Did anyone else notice the board is getting crowded with a lot of newbies recently? Did some newbie board close and they all end up here?

Recently, I've noticed the board got more than its share of:
- softice install problems
- softice "won't break" type of question. (and more similar Q's on v3.0)
- anti-ntice questions
- does anyone know the packer on this
- does someone know how to unpack this: <name of app>/<name of packer>?
- dumped exe crashes/invalid exe format (ie trying to run a dumped-straight-from mem exe)

There is a very strong correlation between the post count (usually 1) of those users and the chance the user posts on one of the 6 topics listed above.

I realize we've all been there, but I also do realize that there's a search button with answers to _ALL_ of those questions (and more).

I believe this board has a lot of skilled contributers, and an overall positive attitude (no flame wars, etc..) ... better than any public board i've seen so far... I feel that too many of those newbies post might kill 'the spirit' :P

any thoughts on that? anyone else feels this way?

i agree. we should program a new rule into the board so that you can't post until you've already posted at least 10 times or so. oh wait, that wouldn't work...

seriously though, i agree that this has been a problem of late. however, i'm not sure how to fix it. maybe program in a delay, so that you have to wait 2 weeks after you register before you can make your first post? maybe that will force newbies to search for their answers instead of asking others at the first sign of "trouble".

perhaps this would be a good thread for people to post such suggestions on how to mitigate this problem

I have a solution.

Move the "Post Message" button to the "Search Forums" dialog!

Problem solved...

We do not want to completely discourage the new users from making their attmepts. Those of us who have the responsibility of reminding these folks about our rules try to do so in such a way that it reinforces their habits for the better.

Many of the first timers who come here believe their need for the answer to their question outweighs all other consideration. Only a few take much effort to even look around before the begin to post, but many of them are also very very young and have alot to learn about patience and the denial of instant gratification.

We attempt to push them in the right direction, without a complete frontal lobotomy. Only after repeated failure to observe the rules do we apply more drastic measures. Many of you don't even see many posts which are removed shortly after they are posted because they have no "redeeming usefulness" or are openly crack requests.

Regards,

Whoa?!?!?! WTF happened?? COMPLETELY DISCOURAGE?!?! Seriously, wtf is wrong with you guys? Get off your shitty high horses and realize no new blood = inbreeding. As if the board isn't dead enough as it is.

Fake
Note: people that don't search are a nuisance, agreed - but wanting to discourage newbies?? Come on.

Ack! I don't think ANYONE wants to discourage inexperianced users from posting, and I believe everyone wants there to be more people on the forum.

The original issue was the same questions being posted over and over again, with the poster taking no time to research if they were experiancing a common problem.

I had (jokingly) posted that moving the Post Button to the Search Forums dialog would prevent such posts. The logic being that people who are phobic about the search button would never even see the post button, while people who of a more Google'ish nature would feel right at home...

It can be frustrating when you see an entire page of new subjects that all read pretty much the same things... Kind of like kids screaming "Are we there yet?!?!?" when you haven't even left the city.

But again, I don't think anyone is intentionally discouraging new people.

It would appear Fake51 that you are applying to others, character traits which you, yourself are exhibiting. I have no high hourse and was referring to "discouraging" newbies who attempt to make a first post without reviewing our rules and in obvious violation of them.

I have no interest in or penchant for "discouraging newbies" as a group. I do have an interest in having them, and everyone. attempt to help themselves before they ask for help, and in getting people to attempt to find their own answers before they ask. But those are the rules here, which, although I did not create them, I fully support.

And if you find the board "dead enough as it is" I simply remind you that you are under no complusion to make an appearance here and are always free to journey elsewhere where you might find things more to your preferences.

Regards,

Howdy,

I think the bigger problem is that most of these age old questions
are not asked in the newbie forum but asked in the tools forum.

I think that most people understand that your post needs to be in the correct forum but, if you can get Si to work and get your prog to load,
you should be able to press the search button.

The newbie forum even says to search first before you post.
This should apply to each and every forum.

The newbies forum is for new learners. Perhaps I should further explain that new learners are people who have zero knowledge in RCE. The intent is to search, read, then ask your question.
For me it has gotten to the point where I dont even read past the first line of most of the unpacking post's. I am quite sure there are many who have their favorite forums and cannot stand some of the others. Redundancy sucks.

The rules are pretty much universal, the lamest posts get the bash.
This place is no different.

As a matter of fact, I hate people who post in the newbies forum with more then 25 posts to their name. If you have been here long enough to have 25 posts then you should know how this place works.

I beg that each and every one of you who are new to RCE do just one thing,
quote at least one reference that you researched in regards to your problem.
It really would make your life easier when posting.

Woodmann

Guess I was a bit tired when reading+replying. I'll be the first to admit how annoying it is when people don't take the time to search for obvious answers. Reading "We do not want to completely discourage the new users from making their attmepts." got my blood going, however. It seemed a bit broader than "We want them to learn how to search". Anyway, my apologies, got it wrong, I guess.

Oh, and as for: "And if you find the board "dead enough as it is" I simply remind you that you are under no complusion to make an appearance here and are always free to journey elsewhere where you might find things more to your preferences. " Spare me the crap. I've been here long enough to remember what a lot of RE activity means. Woodmann's forum is a good place, and it's a friggin shame that the amount of activity isn't bigger.

Oh well, nuff blunders for one day. Apologies offered.

Fake

fake51, congratulations on your 100th post

Cheers.

Fake

No apology was needed and the offer was more than sufficient.

My own response to which you originally replied was part of a series of similar responses to criticisms of newbie posts, such as this one:

http://www.woodmann.com/forum/showthread.php?p=31988#post31988

where I was actually attempting to dampen some of the impatience with the tendency of first time and/or younger posters to not pay attention or review the rules or try to help themselves.

In both the previous thread and in this one some of the same members were suggesting drastic measures against these posters and it was in that "context" that my comment was framed. Just so it is clear, I do encourage as broad a base of contributors as possible and actually spend a fair amount of time trying to "encourage" the newbies towards the proper path of searching and thinking first and then posting, rather than that they just go away. To the extent that my comments left an impression that I was advocating something else, then the error was my own.

Regards,

This has been discussed since many years ago.New comers should recieve forum rules after the registered here(if I'm not outdated hahahaha).
They should read it before posting anything here.I can't see any good solutions,what can we do is the remind,flame,delete the post if necessary.

I dunno if its possible to "make" them read the faq everytime they login(new comers) for at least 3 months.Crusader & I has suggested in the past but dunno if its workable?

Regards

Howdy,

We have already done as much as we can. The posts are
far better then they were 2 years ago. This is a good thing.

Woodmann