Thread: General Question and Answer Database Idea

I would not use an approach that linked to old threads.
Our recent crash has shown the risk of that
An entirely new "sticky" thread, much like B&B has, is called for. This should also be made into a PDF. There really needs to be some video content made. Just a bunch of short clips showing 1. How to lap and prep a hone 2. Evaluating your razor before honing. 3. The different honing strokes 4 The various sharpness tests 4. How to apply tape to the spine etc.

If it is possible to integrate video into a PDF I do not know but it would be nice.

Tre Randy, I understand what you mean. I just don't know if that can happen either, Video would be helpful, but i have no clue as to haw to hook it to PDF.

Phil

Here's the problem I see: Everyone always thinks things like this are a good idea so long as someone else is doing the work. Everyone agrees on the value of the reference resource, but no one wants to volunteer to create it. So, it never gets done.

I proposed this a LOOOONG time ago and it didn't seem to be something people liked, but I've seen it work on other forums and so I'll propose it again... it goes something like this...

Suppose there is a sticky thread... let's call it "Information Every Newbie Should Know", for example

Then, suppose someone posts a technique, how-to, or whatever. If other readers like it and think it should go into the sticky, they nominate the post to be included in the sticky. Discussion ensues, the information is tweaked to incorporate the suggestions. When there's general agreement that the info is correct and complete, the final version of the post is moved to the sticky thread.

And then someone starts a new thread with another good tid-bit and it's nominated, re-worked, accepted and moved to the sticky.

And another, and another, etc., etc.

Eventually the sticky will get large and unwieldy... at that point someone volunteers to take the information and rewrite it as a FAQ and repost it in the sticky, deleting all the other posts.

And then the process continues, building additional info from good posts which get added to the FAQ/sticky, eventually getting incorporated/consolidated into the FAQ, etc

To make this work,

1. someone has to own/administer the sticky.
2. Eventually, someone has to volunteer to consolidate all the posts into a FAQ.

Otherwise, it's pretty self sustaining.

As to the reliability of threads (in light of the recent DB crash)... that was pretty much an unusual occurrence. We won't likely be a victim of that again since we'll be making redundant backups via two different paths and repositories.

As to video...

• it's very bandwidth intensive... if you want a lot of video clips, then they need to be stored on a server capable handling that type of content.
• The video can be linked to the post/thread/faq/whatever but keep in mind it will only be viewable on-line... those that like to print things for reference won't get the video.
• Also, bear in mind that about 1/3rd of our members access via dialup... they will not be happy if you require the loading of video files every time they look at something... just like they don't want to wait for full size attachments to load every time they look at a thread.

So these issues would have to be worked out in a way that reaches a decent compromise.

just my $.02

Joe, the storage issues with video files are easily handled.

Store the video files on YouTube. It takes just a couple minutes to insert some custom BB codes into vBulletin, so YouTube (actually any) videos can be played within a forum post.

It's always said the two least-used features within vB are the Calendar and the FAQ. The FAQ itself could be set up with this information, if you want to store it in its own, special area.

Everything is back up and running at the vB Geek and the GARS script works great in a tutorial format, as well as in a review format. (See how easily I can spend another person's money? )

These are just a couple of options that would help get information presented in an orderly manner.

I'll shut up now...

If there's one thing i've learnt from the forums its that everyone finds doing things slightly differently works for them. Some people use Nortons, some coticles, others use other items to hone. Some choose 5/8, some 6/8, some wedges. Some go for half-hollow, others full.

Variety is the single biggest watchword on this forum. It is the very reason that SRP is such a valuable resource. Everybody has different experiences. Newbies can learn from the experience of others.

I'm not saying this is a bad idea. I'm simply saying if its going to be done it should be done thoroughly. For example, rather than question answer format (eg. Why wont my brand new razor shave properly? A: Likely because it isnt shave ready. (How many times have you read a thread like THAT!)) a better format would be question, possible reasons, solution AND WHY THIS SOLUTION SHOULD WORK.

For example:

Q. My new razor isnt shaving me properly. Its just tearing the hairs out. Whats wrong.

Possibilities; Poor technique, Poor preparation, Razor not shave ready etc....

THEN each of these would have to be explained. How do I know if my technique is poor? What am I not doing in my preparation? Who can I trust to tell me the razor is shave ready?

So before I start rambling and ranting just think long and hard. Doing this would mean it would have to be done RIGHT and done WELL. Are we all up for this? Or as an earlier poster said, are we reaching burnout point?

Sandy

Originally Posted by Mike54

Joe, the storage issues with video files are easily handled.

Store the video files on YouTube. It takes just a couple minutes to insert some custom BB codes into vBulletin, so YouTube (actually any) videos can be played within a forum post.

It's always said the two least-used features within vB are the Calendar and the FAQ. The FAQ itself could be set up with this information, if you want to store it in its own, special area.

Everything is back up and running at the vB Geek and the GARS script works great in a tutorial format, as well as in a review format. (See how easily I can spend another person's money? )

These are just a couple of options that would help get information presented in an orderly manner.

I'll shut up now...

How to implement it isn't the problem... we know about FAQs and YouTube, etc. The problem is who's taking charge of administering it... and by "it" I don't mean the YouTube account, etc.... I mean the deciding of what information is valuable, re-writing and consolidation, etc. of the posted ideas into the final media/venue... be it a sticky thread, a FAQ, or whatever.

The mods and admins here are an all-volunteer army... that means we all have other jobs and lives like everyone else... ie, we're not here to personally make videos and create informational posts for everyone. Nor would you want us too... we're not necessarily the experts that you want the information to come from. We're just here to implement the facilities... members must create the content. (Granted, we're members too... so we would also likely contribute.)

As to spending our money... ... there's money?

Originally Posted by sidneykidney

Doing this would mean it would have to be done RIGHT and done WELL. Are we all up for this? Or as an earlier poster said, are we reaching burnout point?

Not to push what I proposed a couple posts earlier, but the reason that works is because it's a community effort that takes place almost naturally. All it needs to be successful is someone to champion and manage the "sticky" thread content... the members collectively do the rest... ie, they create the content.

The first forum I saw the technique used on was one where the guru's got so tired of answering questions analogous to our "how do I re-pin a razor" and "where can I buy MAAS", etc. that they threatened to quit and start their own forum. In fact, that site created forums that only the gurus could access so they didn't have to deal with the mundane stuff in the everyday forums. Even so, guess who flooded the system with lots of great info early on... yep, the gurus.

Yep, time. Who's willing to do it? Well, I like Azjoe's ideas and his observations are right on. Since we get a crop of experts every three months or as is typical in forums. It would help if the "old guys" would lay the foundations.

So Joe, let me see if I get what you are saying. First we start a sticky thread, I.E. How can I tell if my razor is not sharp. Then the members contribute. Then we have a poll or a vote were the members vote as to weather or not that is the answer we want. If it is approved, then we move the entire thread to FAQ, link videos what ever, like a stropping video somebody makes. Is that what you are saying? If I get you correctly, then if it isn't approved, how do you reset the vote counter on that thread.

Phil

Originally Posted by floridaboy

So Joe, let me see if I get what you are saying. First we start a sticky thread, I.E. How can I tell if my razor is not sharp. Then the members contribute. Then we have a poll or a vote were the members vote as to weather or not that is the answer we want. If it is approved, then we move the entire thread to FAQ, link videos what ever, like a stropping video somebody makes. Is that what you are saying? If I get you correctly, then if it isn't approved, how do you reset the vote counter on that thread.

Well, the site I've seen it used most effectively on went sorta like that, but a little different. Suppose there was a number of existing stickies... lets say one was called "Information Every Newbie Should Know". Now, suppose someone posted a thread called "How taunt do I hold the strop" and a gaggle of members made posts to answer... and let's say that Tony Miller posted a particularly good post about it. So maybe I'd make a post to nominate Tony's post for the sticky. Others would post yea/nays and suggestions to include/leave out some stuff. Tony or someone else would edit his post or re-write it to consolidate other's suggestions. And people would post more yeas/nays. Once the general consensus was yea, whoever manages the "Information Every Newbie Should Know" sticky would take care of having the agreed upon post moved to the sticky (and perform any final reformatting needed). At that point, as I recall, the thread "How taunt do I hold the strop" would be locked with a final post saying see the sticky, but that's a detail that could go either way.

The site I'm alluding to used posts instead of polls to "vote" but I guess polls could be used. It usually went more like if no one objects, it was moved to the sticky. As we know, very few people actually vote in our polls.