Putting new forum members in a Catch 22

[Streetcar]

Do these comments sound familiar?

"We've been over this before. See the thread here: (link to thread line from 6+ months ago)"
"You might want to use the search function"

Over the last couple months, I've noticed a number of our newest members posting a thread or observation, only to be met by a comment similar to above.

But at the same time, I've noticed a number of threads being ressurected from the past by - you guessed it - a new member. These tend to be met with hoots of
"Zombie Thread!"
"Dead thread alert!"
And the more ambigious tone of "Please check the thread date."

Sometimes I wonder what a new member is to do.

[skauwt]

Do these comments sound familiar?

"We've been over this before. See the thread here: (link to thread line from 6+ months ago)"
"You might want to use the search function"

Over the last couple months, I've noticed a number of our newest members posting a thread or observation, only to be met by a comment similar to above.

But at the same time, I've noticed a number of threads being ressurected from the past by - you guessed it - a new member. These tend to be met with hoots of
"Zombie Thread!"
"Dead thread alert!"
And the more ambigious tone of "Please check the thread date."

Sometimes I wonder what a new member is to do.

i`d noticed that myself lately

[Dall_Piobaire]

As a new member, that is a frustrating response. It's akin to meeting the lads at a local pub, startin up a conversation, that they have already chewed over, and getting the we have been there look!

It is difficult on such a long lived forum, and one that is so family like, to not have had, at some point in time, most every topic mulled over at least once. That said however, everyone's opinion matters. It's a group of similar intrests, and mewbies want to be just as much a part of it as the eldest of members.

The cheers and howdy do's are great, but then to get ignored in a conversation you want to be part of sucks. One is kinda made to feel, because they are new, their opinion doesn't really matter. I think this is rare here though, at least it seems so to me.

Solutions, lock threads of a certain, agreed upon age. If it is older but not locked, let a moderater give a summary of the general slant of the thread. If there is an older thread that one isn't interested in then, it seems to me, quite easy just to not respond. It's no harder to give a friendly, but short response, then to exclain dead thread, or we've been there.

Again, I feel as though these situations are much less common here then in other places, but it does happen.

This is a great forum with great folks, always one of my first stops! Lets just remember what it feels like to want to fit in is all!

[Sammac]

Sometimes it is not what is being stated, but the way it is stated that could at times be percieved as a bit rude. For some newbie's, if this is the first forum they have ever joined it can be a bit intimidating when they see how knowledgable and expeienced some members are.

[Dan R Porter]

How knowledgeable and experienced some members think they are.

[Riverkilt]

For sure. Its just rude and certainly not welcoming. I wonder how many good members we lose at the front door.

We DON'T have to snipe at them. We DON'T have to post a rude response. We can just move on and let a more charitable, more empathetic, more tolerant board member post a response.

Gitcha - Gotcha is B.S.!

Thanks Streetcar for pointing this out...even if its an old topic that's been posted before that you coulda used the search engine on....those sniping posts do continue and that's sad.

Ron

[Larry124]

For sure. Its just rude and certainly not welcoming. I wonder how many good members we lose at the front door.

We DON'T have to snipe at them. We DON'T have to post a rude response. We can just move on and let a more charitable, more empathetic, more tolerant board member post a response.

Gitcha - Gotcha is B.S.!

Thanks Streetcar for pointing this out...even if its an old topic that's been posted before that you coulda used the search engine on....those sniping posts do continue and that's sad.

Ron

I'm wi' you.

[pdcorlis]

Sorry Streetcar - we've been through this before, please use the search function...

KIDDING!!!!!

Seriously, you raise a good point. I remember when I was new around here. I was welcomed warmly and when I asked questions - sometimes I was kindly given links to previous threads and generously pointed to the search function. When I responded to an old thread - it was gently pointed out to me (heck I still make that mistake at times).

What did I take from this? I understood I was joining a real community - different from almost any other forum I had found on the interwebs. A community filled with folks strung out along a long spectrum of kilting. Everyone from pre-kilted folks like me to real kilted gentlemen like Hamish. I understood I had a responsibility to use all this site has to offer - asking my questions - answering others - and yes - using the search feature to add to my kilted knowledge and to help others along their journey. In short, I wanted what you had so I looked, read, and researched. 3,000 + posts later, I still have much to learn and asking questions and using the other resources here continue to help me on my journey.

Now - on to your point I think. We old timers may roll our eyes at the 57th white hose thread this year - we may even try to have a bit of good natured fun with it but... We need to remember this is a very small community. XMarks gives us the illusion that there must be hoards of avid kilt wearing folks out there in the tens of thousands. Even more just waiting to be touched by the magic of the kilt. One simple test can put that notion to rest in a flash. Get in your car, drive and around your town or city and count the number of kilt wearing folk you see. I don't care if you live in Edinburgh, London, Los Angeles, or Starbuck Washington. I'll bet the number will fit nicely on the fingers of one hand.

My point - there simply aren't enough of us real honest to goodness kilt wearers on this planet to start treating each other badly. You don't have to like every kilt wearer - or forum member - but you should at least respect them for embracing the kilted life. That goes for folks with one post or ten thousand posts. And yes, please use the search feature while you're at it.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Actually, more often that not, it seems like the newbies questions are answered rather than fobbed of with the "use the search function" reply. Sometimes, however, referring the newbie to the search function is really the best answer-- he can pull up a lot of info, read the posts, and probably find the answer to his question. If he wants to know more, then he can start a new thread or resurrect the old one.

Realistically, I'd have to say that many newbie questions are repetitious-- perhaps we should consider adding a FAQ thread to assist new members in smoothly joining in the discussions with the "old timers".

[mbhandy]

Realistically, I'd have to say that many newbie questions are repetitious-- perhaps we should consider adding a FAQ thread to assist new members in smoothly joining in the discussions with the "old timers".

Who reads Instructions?

Sorry to be quippy but there are so many sub categories now I don't know how the mods read them all. I can't, I have a job and I check in in the morning and at nite.
When I joined I was like Phil and most of the new members. I didn't know much about kilting. But I sure learned fast and did get my fair share of advice. ( Some was stored away to never be used.) I guess we all have to go thru the steps before we can walk!
I have also asked questions about some thing when the info was two or three postings above or being posted while I was typing. (Slow typist and sometimes I finish the post at nite when I started in the morning.)
Remember we are an independent minority of Kilt wearers and proud of our status.

Prrroud Kilt wearrrerrrrr,
MrBill