How should XMTS grow and improve?

[HeathBar]

Another thought popped in my head during my second cup of coffee this morning. Now its been a few years since I joined, but I remembered having to click a link in an email sent to me before my account was finalized. What if in this email links to articles and tutorials of the most commonly asked questions were provided in a friendly and welcoming manner.

[DWFII]

I'm surprised how many don't like to be referred to other threads or locations to find answers to their questions. It seems some don't want to take the time to do the research themselves but have no problem with others spending the time to retype the same thought again and again. Doing the research and hunting down the answers is a big part of the fun of learning about kilts, and if it's done politely and not belligerently there is nothing wrong with someone pointing a reader to a comprehensive source for their answer.

Sure and that's true. I think, however, that the core issue here is the sense of impatience and even irritation that sometimes accompanies an admonition to use the Search function.

I've always felt that if you had the energy and yes, even the abiding interest, in fostering other people's interest in a subject that is near and dear to yourownself, then you would happily take the time to "stuff the fledglings beak." And if you didn't, or were pre-occupied, or tired, or feeling crank, so be it-- no answer...sarcastic or otherwise...required.

But then I make a great deal of my income teaching folks (and have for the last 30 some years...imagine how many times I've been asked the old same, same old, simplistic questions...), so maybe I'm wired a little differently. But I'm mindful of the old adage--"The teacher learns twice."

And, in lieu of all that, sometimes the best way is to give a truncated answer (the short form) and accompany that with a link to another thread or even a few pertinent keywords for the search engine. This not only establishes the human contact and fosters participation but it encourages the questioner to begin to explore and fully utilize the functions of the forum. Many times newbies have trouble with search engines because they don't really understand the concept of "keywords" or simply aren't persistent enough.

People who ask basic questions often do so because they are new...new to kilts, even new to the Internet...and they aren't facile enough with ferreting out information.

And one other thought...we need to remember that this isn't the same guy asking over and over again through ten years of Xmarks discussions. It is in most cases someone wholly unique and individual and new to this forum and this area of interest.

[JRB]

More and easily accessible information is always a good thing. Otherwise, I personally don't see a need for any implimented changes to the X-Marks forums. Of course things here will evolve and thus change over time. No public forum can be static. But as long as people continue to keep threads civil and polite, I like X-Marks just the way it is.

[robthehiker]

How about something like this?

Rookie Forum
New to kilts? You will find answers to common questions here, as well as other rookies, and more senior members who love to help.

[Woot22]

And, in lieu of all that, sometimes the best way is to give a truncated answer (the short form) and accompany that with a link to another thread or even a few pertinent keywords for the search engine. This not only establishes the human contact and fosters participation but it encourages the questioner to begin to explore and fully utilize the functions of the forum. Many times newbies have trouble with search engines because they don't really understand the concept of "keywords" or simply aren't persistent enough.

Could not agree more with everything you said in your post. This is how I feel but could not find the way of expressing it to the forum. Thanks for speaking for all the new guys.

Chris W.

[DWFII]

Could not agree more with everything you said in your post. This is how I feel but could not find the way of expressing it to the forum. Thanks for speaking for all the new guys.

Chris W.

Don't let anyone fool you...we were all "new guys" once. Even the most truculent.

Someone who posts here often has a line in his signature: "We don't stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing."

That's what we are all doing--playing. If it's not in the context of wearing the kilt, it's dern sure in the context of talking about it. So, hey, bottom line it's not like any one of us has anything better to do than to offer encouragement and help others along.

[The Wizard of BC]

My Dear Clan Members,

I am embarrassed to say that your comments have changed my feelings about my first post on this thread.

You see, when your business is making Kilts, when every day you spend a big part of the day explaining, teaching your customers about Kilts, about Tartans, about forms of dress.
And when you have come up against all the myths and the "you must do this" rules time and time again, you get sort of jaded after a while.

And while I do stop in here more that a couple times a day for a sanity break I had allowed myself to forget that we are far more than data. Far more than the lay-out of a computer program. We are a Clan, in the truest sense of the word.

Yes, I still think we need to update the tutorials section of this forum. Things like the fabric comparison chart.
I still think we should tap into the incredible knowledge base of this Clan.
I still think that articles or tutorials from our experts and our members will go a long way in helping our new members and guests with their quest.
I still believe that if you make that knowledge base available in an easy to find, accurate and up-to-date manner it will be a big plus for this site.

But no, I do not want to lose this sense of community, of Clan, that we have created for ourselves.

It just goes to show that if you want the mule to pull the cart, sometimes you have to smack him in the forehead with a 2X4, just to get his attention.

Thanks for the smack.
Sometimes I get so wrapped up in running a business I forget that the reason I got started in the first place was because this is fun.

[RockyR]

Steve... no need to be embarrassed. I get the same questions daily and that's why I PUT so much information out there on our site. It's cut way down on 'those type' of questions. That being said, there are still those who would rather hear it from 'individuals', and that's where the need for the forum comes into play. Also, there are questions that are NOT addressed under the 'usual questions tutorials', in which case, the forum is a great resource for newbies.

I think there's a VERY happy medium between the 2 extremes of 'just another infomation site' and just a 'critique my kilt outfit' site. We can be (and ARE) a GREAT place for anyone who wants to learn about kilts through tutorials and through feedback of likeminded individuals.

[M_Beorn]

"Clapping and Cheering at Steve's latest post!!"

As an instructor of various topics, I always feel good when my students "get it". I enjoy talking about subjects that I am familiar with and feel good about passing on knowledge to people that are interested in the same subjects that I am. Having said this, when it comes to kilts, I am the student looking for knowledge. Sometimes, I get gratification from learning from a book or text, sometimes it comes from conversations (verbal or written).

In some forum settings the challenge becomes separating fact from opinion. Luckily Xmarks, in my opinion, tends to keep those lines clear. I think that is a credit to the membership. I agree with Rocky, that to keep this forum what it is, we should continue to work to self regulate our comments in a positive manner. We can disagree with others, without trashing each other, although I don't see that happening on a regular basis.

Like they say, if you can't say something nice, just don't say it at all. (with the exception of the "Kilt Do's and Don'ts" posts, trash away)... LOL

[CameronTaylor]

I tend to agree with Riverkilt and Steve the most on this and many other topics.
Sorry Steve, some of it has been lost.



CT - but so what