Quality of forums changing

[srf4real]

A lot of people could answer their own questions, if they just opened the Preferences or the help text and made some sort of effort.

That's true. It's why I love my mac! I didn't know squat about computers until i got a bondi imac in '99. Opened up every folder, studied the OS, figured out how to do most anything I wanted to.

Windows had me searching for the right folder/file for hours and still, common sense could not prevail!

 

[exabytes18]

Members must report spam and irrelevant threads asap to keep this place the way it is.

To be honest, I'm guilty of many of the things you mentioned, but I can attest to the fact that members are quick to report bogus threads. (i.e. My "Macs are Bogus" thread.) I just wanted to stir up some trouble. My apologies if this annoyed anyone.

 

[balamw]

Well, once the alt. tree of the USENet had been created, it was sort of a moot point to argue about whether one's post was worth the cost, since certainly no one else's was.

Especially since 99.999% of traffic in the alt groups was pr0n or warez.

I still find MR overall the best forum I've found on the 'net, but it has really gotten quite busy, I believe since the Intel Macs have brought many new users to the platform...

B

 

[redAPPLE]

i believe everybody will agree that since apple started introducing intel machines (about 220 days ago) more and more peecee users (mostly n00bs)come and bash the mac and defend window$, even-though they are in a mac-centric forum.

i can imagine it would be a daunting task to remind posters that this is mainly (or mostly) a mac site and if they can't stand the mac platform, then it would be greatly appreciated, if they would silently go to a peecee forum.

re: quality. unfortunately, i would say it has declined a bit. i am no elitist. just a normal joe giving his opinion.

 

[MacNut]

Maybe a MacRumors "help desk" is needed, someone that knows all about macs sits in a corner of the site and just gives out support.

 

[bousozoku]

Maybe a MacRumors "help desk" is needed, someone that knows all about macs sits in a corner of the site and just gives out support.

If that's the case, there is a lot of money to be made.

 

[jamesW135]

I agree, I had to remove my AIM Screenname from my profile because random people (Not from the forum) were contacting me. The people from the forum that I talk with are a different story. I only Had my SN on this forum so this had to be the cause.

 

[Doctor Q]

I agree, I had to remove my AIM Screenname from my profile because random people (Not from the forum) were contacting me. The people from the forum that I talk with are a different story. I only Had my SN on this forum so this had to be the cause.

Perhaps instead of leaving out your AIM name from your profile, or setting it to "None", you should set it to "PM me for name" so members will think to ask you for it if they'd like to IM you.

 

[someguy]

I agree, I had to remove my AIM Screenname from my profile because random people (Not from the forum) were contacting me. The people from the forum that I talk with are a different story. I only Had my SN on this forum so this had to be the cause.

What does this have to do with forum quality?

 

[bousozoku]

Perhaps instead of leaving out your AIM name from your profile, or setting it to "None", you should set it to "PM me for name" so members will think to ask you for it if they'd like to IM you.

It shouldn't be visible from the outside. I know how he feels because I would not likely have gone through quite a bit of hell if mine hadn't been visible last year. (Of course, it was my decision to put it there but I thought it was secure from outside eyes.)

 

[wmmk]

lexus, we've both been at MR for about the same amount of time. i don't think that the quality of discussion has actually changed, but you may just be getting used to the amazing qulity of dialogue at MR. at first, you're overwhelmed by people's helpfulness, but just started to take it for granted. Sorry if I'm making no sense cause I'm tired.

 

[piltupso]

Well I must be one of those horrible noobs that is dragging the quality of the site down.

Seriously though being new to the forums in general as well as new to Macs I have found this site to be very helpful. I began looking around the forums when I began shopping for a new machine a couple months ago and after hitting a couple of different ones this has been the best. I have got a lot of help mostly from just reading posts. Being new to MacRumors and to message boards (if they are still called that) in general I have learned two things quickly.

1. the subtle tone of your post goes a long way in getting what you want.

2. Ask a stupid question get an equivalent answer.

 

[Applespider]

piltupso - two excellent points that everyone should bear in mind

Although not all noobs are bad... the upstanding Demis and 601s of the future have to come from somewhere

 

[2nyRiggz]

^Indeed. This forum gets better as time go by..friendly, helpful, crazy, funny people...only reason I keep coming back for more.

Spicyapple.....it depends.....we all smell.....good or bad is another thing

 

[Zwhaler]

I don't see that much advertising, just the occasional post that usually ends up in the wasteland in a matter of a minute.

 

[LethalWolfe]

I am not saying this is bad but when i first joined this forum every one was helpful and friendly but this has changed. I am not saying people are not friendly its just that there is alot of spam and alot of people are using the forum to spam and sell stuff. I have a genuine networking problem and never got a good answer. Also there is too much focus on the community side than the mac side, I understand that the community aspect but there are some newbies who just post in the community forum and have no interest in Mac's. This place is a group effort and everyones assistance is needed. Members must report spam and irrelevant threads asap to keep this place the way it is.

If anyone objects please delete this.

Thanks

Questions like the one you used as an example probably should be asked at Apple's official support forums or in a forum that specifically deals w/networks. It doesn't sound like a Q that the typical MR member (a Mac enthusiast, not necessary a techno-geek) could answer.

It's like in the video forum (where I usually hang out) most of the consumer oriented and basic Q's get answered pretty quickly, but if someone asks a more advanced Q like, "I'm having problems using Automatic Duck to xfer an FCP project into Avid" the help probably won't come 'cause the problem is beyond the scope of this board and should be directed at a post proudction/editing forum (if not Avid's, Automatic Ducks, or FCP's official help forums).

I think people generally are polite when they seek help, but it's irritating when people (and I don't necessarily mean you) cop an attitude and demand "service" like MR is some sort of freakin' help desk.


Lethal

 

[mad jew]

The switch to Intel has thrown a bit of a spanner in the works simply because it has added such a large new dimension to Mac computing. On one hand it requires new information and knowledge for the troubleshooters and on the other hand it has meant an insurgence of new members to the Mac community and in particular, this site. More members + a larger scope for questions may stretch the site's resources a little further but considering advice here is free, I'm not bothered by it.

 

[Fiveos22]

Have the forums really changed that much in 5 months...?

I don't think so. I think it is more that the perception of the forums is changing within the users (on a user to user basis). I started out coming to this site three years ago when I was looking into getting a Power Mac G5. I used the news here to plot my buying strategy (and consequently bought a PM hours after WWDC '03). Since then, I kept up with front page news and MacBytes news postings and commented on articles as I saw necessary. With the arrival of DailyTunes I started airing my musical tastes to the forum and enjoyed talking about genres and songs that I am unfamiliar with. In the past year I have taken an interest in the other "community" aspects of this forum including the Marketplace and the other fun/entertainment oriented threads.

To me, MR is still a great place to find first-hand software reviews and people willing to test updates before I decide to download and install them...coincidentally it is also a place to burn time having fun reading other peoples' perspectives.

MR Forums has not become just an inside joke site where only the Old Skoolers hold the social fabric together nor has it become a way-stop for a transient population. I can come here and see familiar screen-names and new users reinforcing the idea that this is a Macintosh Community site. Personally, I'd love to see some stats on number of new users/day alongside number of old screennames not logging in (length of time between logins) alongside general activity of old posters vs. new posters. As with any forum site, there is a learning and maturing period, during which a poster learns the de facto rules of the land while building up post count.