Posted by:
jaimebien
(---.carlnfd4.nsw.optusnet.com.au)
Hey y'all,
Is it me, or does it seem that there is a general air of apathy towards newbies? Yes, I don the label "newbie" in that I haven't been programming for ages, but really, how many times have I read the "please check read our forums as this topic has been posted many times before"? Now, I truly understand how much one hates to repetition, and in that light, the aforementioned reply is totally understandable. But surely, it is possible to be more welcoming and certainly less cold in responses? We always read about how Wikipedia is not very welcoming to newbies, or newbie-oriented rather. Do we really want to be like that?
The fact is, often when newbies come with questions (I speak from experience), they are often confused. Sure, there is often the search function, but often, the confusion prevents a clear understanding of what they're looking for. Maybe they have done a search, but simply missed what they were looking for. Maybe they haven't done a search because they don't know where to start. We all have to start somewhere, and I think perhaps we should carry a friendlier tone towards newbies (i.e. nous). Sure, keep those redirects like "check out my manual", but how about a simple smiley face
at the end just to lift the perceived cold tone?
Perhaps the easiest way then, for the convenience of confused newbies and to reduce frustrations for old-timers (sick of repeating themselves, like teachers often are) is to create a NEWBIE FORUM. Hey, what do you say? Newbie forum and smileys? I'm not attacking anyone, neither am I claiming that there is rudeness in anyway. It's just about tone.
Lastly, I apologise if I'm repeating what has been said before, because I have actually done a search and looked through the forum.