Changes to the rules and forum functions -- please read!

I’ve read and then allowed the new rules to reverberate over and over again in my head hoping that at one point or another they’d gel and result in some form of synthesis. I’m still waiting for the results. I’m not really speculating when I say that the new rules are a result of a dwindling and disappearing membership, and that this is an attempt to turn that around. The new rules are however a “double edged sword,” in an attempt to draw new members, will the new rules drive away old members? Will the forum be improved by a new fusion of newbie blood at the expense of those who’ve provided them with their expertise, the answers to their questions all along?

I still enjoy being a member of AD and I would like to see it continue to grow, but for it to do that it has to have something that others want. It has to provide them with a reason for coming here and staying a while. Will advertisers pay more money to AD to provide them with a clientele whose intentions are to buy nothing in the first place? It’s absurd to think that one can profit from those who intend to take what the want for free. Would you pay to advertise to that kind of clientele? I’m thinking no! My view of the problem is that AD is no longer instep with change, with what people want.

The forum is cluttered with meaningless irrelevant dead end threads that serve only to confuse and turn potential members away. Look to the threads that are working and the ones that aren’t and then ask a simple question, why! What drives the successful threads? What makes them different from the others? AD became popular as a place for inexperienced people to go and learn how to overcome the learning curve that followed complex DVD back up methods, but time, hardware, and software advances have almost rendered that learning curve irrelevant. All people want from us now, is for us to tell them which product to buy and a few still are looking for learning curve hurtles to jump.


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Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth." Sherlock Holmes (by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1859-1930)[/small]

 

Dela, your comment hits the nail on the head about my concern over a growing lack of civility (posted above). The thing is, one does not have to ask a question that falls into the category of piracy to have open season declared. This can happen with double posting or any other rule violation. It can also happen to anyone who appears to be too lazy to have researched their question before asking it. The list goes on. I see many of these hostile and/or arrogant responses as totally unwarranted and without purpose ... especially when a kinder, polite approach would suffice.

In essence, while the definition of piracy definitely needed to be clarified, the piracy issue exposes a more fundamental, deeper issue of how people are treated in general when they unwittingly step over someone's line here. One thing is for certain, if AD was a for-profit company, and newcomers were seen as customers, some members wouldn't last the day regardless of their depth of knowledge. It's my opinion that there should be an overall effort towards basic human civility if AD wants to attract and keep good people.

 

dRD

My statement about the dwindling membership was just a stab in the dark and I stand to be corrected if I was wrong, but what I said about dead end threads remains true. I agree that some members have handled the piracy issue a little too aggressively, and it gives the wrong first impression to those who’ve come here for the first time. I do like the link “report an offensive post,” because as darthnip and Praetor knows, the threads that I patron seem to attract malcontents like fleas to a dog. Like drchips if I feel that I can’t answer a question in good conscience then I’ll move on and leave it to someone who can.


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Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth." Sherlock Holmes (by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1859-1930)[/small]

 

Not all Newbys do not know what a Mod means darthnip.When i first started on this site i did not really have a clue what a Moderator was to be honest as it was my first forum.Sure i asked some stupid questions and got a few telling off's but that was called testing the water until i got a feel for the place.I had a general idea what a newbie was from day 1 but the differance between senior and mod i did not have a clue so it would have made no differance to me if it was you or a senior who had told me off you we all the same.I must admitt i can take sorry we do not talk about this thanks.

This i would considered a reasonable response to a question someone is not allowed to answer.You take it on the chin like a man if it come from newbie or mod.Its just the iam pi__ed off with these newbies sort of answer which is bad.
John179

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Who is the man behind the mask
A7V8X-X XP2800+,2x120gb,1Gig Ram
Ati 128mb Graphics 2 x dvd Lite-on 411S NEC 2510A
os windows xp sp1[/small]

 

darthnip

The kick ass place we were in the past?

Perhaps you could elaborate a bit. Since there is no membership drop according to dRD, how has things changed?
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Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth." Sherlock Holmes (by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1859-1930)[/small]

 

Still how does a Newbie know it sound's better coming from a mod and not another source i do not know.It does not matter if you are a mod or a newbie if you do not understand all the differences so coming from anyone can seem harsh to a newby.Its the way we put it and not really where it comes from to be honest.We all need to be as polite as possible in our answers to these sort of questions.Remember darthnip just becuase you are a mob it does not mean it will sound any less harsh to a new person to the site you persume to much in this case.darthnip all i mean by this is is does not really matter who it comes from because were all individuals it's the way we put ourselves across.Where i work i run two warehouses at night during the week which makes me top dog.But for someone to take a telling off from me may not always seem as harsh as from my supervisors below me its the way you put it across.The harsh way has you pointed out is not always the best way as you point out i agree.But as i say it does not matter who it comes from its the way you do it.


_X_X_X_X_X_[small]
Who is the man behind the mask
A7V8X-X XP2800+,2x120gb,1Gig Ram
Ati 128mb Graphics 2 x dvd Lite-on 411S NEC 2510A
os windows xp sp1[/small]

 

As John179 stated, its all about how the post is handled. The few times I answered a rule breaking newbie, my answer was always stated as a suggestion that they edit their post and read the forum rules. In most cases I received a THANK YOU for pointing out the error. My next reply was that all newbies make mistakes and that those that correct that mistake are always welcomed back. What is so hard about that type of answer. I deal with customer relations at work every day. This is so much easier. It should be up to the Mods to get really hard line if necessary for those that don't take the first suggestions.

Jerry

 

I totally agree the mods should be the one to enforce along with the admins.But it will not make a difference to the Newbie.All iam saying is other member can answer these sort of questions as good as everyone else.We all have the right to reply to a post we just have to be careful as to the manner we use.I must admitt i have done this myself and gone off the old rules.But i always tend to say sorry and thanks and even then people say your playing god.I tend to think as soon as someone registers they should be sent e mail copy of rules and what the differences mean between Newbie onwards which you read before you except the on receipt of membership which would be just below.

 

darthnip congratulations on your perfect post i totally agree.I believe we were both firing from the same hip and you just proved it.Could not have put it better.
Thanks
John179

 

Many months ago I warned about something of this nature taking place. I was wondering how long it would take for RI** and MP** and Big Brother's dark ages impending intimidation to reach Afterdawn? I guess that, now I know and so do all the rest of you!

It really is a shame what is happening to the Internet and the Web(s) which, started out being a universe of free uninhibited expression, experimentation and technological marvel. Most of us that seek out and join these special forums do so out of intellectual curiosity and the need to share what we know, learn and research with others. Now, in a similar fashion used by a man-monster many years ago (burning books in public and making it law banning anyone from seeking out and reading a book not sanctioned by his government), we have turned the corner allowing more and more intrusions and censorship on our lives. What has happened to the spirit of "FREEDOM"? (If you actually get to read this post, it'll be somewhat amazing)

G. Bjay!

 

gbjay1
Interesting post.

I think that the new rules are an attempt to loosen the restrictions that you speak of instead of tightening them. Believe me those thought have crossed my mind many times too.

 

Yes, Sophocles I do somewhat see your point. Diplomacy in the face of all issues can be a safe stance, however, in some cases bullies are only interested in seeing their wishes reflected in the fearful actions and reactions of those that they intend to intimidate.

The scientific adventure and daring of those of us that started on the Internet long before Prodigy or AOL were born, know that we experienced a realm of comunication with the possibility for research and development far past anything previously seen. And it seems that over the past few years there has been a latent desire by some to grasp control over cyberspace. The Internet is not under the jurisdiction of any particular country or entity or individual. Instead, it is a collective in the true sense and definition of the word. No country should have the right to ban what we do, say or how we get there on the Internet! If all of us simply sit back and allow our governments to implement laws in behalf of fat greedy and seedy corporations, then we are in fact allowing ourselves to be as controlled as those that previously allowed the mistake of Hitler using their government and laws to subjugate the very same people that the government and laws were meant to work for and protect.

It is time for everyone to start a cyberspace fight back campaign. After all, we did not ask MP** or RI** or Big Brother into our living-rooms. Likewise, they have no right in our Forums; P2P or otherwise!

G. Bjay!

 

gbjay1

I agree with what you say. By allowing corporate control over intellectual properties our governments have in effect restricted the learning process and therefore, prevented the continued improvement of those original ideas. Who can truly own an idea? To do so is to stifle the evolutionary process itself. Perhaps AD has realized a need for such changes, but even with that in mind there are still restrictions.