TiVo Community Forums Archives - How about a Newbie forum?

TiVoCommunity.com
(c)opyright 1995-2005 All rights reserved
indexcheckTC
This area is a static history of posts in the TiVo Community Forum Archive.
This archive history was made for the simple indexing of search sites like Google.

Pages:1

How about a Newbie forum?
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: Peter000

This has probably been suggested before, but what about creating a forum just for the new folks, with relevant information about the TiVo, Faqs, and other useful stuff? And where they can post their gripes about the product without being labeled instantly as trolls?

Going along with this would be restricting their posting to the newbie forum for say, 5 or 10 posts. They could browse other forums for info and laughs, but not post anywhere else.

It's just that pretty much no matter what, nubes get flamed if they post anything negative anywhere else. It'd be nice to have a safe haven for them, and to at least attempt to confine the ones that are trolls to one place.

I don't know how hard it would be to set this up, but it'd be worth it IMHO. :)

Posted by: walters

That's what the help forum is. If someone posts about their problems honestly asking for help, they typically get it. If someone just complains and says TiVo is going to go bankrupt because their product is so crappy, they typically get flamed. And normally that's exactly what they wanted anyway.

Posted by: Peter000

quote:
Originally posted by walters
That's what the help forum is. If someone posts about their problems honestly asking for help, they typically get it. If someone just complains and says TiVo is going to go bankrupt because their product is so crappy, they typically get flamed. And normally that's exactly what they wanted anyway.

Y'see, I don't agree that is what the majority of those type of posters want. If a person is dissatisfied with a product, they just want to vent. Most aren't very subtle about it, because they're relatively new to posting. And in the last 6 months of really being active on this board, that's what I've seen. I've been around the internet enough to know the difference between a troll and a person who is truly in need of some assistance or satisfaction.

I'm getting sick and tired of new folks being flamed for asking simple questions, or having legitimate gripes. There's no point to it. If it is a troll the flames just feeding it. If it isn't a troll the flames come across as mean spirited and hateful, and the the one flaming looks like an ass.

The idea of a Newbie folder is just to try to minimize, or at least localize, that type of behavior.

Posted by: David Bott

Sorry, but such a forum area would be of no help other then to confuse new members on where to post. I am working with TiVo on a support solution.

Posted by: MighTiVo

quote:
Originally posted by David Bott
Sorry, but such a forum area would be of no help other then to confuse new members on where to post. I am working with TiVo on a support solution.

I respectfully disagree.

The primary goal of a newbie forum would be a safe haven with the understanding that nobody would get blasted for not doing a search and trying to find the answer to their question by going through pages of many years of discussions and FAQ which is really a bit overwhelming for someone just getting started.

My thought would be to break the Help forum into two sections:
1) New users, before you buy, and set up questions.
2) Advanced help and troubleshooting.

Posted by: phone1

The concept is nice, but the fact is newbies post what they want in any forum they want to. I constantly see upgrade related questions where they don't belong, despite the obvious sticky about it. Help questions end up in Coffee House, etc. Even regulars get the purposes of TV Talk and SP Alert threads confused. Heck, I've even seen posts in THIS forum from people who want help with their TiVos.

I'm glad to have HMO and HDTV separated, because I don't use those and can't answer any questions for those who do, but for general TiVo help, newbie or otherwise, I don't see much benefit to splitting up Help. Most people who ask installation questions obviously haven't even looked at the manual, so I doubt they'll take the time to figure out which forum here to post in.

Posted by: feldon23

quote:
The primary goal of a newbie forum would be a safe haven with the understanding that nobody would get blasted for not doing a search and trying to find the answer to their question by going through pages of many years of discussions and FAQ which is really a bit overwhelming for someone just getting started.

I strongly feel that there should be no such area of the forum. *I'll* get flamed for that comment, but fine. I am not here to make friends and I am not here for everyone to like me. I am here to be helpful to people who want to be helped.

quote:
phone1 said:
Most people who ask installation questions obviously haven't even looked at the manual, so I doubt they'll take the time to figure out which forum here to post in.

Exactly. Without a flashing neon sign "Read this FAQ before posting questions on the forum!!", the quality of the posts and constant flaming will continue. And even WITH the flashing sign, you'll still get a few that ignore it. :)

I'm glad that after 2+ years of requests, David is looking at a solution to the thousands of visitors we get each month looking for 1st level TiVo tech support. I'm sorry it took so long and at a great cost (Otto, ybrew, and others), but better late than never.

Posted by: jsmeeker

quote:
Originally posted by phone1
The concept is nice, but the fact is newbies post what they want in any forum they want to. I constantly see upgrade related questions where they don't belong, despite the obvious sticky about it. Help questions end up in Coffee House, etc.

What if the order of the Coffee House and Help Center were switched? I think a lot of people coming in forthe first time simply click the top most forum.. That gives them the Coffee House.. Not really the right place to get tech help, but in almost all cases, it works.

Just a thought.

Posted by: phone1

quote:
Originally posted by jsmeeker
What if the order of the Coffee House and Help Center were switched? I think a lot of people coming in forthe first time simply click the top most forum.. That gives them the Coffee House.. Not really the right place to get tech help, but in almost all cases, it works.

Just a thought.

Oh, I've mentioned this before. Help should be at the top of the list.

Posted by: jsmeeker

quote:
Originally posted by phone1
Oh, I've mentioned this before. Help should be at the top of the list.

And the reason it won't happen is?????

Posted by: feldon23

Inertia.

Posted by: David Bott

The reason the Coffee House is at the top is based on past trends, people who come to this site first are looking for information and not support. They are looking to find out and talk about TiVo. If we switched them, I think you will then see questions about TiVo in the support section. Thus the same issue.

Posted by: ccwf

quote:
Originally posted by David Bott
If we switched them, I think you will then see questions about TiVo in the support section.

Which we do already, of course, but not to the extent we would see them if the order were switched.

I would suggest just adding some words to the TiVo Coffee House description to make clear it's not a help forum. Maybe something as simple as

quote:
For general discussion (not help!) about almost anything TiVo. Come on in, pull up a chair and let's talk about any TiVo related matters and Tivo news not covered in other forums.

Posted by: phone1

It's a losing battle, but maybe a notation in RED would help. Likewise, this language in the help forum should be in red: Note...The help center does not help with any hacked or modified TiVo powered units.

Posted by: David Bott

RED added and also added another line in read to the coffee house. Hope this helps.

Posted by: Jeff Ray

As a Newbie, I respectfully request that the Tivo-elders allow us to post where you post. This would increase the liklihood that those with the answers will stumble onto helpless newbies. Splitting might degrade the level of support this forum provides. Also, gives me ideas for next purchase/upgrade.

Happy Valentines and Presidents Days.

Jeff H.
Philips HDR-112 1/99 (time to upgrade)
Hughes SD-DVR40 12/03

Posted by: justapixel

quote:
Originally posted by Peter000
If a person is dissatisfied with a product, they just want to vent.

David has solved the question, but I did want to add something.

If somebody wants to vent about TiVo, a TiVo "fan" site is not the place to do it. That is the very definition of trolling.

Come to us with problems, yes. Come to us with questions, sure. But come here to simply vent about a product we love? What's the point of that except to anger people? There isn't one. If a newbie wants to vent without expecting any resolution, they should go to epinions, or a review site, or contact TiVo themselves. This isn't the place for mere venting and name-calling - it'll never be received well. And, it shouldn't be.