General Forum Suggestion

[MillerPKA]

Well I've been here for a few years and I've noticed the amount of redundant question asking is increasing more every month. I'm not hating on the newcomers because let's face it that's where all of us started. However, it's getting a bit annoying having to sift through the same old threads that all you want to do is tell them 'SEARCH!!!!!' This is a great hub for information for veterans and noobies alike but is often polluted by the latter's unawareness of alternatives (aka searching)

So, what choice do we have?

I propose we set up a new subforum of the 3rd gen section for our newcomers. Furthermore, I think that members should only be allowed to post in this forum if they have at least 3 posts. This will consolidate the beginner's questions into a central location and free up our current board (maybe even help with the spam problem we've been seeing lately). People who like answering these simple questions know where to find them, but those who want that filtered out will be set.

I know this isn't the place for this thread, I just don't know how big of a problem it is on other forums and I know I'd get the most accurate feedback here. Thanks for reading.

 

[peter78]

Cool, kind of like a second class citizen. After 5 questions, we can let them in. Why, on the 3rd gen. forum, maybe 4th gen. people are smarter?

By the way, our SEARCH function does not work very well. So a lot of these new members are trying.

 

[MillerPKA]

As I said in my first post, I'm unaware of the problems in other sections, just pointing out what I've seen myself. And the search function within this site isn't really what's to blame here, I can gurantee you more than 75% of the first timers here were directed by an external search engine (google, etc) so from there the subforum would be the place for them. If you look around (ultimateyota for example) there is the same kind of subforum. Albeit there are no restrictions but that site is much less populated and has a much higher percentage of knowledgeable members. We have members with a wide range of expertise and experience, the minimal restriction would be a great tool in my opinion. The second class citizen description is a bit extreme I think...

 

[techno]

I hear what you're saying RooRunner, it is slightly frustrating to read the same questions over and over again. eg, What size tires can I fit? What lift should I get? What's a deck plate mod? Can I tow something heavy? How do I get more power? How do I get more milage? etc etc
Maybe a well compiled sticky thread on 3rd gen FAQ's would help.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

I just think we need to do two things to start:

1. Upgrade the search feature or even better the whole forum.

2. Make a huge sticky for 3rd Gen common questions with links to threads that discuss the answers.

 

[rubbman]

How about a link to a mod/repair file like for the pics?

 

[david_ray320]

I just think we need to do two things to start:

1. Upgrade the search feature or even better the whole forum.

2. Make a huge sticky for 3rd Gen common questions with links to threads that discuss the answers.

I agree with both those suggestions. I'm a newcomer myself and I know I've asked my share of redundant questions. But like people have said, the search function is not the greatest and so I didn't have much luck finding answers to my questions when I tried to search. I think most newcomers are in fact attempting to use the search function but it's just not very effective.

I agree that if we made a sticky thread that had answers/links to common 3rd Gen questions it would be a huge help. Perhaps even create a subforum within the 3rd Gen forum that has locked threads explaining basic things like the deck plate mod/what size tires/etc.

Perhaps we could sticky a new thread and keep it open for a week or so and have people post suggestions and links for what should be included in the "Common 3rd Gen Questions" thread and then after a week a moderator can compile everything into one, neat thread.

 

[DavidAlexander]

I feel for both sides. First off, I think members need to realize that this 3rd Gen forum is for 3rd gen questions only. I see alot of generic type questions. Second, I do find myself posting links as responses to threads because the answer is already out there. A google search would suffice in most circumstances. Third, it is annoying to look through threads that really don't amount to anything looking for something with some meat on it.

But when you are a newbie you sometimes have so many questions that your own thread is the only way you feel you can address them and the search has worked OK when I have used it, not great.

Lets just follow the rules for posting threads. DO SOME SEARCHING BEFORE posting one. Make sure it is in the right forum and let's have some long meaningfull threads that we can all really learn from.

And if the thread is ambigious, then a mod can delete it. If it has already been covered, the mod can let them know and end it. If it is in the wrong forum, the mod can move it.

It comes down to the responders too, on some other boards they really let the OP know if their question is stupid or already been asked. We are just so nice here. :infidel:

 

[MillerPKA]

Maybe 3 would be a better number. This way, if you're new you can get your questions out of the way before posting on the real forum, and if someone registers for this site but is fairly skilled, some may think its unfair. But maybe you can dub it as a public service, those 3 posts needed can be spent on helping and answering those questions which are already there. Then voila, before you're even posting on here you have already helped the community, sends a good message i think.

And in response to the sticky suggestion, the subforum would essentially be the same thing, except more apparent. Maybe its just me but I'm not the first one to read all of the stickys on a forum when I join. I'm thinking this would eliminate all of the problems

 

[MillerPKA]

None taken, I wanted honest opinions so obviously it'd negate my whole purpose of doing this if i took offense to that. The stickies and all sounds like a good idea in theory but it's all a matter of how things play out in reality. You also have to think of the people who register to have one question answered. I've been a moderator at several highly populated forums and have pretty well founded stats to back my opinion. The FAQ and stickies will be effective, but not to the extend I think we'd all like

 

[J-money$$$]

I have to say the sticky idea sounds better. But what seems to be even better would be an entire 3rd generation forum. They you could section off different sub forums for the parts of a 3rd gen. But that's never going to happen. I like the fact that soo many newbies post stuff. We all start somewhere. Hey and just a note. There really is no reason to get frustrated with repeated posts. Cuz after all. At least people care enought about t4r.org to post and read all the cool thing on here. I hope no one gets all pissed at what I wrote. It just my personal feelers

 

[MillerPKA]

This is true. Perhaps I'm barking up the wrong tree. Maybe I should have just kept quiet and stayed at Ultimateyota, just trying to help the veterans on this one I suppose

 

[david_ray320]

I think these are all good ideas and I think it's important to have discussions like this on forums.

My feeling on the 3 post rule and the newbie forum is that it's not the best idea. Because what qualifies someone to "graduate" from the newbie forum to the regular one? How does a new member know if they'll be "welcome" in the "veteran" forum? Plus, if 3 posts in the newbie forum is all it takes to be allowed to post in the regular one, then I'll just say that I was certainly still a "newbie" after 3 posts. I have close to 160 posts and I still don't know hardly anything

Provided other people think it's a good idea, I don't think it could hurt to just give some of these ideas a test-run. Try making a temporary sticky thread to collect different questions/write-ups etc. and just see how it works out. Never hurt to try.

 

[Ron Helmuth]

RooR you are sure trying to be helpful

RooR love your truck- but do not like the idea of separating the newbies from the main.

For my example I use "Newbie Tech" on YotaTech. Go check it out for yourself-I find it sad to see folks treated that way....

Unfortunately it seems the only people that visit Newbie Tech are newbies themselves-so legitimate questions go unanswered, as if they are ignored. A newbie doesn't have the answers-that is why they posted-to get some feedback

To my mind-all of us are newbies. Only a select few like you RooR and you Techno and toytech76 would I consider taking advice without double and triple checking it.

I agree with many of the others, the search function does not behave as it should.

If the search function can not be fixed then I like the idea of stickys and locking the stickys so you don't get the run on threads years and years after the fact.

We could have a whole sub-forum just on tires, and split that into sizes or brands for example. The possiblities are endless but I know that the main forum is where most of us check in and out of-and personally I don't tire of the same questions as the opinions still vary each time one is posted.

 

[david_ray320]

I just think we can cut back the repetitive posts significantly by having a section with write ups specific to 3rd gens. Going by the vote count most people agree with your idea so far....you're not alone

I agree. Perhaps similar to how they have it on YotaTech. With a section of threads of just write-ups, that are locked by a moderator so they don't get cluttered up.