Let's Maintain The Quality of the Forum

[TheRecycler]

How I look at it is, when you start out with scrap it is kinda fun, exciting, looks to be "money for nothing". No boss, no rules. The new person is on the learning curve. Just remember the first few times you went to a scrap yard. What could you have done different to get paid more? Same thing here, if you are new, first few posts should not count against you, as you are again on a learning curve. After all we do have a section called "scrap metal questions and answers". Lots of great information has been shared here in order to make this the place the way it has turned out to be. Lets all continue to share our knowledge about scrap.

I like your prospective Hobo.

[TheRecycler]

Wow. So is my continued mentioning of God a no no ? I had no idea. Also any pointers I'll accept. Criticism is good. I welcome it. I strive to do better. That's how I grow. 1scrap.

Heck no, the one thing we are all shooting for has "In God We Trust On It." You can mention God a million times as far as I'm concerned. No issues there.

[BRASSCATCHER]

I agree with jord's first two points. I think it is doable and may cut down on the repeat questions. The last is tough since there may be people who's first language is not english so proper punctuation and spelling is tough to ask of some people.

This place is what it is because of the way people behave and treat each other. I don't think it is stale as I can and do learn something new when I come here. I don't think that having a heated debates will make this forum any better, rather it will only cause damage in the long run. Heated debates usually evolve into ugliness and are the cause of people not wanting to post or share information. The mods here delete posts like those because this is not conducive to what is trying to be accomplished....sharing of knowledge and information and to make money. In reality this is a place of business, there are many lurkers here that may or may not want to do business with us if we act like children.

If it aint't broke don' t fix it !!!!! Thats my .02 for what its worth.

[Julie]

i enjoy the repetitive questions to an extent because it allows me to share what i know. i spent (no joke) around a year lurking here before i made an account and now that ive soaked up all this information i jump at any chance to share it even if its a "no-brainer" to us vets or a commonly asked question. I will gladly share my teardown techniques for any item any time i get a chance.

That is a great way to look at it!

[Julie]

Great topic. I've got a few ideas myself.

First, I've noticed there are many fly by night scrappers. Here one minute gone the next. Whether they lose interest or realize it's not quick money and quit. One idea is, when a member is inactive for (insert time here) they are sent a warning or reminder that they have not shown any activity or updates on the forum. And if there is still none after (insert time here) the account is disabled or flat out removed. Take myself for example. I took a long hiatus for certain reasons. If this idea was implemented and I was sent a warning, I would have made it clear I wanted to remain a member. Other fly by night guys that called it quits may and probably would just ignore it.

Second, what if there was a certain amount of time you have to spend reading posts before you could actually make your own? If it's possible to keep track of this, it would weed out all those who are fly by night wanna be's who aren't truly into scrapping, As well as educate the new members before they even get to make a post, potentially keeping repeat questions off the forum. Again, personally I would 110% spend the time reading required to post. I'm in this because I enjoy it and money is a great side effect.

Lastly, I think that writing a sentence during registration to prove potential members can use proper punctuation would be huge. It's really REALLY frustrating reading posts that have no commas or periods. Whether it's possible to have it monitored automatically or if a mod would need to approve it.


These are just ideas from deep inside my brain, whether or not they are possible, I don't know!

In Response to Jord0690 :

1st: Is the actual amount of members a problem?

2nd: Wouldn't they have to post during this education? (Ha ha I'm funny!)

3rd: I have to respectfully disagree due to the fact that in having something like this implemented we would lose out on the contributions of individuals who have helped us all out at one time or another - despite not having their PHD in English. After all - the point of conversations and the sharing of ideas is to be understood, isn't it?

[thebugguy]

As one of the relative newbies...

I read the beginning of this thread and wondered- wait, are they talking about me? Yes, I tend to ask more questions than I answer. Yes, I am more a "hobby scrapper" than a "professional". Yes, I tend to have a slightly different take on things than most here and yes, I've never had the time or energy to become a "veteran" on any particular forum I read- it probably won't happen here either. I can't muster much in the way of authority or wisdom other than to say I've been participating in online communities in one form or another for about 25 years- my first email account was routed through a VAX mainframe at Cornell University back in 1988, and I've been a "netizen" ever since.

Given those meager credentials, I offer a few observations:

First, I have been impressed with the general "positiveness" and camaraderie exhibited in this forum. While I am sure there is an "old guard" of posters and moderators here, I have never felt like I didn't belong- a testament to the tolerance shown by the "elder" members and a judicious moderation of the site (for better or worse, moderators are like drummers- the better they are the less you notice them).

That said, I agree with some of the posted comments that with growth comes adjustment. There is nothing wrong with promoting and enforcing a particular "mission statement" for the site (so long as everyone knows what that is), but success and popularity is a double-edged sword- the more people find and attempt to utilize this resource, the more off-topic, oddball posts you're going to have to wade through. It's simple statistics.

Third, let's be honest- searching previous posts for some particular bit of information isn't always that easy or straightforward. Yes, someone is always going to ask a question that has been covered again and again, and they ought to have done a little searching first. I myself read through all 52 pages (at the time) of Ewasted's thread in the buying section to try to get a grip on what's what in the e-scrapping business. But do you *really* expect people to do that? I mean, really? Search for any common or ambiguous term and you get pages and pages and pages of posts to wade through. No, this site doesn't present itself as an easily-accessible "wiki" of all things scrapping, but sometimes I get the impression from the old-timers that they really don't appreciate the overwhelming (and sometimes contradictory) amount of information available here. Spammers are spammers, but you have to cut a little slack to the newbies wading into years and years of posts, personalities, and changing markets and technology.

Fourth, another "let's be honest" point. There is a certain dynamic tension here between education/information and business. On the one hand, people want and ask for information on how/what/when/where to scrap a certain item and generally they can find their answers here, mostly. On the other hand, scrapping is a business and living for many on here who, quite reasonably, don't want or need any more upstart competitors. I myself come from "academia" where generating and sharing data is the whole point- there is no profit motive. "Sharing data" in the business world is, unless done in very specific ways towards very specific ends, counterproductive to the point of self-defeating. With that in mind, I have seen a lot of questions mostly kind of answered here, often with the suggestion of "search through previous threads for the answer". And yes, most of the time the topic has been covered in one way or another, but I sense a certain (and very understandable) reticence to "spill the beans" by answering in a full, direct, immediately practical manner.

To wrap up, I'm not one to criticize this forum- it is, as others have noted, one of the most pleasant, interesting, funny, and useful ones I've come across. The growth in its popularity is both a testament to its value but also a test for its regular inhabitants. Do you want an exclusive social club? A business-insider's newsletter? A place to promote ethical and healthy practices? A compendium of scrapping knowledge? All of these things? Just wondering...

cheers,
tbg

[Julie]

Nicely put.

[newattitude]

while no longer a ''newbie'' I tend to see some posts that do bother me when I read them in reply to a new persons question - ''Use the search function.''

I understand some of the veteran posters might get upset at seeing a question asked that they might have already answered 55 times previously but, for a new person who is still learning the board why can't we just politely link them to their subject question and politely suggest the search function rather than being so abrupt?

Honestly, the first time I used it, it takes you off site (sorta) and makes you think you aren't even on the forum any more. Maybe that is what an issue might be I dunno, just my observations.

If you get tired of answering the same questions by newbies then quite simply don't say anything at all if you can't be welcoming and polite.

[mikeinreco]

while no longer a ''newbie'' I tend to see some posts that do bother me when I read them in reply to a new persons question - ''Use the search function.''

I understand some of the veteran posters might get upset at seeing a question asked that they might have already answered 55 times previously but, for a new person who is still learning the board why can't we just politely link them to their subject question and politely suggest the search function rather than being so abrupt?

Honestly, the first time I used it, it takes you off site (sorta) and makes you think you aren't even on the forum any more. Maybe that is what an issue might be I dunno, just my observations.

If you get tired of answering the same questions by newbies then quite simply don't say anything at all if you can't be welcoming and polite.

try the advanced search feature it will not take you off site

[mudlight2]

while no longer a ''newbie'' I tend to see some posts that do bother me when I read them in reply to a new persons question - ''Use the search function.''

I understand some of the veteran posters might get upset at seeing a question asked that they might have already answered 55 times previously but, for a new person who is still learning the board why can't we just politely link them to their subject question and politely suggest the search function rather than being so abrupt?

Honestly, the first time I used it, it takes you off site (sorta) and makes you think you aren't even on the forum any more. Maybe that is what an issue might be I dunno, just my observations.

If you get tired of answering the same questions by newbies then quite simply don't say anything at all if you can't be welcoming and polite.

Mechanic is really good at making a link for people who have asked a previously asked question.

[jord0690]

Great topic. I've got a few ideas myself.

First, I've noticed there are many fly by night scrappers. Here one minute gone the next. Whether they lose interest or realize it's not quick money and quit. One idea is, when a member is inactive for (insert time here) they are sent a warning or reminder that they have not shown any activity or updates on the forum. And if there is still none after (insert time here) the account is disabled or flat out removed. Take myself for example. I took a long hiatus for certain reasons. If this idea was implemented and I was sent a warning, I would have made it clear I wanted to remain a member. Other fly by night guys that called it quits may and probably would just ignore it.

Second, what if there was a certain amount of time you have to spend reading posts before you could actually make your own? If it's possible to keep track of this, it would weed out all those who are fly by night wanna be's who aren't truly into scrapping, As well as educate the new members before they even get to make a post, potentially keeping repeat questions off the forum. Again, personally I would 110% spend the time reading required to post. I'm in this because I enjoy it and money is a great side effect.

Lastly, I think that writing a sentence during registration to prove potential members can use proper punctuation would be huge. It's really REALLY frustrating reading posts that have no commas or periods. Whether it's possible to have it monitored automatically or if a mod would need to approve it.


These are just ideas from deep inside my brain, whether or not they are possible, I don't know!

In Response to Jord0690 :

1st: Is the actual amount of members a problem?

2nd: Wouldn't they have to post during this education? (Ha ha I'm funny!)

3rd: I have to respectfully disagree due to the fact that in having something like this implemented we would lose out on the contributions of individuals who have helped us all out at one time or another - despite not having their PHD in English. After all - the point of conversations and the sharing of ideas is to be understood, isn't it?

You dont need a PHD in English to write a grammatically correct sentence lol. I was just thinkng out loud, but the no punctuation thing kinda gets to me! Haha do have to agree that the forum is well kept as is.

[Copper Head]

This forum is the most unique , you have scrappers that scrap on foot ( I figure ) and you have Very Very rich businessmen /woman scrappers .
& here we are all equal . we learn from each other. If your here nothing is stupid . The fact that a individual who sees money (scrap )
in the street but has to get used to looks from others , is here to feel normal about what he did during the day .

I still have so much more to learn I flooded my plate with a life time of projects , I am a scrapping fool .
But If I think I can offer help I'm gonna .

Scrapping is complicated, fast pace work from finding to dismantling and selling to the wolf .
The new ones will become us or Quit

[Abuilder]

As the old saying goes.
If it ain’t broke, Don’t fix it.

[ParkerFlyer4]

The "vets" here have taken their time, many times, to type out thoughtful/ helpful posts. And when asked the same question by a new guy, It can be frustrating. It's like the circle of life. Veterans teach the new guys to teach the next years new guys, and so on. I don't mind posting links to old topics if I'm feeling like helping out. But most of the time I just stay out of it, and let others answer the same old questions.

Spammers come in like a storm and leave all the time. That's just how it is, Iv'e seen many come and go. Remember ole Skippy?

[VoodooDaddy]

I agreecompletely with all of you can someone tell me what grade board this is who do i sell them to who will pay the most money i need it yesterday iseem to be in a huge hurry
Did you see what I just did there? Heeheehee! Had to do it.

[blacksteel]

My 4 cents . Old posts . Google. Archives. At why not receptive.
1. Date - Post so old it's deemed no relevance.
Not current or up to date. That was then mindset.
2.we need a price list spot for all up to date lists. Updated weekly. Imho it's a major reason people come then leave upset.
3. We may need a sponsor to guide us not berate us.

The schools today and yesterday produced poor students. Recognize we are on different developmental levels. Let everyone fit in . Like family. Scrappers are known to lend a hand.
Well show and prove. We help each other. Even those that don't help self.
Together we rise. 1scrap.

[jord0690]

Spammers come in like a storm and leave all the time. That's just how it is, Iv'e seen many come and go. Remember ole Skippy?

I think I do actually.. he was here a while though if im thinking of the same guy? Didnt know he was spamming. Maybe im thinking of someone else...

[Copper Head]

Research is fine But repetitive post are gonna be the flaw of a forum .
other wise one might as well read books

[mudlight2]

What if somebody finds a better way to do something. The question some people do not want being asked again. Could have an easier solution or answer now.

[Copper Head]

Create an area for newbe
That becomes the only place to post till they get the craze out of there system
once you hit the first level your out.
but the repetitive questions are in one area during the fever

But regardless the real difference is the type of scrapper . The top level scrappers
most likely don't want to here about the vacuum and computer found in a dumpster for like the 5000th time
particular when there working on a bid for $ 200,000 .

Hey you know what I found last Friday 3 AL license plates and some power cords wile it's true
it's a given already you look you will find