<rant> Attention Help Seekers

  • Before running to the forums for help with your WP problem, please try to do this first. The forum is run by volunteers. They aren’t being paid to help you. Their time IS, however, valuable. Yeah, yours is too, but if you want help, you need to learn to (1) help yourself first, and (2) help those who you want to help you.

    1. Google https://www.google.com .. is your friend. If you want to google for results from this site, simply do this in the google search box:

    keywords you want to search site:www.www.ads-software.com

    2. If your problem is with a plugin, visit the plugin author’s page first. Sometimes they have a forum set up for plugin problems. Otherwise, check the comments. Often the solution to your problem will be found there.

    3. If your problem is with a theme, visit the theme designer’s page first. Ask them for help with your problem or check the comments there, just as with a problematic plugin.

    4. Questions about CSS and HTML problems, general server problems, web hosting issues, etc. are beyond the scope of this forum. While you might get lucky and some kind soul who just happened to wake up on the right side of the bed that morning *might* help you out with your problem, don’t count on it. Address web hosting issues and problems with your own web host. Google (see point #1) for general CSS, HTML and PHP questions.

    5. Link to your site if you want someone to help you with it. And don’t be lazy or clever and put something like:

    www. mycooldomain .com
    or
    www.mycooldomain.com

    Make it clickable so anyone wanting to help you can click on the link and go right to your blog. This is not volunteers/helpers being lazy, this is you being efficient and courteous.

    Here’s a clickable link:
    https://www.mycooldomain.com (note the https:// in the front).

    6. If your problem is solved, whether someone here helped you, you figured it out yourself, or someone else helped you, please be courteous to everyone else using this forum and come back and:

    (a) post the solution so others can benefit from your experiences (just as you’d want them to do for you); and

    (b) mark the post [RESOLVED] so that people having the same trouble can find your post and the solution.

    </rant>

    Okay, I’ll sit back down now.

Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

  • hahaha, youre aksing wayyyy too much, cant ruffle the feathers of those that need help.. that makes you bitchy, condescending, etc… ??

    Thread Starter jonimueller

    (@jonimueller)

    heh, those are characteristics to which I aspire! ??

    You are assuming 1.)someone can read and 2.)someone will understand what they read.

    That seems like a big jump to me :^)

    they can read — they just dont read.

    I seriously find that taking days off from here helps immensely when it comes to dealing with the more frustrating posts/threads.

    Ive questioned why I even bother countless times. It can only be the sense of satisfaction that comes from helping someone that truly takes in the information you give them. Unfortunately, those are few and far between.

    Point #5 – You have no idea how many threads I’ve walked away from because the OP didn’t post a link so that we may see the problem in action for ourselves. I don’t even ask anymore. I read a question, no link, I move on to the next one.

    Let me add another point:

    7. Label your question with a descriptive subject. That means including words relative to the problem so later others with the same problem can search your question and answer.

    “I need help ASAP” doesn’t help someone who’s searching for problems with widgets.

    Although your suggestions are good ones, I don’t think that it is something that all users should know or something that they should be berated for not knowing.

    There is a link to the forums included in every wordpress site. This is where people are SUPPOSED to come for help. There is also a link to the codex as well as a message on the main forum page telling users that they should try to find their answers there first. Why would someone first go to google in that situation? Many theme and plugin authors check the forums and answer questions.

    These forums are for all wordpress users. Many are new to wordpress and the technologies used to create and customize it. I think this is a great place to come for help where people in the community can help each other. As you said, participation is voluntary. No one needs to answer questions if they don’t want to.

    I do think it would be a good idea to add a message somewhere with best forum practices such as clickable links, descriptive subjects, marking posts [resolved] and posting solutions that have been found outside of the forums.

Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
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