Steve Featherkile said:
David Maynard said:
And I could do Butt Modeling, and Boomer could do Roundy roundy, and Rooster could…be shot at dawn.
I am so triggered by that… I have to go find my safe space.
And THAT is exactly why beginners dont want to dig through a forum.
Bob -
Key to use by someone new to model railroading is what is the title of the “help” section? A current model railroader in HO, N, Z, ? will likely be specific topic-focused at the start.
In short, a main title that is segmented into the mainstay topics e.g. layout design, track choices, power packs, battery power, maintenance, Etc. likely will get more use.
Wendell
Bob McCown said:
Steve Featherkile said:
David Maynard said:
And I could do Butt Modeling, and Boomer could do Roundy roundy, and Rooster could…be shot at dawn.
I am so triggered by that… I have to go find my safe space.
And THAT is exactly why beginners dont want to dig through a forum.
Yes sir, you are right. I should not have posted that.
Bruce Chandler said:
John Passaro said:
You decide what factual information goes in them.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Oh no no no Bruce…you can’t slip a Latin phrase by me; I studied Latin for two years under a very strict priest at our Jesuit high school here in Denver!!! (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
Bob is the guardian. Hey, we can always knock him down a peg or two if he screws up!
I argued over on MLS many times for a FAQ section where all the beginner questions and answers could be copied or linked. The reason was that I have been online so long that I got fed up with answering the same questions in the Beginner Forum. They always refused to do a FAQ section.
I am not a fan of Beginner Forums. FAQ sections with good indices get my vote, if only so you can tell the Newbie to go read FAQ 6 instead of writing it all out again.
I was/am/always will be put off by the go find it yourself crowd. I like the FAQ idea with links to the threads that are the normal go tos. However, that still is impersonal. A separate forum section for beginners would be nice. Those of who don’t mind answering the same question a hundred times can frequent there and help out. Those that have the tendency to say “search the archives” need not even look into the section, they can ignore it and then wont be annoyed by the routine questions. Maybe a sticky at the top of that section that is the FAQ.
I just wonder how many people silently drift off because of answers akin to “go find it yourself.” I almost left but I am stubborn and quickly I realized most wanted to help, even the ones that told me to go find it myself.
A note to those who get annoyed, remember you choose what to read and you choose to answer. If it annoys you then ignore it. No one is forcing you to respond.
…and they should also remember that THEY were once beginners…
Indeed, if you don’t want to answer, then don’t. There are many here who don’t mind.
It is very off putting to be told to go to answer #6 in the FAQ. The guy has already been there, and it didn’t answer his specific problem.
Bob, and that is one of those things I wish certain people would remember. A former member of a club I belong to, used to enjoy taking people down a few pegs, because they didn’t know what he knew. How many prospective members did he drive to another hobby?
Devon Sinsley said:
…
A note to those who get annoyed, remember you choose what to read and you choose to answer. If it annoys you then ignore it. No one is forcing you to respond.
How true. (Now get back to work on the RR!)
John, he is, he is trying to design an 8 way switch. Or was it 10 way, I forget.
Bob McCown said:
Hey folks
In the last several months I’ve had (surprisingly, actually) a non-trivial amount of requests from people for beginner-level “Whats all this about” kind of information about Large Scale trains. Very basic information we all take for granted (various scales, approximate costs, how to get started, Manufacturers, etc…). Something in a non-forum format. I’m thinking a separate section under Articles for it. Opinions?
-=Bob
I totally respect that you asked the masses!! This is why LSC still and always will rule!
I may be factored in as a wildcard but I think it’s a fantastic idea and agree with Boomer it would need “Heavy” moderation with locked threads from the start.
Seen it in car forums so why not.
New the hobby?
Welcome to LSC!
Stage Zero…these are your options from current manufactures etc.
Stage One…What theme are you after
Stage Two…Would you like to run operations or just watch trains run in the yard or garden.
Just my thought’s
this post has been edited by :Rooster
If you don’t get the idea then forget it as I’m commonly misunderstood .
page 3?
Nice idea for a needed section Bob. I see you have a couple suggested amendments to your original idea by a couple of the members. I say go for it with the specific type amendments and lock out comments and my way additions. This could put a full load in purgatory.(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
" Rooster " said:
If you don’t get the idea then forget it as I’m commonly misunderstood .
What’d you say ? !
Nice idea, but a lot of work to do it right in my opinion.
I’d suggest asking for input, but a single person would be the editor and formatter of the information. Perhaps you could break it down into 10 main topics, and then have 10 volunteers.
Finding an unbiased and broadly experienced person to volunteer will be difficult.
I have a beginners faq section on my site, which I tried to keep step by step to make decisions and unbiased, but still my reasons and decisions may not match everyone else’s.
There are 10 main sections to my beginner’s FAQs:
Notice I do not even get to track vs. battery until #7, and what locos and cars to buy #8
Regards, Greg
The only problem with just using a FAQ or something similar (as I see it) is that it’s still dependent on the person reading it knowing what the heck it is you’re talking about. That, and you’re not going to get close to a comprehensive answer within the scope of the FAQ, which will often leave folks with the cliche “more questions than answers.” There are entire books and web sites devoted to various topics of garden railroading; a simple, passive FAQ isn’t going to help anyone. A beginner has to be able to interactively ask questions if they’re to get any practical benefit.
Frankly, I have to agree with the post earlier, “KISS.”
I think a beginner’s forum is probably how I’d go about things. The Beginner’s forum at MLS seems to be pretty well-utilized. Put a “sticky” at the top with lists of on-line resources such as George Schreyer’s site, Greg’s site, the Ottawa group’s site, etc. so folks can look there if they have any kind of notion what they’re looking for. (I can recommend a pretty good print book, too. 
) Then, folks can ask their questions and hope folks respond kindly and informatively. (That part is up to us.)
To do anything more than that, as Greg suggests, would be quite a considerable effort. (Trust me…) Good on folks if they want to get together and assemble the information, but it’s still a passive environment, which I think misses the strength of an interactive forum which attracts many folks with many different viewpoints.
Later,
K
Thanks for everyone’s suggestions. I’m leaning toward a sticky “Beginners Forum and FAQ” at the very top of the forums, with a link directly to it from the main menu (since some people wont know to go in there). Like Kevin said, it should have sticky posts at the top of general information, and regular forum functionality for questions, etc.
Initially, I’m thinking starting a thread on each subject, everyone hashes it out, I continually edit the first message in the thread, and when we’re done, delete everything else in the thread, sticky and close the thread. Lather rinse repeat for several subjects.
Hrm…
You gonna be busy while we hash it out.
The problem I see with a beginners forum where newbies don’t need asbestos undies to post is that for any given question 20 (or more) egg spurts will chime in with their favorite choice or solution which may offer the newbie a lot of choices or just be that much more confusing. It’s a little like asking what automotive brand is best and getting a hundred passionate responses championing their favorite brand. I think a FAQ with just the basics would be more helpful.
