"This post belongs in a Museum!...I mean in the Questions Thread..."

Hey, just had a thought which (if possible) may help reduce Moderators having the constant chore of locking simple threads which could have been avoided.

It seems like quite a few threads recently posted in General Discussion and occasionally the Modifications sections are basic question-answer topics being locked and stamped as "goes in Question Thread" or another thread designated for specific discussion.

So... why not create a "Questions Here" section of its own above "General Discussion", then move the Questions Thread there, then block the ability of creating new threads so that it's only the "Questions Thread" or other pinned FAQ-like threads that people can post in?

That way (in theory at least) people will jump on the forum, and they'll see the big "POST YOUR QUESTIONS HERE IN THIS THREAD" section.

I guess this won't eliminate the problem entirely because people will still probably think "but I wanna ask THIS specific question in its own thread" ... but maybe it will at least stem the flow a bit :\ hope this helps!

EDIT: This may be able to work for other pinned threads like "How to paint your Nerf blasters" or "FAQ's" etc etc.

I personally merge the threads in their respective places to allow the members to learn where posts of such nature should go.

Whilst weeds seems to be cropping faster in larger numbers lately, I'm still happy to de-weed the garden as best I can.

I think I need some training in this department.

Haven't really had much time to browse the admin panel yet...

Cheers,

This is actually a pretty good idea Zandor, Because i'm getting sick of all these n00bs posting new threads that are totally un-necesarry.
-James

This would really stop that problem

Yeah this sounds like the right thing to do, this suggestion should be in the questions thread

I agree with them. It saddens me, the number of threads that seem to get locked these days... perhaps (and just perhaps) you could stop members from creating threads the first week that they're here? It would probably reduce the number of threads asking basic questions...

Reaper wrote:It saddens me, the number of threads that seem to get locked these days...

Really, this situation warrants a time of feeling melancholy?

Reaper wrote:... perhaps (and just perhaps) you could stop members from creating threads the first week that they're here? It would probably reduce the number of threads asking basic questions...

No. It defeats the privilege of creating introduction threads. You all think to act as if this is a nuisance for us M&A but personally, I'm happy to take such mod actions to guide the newbies on the right path. When was the last time some of you guys helped out directing the new guys and helping them learn?

Silent Scope wrote:When was the last time some of you guys helped out directing the new guys and helping them learn?

...

You have a point.

Some of us got warnings for BSMing when trying to help the newbs. I guess we should have known better and PM'd though anyway.

Silent Scope wrote:When was the last time some of you guys helped out directing the new guys and helping them learn?

I did once, but, I got a strike... Perhaps that is our problem, the line between friendly help and BSM needs to be redefined.

Just do it in PM and write "pm'd" so others don't need to. If the user on the recieving end doesn't like it they can report or whatever.

I think we should be allowed to help out as long as it isn't like,

"ZOMG, you 'gunna get banned"

where as this should be A-okay,

"Welcome to the forums mate, read the rules and you should be fine. Have fun : )"

^ Although apparently that is BSM...

It is BSM'ing because it's the job of the mods and admins to direct them into reading these rules. This is what I DID when I wasn't a moderator. I just PM'd the member saying that "you probably want to change this and that before the admin / mods see it, I don't want you to get into trouble".

I am going to res this thread because I believe this is a good idea.

Ultimately the decision is not mine but most of the mod work I have done so far has been locking threads and directing people to the questions thread. At the very least a trial of this system would be great, and instead of locking the threads they could be moved into the 'questions here' section. Not to mention with questions having their own thread people can see if they are unanswered or already answered, plus people can search for a question that may have already been asked easier too.

Sounds like win win for everyone.