can we sticky a "new to linux" thread

i donno 'bout you guys but im tired of all the new treads with the same "im totally new to linux" subject lines...

we should no doubtably help these people with there problems its just the threads can be all stuffed into one big sticky....


it would help me sort through the other threads for ones i can help with

There are two kinds of people. People who can search and think creatively and will find their way around. And people who cannot. The latter kind does not read stickies. Guess which kind starts these threads?

Funny thing,people who need help the most,meaning newbies,only have one sticky thread in their forum and that one is not much helpful to them.

well sorta true this whole section of the board is dedicated to those threads but still people need to learn to use the search button or use a better title....

Hi,

Simple keyword searches on LQ or 'Google Linux' will get you loads of information. You just need to know the correct/niche keyword(s) for your search(s).

As for a sticky, in a newbie forum that would be a wide topic sticky.

lol, I noticed them too, and I agree, you get my vote.

Originally Posted by alan_ri Funny thing,people who need help the most,meaning newbies,only have one sticky thread in their forum and that one is not much helpful to them.

Funny thing is that "people who need them" won't read them.

And there's no point (IMNSHO) to replicate what's in the stickies
in Linux-General (which used to be the forum with the highest
post count - strangely enough that changed when the order of
the forum list got re-arranged - now what does THAT tell you?),
if someone stumbles over my sticky, and chooses to ignore the
links - what are the chances of them reading further or longer
sticky posts?



Cheers,
Tink

OK,two things;
1.It's good to know that we have a moderator who is replying to an "old thread",because I think that this thread should've been noticed and replied by mod/s a little earlier.
2.About your comment,well,you've said that the order of the forum list has been re-arranged and it caused that some forums have been less visited then usual.I can understand that,simply because I understand human nature(as much as I do),meaning that a lot of people goes by the rule;"it's easier to do it in the easy way".Having that in mind,if we,LQers would like some things to be easier to Linux and LQ newbies and to us also,then we could reconsider adding a few more stickies,forums or subforums to LQ,otherwise I think that history will repeat herself,over and over again.

Stickies clog the top of the forums. Hard to look for topics fast for ppl that need help which I give once in a while when I come here with a question of my own.
Fact is, people who do not appreciate us and the rules don't read the stickies anyway. Its a people problem and not a forum problem.

uhh who the hell dug this from its grave it was buried at least 3 or 4 pages down....

Originally Posted by tommytomthms5 uhh who the hell dug this from its grave it was buried at least 3 or 4 pages down....

That would have been me... checking whether there's more
practical jokes buried in your other threads ;}

Originally Posted by alan_ri 2.About your comment,well,you've said that the order of the forum list has been re-arranged and it caused that some forums have been less visited then usual.I can understand that,simply because I understand human nature(as much as I do),meaning that a lot of people goes by the rule;"it's easier to do it in the easy way".Having that in mind,if we,LQers would like some things to be easier to Linux and LQ newbies and to us also,then we could reconsider adding a few more stickies,forums or subforums to LQ,otherwise I think that history will repeat herself,over and over again. :twocents:

I think you're vastly over-estimating the value of stickies
to the general populace. Adding more stickies will only push
current posts of the front-page sooner, and people still won't
read them. Btw, I'm an LQer too, surprise, and like it just the
way it is. And yes, history will repeat itself. Just like with people
suggesting more forums, or more stickies. Nothing is new
under the sun. And with these words I'm moving this over
to the Feedback forum where it belongs.



Cheers,
Tink

Originally Posted by Tinkster I think you're vastly over-estimating the value of stickies to the general populace.

I think many would disagree.

Originally Posted by Tinkster Adding more stickies will only push current posts of the front-page sooner, and people still won't read them.

This is a contradictory statment.

Originally Posted by Tinkster Btw, I'm an LQer too, surprise, and like it just the way it is.

It's not surprise to me and I like it just the way it is but I would like it more if some things were a little different,and I've already posted about that here and in other relevant forums.

Cheers!

Originally Posted by Tinkster I think you're vastly over-estimating the value of stickies to the general populace. Adding more stickies will only push current posts of the front-page sooner, and people still won't read them. Btw, I'm an LQer too, surprise, and like it just the way it is. And yes, history will repeat itself. Just like with people suggesting more forums, or more stickies. Nothing is new under the sun. And with these words I'm moving this over to the Feedback forum where it belongs. Cheers, Tink

Tink I think I have it figured out, it is your name. 'Tinkster' is a great moderator name, low key and will not create a lot of controversy. But for the sticky's you need to use more of a name that draws attention such as (Superman) (Crazy) (Heeman) (My way).

Tinkster's point is that there are a limited number of slots for threads on each forum - depending on how your preferences are configured. When a sticky is created, it takes over one of those slots permanently. This means that there is less space for created threads. Therefore, if (say) you have your preferences set to view 25 threads per page, you will see only 24 + 1 stickied thread. This means that threads get pushed down and off the first page that bit more quickly.

As to the value, it's debatable. On the one hand, we have created many many stickied threads and the rush to post has meant that the visible questions have all been answered by the stickies - not that this stops the new posts being created. On the other hand, if the stickies work, how will we know? If a question is answered by a sticky, the question won't be posted.

It also needs to be noted that for a thread to truly useful for a newbie it either needs to be an extremely detailed thread - so detailed as to be too long to be usable - or a long list of links that a newbie won't read because they won't know the links apply to them.