Tension on TN

[16k_zx81]

That's all well and good being 'tough' but it's against the rules of the forum. We have to have rules of some sort or it becomes unmanageable. It's very simple, ask a well structured question, get valid replies, on topic, don't get personal, give some sort of closure and maybe thanks to the person that helped solve the problem and thanks to the people who also helped. Stick with that and you won't go far wrong Inflamatory remarks are what kicks it all off. Just a word or two out of place and all hell breaks loose.

I have my own rule, don't put into print what you wouldn't say to someone's face.

I reckon that should be at the top of the list. Seriously. Its the best possible maxim for the possibility of consistently civilised conduct.

 

[TimJacobs]

I'm one of those "salty" guys you referenced. There was a time when two guys would knock the crap out of each other, get back up, and crack open a 6-pack. They'd forget the whole thing even happened within a few hours. Nobody got their feelings hurt. Those times are gone now except for us "salty" guys. The younger folks here don't understand this mentality because they've been coddled their entire lives. To see what I mean, watch the American Idol tryouts. Nobody ever told those fools that they sucked, so they come out of the audition in tears. People just need to stop being such panty waists. Nyjimbo and I traded a few virtual right hooks some time ago, and there have been other bouts here between the more "salty" members. We get over it by putting a steak on our eye, closing the laptop, and coming back the next day. Bottom line; we get over it, shake hands, and move on. You know; like men; like adults?

To this day, I still do this..... All my friends and family know that when I am ready for a fight, I fight but, after the fight lets drink a 12 pack and grill up some steaks.....

 

[Xander]

I'm so salty that, next to me, Lot's wife is considered "savoury".

 

[angry_geek]

I'm so salty I don't have to worry about ice on my sidewalk.

 

[carrcomp]

No. I'M number 12.

You're number 13

I'll take what I can get

No End Users
These forums are for either current computer technicians, or soon to be computer technicians. We do not provide computer help to any non-technicians.

This isn't so clear cut. The second part 'soon to be technicians' is hard to define as what is everybodys idea of 'soon to be'?

Soon to be technicians know how to troubleshoot and know the basics, at the very least should be able to pass an A+ cert. In my opinion anyway.

Sometimes I wonder if anyone is

I've just been told I'm 13

Remember forum members are not police. Either share your wisdom, ask legitimate questions or please stay silent. If you have an issue that you would like to bring to a moderators attention, report it.

This is where we fall down and what started the problem thread I pulled. The OP didn't give enough information or their methods so it got a few reactions to it. What should happen is nothing should be said the poster of the thread gets no help and might realise that they need to give more information. Maybe I should lock the thread until they do, I don't know.

Locking the thread is, in my opinion, a good idea. Should prevent people from flaming someone that may possibly be posting for the first time, is nervous, and doesn't realise that they didn't provide the info needed.

A locked thread and a quick PM asking for more clarity in the message will work wonders more than ... well ... all of this.

 

[16k_zx81]

Hey, check this out

I gave our new member 'contrive' neg rep today

Note: this was not a PM, just rep.

Your seem to be causing a lot of unnecessary resentment here

This is the PM I just received from him

You seem to think I give a **** about meaningless rep points here. It's dumb fucks like you that make the system invalid.

I seriously doubt you know or even attempted to see the history of it all but you're quick to judge me.

So take your "New Guy = Auto Wrong" -rep and shove it up your ass!

Bear in mind I have never even spoken to the guy in any of the threads except one request to keep the subject on topic.

Impressive, eh?

.

 

[NYJimbo]

Hasn't this thread gone on long enough. I know its helpful to talk about this for a bit but now it seems to be starting new arguments and flames.

What's left to be said ? Besides as soon as this rolls off the first few pages it will ALL be forgotten and nothing will have changed. Maybe its time to close it off and we all can get back to talking about the business ?

 

[carrcomp]

I have to agree.

If the "New Guy = Auto Wrong" idea held truth (I'm an example of this ... even PCX gave a thumbs up on one of my first posts and he's impossible to please ) it would be good.

Close this thread.

 

[FoolishTech]

I have to agree.

If the "New Guy = Auto Wrong" idea held truth (I'm an example of this ... even PCX gave a thumbs up on one of my first posts and he's impossible to please ) it would be good.

Close this thread.

I think you and PCX are the same age as far as this forum is concerned... if not he's newer... I just noted he amassed quite a few posts in the first month of his existence here if that's what you were thinking of... point being you're both "new guys" so that doesn't hold weight.

I don't think 'new guys' are treated much differently here unless they have an attitude problem *ahem* *contrive*

 

[Xander]

Some, at least in the past, have tried to accuse me of being elitist but I think that's far from the truth. I love it when a new guy shows up and asks questions (so long as he backs it up with some diag info) or when they involve themselves in discussions and can say more than "Yes! I agree!" or disagree with just as much fervor. To the contrary, it's hilarious when some guy picks "PCGenius" (I think I made that up) as a username and asks a completely end-user question or, on his first day, posts a tutorial for how to resize your taskbar.

PCX is a great example - he rocked a couple of boats in his first couple of weeks but I don't recall him ever resorting to name-calling. Disagreement is fine and sometimes we just have to agree to disagree.

I'm going to risk repeating myself and say again that I think the rep system needs to carry more weight for new members. Honestly, and I'll make up numbers here, if you can manage to piss off 10 people in your first 50 posts or 5 days?

 

[TimJacobs]

Some, at least in the past, have tried to accuse me of being elitist but I think that's far from the truth. I love it when a new guy shows up and asks questions (so long as he backs it up with some diag info) or when they involve themselves in discussions and can say more than "Yes! I agree!" or disagree with just as much fervor.

I have to agree with this.... I have seen alot of new members pop in to OLD threads or even newer ones and say things like "Yes! I agree!" just to get there post count up.... I have seen a lot of newbies Just post so they can go into the Tech Thread.... I think that the tech thread should be locked with specific requirements to get into it...

Something like actually participation and then apply for it and have a mod approve it after they have reached a certain post count/days and have the mod make the decision on whether they have really been participating or if they just wanted to get their post count up.

 

[carrcomp]

I have to agree with this.... I have seen alot of new members pop in to OLD threads or even newer ones and say things like "Yes! I agree!" just to get there post count up.... I have seen a lot of newbies Just post so they can go into the Tech Thread.... I think that the tech thread should be locked with specific requirements to get into it...

Something like actually participation and then apply for it and have a mod approve it after they have reached a certain post count/days and have the mod make the decision on whether they have really been participating or if they just wanted to get their post count up.

Or maybe at the very least have one post that someone has said was helpful ... or 1 rep point ... or whatever

At that point though, you'd need to only let full members give them.

 

[oldtech]

Well having finally run out of popcorn I guess I'll toss a couple marbles in the ring.... not interested in a debate, although you are welcome to comment away. I'm pretty thick skinned last I checked so have at it.

I'm not a fan of publishing post count and to a lesser extent join date - it erroneously confers a level of technical knowledge or "elder" status upon those folks (and you know who you are) that have to weigh in on abso..frickin..lutely every topic. I prefer the rep system but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how to abuse that and run it up as well, but it is a better measure than the number of times schmoo #'s 1, 2 and 3 hit reply and type a pearl of wisdom.

Inevitably people are going to disagree, tempers flare, and harsh things be said and later be retracted. Frankly, if you are not grown up enough to deal with that either by walking away for a while or making a better case without resorting to personal attacks, you probably shouldn't be on any boards let alone this one. NO ONE is right 100% of the time (although my record is pretty close )

There are entirely too many sub-par techs (end users) on the roster lately. No offense to the mod crew but I think the desire to either build board membership or to not offend prospective members has led to certain behaviors which in turn has led to a larger influx of questionable backgrounds.

As a result I would like to see a section that is for verified business owners with verification being a FEIN, Resale Cert. or overseas equivalent. I would even go so far as to say the tech eyes only section belongs there or under a small fee subscription model.

The one item I would register as a complaint is the number of "help me" posts where the OP is either clueless how to use a search engine or too damn lazy. I find myself tempted to help those posters and have to pull back because to help simply reinforces that behavior. A few members are more tolerant of that *stuff* than me and given we are all employed in a service business our inherent need to fix things comes through and the person winds up getting the help they were to lazy to get for themselves. Is that "Elitist"? Absolutely not.

/End

 

[Xander]

As an idea, what about admission to "Tech Eyes" being based on having been vetted in some manner - dependent upon having some verifiable business be it a website or Yellow Pages listing plus, like a lot of sites, a reply from an email at that address. So, if "JoeQPublic" joins and says he's got a site then someone emails him c/o that site and gets a reply. Boom - he's got access to "Tech Eyes". OR, the new member must participate in regular discussions until someone throws him/her a positive rep point.
Hell, I would volunteer for the vetting if that direction were chosen.

 

[Martyn]

As an idea, what about admission to "Tech Eyes" being based on having been vetted in some manner - dependent upon having some verifiable business be it a website or Yellow Pages listing plus, like a lot of sites, a reply from an email at that address. So, if "JoeQPublic" joins and says he's got a site then someone emails him c/o that site and gets a reply. Boom - he's got access to "Tech Eyes". OR, the new member must participate in regular discussions until someone throws him/her a positive rep point.
Hell, I would volunteer for the vetting if that direction were chosen.

Yes good idea, in fact put a few of the forums in there as well. It could easily by done and would satisfy the masses that least the person is running a business. It doesn't stop you being an idiot though

Seriously though that would be easy to setup as you would just create a new group say called verified business owners or whatever and give that group permission to those forums.

 

[MobileTechie]

LIfe's not perfect and nor are forums. I don't think we need more rules and I really don't see Bryce doing anything that might restrict the membership to the forum.

 

[Xander]

Yes good idea, in fact put a few of the forums in there as well. It could easily by done and would satisfy the masses that least the person is running a business. It doesn't stop you being an idiot though

Seriously though that would be easy to setup as you would just create a new group say called verified business owners or whatever and give that group permission to those forums.

Just add a few questions to the Intro, have a handful of volunteers do the follow-up and post publicly that they've verified....
Oh! And it would keep all the "SEO experts" out! Since, for all their web-expertise, they rarely seem to have websites.

 

[Martyn]

Just one thing, i'm answering this as a member only, Bryce makes the decisions on all forum stuff.

 

[gunslinger]

As an idea, what about admission to "Tech Eyes" being based on having been vetted in some manner - dependent upon having some verifiable business be it a website or Yellow Pages listing plus, like a lot of sites, a reply from an email at that address. So, if "JoeQPublic" joins and says he's got a site then someone emails him c/o that site and gets a reply. Boom - he's got access to "Tech Eyes". OR, the new member must participate in regular discussions until someone throws him/her a positive rep point.
Hell, I would volunteer for the vetting if that direction were chosen.

I agree with this. Some proof of an actual business. I'd go so far as to say a Business license with the company name on it. Because anyone can throw up a website. Also I think certain sections should be "vets" only. Qualifications to get into these sections would be minimum one year on the board, and at least 1,000 posts?


I think this would keep the "pizza techs" "hobbyists" "trolls" ect out until they had proven themselves a good member in the community and it would show a certain level of appreciation for the techs who have been here so long and contributed time and experience.

 

[TLE]

Some proof of an actual business. I'd go so far as to say a Business license with the company name on it. Because anyone can throw up a website.

It's a nice idea but here in the UK you don't need a business licence, you don't even need to be VAT registered. You can simply start up and be self-employed. I suspect the same could be said of other countries.