Maybe time for a posting requirement before asking questions???

I may be off base here, but it sure seems to me there have been quite a few people joining and either asking a question and you never hear from them again, or ask a question that has been answered many times and all it would have taken is a little research. It seems to me this forum was created for folks to give and take, not just take and leave or take without putting any work in. A lot of questions of "is it worth it to?????" could be answered by just taking it apart and learn. I did not ask questions on whether it was worth it to take a vacuum cleaner apart, or a compressor from a refrigerator or a microwave, I just took it apart and figured it out for myself whether it was worth it or not. That is how someone learns best, by doing. I am just wondering if there might need to be a requirement for a person to have a certain amount of posts before being able to ask a question, especially if it has been answered many times. Am I off base or does anyone agree?

Amen

I never understood it myself as when I first join I spent alot of time reading and searching for questions I had.

Some want answers without doing any work to get it and some really have no clue how to go about and search so maybe a stickie showing how to search a forum with pics to help and direct new members to it?

Casting my vote for change.

I would encourage everyone to go over to the gold refining forum and see how a good forum can be ruined by too many stupid rules. It is truly an uncomfortable, hostile place where new people are clearly not welcomed. Just ask one simple question and you can be permanently banned.
Yes, the repetitive questions here can be annoying at times, but you learn something new every day. You might catch something you missed before.

A lot of people don't understand forum etiquette in general. I join very, very few forums, since I take my membership seriously in a community. I lurk for long periods of time before any posting, anywhere, to get a feel for the members and the norms. I try to share and contribute; I avoid asking questions without doing my due diligence research first.

But then, I've been a professional forum moderator for over a decade, and I'm pretty potty trained by now.

People new to forums as a "thing" are often very, very lazy, but they don't know better. :rolleyes:

I read at least a year before I joined, I know I'm guilty as charged with stupid questions. Sometimes I speak before I think (I know I'm the only one to do that). I'm not someone who thinks a lot of rules and requirements are a good thing. (I think our government has that covered). I do see you have a point though. As I knew from the beginning I was staying, I can't think of a sight I use more, with the exception of Google search and my personal email account. I think maybe a five post limit the first ten days after you introduce yourself. This may eliminate scam artist, those that are plain "fishing" or hit and runs. Let people ask questions for two or three days (yes even the stupid ones), Then mandatory introduction and then five post limit after introduction for ten days. That would be like a two week get to know you period. Enticing a more think before you ask protocol. A three day rookie badge those first three days, so we know a person is learning to swim, before we blast them out of the water. Any organization needs rookies and "new blood" at the same time nobody likes being used!

Like Jilly, I'm selective on the forums I join, an my participation in them. Over the years I've visited many, an just remained a lurker, due to various reasons. Strict rules, rude members, lots of flaming or trolls, etc.

Maybe a sticky in each section with a link to the popular questions. I.e. - What gas does a tv have in it?(insert eye roll here) Are mylars worth anything? How do I tell which metal is which? etc. etc.

Maybe it could be set up for an auto email to be sent to what ever email was used for registering with a reminder to search first, an a link to the various stickies. Other forums do this, as a way to remind you of certain rules. You know something like..

"Dear so an so,

Thanks for joining our community. Here's a few tips to help you get started." add in some links to various topics, a mention about searching first, or something like that. Then add a link to have them click to get started. A 101 guide to the forums if you will. The link can also be an activation for the forum. Once you click it, your taken to the 101 guide, an then have the ability to post. You take away the option of ignoring the link. It also reinforces the search first, ask second thought process. Nobody can then say, they didn't know, without showing they didn't pay one ounce of attention to the email or helpful posts.

I dunno, just a thought.

We're reps of this forum, whether we like it or not, folks lurking get their impression based off of us active members. We're the face of the forum. Do we want that face to be one of strict rules an rudeness to someone who didn't know better? or was their first time visiting a forum? Or do we want to it be...something better? I'd rather teach an mold then yell an scold. That's just me tho. The ones that don't get it, an keep asking things that've been asked an pointed to where the answers are, eventually leave on their own. We've seen this happen time an time again.

I know I got welcomed by several veteran members, an hopefully they find I've been a helpful member of the community. I don't know it all,but I can provide a new way of trying something, I can answer questions, heck I can even be somewhat amusing at times, an why yes, every now an then..I have something new to add, that helps a newer member, or even one who came before me.

We're all here to share our knowledge, learn new things, make the most money we can out of what we are into. Yes yes..I'm done now. /end novel and sermon. ;)

Sirscrapalot -There are two kinds of teachers: the kind that fill you with so much quail shot that you can't move, and the kind that just gives you a little prod behind and you jump to the skies. - Robert Frost

Bonus : You can get help from teachers, but you are going to have to learn a lot by yourself, sitting alone in a room. - Dr. Seuss

I just went back & looked at my intro thread & the other ones that I've started here just to see how I sound to myself now a little over 2 years later (hopefully that makes sense) I think that it's all in the individual - some people are rude, selfish, & have a deep rooted egocentric way that they live their lives - while others understand the concept of common courtesy & respect that is automatically given to another person. I never had belonged to a forum prior to here nor was I aware of basic forum etiquette but basic decency I think got me by ok. I may be alone in this belief but I think that it would be a waste of time to put more effort into making in easier to find basic information or to "hold the hand" of a newbie more so than has already been done. If the person wants to put the effort in then they're going to - otherwise they won't - not in the beginning or the end. Of course there are the uncommon instances where just a nudge is all they need but I'm sure they will be easy to spot. Not trying to be an elitist or anything - just my opinion of course

Well said Julie. I read what I posted earlier and want a redo. To many rules not good nor helpful, I do like a "Rookie" badge just to remind the rest of us not to blast a swimmer out of the water.

I agree about the badge thing

I'm just fine with a badge.

My thoughts were just that thoughts..I'm not in favor of more rules. Just tossing out suggestions.

I'm quite ok with things the way they are. I got patience.

I'm a glass half full kind of guy.

I stand by the we are reps of the forum, how we act influences are newer members, an the lurkers that decide to join.

I offer no refunds on my .02 tho. ;)

Sirscrapalot - Patience is the key to a stress free life, that..an humor.

The badge is a good Idea but, I think it should remain until the newb learns how to use the forum. 3 lazy questions doesn't make them a valuable member or, a scrapper.

In my opinion there is a big difference between a scrapper, a Junker, and a scavenger. It is a choice one makes.

This forum and it's members provide the knowledge and help needed to move from one class to the next. Some don't want to put forth the effort or time to move up in class and, that's fine it's a free country and their choice.

Even in the scavenger class there are two types the ones who throw every thing in the truck and take it to the yard for shred price and that is fine too. In my opinion the scavenger class are those cord cutters and smash and grabbers who leave splintered TVs on the street, drive way or lawn for a bit of copper.

Some one will come on the forum and ask how to tell the difference between alu and ss, in some cases to the un trained or inexperienced it's hard to tell that is where we can be helpful to a newb but, to come on and ask where to find scrap or how much is copper worth obviously has not read one line of info here and in my opinion does not have the common sense that deserve our respect, or our time. just my .02 mcw

my rant for the month:recycle:

I'd like a section for new users or simple questions. .. I guess I'm guilty ofasking easy questions but I wouldn't have a problem answering easy questions either... I viewed these forums as a place to get quick simple answers instead of weeding through research that may or may not be related on the basis that someone else had already done the research and to get peoples experience first hand... maybe I have the wrong idea on what the purpose of these forums is... but it doesn't bother me to answer the same question multiple times or just ignore the ones that don't interest me... idk... seems like there's a ton of forums on here that are pretty specific so the general one gets flooded... I think a quick or simple section would be helpful in segregating yhe repetitive questions or simple ones... also if you think someone's post is repetitive or stupid you can always just not answer it and ignore it

I like the rookie badge idea. Maybe also something along the lines of no posting in certain subforums (such as Tips and Advice) until a certain length of time passed and/or certain number of relevant posts. Or even no posting until an introduction has been made.

But how do the moderators feel about this? I'm no expert, but sounds like some new code would have to be written or they'd have to do it all manually.