Newbie Gripes & Complaints About "The Experts"

[jimmalenko]

you have to not think about thinking it, but actually think it, I think.

Can you talk me through it ?

I checked the guides, but I couldn't find any ...

[shelbyGT]

you have to not think about thinking it, but actually think it, I think.

Can you talk me through it ?

I checked the guides, but I couldn't find any ...

I think it's explained HERE :P

[jimmalenko]

you have to not think about thinking it, but actually think it, I think.

Can you talk me through it ?

I checked the guides, but I couldn't find any ...

I think it's explained HERE :P

OK, cool. Thanks for all of your help !!!

[jimmalenko]

Hey! me again, I tried that guide you linked, but I didn't understand step 3, so I skipped it. My resulting problem still isn't fixed. Can you fix it for me ? Money can fix anything - I'll even consider paypal-ing to anyone who can help.

[shelbyGT]

I think this is where bazooka usually comes in...

[jimmalenko]

self-issued:

[vitualis]

In response to somebody "up this thread", yes this is a board of interested amateurs.

However, as a "newbie" in what is in essence a new community, you don't have any right to "demand" anything other than due courtesy from other members.

What is great about this forum is that even if you do ask a question that has been asked countless times before, somebody will probably give you an answer... and probably the correct answer too. What generally pisses off the regulars are newbies who charge into the board and demand somebody to spoonfeed them. These people are rude and obnoxious and will be dealt with accordingly.

Regards.

[northcat_8]

In response to somebody "up this thread", yes this is a board of interested amateurs.

However, as a "newbie" in what is in essence a new community, you don't have any right to "demand" anything other than due courtesy from other members.

What is great about this forum is that even if you do ask a question that has been asked countless times before, somebody will probably give you an answer... and probably the correct answer too. What generally pisses off the regulars are newbies who charge into the board and demand somebody to spoonfeed them. These people are rude and obnoxious and will be dealt with accordingly.

Regards.

In 100% agreement

I hate the noobs that have no idea what you are talking about when you give them the answer...it's like they only know the terminology good enough to ask the question, but have no idea what the words mean. So helping them is like giving a dehydrated man a drink from a screen cup.

[jimmalenko]

I hate the noobs that have no idea what you are talking about when you give them the answer...it's like they only know the terminology good enough to ask the question, but have no idea what the words mean. So helping them is like giving a dehydrated man a drink from a screen cup.

Like this one:
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1165913#1165913 ?

It seems that the glossary was out of reach

[northcat_8]

or this one

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1153098#1153098

[jimmalenko]

or this one

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1153098#1153098

I'll bet money that he *still* hasn't changed that video card

THis one left me a little "unfulfilled":
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=251767

[northcat_8]

how do they ever figure out how to turn the PC on to begin with..

[tekkieman]

how do they ever figure out how to turn the PC on to begin with..

Simple. It's a "one click solution".

[BobV]

In all seriousness:

I appreciate all the help I get here.
I don’t feel my posts have ever been dismissed.
I read/lurk much more than I post.
I try to always find solutions to my problems in existing guides or posts before posting.
I try to be helpful with answers, (although it may not happen too often)

However: (here’s where I get banned)

I don’t feel I need to know everything about a subject to utilize it
I do look for quick solutions.
Some things are best viewed as a black box

The DVDRHelp site to me is a vehicle for me to get where I going and although I often enjoy the ride it is not my destination.

Sorry if I butted in

[offline]

When Noobs say "Oh I solved the problem, it was xyz
but thanks anyway" after you had been pointing out
xyz as part of the problem from the get go.

[tonyiws]

The 2 day waiting period was way too long for me! I was using this site on a regular basis for at least 2 years before I finally had a question that I couldn't find an answer for. I had never bothered registering because I felt I didn't know enough to answer other peoples questions and someone else had already asked/answered all the questions I had. Then one day I finally had a question that hadn't already been asked, so I signed up right away.... only to find out that I wouldn't be able to post for 2 days! Not everybody who registers here is a noob. It's not like anybody is required to answer a noob's dumb questions. They'll get the idea soon enough when nobody responds. Some people that have just registered do have legitimate questions.

[Shadowmistress]

I agree with tonyiws above. The 2 day waiting period was too long as I lurked for over a year before posting.

However I have an idea that may help. Since the front page is crammed with so much information and we're dealing with someone who may NOT have lurked here before, imagine if once you sign up you are forced to view a gif on a separate page before being unlocked by your cookie to enter and post? This would contain a tour of the site with:

- an arrow on the front page indicating the glossary, then a picture example of it showing that it explains every single term

- an arrow showing the all guides section, with detailed instructions on how to use the search features (by conversion, by software, etc)

- an arrow pointing to the tools section so that they realize they can get them here

- a rudimentary explanation that in order to create a dvd you must have an mpg file with video and audio streams, that it's a different process to rip, to transcode, to author and to burn

- a display of the top 5 sticky's you wish everyone would read (with an arrow pointing to where to find the rest) Don't make this too long as people would stop reading

- and finally an explanation of the type of people they can expect to be answering their questions (exerpts taken from rants) and examples of how not to post.

Once the tour is concluded, the lock is lifted and they can proceed. A big button on the main page might help titled Tour this site available to everyone.

So.... what do you think? Anybody pissed off enough to wanna write it?

[freestyler]

As much as you love GIFs, SM - Flash would be a lot nicer

[Shadowmistress]

Whatever, it was a spur of the moment thought.

[freestyler]

Sounds like a great idea.

I wouldn't wanna write it though

[offline]

The 2 day waiting period was way too long for me!

Sorry to hear that as it is going to stay. It may even
be increased in the future. The waiting period helps
to uphold the standard of posts we get here.

forced to view a gif on a separate page before...

I'm sure Baldrick would love to do this - not!
Regardless, with noobs you have to consider
the old proverb "you can lead a horse to water..."

Is it really such a high price to pay? 48 hours?

[Shadowmistress]

Sorry offline, but I wasn't advocating to decrease the wait time, I was simply stating what my opinion was when I first joined.

I don't see that Baldrick would have to do much work at all besides adding a button to the front page like this:


and adding a line to the code between "choose name & password" and "submit" to run a flash/gif/open a page/whatever. If the flash doesn't finish, the submit button can't be hit.
EDIT: Better yet, have it run right when they click join and put the choose name password page as the last page.

The button on the front page would cause a popup window maybe?

As for leading a horse to water, I agree with you. But most newbs aren't jackasses, they are just ignorant of how things work. Frustration makes them jackasses sometimes. It may not solve the problem entirely, but it may manage it a bit.

[offline]

I don't dislike your idea ShadowM. I'm no flash guru
but maybe some kind soul could design a short
flash intro and give it to Baldrick to try.

I'm still a cynical cuss when it comes to noobs though.
I was not born authoritarian - noobs did it to me

[Shadowmistress]

I have a vague idea of what would look pretty. I'm no good with flash either but I'm currently working on some pics as a storyboard. But it will take time. I was thinking this should be a collaborative effort anyway since I certainly have no expertise in these matters.

[jimmalenko]

I like the concept, SM ....... but I also like the concept of stickies, guides, the search feature, as well as this reminder above every single post:

Before you reply, please observe our following forum rules

Do NOT give warez.

Do NOT link to warez .

Do NOT ask for warez.

Do NOT provide information how to obtain warez.

Do NOT advocate warez.

Warez includes downloaded copyrighted movies, movies that are not yet released on VHS/DVD and copying rented movies.

Please try not to bump your topic(reply to your own topic) immediately, wait at least a few days.

Please do not hijacks topics, if you want to discuss something else create a new topic.

If you don't follow our rules your post may be removed without notice or you may get banned without notice. You find our complete Forum rules / Acceptable Use Policy(AUP) here.

Unfortunately there is no real way to "force" people to do anything. It's like when you get presented with the software license and conditions during an install ... and you just scroll to the bottom and click "I accept"

I agree that perhaps a proactive measure would be good; unfortunately the implementation isn't always as good as the theory

[thecoalman]

As much as you love GIFs, SM - Flash would be a lot nicer

I'd go with gif, although 90% (or whatever it is) have the falsh plug-in some don't and with the recent changes implemented in SP2 I suspect that number will drop.

Of course this would be if Baldrick implemented something like that.

[Capmaster]

I have found that to get noob's interest is important. Like a racoon, they are attracted to shiny objects. No offense intended, but the more exciting it is ..the better.

Shadowmistress' suggestion is a great idea and couldn't hurt. I get PMs all the time from noobs saying "Sorry ...if there was just a way to know where all the resources are ...".

This site is overwhelming. It overwhelmed me 2-1/2 years ago when I first started visiting as a lurker. A helping hand would have been welcome.

Many don't know where the guides are, believe it or not. So instead of the usual dry answer of "Check the guides in the top left corner" I have been using these little animations for guiding them to the right areas to start:



SOme are a bit offended and reply with "Well, you didn't have to hit me over the head".

Well, yes, I did. You would have kept posting "Where do I look now" if I hadn't

The more interesting it is, the more likely it is that they'll take the time to watch it. That's why if we had a "Tour" button as Shadowmistress so thoughtfully crafted in her pic, it could go a long way towards guiding them to the "promised land" and cut down on the "OK, I got a DVD burner ...what do I do now?" posts

[jimmalenko]

Like a racoon, they are attracted to shiny objects.

Spoons ? Did someone say "shiny spoons" ?

[jimmalenko]

nevermind

[offline]