'Earning' a request

I like the idea as well of "earning it" because we got alot of requests that we complete and they just forget to check back and leave...

 

so i was just thinking about this:

what if, in certain parts of the forum like "request a logo customization" and "graphics," you have to request permission in order to download a file someone's attached to a post..? like you can see thumbnails...? either way, if a logo looks good from far away, then it's definitely doing its job...right? then again, i dont know if this can be done, or if it'd make things super complicated.....

 

I disagree with the OP to restrict new members asking questions right away. I recall many cases where I joined a forum to ask a question about something I didn't understand. In some cases I became a long term member while in other cases I simply wasn't motivated by the way things were rolling and left.

I think it should be up to each forum member whether or not to respond to a question no matter if the poster is senior or not.

Regarding people who aren't coming back now I see lots of replies who actually drive users outside the forums. I think is one of the reasons many new members may not stay here.
For example someone asks "how can I edit this template?" And the response is: "go get editor-x or tool-y" from an external site. That doesn't help the forum much. People may follow links and won't even remember where they got the answer from. So limiting external links can help in several ways. That includes the templates btw, many of them you need to go outside the domain to download. If someone wants to put external links have a contribution area where members can post contributions (see how oscommerce does that for instance and you do that already but in a limited way) and put their sites inside the readme or contribution archive (code, text, images etc).

Also if a member attaches code or a resource in a forum post, it should be accessible by everyone. I don't want to have to login to download a file. After all the file content is something that can be posted using various means not something that is restricted.

 

Why is this a great forum. This is the question you are asking.
Will changing it improve or diminish it. Yes, people are self centered, annoying and ungrateful, so what's new, you can not change that so work around it.
I left a forum with over 600 posts of helping people, because they changed the rules without thinking of the adverse effects (they removed signatures).
This hurt the people that were contributing.
We will continue to have problems from people but how it is handled will improve or diminish the forum.
I think enigma1 has a handle on the problem, and Ishkey and Covert Pea (I still want to see that piece of string) have handled it very well in the past.
-
falcon

 

This certainly is an interesting (and true) thread.

I believe people who aren't committed to getting their logo doesn't deserve to get their logo. Like members who make their request, and a designer replies and the requester never replies back.

I have to question to the designers, when the person requesting a logo wants a re-design several times, does that annoy you?

 

I think this is already in the do's and don'ts page, from what I remember it said always reply back fast, don't take too long, though I'll assume it means a day, maybe two at most to check the posts on your request.

I'm not a designer myself, but i'd say it's 50/50, If they take on the challenge of their own free will, then it'll mean something to them to complete it. It's like the different between a paid job and volunteer work, you get more return for your volunteer work because you it's yourself your pushing to do it, rather than the wage. But on the other hand, the designer can think "yeah, this is too much fuss". It's about the individual designer tbh.

 

Well yeah, its in the Do's and Don'ts. Doesnt mean people are gonna start following them.

 

Yeah as before it does get annoying and those that don't follow the rules ruin it for everyone else as we have to look into each new request but we do give up after a while and tell them it's our last try so they pretty much decide on one then but we don't just say it to get them to decide we actually mean it lol but CP mostly covered the answer and is spot on what she said.

But those that help we wouldn't mind helping them out..like you

 

I've had a good look round the site since I joined and I must admit I can see why designers get how shall we say 'wound up' on the odd occasion. Manners are unfortunately on the wane these days and please and thankyou seem to be on the decline. When it comes to helping people that too can sometimes just be a one way ticket.
I'm not the best on these computer thingmybobs but anything I can do to help anyone then i will!

 

I'd like to think I have great manners, but I am like the other guys that come on here and request straight away. The reasons? Easy..

People search google for help, and when they find it they lose their mind!! And manners apparently.

I wish their was another way that I could show my worth, but what am I to do? I've come here because I'm no good at photoshop, so I'm rubbish at reviews and fixing others!

How important are reviews for you? Or maybe sending images of the finished results, does this help?

Otherwise, community service, make a request that is easy to follow. 'Buy the next 'Big Issue' that you see on the streets', 'give blood!'. I dunno, but there has to be a way..

 

Giving a website review isn't really that hard. All you have to do is give your opinions on what you think about the site. The good, the bad, how you think it could be improved.

Since we do not ask for money it's only fair that we tell members to help others out around the forum and that does not necessarily mean designing logos else we would not create them for you if you could design yourself. So the next easiest option is to give a website review or offer your services for free in return which doesn't really need great skills to achieve.

So if a member does not help out then to me that is just being selfish so we do not help them if they cannot return a favour.

 

Yep, fair point.

I will do this..

It's a really nice thing you guys do. Hopefully some guys use if for portfolio's or something else..

Cheers,

 

Hi all. I totally agree that give & take is great, and it's only fair etc. However, I'm a complete technophobe. I've spent about 20 mins trying to find something to respond to. Somewhere to give. 1st I found a load of threads wanting advise on online stuff. I didnt even know what half of it meant ! I'd be happy to give reviews on websites, but cant find any to review. I'm going round in circles clicking on tabs. Thanks for the great site, any help to help me 'give' appreciated. Many thanks :0)