Author Topic: Proposed forum rules  (Read 11129 times)

teedge77

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Proposed forum rules
« on: May 11, 2008, 02:53:40 pm »
Danielk wanted me to post these to the forum for discussion. So, post what you think of them. Should anything be taken out? Added? Do you think we don't need the rules?

POSTING
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While we hope that you'll become an active participant and join in our discussions, you're welcome, of course, to simply hang out silently until you feel more comfortable posting a message.
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golgoj4

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Re: Proposed forum rules
« Reply #1 on: May 11, 2008, 10:47:19 pm »
seems like good rules to me.
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colinjones

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Re: Proposed forum rules
« Reply #2 on: May 12, 2008, 12:16:16 am »
They seem very proscriptive and prescriptive to me, and very long winded - would suggest that people will not read all of it.

Can I suggest that each of the sections are heavily summarised to the key point, and the rest of the text referred to at the bottom like appendicies, kind of an exec summary. So that you can read through the general themes quickly and go to the detail at the bottom if you need to. This might make it more accessible.

Some of it seems very detailed on fairly minor points, that lessens the impact of the important stuff. For instance, outlawing "I agree" posts compared with disallowing abuse and flaming...

Other than that, I think its good that we are setting some guidelines to weed out the unnecessary/unproductive behaviour. I think it should be complemented by a guide on what data to include when posting questions to avoid annoying teasing out of "my system doesn't work", "what is wrong?", "it doesn't play stuff", "what stuff? What does it do?", etc... Perhaps not as long or high-handed as Zaerc's How to Ask Smart Questions, but something similar....

rnmixon

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Re: Proposed forum rules
« Reply #3 on: May 13, 2008, 04:17:47 am »
I think the content of the rules is great - and needed. But I also think colinjones has the right idea here.

One should be able to get the gist of the rules by reading a brief bulleted list - no more than a dozen points. Otherwise they just will not be read by the people that need to read them most.

I realize that there needs to be more explanation - that can be notes or done via hyperlink.

Thanks for taking the time to do this. It should help everyone a lot.

Just my 2 cents.
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teedge77

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Re: Proposed forum rules
« Reply #4 on: May 13, 2008, 04:23:28 am »
i will try to rewrite this during the week to cut it down. this is more like a public draft for people to look at. i just wanted to get it up since daniel asked me to do it so long ago and it took me longer than i had anticipated.
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geoffrey

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Re: Proposed forum rules
« Reply #5 on: May 13, 2008, 09:39:26 am »
i think there should be tolerance for chattiness, fun and stupid questions.  These are some of the things that add to the attitude of:

Quote
We have a very supportive community that serves up heavy doses of support, encouragement and enthusiasm. We love meeting new people and making new friends.

Wikis are where one should look for 'justs the facts' whereas a forum works well for building community as well as exchanging information. 

It is important to have threads that work as conversations, not simply technical discussions.

so i will even add a smiley  ;D (despite the unneccessary use of server space.)
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totallymaxed

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Re: Proposed forum rules
« Reply #6 on: May 13, 2008, 11:43:33 am »
i think there should be tolerance for chattiness, fun and stupid questions.  These are some of the things that add to the attitude of:

Quote
We have a very supportive community that serves up heavy doses of support, encouragement and enthusiasm. We love meeting new people and making new friends.

Wikis are where one should look for 'justs the facts' whereas a forum works well for building community as well as exchanging information. 

It is important to have threads that work as conversations, not simply technical discussions.

so i will even add a smiley  ;D (despite the unneccessary use of server space.)

Agreed 100%!....


ps Oooops broke one of the rules! ;-)
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colinjones

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Re: Proposed forum rules
« Reply #7 on: May 15, 2008, 12:19:22 am »
No, Andrew, you said more than a single word :) And Geoffrey, "despite the unneccessary use of server space." used more space than the smiley :) yes, fun must be allowed...

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Re: Proposed forum rules
« Reply #8 on: May 15, 2008, 10:29:24 am »
and if we limit it too much to just technical discussions we would miss out on all the priceless and uplifting Zaerc comments..... :P
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Re: Proposed forum rules
« Reply #9 on: May 15, 2008, 09:28:42 pm »
I agree the rules for the most part are good.  They need to be summarized as mentioned above, because even though I wanted to read them, I just couldn't make myself read anymore after the first 15-20 lines.  I also think that chit chat on the forum is good, that is what helps build community. 

I agree the number 1 rule should be "Search before you post."  Many people get annoyed answering the same questions over and over.  However, there are questions that need to be asked again as the project changes and as technology changes, such as "Which motherboard?"  The answers to this question 9 months ago may not be relevant as the motherboards suggested back then may not be produced now.

I think this project is progressing nicely, and the more new users we can welcome, the faster it can grow.  The forums are usually the first contact new people have with the people involved in LinuxMCE.  How the forum is handled can mean the difference in whether people stay and participate, or receive a cold shoulder and leave before they learn enough to contribute.

Zaerc

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Re: Proposed forum rules
« Reply #10 on: May 15, 2008, 10:01:42 pm »
and if we limit it too much to just technical discussions we would miss out on all the priceless and uplifting Zaerc comments..... :P
By all means feel free to leave me out of this crypto-fascist bullcrap. 

I really can't be bothered to read a 20 page rulebook written by someone who feels these things are so important he probably already broke most of his own "rules".
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teedge77

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Re: Proposed forum rules
« Reply #11 on: May 15, 2008, 10:14:15 pm »
i cant believe it took you so long to whine zaerc.
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Re: Proposed forum rules
« Reply #12 on: May 15, 2008, 10:33:41 pm »
i cant believe it took you so long to whine zaerc.
I was trying to stay out of your nonsense. ::) 

And I'm pretty sure that shitty remark is against your own crappy rules, if only I could be arsed to read them... (or you to even follow them :P). 
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Re: Proposed forum rules
« Reply #13 on: May 15, 2008, 10:41:30 pm »
guys you are great:)
* hari gets some popcorn

maybe we can reduce the count of the rules?
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teedge77

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Re: Proposed forum rules
« Reply #14 on: May 15, 2008, 10:46:52 pm »
well the rules were mostly what i had seen from other forums. i just took waht they had an compiled a big list. all the rules arent even applicable to us. i took some out before i posted, but then i gave in and just put the whole thing up and everyone else can decide what should go. if anyone would like to bullet/summarize the ones that are up you are more than welcome to. i probably wouldnt get to it til this weekend. to be honest ...some of those rules i wouldnt even be for. the world needs a little profanity now and then to keep it goin. right?  ;)
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