Thread: Newbie Information

We could also create a sticky in each area to deal with the most commonly asked questions. We have a forum that covers most every topic already.

We've never had a shortage of qualified folks to answer questions from newbies. Even if we create a new forum just for noobs, I suspect the forums would suffer because the experienced guys are in the noob forum.

I think this is a very good idea! The structure, and moderation need to be looked at, but in general I think that because of all the possible questions and information, a lot of the repetition could be eliminated, and some sound advice presented.

I vote Yea!

Best -

Good Idea.

You guys are more experienced than I am, but having so much discussion available on so many topics helped me to gain an understanding of many aspects to the shaves I was looking forward to. If nobody's thinking of blade angles, beard prep or propper stropping on their own it could lead to a lot of grief out there. I'd just like to make sure that it's easy for noobs to see the "advanced" posts and that there are as many experts around for the novices too.

X

The newbie questions are what keep this group alive and growing. We already have forums for each of the various topic areas and a FAQ section along with videos, graphics, link etc.

Currently, when a newbie posts a question he gets responses from a number of people. This gives them a sense that they are welcome and that we truly are here to help. If we try to direct the newbies off to a different "newb" area then they may feel less of a part of the group. I vote to keep it as it is.

Just my two cents,

Randy,
Good point and it has me rethinking this a bit. On the Speedsterowners group I belong too they did a Newbie section because the long timers got tired of answering questions. Certainly not a way to make new guys welcome.

Maybe a sticky with the basics of sharpening, beard prep, shaving, selecting a razor etc.. at the top of each applicable catagory and the newbie can read that and still post questions in the same forum. If newbies get separated maybe we won't be reading that forum as often and not be there to help them.

I realize we have files with this stuff but newbies are probably not going to explore the site as easily as just jumping to the forums and asking away.

Tony

Tony,

Great idea...I have to confess I used to dream of a newbie section in here that was interactive. The newbie would write a question like "Why blah, blah blah?" and then the answer would pop up "Because your blades not sharp enough" and that would always be the answer..."Why can't I strop properly?" Because your blades not sharp enough..."Why do I have difficulty with creams?" Because your blades not sharp enough...this would still be helpful to me today.

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

Randy,

Maybe a sticky with the basics of sharpening, beard prep, shaving, selecting a razor etc.. at the top of each applicable catagory and the newbie can read that and still post questions in the same forum. If newbies get separated maybe we won't be reading that forum as often and not be there to help them.

I realize we have files with this stuff but newbies are probably not going to explore the site as easily as just jumping to the forums and asking away.

Tony

Tony, I like your idea of relevant sticky posts in each of the seperate forums! That would help us all, especially the newbies.

/

Originally Posted by imported_azjoe

...had it's +/-'s, but overall I think the +'s outweigh the negatives

FWIW, what I've found in other forums is that:

1. newbies want answers... it's not so important that they get them from the guru(s), although that makes them feel extra good when they do.
2. gurus get tired reading/answering the same question over and over and over again, prompting them to eventually
   1. stop reading,
   2. stop answering, and/or
   3. suggest the newbie use the search tool to find the previous answers.
3. newbies get turned off if they're ignored or told to use search because their question has been asked a multitude of times before.

(b) and (c) are obviously in conflict... what I've seen work well (on other sites) is a newbie forum where, predominantly, older newbies answer younger newbies questions... this alleviates much of the need for gurus to read/answer newbie questions. Many gurus will still scan the newbie forums, posting replies which encourage newbies to answer others, providing additional depth or correction to existing answers, and provide affirmation when needed. The moderator of the newbie forum must be very active in facilitating and encouraging all this to happen... they usually are a seasoned veteran of the site and often a guru themselves. Since this can be quite time consuming, as forum traffic grows newbie forum moderator duties are usually shared amongst a group of moderators per some pre-arranged schedule (eg, mod-x takes Mon/Tue/Fri, mod-y has Wed/Thu/Sat, etc.)

Admittedly, SRP is certainly not to the point of needing to implement anything this complex, but as we gain more members and newbie traffic increases it's something to consider. Could it be that some of the Gurus we haven't heard much from lately have already reached one of the stages in (b)

On the subject of stickies, my personal feeling is that they clutter up a forum... particularly if they're there forever. They always appear at the top (as they should) but when you get a dozen or more of them the forum's index becomes unreadable because the first screens worth of posts are the stickies. On many other sites only moderators can add/delete stickies to avoid this from happening. I would much prefer a FAQ forum which is comprised of posts... no replies allowed. To create a FAQ a member would first post a "proposed FAQ" in another forum (eg, the Straight Razor Restoration Forum). Other members would then post replies in that thread nominating and supporting it as a FAQ. Given the general consensus was positive, the FAQ post (not the supporting replies and nominations) would be copied by a moderator to the FAQ forum... the whole thread would still remain in the original (eg, Restoration) forum. Later, if updates are needed, members could post their suggestions in the original thread, the responsible party for the FAQ would make changes, get input, etc. and eventually a Moderator would copy the update to the appropriate thread in FAQ forum. BTW, this seems more complex than it really is

Your observation that stickies can become numerous is a very good point and I like the idea of using a FAQ within each individual Forum, perhaps two or three at most.

The idea of a seperate forum for newbies is where I have to disagree. One of the other forums that I belong to uses a list server approach like we do over at the Yahoo straightrazorplace group. It was proposed that a change be made to a forum approach like this is. The membership is primarily made up of older men and a vast majority were dead set against switching to a forum format. The forums divide up the people when what is needed for newbies is a sense of inclusion, being a part of the group, not being singled out and shuffled off to a training area like basic training in the Army.

I certainly agree that most new people do not read the files and the existing FAQ. I know that I read only a few before I dived right in and started shaving and honing. Over time now I have read almost everything, I still need to pay attention to the barbering textbooks on the shaving portions. I think that most people start off that way. Its human nature to want to get started and also to make mistakes which we here can help them with.

Yes, a lot of the old guys have left, for any number of reasons and that will continue to occur. I believe that a number of them monitor the posts and only jump in when it is really necessary to correct an obvious error. I am not an old guy yet nor a pro but that is what I have been doing lately.

I appreciate your comments and insight, keep them coming. Together we will make this Straightrazorplace better and better for everyone.