Thread: Newbs and the wiki

Originally Posted by Theseus

One thing I'd like to suggest, if itJs even possible, is to thin out the old forums. Since the origional complaint was about noobs asking the same question over and over again, why not whittle the amount of forums down to one or two of the best threads covering these questions? It would eliminate a lot of the dead threads and clean up the forum where things could be found quicker and easier.

That is probably the worst idea I have read in this thread...

You all need to go back and re-read Slart's /Ben's last post then re-read it again...

Really grasp what he said there, because he hit the nail dead center...

"Forums are designed for discussion, not an information repository.
Think of the Wiki more as a manual, and the forums as the "tech support".

The Wiki has been sitting there ready to be added to, since all of you signed onto this forum yet hardly any of you add to it..
You wait for the "Experts" to do that...

I got news for ya those of us that are honing and restoring are busy doing that...
It is hard enough to get a thread together let alone for us to learn how to put it in the Wiki... Do you realize how much time it takes some of us with limited computer skills and slow Internet to put those illustrated guides together???
Not to mention that each thread that presents a new idea which needs to be distilled though the forum process before it goes to the Wiki... The worst thing that can happen is BS info in the Wiki here at SRP, we are known to have proved info not BS and that won't change...

I do a Beginners Tips post every month , every month somebody says, this should go in the Wiki, yet NOBODY takes the time to do it.. I do the tips, you want them in the Wiki have at it... I don't know how, nor do I have the time to learn

Remember what Dylan said about a re-rant?? there it was, and I bet not one person on this thread takes that to heart and does any Wiki work except maybe Birnado he seems like he actually might

This is your house too, you want it cleaned up ??? pick up a broom and get to work

End of rant... and my apologies

Originally Posted by gssixgun

...
You all need to go back and re-read Slart's /Ben's last post then re-read it again...

Really grasp what he said there, because he hit the nail dead center...

"Forums are designed for discussion, not an information repository.
Think of the Wiki more as a manual, and the forums as the "tech support".

Maybe therein lies the rub...a fundamental difference in the way SRP is percieved. How a person understands the importance and function of SRP drastically modifies their experience of it. In the leadership realm this is called vision and mission. When everybody is on the same page with the vision (what SRP is supposed to be) and everybody is on the same page with the mission (what SRP is supposed to do in order to make the vision a reality), you don't run into these kind of issues. As I think this through, my mind goes, "Yeah, this is EXACTLY why this thread got started." New guys come in with one understanding of what SRP is/does, and clash with seasoned guys who have a different understanding of what SRP is/does.

1. Are we here to collect the finest information on the contemporary art of straight shaving (or is it wet shaving?--there's a difference) and codify that information based on a wide range of experience and authority, and then provide that information to prospective enthusiasts/shavers?

2. Are we here to provide a community where one on one education of newcomers in the ins and outs of straight shaving (or safety shaving, or wet shaving in general) is available?

3. Are we here to provide a community for hobbyists who want to share their techniques, new discoveries, etc. for the expressed benefit of other hobbyists who have their own techniques, discoveries, etc. to share?

I'm sure it's a hybrid of the three, but I think new guys come in viewing SRP more like Vision #2. That rubs against guys who see SRP more like Vision #3 or #1 because they're primary interest in SRP is not hand holding new guys who are afraid of slitting their throats and/or are painfully ignorant of all that SR shaving entails (I admittedly fall into the latter).

Obviously what's happening here is drawing people in. I know I signed up after reading several threads and liking what I saw here in the form of the knowledge base, the numer of active experienced users, and the general community. But I'm certain that each person's perception of why SRP is here is different, and possibly evolves as the person gains more experience.

As a tacked on final thought: I joined SRP after reading the Wiki twice, and several hours worth of thread reading. I joined because I still had questions I wanted to ask, and saw a community of enthusiasts who seemed willing to help.

Jim,

P.S.>>>I don't usually have the time I've had this morning to screw around, but if there's a process for adding to the wiki, editing other's writing, etc. someone PM me and I'll help out as I have time.

SRP is whatever you want it to be. As long as you don't troll or try to scam the membership, things are pretty lenient around here.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I got news for ya those of us that are honing and restoring are busy doing that...
It is hard enough to get a thread together let alone for us to learn how to put it in the Wiki... Do you realize how much time it takes some of us with limited computer skills and slow Internet to put those illustrated guides together???
Not to mention that each thread that presents a new idea which needs to be distilled though the forum process before it goes to the Wiki... The worst thing that can happen is BS info in the Wiki here at SRP, we are known to have proved info not BS and that won't change...

I do a Beginners Tips post every month , every month somebody says, this should go in the Wiki, yet NOBODY takes the time to do it.. I do the tips, you want them in the Wiki have at it... I don't know how, nor do I have the time to learn

Remember what Dylan said about a re-rant?? there it was, and I bet not one person on this thread takes that to heart and does any Wiki work except maybe Birnado he seems like he actually might

This is your house too, you want it cleaned up ??? pick up a broom and get to work

End of rant... and my apologies

If you have a way to get me the words and photos I'll be more than happy to put together illustrated guides. I can even do them as a downloadable .pdf if that floats the boat. I don't have enough experience on the shaving end to offer much advice other than my limited experiences. But I do have a good bit of Photoshop experience and the odd bit with Illustrator. I'm more than happy to put guides together if folks who are experienced on the sharp side of things want me to.

You've got experience with hones and the whatnot. I've got experience with pixels and coffee.

I have no idea why I'm putting this emoticon in other than that it amuses me greatly.

TY

I will be in touch by pm as I have tons of ideas but I don't have the Computer Skills to do them