How to ask mr techies for help - comments on a closed thread

Hi werner

I'd prefer it if people post a thread, as I said here:
We have thousands of forumites that are willing to help, so please consider creating a thread about the problem that you are experiencing and we'll do our best to help.
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However, I receive a lot of PMs from people who experience technical issues, so I created the thread just to clarify what I'd need in said PMs to be able to help.
 
werner said:
you really should do like what i do...tell them to post a thread and then i will reply.

sorry, didnt mean to make this semi-personal, but you could spend a fair whack of time replying to pm's...when those users could be better served on the forum, as their problem could be quite easy to resolve. so it is in their best interests, as well as yours, if you do not encourage pm's, or simply reply asking them to start a thread.
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I've done it before, though most forumites don't like a "Start a thread or I won't help you" reply in my experience, especially if it's a really simple solution to the problem. Easier to just help the forumite and request he/she post a thread about the problem and the solution, which almost never happens :(

The_Librarian said:
Best is to start a thread, then post a PM about that thread.
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Which is the way I'd prefer it as well, hence the "We have thousands of forumites that are willing to help, so please consider creating a thread about the problem that you are experiencing and we'll do our best to help." statement :)
 
Feel free to help anyway you like The_Techie :)
 
werner said:
correct!

you should say "start a thread and I will help you
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So that the whole forum can benefit, yes? Hence the request that I make at the end that he/she create a thread detailing the problem and solution. If they don't, I usually do it for them if I think the forum can benefit from it (which is how the Hardware and Software FAQ got started).

werner said:
true, and with you not being at a pc for a few days this is a preferable route to getting the problem resovled...explain this to them
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Which is why I advise them to start a thread in the thread that I have just created which I hope they will read before sending me a PM ;)

werner said:
easier to just post a standard form reply in the pm, that way a thread will get created.

I have moderated on other forums in the past, and it is amazing the amount of pm's you get from people who couldve just created a thread, which benefits the forum at the same time. I'm not saying dont reply, and I'm not saying be nasty, I'm suggesting reply with short explanation, so it sinks in. Some users are new to the internet, and to etiquette used on forums, so they will appreciate the guidance and gentle prodding.
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Again, that's one of the reasons why I created that thread. If I may sum up the thread: Please start a thread detailing your problem if you can't find the answer in any other thread. However if you want to send me a PM as well, please follow these guidelines to make it easier for me to help you.

bwana said:
Feel free to help anyway you like The_Techie :)
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:)
 
like paddling around in circles, this is getting nowhere. Enjoy your added workload :-)
 
Mods are u going to sticky it?

But the weird thing is that I almost never read the sticky's first hehe only after a week did I see there was a Q&A lol
 
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