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STOPPING Q&A's in discussion forums.

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by oz_media

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A while ago I posted my frustrations with unrecognized answers in the Q&A forum.

dpetrak followed up with some ideas on screening Q&A's.

Today I noticed that more andmoer questions aer being posted as discussions. Whether this is to avoid allocating points or if people just don't know where to post I don't know.

I propose that any problem specific questions that are posted as discussions should be responded to with "I'm sorry but this is considered a technical question regarding a specific issue. Please repost you question in the Q&A forum as opposed to this discussion forum." or something to that effect.

I think it would help keep discussion threads relevant and at the top of the list and questions can be addressed by thosewho have the time or interest in visiting Q&A's to answer a few problems.

Please let me know if you have more effective ideas or at least start addressing technical questions with a request to post in the correct forum.

NOTE: I understand thatsome questions are more generic or are posted as research but these will always be welcome as a discussion and you all know better than I do that some just don't belong here.

12 replies

by thechas

Hi Oz,

I share your frustration.

I prefer to assume that the peers asking questions in the Discussion Center are simply ignorant of where to post their questions.

I see a number of questions that are posted in both sections.

I have been a bit remiss with this of late, but here is who I try and deal with questions in the Discussion Forum.

1. Wait a day. Unless the peer is given wrong or bad advice. (The goal is to keep the site useful, right.)

2. Provide an answer with limited details.

3. Advise the peer that they will 'normally' get more and quicker responses if they post technical questions in the Technical Q&A section.

I am also more selective as to what discussions I look at.

Chas

by admin

If you get: "any problem specific questions that are posted as discussions" and don't want to answer them then don't, or respond with: "I'm sorry but this is considered a technical question regarding a specific issue. Please repost you question in the Q&A forum as opposed to this discussion forum."

My question is this: I don't really like or want to use Q&A, yet I help people out (or at least attempt to) when I can in the Discussions. Should I stop doing this for any reason? I would really seriously like to know, since this comes up again and again and irks some people (not me) if they are upset at the rest of us for helping out and not really caring about Tech Points.

How are the discussion threads more relevent when we talk about whims and fancies, get into arguments about virtual politics etc. and now refuse to talk about technical questions? I like the non-technical threads, but I certainly like to get everyones opinion in real time on an issue. Personally, I have had several unanswered Q&A questions anyway, even with high point values and some of the answers I have got on the Q&A... sheesh! I know how to use Google too, why bother if you don't know? In fact, I used to frequent the Q&A long ago as an answering person as well, but really got tired of the slowness, the lack of daily feedback etc. so now I just occasionally post a question.... the last one, BTW was about 4 months ago, and I eventually got notified a couple of months ago of no answers and asked again whether to withdraw it- so I did. Why do I even bother trying again every so often? because people like yourself keep saying they want questions there, so I think there must be something going on in Q&A.... maybe I'm just inept at it, but I can't find out what.

by oz_media

"I don't really like or want to use Q&A, yet I help people out (or at least attempt to) when I can in the Discussions."
People are just abusing the layout of the website, soon there will be no need to separate discussions from questions. When I visit the discussion forum, I look for interesting topics to read and speak on. When I click a discussion that looks intersting and find it is just someone with a problem, it frustrates me. If I want to answer or help find answers to peoples questions, I will visit Q&A's. Not everyone is aware of Google newsgroups pointing them there can be an invaluable resource to them, even if YOU are aware of Google's newsgroups. Sometime I will reaearch a question that I have no idea how to solve but finding the answer is rewarding as well as useful for building on my personal knowledge.

"Should I stop doing this for any reason? I would really seriously like to know,..."

Taken from Discussion center FAQ's;
"What is the difference between a Technical Q&A posting and a Discussion Center posting?

If you have a technical question that needs a definitive or technical answer, you'll be best served to post the question in the Technical Q&A area of our site. You will need to have TechPoints to post a technical question, because you award points to the TechRepublic member or members who give you useful answers.

The Discussion Center is where you can discuss relevant IT topics, such as technology, career, and management, with other IT professionals. No TechPoints are needed to participate in these discussions, and there are no right or wrong answers. Think of this as an online team meeting with other IT professionals participating."

MORE TO COME

by oz_media

"not really caring about Tech Points"

Not many people do, TR never offered the virtual prizes for the virtual points. As Max had said, points are relevant if you need an answer to a question and you have enough points you can assign 5000 points to a question to ensure it stays as a top priority in the Q&A list, or something like that.

As for discussions being off topic, I see that as fine too, as long as it isn't someone with an IPF in MSWord2000. I don't WANT to solve problems sometimes but still want to read peoples points of view on whatever, if it interests me I'll disuss it.

How would you like it if every time you went out with friends, they started asking you tech questions? Every time you saw your wife she drilled you with questions (OK, that one may be so ) Sometimes it's nice to talk about music, life and beer instead.

by thechas

I fully agree with you Oz.

It took me a long time to start participating in the discussions.

For some reason, I thought I did not have anything of value to contribute.

As long as I enjoy spending time here, I will continue to contribute.Use the site for what it is, a pleasant diversion.

Chas

by jardinier

In both general discussions and technical Q & A I find questions from people who are obviously total novices. If I think I can help the person, I will offer a possible solution. I certainly do not care about earning points, but I do like to share the benefits of my often hard-won experience with anyone who knows less than I do. And this applies in all areas of expertise in which I have some experience-based knowledge.

However I do agree in recommending to the poster that IN FUTURE, technical questions should first be posted in the appropriate area.

by hettymedia

I agree with your frustration in the confusion of discussion and Q&A. However, I consult both, because as an admitted semi-novice, I know I have tons to learn and I value the information shared all over this website. I sincerely hope the "teachers" who frequent this website don't forget that sharing knowledge is how we all progress. Anyone who is hesitant to post points with their questions have got it all wrong with the idea behind what TechRepublic has provided here. I, for one, am extremely grateful to all of you.

by jim phelps

>In both general discussions and technical Q & A I find questions from people who are obviously total novices...

Jul: I've seen postings in the Q&A by people who want to learn to program! Somehow they think that they can get an online programming course via the Q&A! You then respond to them, asking them specifically what it is they want to know, and again they bounce back with "I want to know how to program" or something like that, as if they don't have a clue as to what you meant when you asked for a clarification.

So how about it? Who will teach me to program in Visual Basic via the Q&A? ;)

by hal 9000

Personally I've just got frustrated with the Q&A section as I've constantly seen answers of both mine and others being "Not Rated" or "Rejected" when they are correct but worse hardly ever finding out what the solution actually was if any.

While I accept that some of these questions are from complete novices who don't have a clue or at least act that way there are some that are quite thought provoking and really deserive a discussion on their own as these always get a greater resonce than on the Q&A site.

If I see a question that I can help with on the generqal discussion area I'm going to continue to answer it to the best of my limited ability as that's what I thought we all came here for rather than to wander off on some tangent about something that has little to no importance to our general lives or work.

While I accept that here we are suspossedly relaxing if I can help someone I'm more than willing to and Tech Points mean very little to me as any knolledge gained is far more valuable to my way of thinking rather than some claim that I have so many Tech Points therefore I'm somehow of some sought of importance here.

While I accept that I may have a problem with little to no ego some of the rest of you guys get a little carried away on matters that while interesting are not really all that important to the rest of us and while it's good to be able to express your opinion I personally don't like the way that some of the discussions have headed where they have developed into a slanging match rather than informed comment or people honestly offering their personal opinions only to see them riduculed by others with different beliefs. While I can take what is ever thrown at me and it really doesn't bother me one little bit I personally think that some of the members here do get a bit carried away with their own self importance.

As professionalls aren't we duty bound to help others? Honestly I hope that this help isn't only reserved for the select few and the rest of the masses are left to their own devices.

And as far as the Q&A section goes I'd like to see the solutions when a problem is solved rather than just seeing the question closed without any result.

by ewgny

I've become frustrated with the Question & Answer
section as well. I don't care about the points at all, I have more than I'll ever need. What frustrates me is when people reject correct answers, or don't bother to close the question.
Whats a kick in the butt, is when someone rejects your correct answer, and then asks you for more help. But of course I'll continue to answer questions anyway, accept or reject, points or no points.

by oz_media

I got an email from TR saying that they were looking at making the changes for the new web engine. Well...the new engine is here and from what I see, no changes to the Q&A system. I don't think it was mandatory to select a question group before but I can't remember.

Oh well.
OM

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