there are people in this world who got a talent to miss even the most painfully obvious things.
It is also more convenient for some lazy types to start a whole new thread and ask a question that have been answered lots of times before than to do their own research and answer their own questions. Some people just don't understand how Google works.
the other (biggish) problem I got is the lack of quality in some of the builds posted, while I understand that some people are more talented builders than others, some of the things I have seen is really not worth being posted to a forum. But I accept this considering that there are a lot of young children around here who just don't have the skills that older more experienced people have.
other than this I do not really have any troubles with the people on this board.
I have only one suggestion: If we make it a little more difficult to get registered it would keep a lot of the idiots out, for example this one forum I joined, I had to email the admin to get activated, the other forum I joined you have to wait at least a month before you are allowed to post thus ensuring (and forcing) the noobs to read a bit and gain a bit of knowledge before posting help me threads
I really think that if we add say a month waiting period before allowing people to post, there would be a lot less noobs asking questions answered dozens of time before, it would also prevent people who are not really passionate about this hobby from cluttering up the forum
EDIT: Suggestion: could we please add a size limit to images posted, I find it really irritating when images load and they stretch my screen, say 800X600 it would also help the guys with slow connections, thanks |
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| twizi |
| Posted: 08/15/2010 15:46 PM Post subject: |
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Colonel
Joined: 27 Nov 2008
Posts: 540
394.25 Spud Bux
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sorry guys but i'am i really that bad? i havent been posting that much lately.
but i if have been, i am sorry for my actions.
i will try to be a better member of this forum.
sorry for any trouble i have caused. |
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| jackssmirkingrevenge |
| Posted: 08/15/2010 18:51 PM Post subject: |
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aspiring machinist
Joined: 15 Mar 2007
Posts: 18061
32519.23 Spud Bux
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| SpudBlaster15 wrote: | | Also another good point. BBs are useful for testing new and experimental launch concepts, but otherwise, they're a bit of a dead end as far as true 'cannons' are concerned. I'm not saying that certain members *cough*You know who you are*cough* should cease developments in that area, just that it would be nice to see them branch out and apply their innovation to more traditional 'spudgun' type designs. |
Since I know who I am, I will elaborate on this. While I am blessed with a good job and lack of nagging wife/legitimate children to drain my resources, my urban surroundings are inescapable. There is definitely an upper limit on how big, loud and powerful my launchers can be, so inevitably I will tend towards smaller calibres, and yes, BBs happen to be a convenient type of ammunition ;P
However, what I do love about this forum is that I get to talk to people who do have the facilities for bigger and better, and of the thousands of suggestions I throw around, a couple do stick, and that is immensely gratifying.
Another thing is that I like to make volkskartoffelkanone - something that anyone could build with basic resources, which is why most of my projects aren't as sophisticated as they could be, but as I've stated before I see a certain amount of elegance in the simplest possible solution.
| Quote: | | Some people just don't understand how Google works. |
Hit the nail on the head, but this problem can be aleviated. My issue is with those who won't understand. Being able to research effectively (and we even have a how-to on that, but how many people have read it? Fnord certainly hasn't   ) is paramount to bettering oneself, in all areas of life.
| Quote: | | There will never be an end to seemingly "stupid" questions around here. It's a part of the learning process, and is to be expected. |
There is an expression in Epoxyland which translates as "The Question is the sister of Knowledge", but it has to be said, there are right and wrong questions, and newbies are judged by what they ask as well as how they ask it.
| twizi wrote: | | sorry for any trouble I have caused. |
You haven't caused any trouble, it's just a question of thinking before you post. To be honest, I write much more posts than I actually do post, but before hitting the "submit" button, I reread it and sometimes, I realise that it's either not contributing anything significant other than small talk, or could be factually incorrect and could lead to embarrasment later.
PCGUY, maybe we should have something like this?
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| clemsonguy1125 |
| Posted: 08/15/2010 18:55 PM Post subject: |
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Major General
Joined: 21 Jul 2009
Posts: 1486
1475.73 Spud Bux
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| Another thing that may help is to be able to delete your own post. There have been several times Ive posted something then later realized I wrote something that was wrong and I didnt have the correct answer. |
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| jackssmirkingrevenge |
| Posted: 08/15/2010 19:08 PM Post subject: |
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aspiring machinist
Joined: 15 Mar 2007
Posts: 18061
32519.23 Spud Bux
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| clemsonguy1125 wrote: | | There have been several times Ive posted something then later realized I wrote something that was wrong and I didnt have the correct answer. |
Thinking before you post would have solved the problem just as well  |
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| Ragnarok |
| Posted: 08/15/2010 19:18 PM Post subject: |
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Lord of Karma
Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 5158
16113.53 Spud Bux
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| clemsonguy1125 wrote: | | Another thing that may help is to be able to delete your own post. There have been several times Ive posted something then later realized I wrote something that was wrong and I didnt have the correct answer. |
That, sir, is what the edit button is for. Append said post with words to the effect of:
| Quote: | | EDIT: Fiddlesticks. I've realised how idiotically stupid what I just said was. Please ignore. |
Giving the ability to delete posts willy-nilly has the potential to cause problems, so usually I wouldn't advocate it.
That said, there are improvements I would like to see made. There's one forum I help moderate which was designed by an absolute genius. It automatically warns you when you click submit if someone else has posted on a topic since you started writing, reminds you if the topic hasn't been posted in recently, and automatically merges double posts.
Because it dissuades "bad posting", it takes so much less moderation effort than other sites I've helped with.
It also includes a very good post report system, where every report gets thrown into a big intelligently sorted list where the most frequently reported posts are listed first. It also comes with the option to white-flag posts, so once the moderator has checked them, future reports get discarded (up until the point the post next gets edited, in which case it can be flagged again). You can also block given users from flagging posts, in case you get some twit who is either overzealous or doesn't actually understand the system after repeated explanation.
Frankly, there isn't a forum I wouldn't like to see such features on, although whether those can be implemented here is another question.
| jackssmirkingrevenge wrote: | | To be honest, I write much more posts than I actually do post, but before hitting the "submit" button, I reread it and sometimes, I realise that it's either not contributing anything significant other than small talk, or could be factually incorrect and could lead to embarrassment later. |
I do EXACTLY the same thing. I figure I throw away more than half of the posts I do write before they ever make it to the forums.
The art of keeping your tongue often seems lacking at times.
But beyond the forum occasionally getting mistaken for a chat-room, I'm not necessarily sure I agree that it's in decline. At times, I have felt that way about forums, but when I actually sit back and think (which may include looking back at older threads/posts), it's seldom actually true.
It just happens that things aren't advancing as fast as I really want them to. |
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| deathbyDWV |
| Posted: 08/15/2010 19:47 PM Post subject: |
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Colonel
Joined: 16 May 2009
Posts: 577
813.12 Spud Bux
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I have to say, everyone has made some useless posting. No one can really be free of that. (Including myself...)
Along with the report button idea, what if there was a quick button that if pressed would send the poster a PM that said something along the lines of...
"Please take a look at the following post you made and correct if possible:
*URL here*
Another member thinks that it could be improved in spelling, idea, or thinks that it was purely useless."
Just an idea.
I have also done alot of this:
| Quote: | | To be honest, I write much more posts than I actually do post, but before hitting the "submit" button, I reread it and sometimes, I realise that it's either not contributing anything significant other than small talk, or could be factually incorrect and could lead to embarrassment later. |
| Quote: | There's one forum I help moderate which was designed by an absolute genius. It automatically warns you when you click submit if someone else has posted on a topic since you started writing, reminds you if the topic hasn't been posted in recently, and automatically merges double posts.
Because it dissuades "bad posting", it takes so much less moderation effort than other sites I've helped with. |
That would be great if this site could do that! I have no idea how possible it would be as I'm no computer wiz...
I would like to have a delete post button (like Theopia has) because I frequently use my iPhone to post on here and theopia. When I don't have WiFi, the signal to the phone is commonly not solid. This sometimes causes me to accidently post the same thing twice.
| Quote: | 10:19 pm: We should petition to have a 1 month posting ban placed on Gun Freak
10:19 pm: The forum was so much nicer when he went of vacation |
I also think that's a little extreme. If anyone wants someone to be banned, I think it should be reported to a moderator and discussed between them. |
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| inonickname |
| Posted: 08/15/2010 20:14 PM Post subject: |
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Major General
Joined: 07 Dec 2008
Posts: 2487
6556.71 Spud Bux
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Whoa guys...there's been some good constructive criticism, but don't take it too far.
To anyone mentioned, don't take it as a personal attack. It isn't. Most of the people on the list don't do all the things mentioned- perhaps all they do is use the forums and posting as more of a chatbox style discussion. The people on there, you aren't "bad members" or anything. Just make sure what you write is what you want people to read.
A newbie question section would be great- remember that the connotations of posting in it aren't that you are a noob, rather that you have a question that you don't think belongs in the rest of the forum- be it because it's rather simple, seemingly silly, et cetera.
I'm not sure I completely agree with some peoples thoughts on guns. We all start somewhere, and I'd rather a newb to post a pill-bottle combustion with a touch hole and pen tube than to not post it. They can then get feedback and advice on what they've made and advance in the hobby. I'm pretty sure EVERYONE here started out by making something like a ball valve gun or an improvised combustion. I remember my first gun was made of bottle caps, a piece of pvc, some sawed up coke bottles, a pen tube and a piezo from a lighter. Everyone needs to start somewhere, and not everyone will be willing to take the next steps to bigger and greater cannons by themselves.
I don't entirely agree with the bans as-of-now. The people making some of the unrequired posts, while occasionally silly, aren't bad people. No need to ban people for the sake of banning. |
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| Mr.Sandman |
| Posted: 08/15/2010 20:31 PM Post subject: |
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Bring me your dreams
Joined: 28 Mar 2008
Posts: 835
656.78 Spud Bux
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| inonickname wrote: | | To anyone mentioned, don't take it as a personal attack. It isn't. Most of the people on the list don't do all the things mentioned- | Which brings us to the question as to why I'm on the list, you can't hate my mexicano goodness can you? 
But jokes aside, a pre-approved members section would be nice, that way instead of changing the whole forum, there could be a metaphorical "bunker" that only said members would be allowed to post in and/or view. We have been tossing ideas around in chat, and if any of you guys have suggestions, I strongly reccomend you drop by in chat to discuss.
As far as the "diminishing" quality goes, I think that spudding, along with most of the worlds economy is in a rut or recession. Only time will tell the progress of this forum but as for now, a few changes would be nice. |
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| SpudBlaster15 |
| Posted: 08/15/2010 21:02 PM Post subject: |
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Hybridian
Joined: 18 Oct 2006
Posts: 2372
295.89 Spud Bux
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| jackssmirkingrevenge wrote: | | since I know who I am, I will elaborate on this. |
Actually, I wasn't even considering you when I wrote that, though I suppose it does apply to some extent. My intended target was a certain "Airsoft & BBMG Professional" who now really knows who he is.
| inonickname wrote: | | I'm not sure I completely agree with some peoples thoughts on guns. We all start somewhere, and I'd rather a newb to post a pill-bottle combustion with a touch hole and pen tube than to not post it. |
A large part of advancing this forum involves creating higher standards for beginner cannons. There was a time when people were posting advanced combustion launchers as their first cannon showcase topics. Admittedly, the majority of people won't be capable of achieving that, but IMO, anything less than a safely constructed spray 'n' pray or sprinkler valve pneumatic is not worth posting on the forums. |
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