How To Get Help In Technophiliacs & Technophiles

Just a small write up I have gone and made during my off-time at work. It is not offical as I am not a moderator (nor do I care to be one) but it is still a rather nice set of points to follow when trying to get help in Technophiliacs & Technophiles.

• The most important thing you can do first and foremost is USE THE SEARCH FEATURE. Figure out what your problem is, put it into short, simple words, and do a Technophiliacs & Technophiles wide search for it. Usual your problem was already solved, within the last month, and we will just be annoyed that there is ANOTHER THREAD about the same issue. Do not bump the thread if it is over three months old, though. That is when it is alright to make your own thread.
  
• Give us ALL of the information about your system that you can. Make, model, specs... Hell if you think the color of the motherboard will make a difference include that. If the problem is with something attached to the system, include information about that as well. Forgetting to include information will just make helping you all that harder.
  
• Take your time when writing the thread. First pick out an informitive topic ("Help me!!" and "Request Help Plz" aren not informitive) that defines the problem, with whatever level of understanding you can muster. After you have gone and created a beautiful title, go and type out a longer version of what your problem is. Go into detail about what you did to make this problem happen. Make sure that if you cannot replicate the problem, note that. After you have written out the problem, spell check it, and try and make sure it is not just one long block of text.
  
• If you do not get a reply within the first minute/hour/day/week do not bump your thread. As much as it hurts to think that no one cares about you, the truth of the matter is that your thread most likely was not written correctly. Go back, rewrite it, make a more descriptive title, and repost it after deleting the old one. If no one replies, still, most likely your issue is so out there that no one has any input at all.
  
• Do not post asking for illegal copies of software, how to use software to get illegal copies of software, where to find illegal copies of software, and worst of all, bitching and trying to pretend that it is not you, or you really bought the software, but for whatever reason you still need a backup copy. Technophiliacs & Technophiles does not support illegal activities, and that includes software piracy (ask Zok if you have any issues with that).
  
• Make sure to thank people after they help you, especially if it did not solve your problem. Why? Because then you will not end up pissing people off, and maybe someone will come along and help you.

Following these simple and rather logical points will help you, Technophiliacs & Technophiles member and user, have both a better time enjoying Technophiliacs & Technophiles, and will also make sure that when YOU need help, things will go smoothly and effectively to get you that help.

/stamps 'Official' on the thread.

A'men gus!

The only problem I see is your last "tip".

You tell people to delete the thread if they get an answer, but your first "tip" says to use the search feature since the topic was probably already asked and answered.

If someone deletes their topic after getting an answer, then the next person to have that question is left in the dark. They'll do a search, it won't come up (or it'll come up in the search but lead to a 404), so they'll think they're in the clear for making a new thread. Fast forward to them making the new thread and people bitching at them for making said thread when the question had been answered just a week prior.

I don't think a thread should be deleted until it's been around for a while. Therefore, the deleting should be up to one of the mods, or just let it die and get pruned.

Edit: I mean look, you said not to remake a thread if it was answered in the last month, and the oldest threads in this forum are only a month old. If someone deletes a thread after getting an answer, they're setting up future question-askers for failure and ridicule... Well, maybe not that far, but you know what I'm saying :P

[This message has been edited by robinhoody (edited 01-16-2007).]

good work

Ah, good call!

ten people have already ignored this thread and created a new thread anyway.

Good little write up.

But honestly, the people who you are targeting this towards probably won't read that.

*Rem

QFT. Most likely the kidiots will come in and post "ZOMGWTFBBQ TEH CPU IS FUX0RD" without even looking around.

†Jesus†

Sadly, I knew that well before I hit the "Submit" button... But if it helps ONE person, then I'll be happy with the results.

Actually, Toraton called sticky. Although we can call YOU sticky if you want.

It might be better suited as being copied and then posted as an announcement though, similar to Jack's in S&A.

Any constructive criticisms or good tips can be added as replies. After approval, they will be appended to the original post with the suggester's name.

Well one tip would be to google any problem you have before asking questions.
Rather silly to post a thread if you could google it and find everything out.
You are wasting your own time if you dont.

Most people that make easy to answer threads like that don't truly know how easy to answer the question might be.

When it comes down to it, too, most of those people would rather have a person GIVE them the answer than to have to search for it and figure it out on their own.

People are lazy. Nothing can be done to change that, except hitting them when they make a mistake. After enough time, they'll figure out when they do it right they don't get hit. They'll learn.