GT40s.com - View Single Post - Have you, (Mr. Ron) ever considered a Technical Resource Section?

Ron Earp · 12-01-06, 09:23 AM

Hi Ryan,

Sure, I have, and many others before you have suggested similar things. We used to have a DYI/FAQ forum for such topics a long time ago but it just didn't generate a lot of traffic. Only one member ever posted much there, Lynn Larsen, and eventually we dispersed his helpful posts to the subforum where they belonged.

I think a better and more modern idea is to make "FAQ Threads" for each subform and that thread remains sticky at the top. When the moderator of said subforum finds something useful s/he sticks it in the FAQ thread. The FAQ thread can only be posted to from the moderator. Good stuff, always visible, and could help the newbie immensely. But finding a moderator that will consistently do this is not easy.

The problem is actually getting people to do the work. I don't have time as just maintaining, tweaking, answering questions, moving threads to the proper forums (yes, there are members who've been here 4+ years who can't seem to get a thread in the right place), installing mods/patches, planning for next few months upgrades, and keeping up with you guys and your lost passwords eats all my time (no offense, just the way it is). Sorry, I've a cold and a little bit cranky.

People say they will do a certain thing, but the excitement wears off after a few months. And where is the reward for those doing the work? Not really there - as you said, you have few free dollars or time, and the rest of us are likely in the same boat.

So, while I like the idea of having FAQs in each subforum that needs it, I don't know who would do them as I definitely cannot. My hands are full. It'd be nice though as it'd cut down on those "hey, I have a Audi transaxle and want to know what ratios are available" questions and many others that we see with regularity. Again, no offense, - new folks want info and without a FAQ or search index of frequent topics the old members will just have to get used to seeing the same questions.

So where does that leave us? With a good idea and nobody to do much with it. Maybe someday though and thanks for suggesting it, that is what this subforum is for.

Ron

12-01-06, 09:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
Ron Earp Ron Earp Site Administrator Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 3,932 Rep Power: 57	Re: Have you, (Mr. Ron) ever considered a Technical Resource Section? Hi Ryan, Sure, I have, and many others before you have suggested similar things. We used to have a DYI/FAQ forum for such topics a long time ago but it just didn't generate a lot of traffic. Only one member ever posted much there, Lynn Larsen, and eventually we dispersed his helpful posts to the subforum where they belonged. I think a better and more modern idea is to make "FAQ Threads" for each subform and that thread remains sticky at the top. When the moderator of said subforum finds something useful s/he sticks it in the FAQ thread. The FAQ thread can only be posted to from the moderator. Good stuff, always visible, and could help the newbie immensely. But finding a moderator that will consistently do this is not easy. The problem is actually getting people to do the work. I don't have time as just maintaining, tweaking, answering questions, moving threads to the proper forums (yes, there are members who've been here 4+ years who can't seem to get a thread in the right place), installing mods/patches, planning for next few months upgrades, and keeping up with you guys and your lost passwords eats all my time (no offense, just the way it is). Sorry, I've a cold and a little bit cranky. People say they will do a certain thing, but the excitement wears off after a few months. And where is the reward for those doing the work? Not really there - as you said, you have few free dollars or time, and the rest of us are likely in the same boat. So, while I like the idea of having FAQs in each subforum that needs it, I don't know who would do them as I definitely cannot. My hands are full. It'd be nice though as it'd cut down on those "hey, I have a Audi transaxle and want to know what ratios are available" questions and many others that we see with regularity. Again, no offense, - new folks want info and without a FAQ or search index of frequent topics the old members will just have to get used to seeing the same questions. So where does that leave us? With a good idea and nobody to do much with it. Maybe someday though and thanks for suggesting it, that is what this subforum is for. Ron __________________ Ron Earp Enjoy the forum? Support GT40s.com