Forum Moderators: open
We wish to focus more on news issues that concern most of our members than help-me issues. The subtle difference in the title should help in that cause.
What you can do to contribute:
a) Skip any "me too" or "lol" posts and stick to more substantial posts.
b) Read the FAQ.
c) Check the forum titles for the last week before posting a news item. Duple posts are a problem.
d) Use good titles. Please use good titles. Your title should reflect the content of a posts. It should be a question about an issue, or a statement. It should not be a statement disquised as a question.
Titles have become such an issue, that I've told moderators to delete the entire thread if the title is wildely inappropriate.
Threads with titles such as "help me", "hey, check this out", "wow dudes", are headed for the trashcan and noted on user accounts. Two abuses and the nick, email, account, and ip address will join the posts in the trashcan. Titles are being abused intentionally and we are done taking the time to correct them (10-20 a day).
If you don't know how to write a good title, visit a search engine near you on 'how to write a good title'.
Bad: Google incommunicado
Good: Can't reach Google from china.
Bad: We are back
Good: Back from PR0 by blocking bot.
Bad: Google -- spammy or not?
Good: The whole post should go since it was another spam reporting post.
e) Spam. Any spam reporting threads are headed to the trashcan. We are not the Google spam reporting system. Far too many problems associated with it.
Thanks for your cooperation.
another thing to consider is that many people in here view it not just as a forum strictly about Google, it is a community in every sense of the word. It is what many webmasters and large corporations alike strive to acheive with their site.
It seems to me that to request everyone stop posting "conversational" postings would destroy a lot of what I like about this group.
It seems to me there are 2 opposing forces at work here, the need to maintain community and the need to keep a clutter free, easy to find the answers in Forum.
Why not split it up? I realize that is what foo is for but most people here want to discuss Google, and specifically Google.
Why not a foo.Google forum?
Just my .02 cents worth.
Todd
when "new users" click on post, show a message like:
you now have 1 minute delay, use this time to wisely to search for a answers to your question in the search-database.
and allow them to post after a minute.
would work for lotta new users. they might actually seek it up.
i certainly would (talking about my first visits here)
As a new user here, let me first say thanks for a great site and all of the hard work you and the moderators put in.
I too think having another forum in addition the the "Google News" one would be a good idea given your request to keep "help me" requests out of this forum. Though it is frustrating to deal with all the noise, a site that is "over moderated" is a worse alternative IMO.
For threads with dubious titles, I will often wait 'til the thread count exceeds 5 or so before I'll check it out. This helps me to avoid the very worst threads.
Keep up the great work. May you all get top 10 rankings for your key words and phrases :).
Polarisman
I've definitely seen some forums degrage to unusability!
Thanks
I would prefer the moderators to spend their time adding to the discussions instead of editing/deleting post’s of users that didn’t even know they were doing anything wrong.
I don’t mean to give the impression that I am disappointed in any way . . . I just want to try and push the pendulum more towards being proactive with the implementation of this new title policy.
We got spam issues covered cold. What we don't have covered is members taking the time to read and investigate before posting. What we have are members asking questions looking for silver platter answers without taking the time to do a little research first.
The only way I can see averting this problem is to take new forum users by the hand.
Especially with this forum becoming more popular by the day, there needs to be a system in place to bring new members quickly up to speed.
Within a few days this thread will be buried, and it's contents will be known only by the regular active members as opposed to those that most need to read it... the new members. As soon as that happens, the brunt will once again fall upon the moderators to edit and educate those who violate this new standard.
A few fairly simple additions that could go a *long* way towards heading off these problems before they begin...
1) Create a "Read This Before Contributing" screen that is served as soon as a new member registers... duplicate it again in their welcome email. In big bold letters at the top of the page make it clear that this is not the usual "don't advertise / privacy policy" rhetoric served by other forums, but is required reading if the new user doesn't want to risk being banned from posting privaleges.
2) Create a locked thread that remains the first post at the top of the forum titled "Frequently Asked Questions... do not post a new thread without checking to see if your answer is here first".
This thread can include links to the Google Knowledge Base, The SEO Glossary, Forum Guidelines including the new standard introduced here, a brief tutorial on using the site search, and links to definitive threads that cover the most repeated questions such as:
Where can I find my PageRank?
Finding PageRank for Mac users.
Do I have a penalty and if so what can I do about it?
What is a Link Farm?
What is a Bad Neighborhood?
Google Dance knowledge base.
Everflux FAQ.
Cross linking FAQ.
Is this SPAM?, and SPAM reporting.
Automated rank checking.
And of course a few others I'm sure I've missed, which can always be added to as time goes by.
It would probably take less than a single day for the moderators to compile a resource such as this, and while it's no small task, the upfront investment of energy will save hundreds of hours of case by case editing and intervention for the moderators in the long run.
Also, many active members here already send newbies to definitive older threads on certain topics. I know that myself and many others would gladly pitch in by posting a link to this thread whenever a FAQ comes up, much the same way that many of us use paynt's welcome message now.
Educating is always preferable to policing when trying to maintain the integrity of a community.
I know that for me personally it was weeks before I discovered and began using things like the Site Search and Recent Posts features.
It was also weeks before I completely read the T.O.S. or was introduced to paynt's welcome message.
These things need to be introduced up front, and in a compelling way that interests the new registrant enough for them to invest the time in reading them.
These crucial resources need to also be put in front of a new user in as many contact points as possible.
The radio check boxes mentioned earlier are one way... I personally, would at the very least include a bold link at the top of the post message screen asking if they've checked the site search and FAQ before posting.
It would probably take less than a single day for the moderators to compile a resource such as this, and while it's no small task, the upfront investment of energy will save hundreds of hours of case by case editing and intervention for the moderators in the long run.
Dante, it actually takes a lot longer than a day to catalog and categorize all that's needed, but it's been duly noted and there's already a little project quietly under way.
Since you've so kindly volunteered, feel free to stickymail me suggestions. ;)
Now that I have been here a week or so, I <HAVE> learned how to search for my answers, go through forum by forum reading any and all interesting posts. My point being, is that this normally isn't something that a newbie is going to already have knowledge of. Not only did I NOT know how to search the forum, but I really had no idea what to do when I forst got here, as the information was somewhat overwhelming. I think some of you may have forgotten what it was like the first time you visited a forum, much less a webmaster forum. Suggestion if I may? How about placing a "MUST READ BEFORE POSTING" post in EVERY FORUM, that in un-replyable (is that a word?)? Another forum I have discovered does the same, and while it may not filter out all problems, it may help :)
I agree with what is being said about titles and spamming incidents, but I do think that all the "tougness" toward posting may seem be a bit harsh towards the new people who's sole intention is seeking help/advice/experiences of qualified/related individuals, which is what I thought the whole purpose of this forum was.
I love this site, but I, as a fairly new user, do *not* want to feel afraid to post a question, for fear that I might be slapped on the hands for doing so correctly. I have learned ALOT since I got here, but I'm sure there are going to be dumb things I do without thinking.
Another point I want to make is that when searching for info to a question, I tend to run into posts from last year, which in relating to SE's is more than likely totally irrelevent now.
K, I feel *much* better now :) Keep up the good work Brett and everyone who lends a helping hand to those in need, and everyone please try to be gentle hearted to the genuine newbies who need help. :)
Karen
there's already a little project quietly under way.
Glad to hear it Marcia. The work that the Admin and Moderators are doing here to continually improve WebmasterWorld is greatly appreciated. It's one of the reasons that this forum offers value that simply can't be found anywhere else on the WWW.
Since you've so kindly volunteered, feel free to stickymail me suggestions.
Ask and Ye shall receive...
You've got stickymail. ;)
