New user focus group

ecksor

Hi,

As part of our expansion and continuing quality control we will be starting a focus group for new users away from the regular forums where it is felt that the older members and moderators sometimes "shout down" the opinions and views of new users. In this way we feel we can best pay attention to our most important user. You.

Anybody who registered between July 1st 2005 and August 1st 2006 is eligible to participate. Giblet is the moderator of the private discussion forum dedicated to this, so please PM him if you are eligible and wish to participate.

Thank you,

boards.ie admins.

Hobbes

Great idea! Although you should of put this as an announcement.

Beruthiel

Fantastic idea Eck.
Boards.ie, now you're helpin'

Ruu_Old

At last, some of the new users can have their voice heard, thats something I have longed to see. Well done.

hullaballoo

Damn, only 2 and a half months shy of making the grade! Any exceptions?

mike65

Newbies are like the poor - to be ignored.

Mike.

hullaballoo

hullaballoo wrote:

Damn, only 2 and a half months shy of making the grade! Any exceptions?

Given your new SMod badge, I guess not!

The Sweeper

Okay, I said this offline when the decision was being taken and I say it again here - boards.ie has no place for an elitist forum that segregates one section of the user base from other sections.

We were all n00bs once - being a n00b is how you learn the appropriate etiquette for boards.ie. There's no need to have a separate forum for more recent posters. And using them as a demographic for your advertising statistics is just poor, frankly.

ecksor

To be quite honest, considering that you had your little spiel offline already I don't see why it bears repeating here.

The Sweeper

ecksor wrote:

To be quite honest, considering that you had your little spiel offline already I don't see why it bears repeating here.

Oh I'm sorry is this not the feedback forum?

ecksor

And another thing, you were quite happy with our plans for the drinks type forums when you were going to get a few free cases of booze out of it so I think you should bear that in mind the next time you consider getting up on your high horse.

The Sweeper

Well I'll tell you this for nothing, if you're going to rope the n00bs into your experiment, you can take "not for profit" out of your website description.

ecksor

I'll pass your criticisms onto the person who wrote that particular gem.

scojones

n00bs are people too you know.

zAbbo

A fresh meat forum with the Giblet in charge, ho hum

amp

ecksor wrote:

Hi,

As part of our expansion and continuing quality control we will be starting a focus group for new users away from the regular forums where it is felt that the older members and moderators sometimes "shout down" the opinions and views of new users. In this way we feel we can best pay attention to our most important user. You.

Excellent. After all marketshare and boards.ie's stock price are key to gaining a more profitable userbase.

Yes, those that just arrived here, sometimes direct from TEH CLLGE OV TXTSPK is far more important than say the people who moderate boards or the people who've been here since the start.

Here's an idea, moderate the Feedback forum. If there's stuff you don't like then ban the people involved. Pretty soon the only people you'll have left are those important newbies who read feedback.

ecksor

I'm not about to stifle comment here (and rarely have) and the newbies can continue to post here and interact with the established regulars and admins as normal.

Perhaps if the newbies felt like they had a safer and more cuddly environment to express their views we wouldn't feel the need to take this step. I'm not looking to blame anybody in particular for this atmosphere.

flogen

I can only imagine the kind of money spinning crap this forum might lead to; the kind of stuff that the longer serving members would scoff at and get uppetty about... testing the waters to see if the n00bs are willing to pay a premium for a daily/hourly boards.ie text with all the latest posts or something stupid that the people who made boards.ie, the foundation of this site, would be disgusted to see happen.

That alexa ranking has really gone to your heads, hasn't it?

BuffyBot

It does seem like a strange, and not particularily helpful idea imho

Sparky

Not a bad idea at all.
It may gather new users to the site also.

Tar.Aldarion

It's not that they are new, it is that they post like they are six, just like I did when I started. In fact, nearly everybody does. Coming from an online gaming background, 'txt spk' was what was used and bad insults were all that was known, in terms of internet typing. I think people need a good kick in the arse to use grammar and to express a proper opinion, at least in a recognisable fashion, like I got from friends.
Why would somebody shout down an opinion because of a date?
It's usually because of their views being rather, hmm, idiotic - and it would help if people could read what they were typing.
Protect them from the big harsh boardsters(nerds with words), or more accurately from themselves, if you want. I guess.
I don't see the point.

Some form of 'orientation' or will the forum cover all fora, with new people starting a thread on any topic?

monkeyfudge

Tar.Aldarion wrote:

Some form of 'orientation' or will the forum cover all fora, with new people starting a thread on any topic?

I guess you could give people top tips on what to do if Whitewashman shouts at you.

And let them know that Pighead isn't actually a moderator.

Sarky

I mean no disrespect, ecksor, but are you nuts?

I disapprove, frankly. If you offer people the option of either jumping in at the deep end or having themselves a little fluffy shallow spot shielded from the "evils" of the internet and its "ever so mean" more seasoned users, they'll likely stay there and never grow up or learn any proper conduct. It'll be nothing but lol and omg and ur cute!!!!!!!!! and all manner of crap that the old school beats out of newbies. Yes, it's sometimes cruel, but it has to be.

And anyway, isn't there a "newbs/FAQ" forum already?

monkeyfudge

You could also end up with a macrocosm of boards.ie with the July 2005ers shouting down the August 2006ers.

therecklessone

Not a bad idea in principle but only if its used to guide n00bs as to what expect/not to sexpect from boards. Smother the "what happened to free speech" ideas at birth, that would be a good start.

I'd rather boards didn't get all touchy feely, but that doesn't mean new posters have to be left to the jackals. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar...

And I thought people acted differently on the net? All I can see is a load of old timers whining about how they had to walk to school in their bare feet carrying a lump of coal for the teacher, and they were never spared the rod, so why should all these whipper snappers get special treatment...;)

Dub13

Not a bad idea in principle but only if its used to guide n00bs into the sea.

monkeyfudge

therecklessone wrote:

Not a bad idea in principle but only if its used to guide n00bs as to what expect/not to sexpect from boards.

Yes. Their sexpectations must be quelled.

flogen

therecklessone wrote:

Smother... at birth, that would be a good start.

I agree.

But seriously though, this is just going to create even more little gangs on boards.ie which IMO is a bad thing.

grimloch

Assuming they're all herded into their little forum, what's going to stop the older members shouting them down when they come out their cosy safe haven? Presumably they can't stay tucked away in some corner of boards forever.

Sid Deuce

ecksor wrote:

Hi,

As part of our expansion and continuing quality control we will be starting a focus group for new users away from the regular forums where it is felt that the older members and moderators sometimes "shout down" the opinions and views of new users. In this way we feel we can best pay attention to our most important user. You.

Anybody who registered between July 1st 2005 and August 1st 2006 is eligible to participate. Giblet is the moderator of the private discussion forum dedicated to this, so please PM him if you are eligible and wish to participate.

Thank you,

boards.ie admins.

Hi Ecksor,

That seems like a really good idea. Just to clarify, you are creating a new forum for a specific groups/new users (who have to ask for access) with the purpose of it being a focus group? E.G ask them questions and suggestions as "new to the site" users and you are keeping out older members as you only need the input of new ones? LIke newbie marketing analysis!

Well considering how half the fukwits on this thread read your post as "new forum for only newbies to post in so they are all safe and cuddley'd up" I'd say you are bang on the money. Were the focus gruop to be an open forum they would only miss read and fuk that up to.

Best of luck with the focus group.

therecklessone

monkeyfudge wrote:

Yes. Their sexpectations must be quelled.

Unless they subscribe, then they can sexpect all they want...

therecklessone

Sid Deuce wrote:

Well considering how half the fukwits on this thread read your post as "new forum for only newbies to post in so they are all safe and cuddley'd up" I'd say you are bang on the money. Were the focus gruop to be an open forum they would only miss read and fuk that up to.

STFU n00b

Beruthiel

Tar
You still post like you're six, Eck, I think he should be made join this particular forum.
Also.
Cuddly environment? Did you recently get a lobotomy? Maybe you should lie down for a while with a wet cloth on your brow, I can feel your fever from here.
I thought this new forum was to whip the No0bs into shape!

Endymion

Maybe I'm missing something, but why are people responding so aggressively to this, and why do they feel this is some money spinning excercise?

Sid Deuce

Carnivore wrote:

Maybe I'm missing something, but why are people responding so aggressively to this, and why do they feel this is some money spinning excercise?

They are morons and got the wrong end of the stick?

Mostly because they (the first few bar Minesajd) didn't read Ecksors post properly and then the sheep bandwagon rolled in when the rest were just too stupid to read the post properly too but by reading the other "wrong" replies they took their opinion. Wrongly assuming there was a newb only forum being created to keep newbs safe from older savvy members.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=98 is actually the forum that they are protesting against in a way and its an open one too which makes it even more laughable. A newbie orientated froum where any one can post? huzzah! Idiots.

There is though and underbelly to all of this. You can tell that from Minesajd posts and ecksors replies. But in my noobs opinion the sooner boards goes like a George Michael concert the better.

Tar.Aldarion

Beruthiel wrote:

Tar
You still post like you're six, Eck, I think he should be made join this particular forum.
Also.
Cuddly environment? Did you recently get a lobotomy? Maybe you should lie down for a while with a wet cloth on your brow, I can feel your fever from here.
I thought this new forum was to whip the No0bs into shape!

Whip them into shape like a rich kid getting sent to haversworthschool for better boys, Muah!
I'm not much older than six.

Hobbes

monkeyfudge wrote:

I guess you could give people top tips on what to do if Whitewashman shouts at you.

Go to the bathroom, curl up into a little ball and cry your eyes out. Has worked for me so far!

ecksor

Sarky wrote:

It'll be nothing but lol and omg and ur cute!!!!!!!!! and all manner of crap that the old school beats out of newbies.

Not at all. Think of it like a more interactive feedback with more care and understanding.

grimloch wrote:

Assuming they're all herded into their little forum, what's going to stop the older members shouting them down when they come out their cosy safe haven? Presumably they can't stay tucked away in some corner of boards forever.

Nothing, but at least the environment exists for the new ones to ask their questions in a safer atmosphere. There will be no discouragement from joining in the regular feedback process and it will help people to become more confident in their right to express themselves here.

Sid Deuce, thank you very much for the kind words.

Hobbes

Everyone whos complaining about this please address your comments to Giblet via PM. He is the moderator of this forum and best suited to answer these questions. All this bickering on this thread solves nothing.

Ps. 5 star thread.

Endymion

Sid Deuce wrote:

Mostly because they (the first few bar Minesajd) didn't read Ecksors post properly and then the sheep bandwagon rolled in when the rest were just too stupid to read the post properly too but by reading the other "wrong" replies they took their opinion. Wrongly assuming there was a newb only forum being created to keep newbs safe from older savvy members.

But even MAJD seemed fairly hositile to it.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=98 is actually the forum that they are protesting against in a way and its an open one too which makes it even more laughable. A newbie orientated froum where any one can post? huzzah! Idiots.

Thats not the forum, at all at all at all. That forum has existed for years, Ecksor proposes a new forum, which is private. seems you didn't read this thread either.

But in my noobs opinion the sooner boards goes like a George Michael concert the better.

Gay and american? I don't follow...

Beruthiel

ecksor wrote:

Sid Deuce, thank you very much for the kind words.

ecksor wrote:

caring and understanding

*snigger*

Ok, so now I'm really worried. I may have had one too many glasses of wine tonight, but seriously Eck, are you ok?

ecksor

George Michael is not American.

Sid Deuce

Carnivore wrote:

But even MAJD seemed fairly hositile to it.



Thats not the forum, at all at all at all. That forum has existed for years, Ecksor proposes a new forum, which is private. seems you didn't read this thread either.



Gay and american? I don't follow...

Ok I'll repeat myself. The minesaJD thing. Yes there is "something" there. I refered to it as an underbelly. I have no idea what it is. It seems to be a whole other thread tbh.

The forum I linked to. It is for noobs really and anyone can post there. People assumed Ecksor was making a priavte forum for noobs only to congregate in, away for the horrible masses till they found their footing. LIke the Newbiw FAQ boards only private. That is not what is suggested. It is a focus group type forum where newbs have to request access and when in there make suggestions or get asked for feed back. From a newbie perspective. Like marketing. A quite simple and good suggestion. Bit like those marketing people who stop you and ask you questions on the street. It might be worth noting to at this point that they to some times have an exact demographic that they have to ask. A certain age groups fro example.

It is going to be a private forum so that it can do its job efficently without older members perking up every five minutes to lambast a less that useful suggestion. Bit like the way I am throwing in the word "morons" in my posts to help make all the spanners feel better. It's not like I have to if you get me but as they understand it is part of the learning process. The enjoy the learning don't you know.


Oh and George Michael concert? = Sold out

You are welcome by the way Ecksor. It seems all understand and happily enjoy a benevolent dictatorship until they feel oppressed, or in this case think they are being oppressed.

Beruthiel

IP check on Sid!

Sarky

He likes George Michael. Clearly something is amiss.

But really, what's wrong with things as they are? If newbies feel unsafe, there's a plethora of ways to look for a fair deal. Newbies/FAQ, Feedback, reporting posts...

flogen

The fact that the n00bs supporting this idea are instantly resorting to calling everyone who disagrees with them idiots proves that they need to be skool'd just like everyone else was; hardcore flamewar stylee.

Beruthiel

flogen wrote:

The fact that the n00bs supporting this idea are instantly resorting to calling everyone who disagrees with them idiots proves that they need to be skool'd just like everyone else was; hardcore flamewar stylee.

Couldn't agree more flogen, huddle them into one room I say and let the AK 47 rip.
Seriously though, teaching them the steps is not a half bad idea.

Sid Deuce

Sarky wrote:

He likes George Michael. Clearly something is amiss.

But really, what's wrong with things as they are? If newbies feel unsafe, there's a plethora of ways to look for a fair deal. Newbies/FAQ, Feedback, reporting posts...

Its a specific forum with a specific use.

Why can't you get that? Why does it bother you so? Can boards.ie not run a new user only based discussion board? One where they, the new user, offer their services as a Device to be probed?

Did Jesus die for you Sarky? I hope not!

On another note one tool that is highly under used by the Admins if the initial signing up email and welcome messages. They could be used to a much better effect with mentioning Charters and Highlighting this new forum for their newbie feed back. It is amazing how many newbies don't post much for nearly a year or so. It would be nice to get their feedback in a non judgemental enviroment.

Stark

We could lure them in then change the name of the forum to "Post here to be banned". The idea gets a thumbs up from me

Sid Deuce wrote:

Can boards.ie not run a new user only based discussion board?

I vote "Logan's Run" for the name anyway.

InFront

As long as it isnt to lecture them, I think it's a fine idea, I'm not sure what the problem is so long as it's optional and users can still participate in the main forum, even if you were doing it for money, so what?

Btw, as a treat to the newer posters, would it be possible to take away or suspend the postcount of more established posters using the n00b line on them. An eye for an eye...:)

Endymion

With regards to this forum idea. Personally I think it will fail unless the users of it actualyl feel like they ahve a say. No point in removing all the sharks if the posters are just ignored, but in a slightly less offensive manner.