Actually no. My point is that this extremely useful bit of information (and let's face it, no matter how lengthy or well explained, a sticky will boil down to the words in the sidebar) is there, right in the face of the poster when creating a thread. Since this is ignored an extraordinary number of times, why would a sticky make people go "oh, so that's where I was going wrong"?

Thanks Trickykid - that is exactly what I was saying.

And (I think) I agree partially with you both: lusers will be lusers (just as boys will be boys). That's to say that in some cases pointing people to the stickies won't do a <deity> damned thing.

But in some cases, it does, so I'm glad someone's doing it :) (like I said, `not a statistically significant sample')

So, keep up the good work while I go read the stickies :D

0.02$ --Jonas

I don't know about you but at the end of the day I don't bother to read posts that have non-specific titles. I'm only a newbie but it didn't take me long to figure out that I got more help if i was specific about my problem. Believe me, if i ever get to the stage of being able to help others I still won't read them.

I don't know how these things work but I presume the moderators are honour-bound to read more of them - poor people. I am all for moderators really getting in the face of poor posters - within the bounds of what is fair and in keeping with good manners.

For me, the big weakness of all forums is the ratio of inexperienced posters to experts. I see 10 desperate experts rushing around trying to service the needs of 500 people in desperate need of help. I've noticed that if i don't get an answer to my problem within two or three posts, there is a tendency for the "expert" to be slide away. I have seen dozens of posts here where the whole post is up in the air without any solution. The experts have given their best shot in one or two replies and then they are off to answer the next poor bas***d who is struggling.

I am astonished at the sheer goodwill of those who *can* help, in the face of indifferent titles, poor descriptions of the problems and general lack of appreciation of the receivers.

I think that *anything* we can do to spread that goodwill more effectively, the better. If that means a few upset posters well so be it. There are plenty of forums around. If they want to waste the time and effort of precious resources they can go and do it somewhere else. I need all the help I can get and I am prepared to make damned sure that I do my best to be clear and concise - and then suitably grateful for any help I do get!

By the way - while I got your ears - can anyone help me with .... NO only joking. ..

why do the "experts" slide away? Well, it's for a variety of reasons.
1) they aren't really experts. If the original poster (OP) isn't specific enough, then someone might nibble, and when more info is presented, the "expert" doesn't know what.
(for example: OP posts: I can't get the screen working. I post: what distro are you using? OP gentoo. I: nothing, because I know nothing about gentoo)
2)the OP is just stupid.
3)a google really WILL solve the problem

and the list goes on... All experts have a life too, you know!

titanium_geek

hey - I'm not dissing the "experts". I am full of admiration for anyone who takes the time to help others in need.

Also - my definition of an expert is anyone who knows more than me <g>

no, I'm not saying that (sorry, bad mood when written... apologies) but that those are the reasons for threads petering out at 10 or so posts- the person sometimes is just not understanding.
titanium_geek

I have to confess--that's me. I've been using Linux only just shy of four months, but I still try my best (even though I'm not an expert) to help out other newbies who may be even newer than I am. Honestly, though, I don't know much. Yeah, if someone asks a Gentoo question, I don't know what's up with that.

I also have to confess that I don't read stickies. They just become white noise for me. I don't know an effective way to get people's attentions. If newbies are so frustrated they're posting problems in a forum, they're probably too preoccupied with getting a solution to their problem to actually read a sticky, as self-defeating as that approach is...