A note to the newbies....

I've noticed a couple of trends developing over the past few days, so I'm posting this to address them and hopefully help some people out. When you read thru a thread, pay attention to the date it was posted on. As a general rule, when someone posted a question a month (or longer) ago the odds are they have gotten their answer and don't require assistance anymore. Bringing up old threads is a waste of AO resources 95% of the time.

Don't sit down and answer every thread on the main page with some inane one line post just to build up your number of posts....you expose yourself to the possibility of accumulating negative AntiPoints for making useless posts in this manner. Patience is a virtue.

Try to keep the tone of your posts respectible when reponding to threads...as time passes you will grasp a good understanding of when to 'flame' and when not to...and the flame time here is held to a minimum for good reason. Calling someone an idiot or saying that the software they prefer is stupid and lame when you only have 10 posts under your belt isn't wise. Show intelligence, not attitude, when posting please.

If JP or any of the other senior members object to what I have said here, I will gladly withdraw this thread. I'm only trying to help improve the AO experience for all of us, and I hope that this thread will do just that. If any of you seniors out there have anything to add, by all means please do so!

<EDIT>
This one is real important, and I apologize for overlooking it initially. When you are preparing to post a thread, take the time to use the search feature (upper right corner, main page) before you post. If you are wanting firewall or AV info, there have been numerous posts in the past discussing these and many other apps. Threads with repeated subject matter are a horrendous waste of AO resources. If your search yeilds no results, then by all means start a thread and discuss to your hearts content!

/preach on my brother i have noticed this a lot in the past to 2 days almost all the main page was 5150`s old threads and latorgator has been posting in a lot of outdated threads to

Great job. This is a post that needs to be on here and some people who have been posting in old threads need to read. Great job and I hope alotta people read this.

One line posters suck :)

I'd also like to make a small note to the newbies, read through some of the New features posts to see features that exsist so that you'll know the explanation of certain things. For instance, if a post has a blinking date, it's an old post ( 2 weeks I think ) and therefore, you shouldn't post in it. Also, if you read the FAQ, you'll know that 1 line posts get about as much of a response, and sometimes even negative antipoints. I hope to help you guys with this post and just a few quick tips that can help you in making your time at AO a fun, enjoyable, and friendly one. -- Jason (JC) Copeland.

This phenomenon has been since the "similar threads" feature is activated. I'm angry when I find a lot of interesting threads on the main page and that I view their outdated.

I think your post could be put into the "read before posting" thread.

Nicely said, Al. I think it would be nice if this post were made sticky for newbies to refer to. Hopefully it would clear up a lot of confusion, and more importantly steer newbies in the right direction when it comes to posting and overall behavior in the forums. ;)

Wow you're insight is quite confounding...please enlighten me more....

yes this would make a good sticky post.

cmnoop looks like everything i heard about you is true

This should definately be a sticky post. It would have made a difference to many I am sure. Although unfortunately too many newbies jump in without doing any reading here.

Alas though it seems that some newbies come here with an attitude and have no intention of doing anything but flaming. But for those that come here with the intent to learn, this will help them a great deal.

Hell I'm no longer a newbie to AO and this is a good guideline for my future posts, and hopefully one day, threads. :)

I'm still a newbie here myself and greatly appreciate this thread. My intent is to learn as much as I can and would like to thank all you guys out there that are looking out for those of us that want to learn. I'm feeling more and more at home at this site and hope to continue learning everything I can from anyone willing to offer advice.

Hey my plan was to test the reaction of people to this thread being sticky and so far so good.

w00t w00t! My vote is for it to go as a sticky, but it's up to you Ennis! :)

w00t w00t it is up as a sticky
good job allenb1963
and ennis :D

Thanks for the support everyone. I didn't want to step on any toes with this one, but I really felt that these things needed to be said. I'm just happy that I've been able to make a contribution that hopefully will help people and make the AO experience easier on us all!

/me dances around the room...."I got a sticky, I got a sticky..." w000t!!!!

hello allenb,
a great post indeed which will definately give a message to the newbies and the newbies also will understand right at the begining , how to act.

well but what can we do about the people who give negs just for the heck of it. if somebody is starting a thread... and that is because he want some info on it , and if somebody else does not like the topic the starter will get negs ? but this is happening....at AO

i don't know why people always think with their heart and not mind while giving negs. if the person who is giving negs has got a huuuuuuuuuge number of +ve points then the latter will die of negs because he will be almost be reduced of his +ve points.

hence i request all the high +ve point holders and everybody to think at least 10 times before giving negetives to others who are having less greenies like me for e.g
because doing so may reduce the other person's hardly earned green points...

well anyway.... but its a nice post... keep it up allen..

thanks

intruder

Yes, I think it is definitely worth being a sticky and whatnot and that it is a great post. it is definitely a good job that is well done. Great job allenb1963! :)

your suggestions r making us more clear how to use anto online resources in a good way
thanx to u alll!!!

i disagree with something you said all

Quote:

---

As a general rule, when someone posted a question a month (or longer) ago the odds are they have gotten their answer and don't require assistance anymore.

---

if a question hasnt been answered and its over a month old... who cares still answer it it might help someone in the future this is the point of the forums to help people to learn and im sorry but i dont care if an old question gets bumped up cause someone answered it it may help me or even you but in your propesed system it you will never learn

what confounds me is you then go on to say search for it now if someone asked how does one change the path var in linux and no one answered it 2 months later a newbie comes along and sees the thread and answers isnt that for benifit for everyone its hypocitucal im sorry for attacking you but i felt it must be said

Quote:

---

Don't sit down and answer every thread on the main page with some inane one line post just to build up your number of posts....

---

not only newbies that have to listen to that advice ;)

Quote:

---

Originally posted here by JCHostingAdmin
I'd also like to make a small note to the newbies, read through some of the New features posts to see features that exsist so that you'll know the explanation of certain things. For instance, if a post has a blinking date, it's an old post ( 2 weeks I think ) and therefore, you shouldn't post in it. Also, if you read the FAQ, you'll know that 1 line posts get about as much of a response, and sometimes even negative antipoints. I hope to help you guys with this post and just a few quick tips that can help you in making your time at AO a fun, enjoyable, and friendly one. -- Jason (JC) Copeland.

---

Hi,
Actually, I think there are good reasons why someone would reply to an older post. This is preferrable to starting another thread on the same topic. The key is having something relevant to add to the subject. If the purpose is to make a one line reply to add to their post count, that is not good. But if their reply adds to the understanding and discussion of the topic, why not? A new member may not have seen the thread before and have a new insight or new information that could be helpful. The topic of the thread is important too. If it's a joke thread, and they're just replying to say, "HaHa, that was funny," well, that isn't too good. But if perhaps, it is a thread on building a firewall or something like that, that is different. Thanks.

Rioter: If the question has not been replied to, then by all means one should answer it providing they know the answer. But if the thread has 15 replies and one is from the starter thanking everyone for their help, then use common sense and leave it alone.

Preacherman481: I see your point, but at the very least they need to use common sense when replying to an old thread. If it's technical in nature, great, but if all you have to say is 'I agree' with no real contribution, leave it alone. The whole reason for that part of the original post was the fact that one night almost half the threads on the main page were replies to old threads by newbies who for the most part were seeking to increase their post numbers.

I might also add that I tend to award newbies who make intelligent posts that have a real value here. I am reasonably sure that most of the regulars here will do the same. The AntiPoint System has had its ups and downs as of late, and tends to get quite contraversial. As a newbie, you can literally get banned by making a single post in the wrong forum, or worse yet, by submitting a reply, or starting a thread with an obvious "Bad Attitude" or noticeably uneducated content. AO is an extremely informative referance resource comprised of security professionals and developers, of engineers and consultants, at varying degrees of expertise. It is to your advantage whether you are here to learn security, or have "alterior motives", (hopefully to learn) to read all the newbie faqs and suggestions. Get to know us by reading our posts and get a "feel" of what is what, and who is who. Then if you think your ready, post away. :D

Nice subject material allenb1963, keep up the good work.

Hummmmmm! Let me see. Newbie, newbie,s newbie,s. Yes I am a newbie, Im going to say this, cause even the newbie's need someone to stand up for them. As it seems to most newbies keep asking the same Questions all the time, or dont read before asking questions and now most people want to jump on them for it. Lest Ye not forget that all of you were a newbie at one time. I know that you all didnt wake up one day and know everything that you know. I have made a suggestion in the past that if you want to help a newbie out perhaps in a welcome letter put in the posts that you want them to read before they start posting this that and the other thing. Sure there are going to still be people asking the same question's thats just part of life. nobody is perfect, newbie or not. Some of us do take the time to read and search. you can flame me if you want to because you think im a newbie and may not know what im talking about, but thats ok. I maynot no much about this stuff, but Im working on it. But as a newbie it gets just as tiresome to here most folks complain about newbie,s. as it does for you folks to keep hearing the same stuff over and over. If you were a teacher in school Im sure you would probably get the same questions asked thousands of times, but as a teacher you did your job and answered the question, and you helped somebody out. So maybe someone will take a newbie's advice for a change and post the things you want a newbie to know in a welcome letter to them. No need for so much negativity towards a newbie for asking question's. As I said earlier, you were all newbie's at one time. I will keep reading and asking question's untill I learn something. But thats just me. All Im saying is cut us a little slack, and keep up the good work.

Quote:

---

Originally posted here by this_1_guy2002
I have made a suggestion in the past that if you want to help a newbie out perhaps in a welcome letter put in the posts that you want them to read before they start posting this that and the other thing.

---

A real welcome letter (like the antipoint balance messages a bit ago) is a nice suggestion.
However there already exist numerous of faq's even newbie faq's and other stuff to help.
Perhaps people should take the time to read what's on their screen instead of asking things...
A while ago this forum had endless flame wars, now we have the ap's to settle that. Back to the point, I think (IMHO) that people should try to adopt a few basic internet habbits:
1) try not to ask what has been asked
2) try to keep your question clear and short if possible
3) try to not to involve in flame wars
4) rtfm
5) believe in the open minded perspective
...
Anyway if people lack those habbits there's no reason to banish those people. Like you stated we all once were newbies therefor a forgiving spirit should be nice. Perhaps you know Axelrod's solution for the repeated prisoners dilemma? (game theory) Well it's the tit for tat solution. If people choose not to cooperate you don't cooperate but you always start cooperating and you are forgiving.
I do not say I follow that idea all the time, it's only an advice (perhaps in the first place to myself.)

Quote:

---

But as a newbie it gets just as tiresome to here most folks complain about newbie,s. as it does for you folks to keep hearing the same stuff over and over.

---

Yes this becomes a little *sigh*

Point taken and understood, some valid points are made on both sides. Just thought the newbie's here needed a voice as well. So I figured I 'd hang myself out there for all the newbie's. Thanks for all the advice and your assistance in answering those question's and pointing us newbie's in the right direction.

Thenxs

I agree with the sentiments of the thread, and as a Newbie, I appreciate all the info that is available to me. I am starting to find my way around the site, and am for the most part well impressed with the general attitude of the writers. I'm looking forward to finding the answers to some problems I've come across, being unable to find them on 'Google' ( previous thread for me ) and for the moment just scratching the surface of the FAQ's.

As a sort of thought for the day, please considor this :-

Sex is NOT the answer.
Sex is the question.
Yes is the answer ???

Quote:

---

Bringing up old threads is a waste of AO resources 95% of the time.

---

Dude, you couldn't have picked a worse thread to reply to. This thread is nearly a year old. Generally, if the dates in a thread are flashing, it's considered rude to answer. The dates flash to tell people that the thread is old. This thread is at the top of the General Chit Chat list because it's a sticky thread, but it still jumps to the top of search pages when it gets a new reply.

thanks for addressing this, I understand how it becomes frusturating to see posts that have abosolutley no purpose or meanning. I am admin of my own Forums and it is very upseting to see people Spaming on posts. Seeing that most of the posts you speak of are just spam or outdated answers.

PsychoJester

I like that the date for each post blinks, it helps remind people of how current (or past for that matter) a topic is. A lot of online forums could benefit from this.

I am looking to get a new laptop cost is am issue max £500 any sugestions please, i like fujitsu but am open to sugestions

Hi,

RG 91 and wellcome to AO.

Actually your post is in the wrong place, it should be in the "Hardware" forum. Please delete it using the purple tabs at the top.

I have copied it and will start it off in "Hardware" for you under the title "RG 91's post"

Cheers :)

EDIT: sorry you use the purple "edit" tab.............but it does not really matter..........just respond to the new thread I have opened and watch the replies :D

I am sorry that I cannot personally advise you on laptops..........I do not like them, so my token specimen is symbolically balanced on a trash can and is only allowed to run Win 95 :D

It is a Toshiba, and comes in useful when I have a Windows 95 support issue.

A big thanks