Thread: How do Others Feel?

My two bob's worth is that any newbie should get an email explaining forum etiquette; otherwise they'll take as what goes what they see.

The email should advise them to search first (and how to do it) before posting a question; to read all posts in a thread before replying; and to be aware that any community only survives on a balance of giving and taking. It should encourage them to close the loop if they've been given useful advice by saying what they tried and how it went.

There are some subforums here that I used to participate in regularly but no longer because they're clogged with simple questions that a search would have answered. And increasingly members read the first post, ignore the rest and then jump in with their response when the subject matter has already been covered. It's fine if they want to waste their time; the effect on me is to discourage engagement.

Hi,

I just came across this thread. I have often replied to the respondants by thanking them. I do this because of the upbringing I had which included thanking those you had taken time out of their busy schedules to help me.

I also look on it from a contributors point of view of thinking "well that person at least acknowleged my reply (contribution)" and as such should they want an answer to another query then no problem.

As the saying goes "I like to be treated the way I treat them".

Regards
MH