Suggestions for CH (And some reasons as to why we suggested these)

[WillyW]

Condensed version and what I think would be the next best step..

I think before even going after most of what's been discussed on this thread we work on the primary issues. Based off reading everyones comments and also off of my own experience I think the biggest issue most people complain about and probably what this whole post was about is repeat questions and not enough information.

Let's first work on solutions for these two issues. If anyone has any additional suggestions on resolving these two problems apart from what has already been suggested please feel free to post them and I'll try my best at working on those issues first.
...

Re:   repeated topics/questions

First,  identify the repeated questions.   List them.   
Getting on 'The List' is the first step. 
Ask for input from the folks here.   Ask them to go find good examples, and paste the links to them.

Next,  identify the good replies.   
Again, ask for input from the people here.   Go find what they feel are good examples of replies,  and provide the links.     You choose the best.

Now you've got the info.
I'm undecided on just how best to utilize it.    I'm sure others will have ideas here.

The trick is be sure it is easily accessible -   and keep in mind,  this time it must be primarily easily accessible to the 'experts',  not the new comer asking for help.     When the expert sees the oft repeated question,  situation, or condition -    copy a url, click on reply,  paste,    Type "Read this and get back to us".   
Done.


I don't think there is a feasible way to eliminate repeated questions.
I do think that some creative minds can come up with ways to make them
easier to deal with productively.

[WillyW]

Yeh WillyW, that was my first though when I saw Stree1's post.
Not a really good idea

CPU/RAM:  Intel Inside / 250 Gig
lol, nice RAM man.

Actually,  his base idea -  one of the roots of this whole thread -  is a very good idea.   
But....  implementing it ....   now that's the catch.   That's what I was trying to illustrate.   

[patio]

Re:   repeated topics/questions

First,  identify the repeated questions.   List them.   
Getting on 'The List' is the first step.
Ask for input from the folks here.   Ask them to go find good examples, and paste the links to them.

Next,  identify the good replies.   
Again, ask for input from the people here.   Go find what they feel are good examples of replies,  and provide the links.     You choose the best.

Now you've got the info.
I'm undecided on just how best to utilize it.    I'm sure others will have ideas here.

Why not just "automate" the whole d**n process and not have a help forum at all ?

[Raptor]

Re:   repeated topics/questions

First,  identify the repeated questions.   List them.   
Getting on 'The List' is the first step.
Ask for input from the folks here.   Ask them to go find good examples, and paste the links to them.

Next,  identify the good replies.   
Again, ask for input from the people here.   Go find what they feel are good examples of replies,  and provide the links.     You choose the best.

Now you've got the info.
I'm undecided on just how best to utilize it.    I'm sure others will have ideas here.

Why not just "automate" the whole d**n process and not have a help forum at all ?

That is a stupid suggestion.

[street1 (RIP)]

Re:   repeated topics/questions

First,  identify the repeated questions.   List them.   
Getting on 'The List' is the first step.
Ask for input from the folks here.   Ask them to go find good examples, and paste the links to them.

Next,  identify the good replies.   
Again, ask for input from the people here.   Go find what they feel are good examples of replies,  and provide the links.     You choose the best.

Now you've got the info.
I'm undecided on just how best to utilize it.    I'm sure others will have ideas here.

Why not just "automate" the whole d**n process and not have a help forum at all ?

That is a stupid suggestion.

Cold answer Raptor.....Increase intake of medications as needed.

[patio]

Actually i'm the one probably short on medication...i was in a foul mood.

I apologise for hitting Post before thinking.

[street1 (RIP)]

Actually i'm the one probably short on medication...i was in a foul mood.

I apologise for hitting Post before thinking.

No problem patio.I do that all the time.

I would enjoy the site though.How it would
work.See Below...
_______________________________________
You have reached 'CH auto-mate' by chance,or
just good searching.

This is an automated site.Find your own way!
You got here didn't you ?

Now I must take my tranxene.........SNAP!
That's right folks street1 has a anxiety disorder
for real.I am not ashamed of it.Developed it during
my 10 years and 9 months in the US Army.

[Sid]

An easy enough way of making sure everyone posts standardised info about thier machine, is CCleaner...it lists the info about your machine on the top.

[WillyW]

Why not just "automate" the whole d**n process and not have a help forum at all ?

There you go!    That'll work.   

[Zylstra]

Well, we could revert to this system:

"Hello, my name is Manadukie, how may I help you?"
Yeah, I got this stuck pixel on my desktop, how the heck do I get rid of it?
"Ok, lets try the first method"
<silence for a little while>
"Is it still there?"
Uhh... *censored* do you think?
"Ok, so the leave it alone and it will go away method will not work here"
...
"Could you please uninstall all the monitor drivers?"
If I uninstall all the monitor drivers, won't the screen stop displaying things, all together?
"Yes, but there will no longer be a stuck pixel"
...



Lets face it:
A lot of our suggestions can not be completed. Not everything is possible on this forum.

The best you could do is make a script (probably a PERL script that utilizes the CGI) that can ASSIST[/i] a user with making a post. (Asking for an issue category, and then from there, asking for a system specification)

There will always be users who say:
"HELP! MY SYSTEM WONT START UP!"
Who, for some reason, know exactly how to use BBC and make their text more obnoxious then ever, but cant seem to give us any more information 

[CBMatt]

What I think would be really helpful is if we could do something with that Mr. Hope project you started, Nathan.  Maybe we could all pitch in on compiling as many scenarios as we can think of.  We would be a lot of work, but I think it'd be worth it.

At the beginning, it could ask for system specs and explain how to obtain the needed information.  Then users would go through the troubleshooting process for a few minutes and if Mr. Hope can't figure it out, he'd direct the user to the forum and when they post, a Mr. Hope log could be attached.

I don't know...I haven't slept and I'm very tired, so maybe I'm just pulling things out of my *censored*.  But I think something like this could really help a lot.



I'm still partial to the idea of filling out specs during the registration, though.  It's true that some people would say things like "I don't know", but not everyone would, and at least it would give us something to work with.  We can't force people to read the guides, but we can at least try to force them to give us more information.

[Dark Blade]

I'm still partial to the idea of filling out specs during the registration, though.  It's true that some people would say things like "I don't know", but not everyone would, and at least it would give us something to work with.  We can't force people to read the guides, but we can at least try to force them to give us more information.

I think we should have some thing when you register where you need to put in certain information (e.g. OS, manufacturer), and some other information is optional (e.g. the harder information to find: CPU/RAM, is your copy legal etc. etc.). That way, at least we'll have SOME idea of what the poster is using.
Also, I think that the specs. information could be change on the profile page, so users could add extra information to it if they wanted to.

[patio]

And what about registration numbers nosediving because new users can't find their system info and just want help ? ? ?

[Raptor]

And what about registration numbers nosediving because new users can't find their system info and just want help ? ? ?

They're going to have it sooner or later.. Better sooner and without too much hassle than later with us wasting time on asking redundant questions.

[Dark Blade]

Maybe new users are allowed only one topic without their info (many new users only stay on for that long). (Ithink that I've seen someone post this before, but I think it's a good idea)