FAQ...?

Many of these n00bs/kids DON'T care for the hobby, they saw some video on youtube and want a laser too. So they come here, one by one, asking the same questions and when they got their laser (or realized that you can't modify a 5mw) they don't come back.

If one can't use the search button, then they shouldn't deal with lasers in the first place.
I also was a n00b, but I did my homework and it wasn't that hard.

FireMyLaser said:

Many of these n00bs/kids DON'T care for the hobby, they saw some video on youtube and want a laser too. So they come here, one by one, asking the same questions and when they got their laser (or realized that you can't modify a 5mw) they don't come back.

If one can't use the search button, then they shouldn't deal with lasers in the first place.
I also was a n00b, but I did my homework and it wasn't that hard.

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That's exactly how I got here and I'm still here. It may not be hard for you but I am still struggling with the huge amount of information here. Even after I lurked for weeks before signing up. You cant generalize every n00b like that. Yeah some are dorks, but most are just overwhelmed. Thinking like that shuns people away that normally could be a benefit to the laser community. Must be nice to sit on such a high thrown casting judgments on everyone that doesn't ask an intellectual question. If it makes you so mad why do you get involved? Casting negativity does nothing for the hobby but turn potential good members away. Doesn't take a scientist to figure that out. IMO

I agree with Chad and Tech_Junkie in that I feel that LPF should be a place where anyone interested in lasers, regardless of how long they've been interested, can come and talk and gain knowledge. I definitely also understand those who are frustrated by the frequency with which we see some of these questions, but there are plenty of ways to forward people to the information they seek. It's not hard to post a link to a thread or tell someone to search for a certain keyword.. It's even easier not to answer at all if you are frustrated by the question.

I think that encouraging new people to use the resources that this forum offers is a wise course of action. Taking an arrogant tone, classifying all n00bs as being a waste of time and making them feel unwelcome here is not. There is no rule that states that LPF is only for laser experts who are truly dedicated to the hobby in every way. LPF is for people who are interested in lasers. That's all. No special conditions.

You just never know, someone who is a n00b today could use knowledge they gain here to contribute to the forum and the hobby later. There's room for everyone here, it's just how we current members handle it that needs attention...

yea we are still noobs compared to others well i am at least :

sometimes they'll ask how to make my 5 mw burn and some of us explain its not easy or not worth the time that its easier to just make a burner then they reply bs kipkay s video shows it can be done

it does get frustraiting on both ends // or they post 10-15 nothing posts or replies so they can post a ridicilous link but your right its somtimes comical

but yea we are all here cause we like LASERS

ElektroFreak said:

I definitely also understand those who are frustrated by the frequency with which we see some of these questions, but there are plenty of ways to forward people to the information they seek. It's not hard to post a link to a thread or tell someone to search for a certain keyword..

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ElektroFreak... you may have something there....

Maybe the response to the same old New Member questions should just be handled by a few links....

http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?virboard=b_welcome;num=1206843997

http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1217284580/all-0

http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1218324818

I haven't been here as long as some of you guys... but there is surely a limit as to how many times
we need to hear... "are we there yet....are we there yet....are we there yet...." IMHO.. :-?

Jerry

ElektroFreak said:

I think that encouraging new people to use the resources that this forum offers is a wise course of action. Taking an arrogant tone, classifying all n00bs as being a waste of time and making them feel unwelcome here is not. There is no rule that states that LPF is only for laser experts who are truly dedicated to the hobby in every way. LPF is for people who are interested in lasers. That's all. No special conditions.

You just never know, someone who is a n00b today could use knowledge they gain here to contribute to the forum and the hobby later. There's room for everyone here, it's just how we current members handle it that needs attention...

Click to expand...

Amen brother...

john lawson said:

but yea we are all here cause we like LASERS

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And I thought it was because we had nothing better to do...

;D

I don't mean to bash on every newcomer, I never said I did. There are a handful of new members that show-off their first build and that is a nice contribution. I'm talking about those who show no effort, that just pisses me off. What I wish is that it would be less threads about the same topics, perhaps somehow automaticity link a new member to the hot info at registration, I dunno. It would make the boards less cluttered and more pretty . I used to be kind to link a lazy poster but now I don't feel like it much more.

And of course if something bothers you, you should to get involved and get your voice heard..?

FireMyLaser said:

I don't mean to bash on every newcomer, I never said I did. There are a handful of new members that show-off their first build and that is a nice contribution. I'm talking about those who show no effort, that just pisses me off. What I wish is that it would be less threads about the same topics, perhaps somehow automaticity link a new member to the hot info at registration, I dunno. It would make the boards less cluttered and more pretty . I used to be kind to link a lazy poster but now I don't feel like it much more.

And of course if something bothers you, you should to get involved and get your voice heard..?

Click to expand...

I definitely understand where you're coming from.. In life, though, you'll always find lazy people. It pisses me off just as much as the next guy, but unfortunately there's nothing much to be done about that. If you run across a lazy n00b who wants to be "spoon fed", then either send them a link, a search keyword recommendation or do nothing. Either option forces the lazy person to pursue other routes to get their information which requires them to be a bit less lazy, or give up. Basically it forces a "survival of the fittest" scenario. I think this will work better than being abrasive, since other n00bs will read the abrasive post and possibly be afraid to ask a good question for fear of being flamed for it... We want people to feel welcome here, since the more members of quality we gain the more useful the forum becomes. Unfortunately, we never know if a new member will really contribute to the forum until after we get to know them a bit.