man this place has really gone straight to hell

[Guest]

Well,

I think people are not as prompt to answer because - most of the questions being asked HAVE aslready been asked and answered. It seems most people do not want to bother to search and read anymore.

When I return here after a few days away, I always just read some posts and answer questions if I can help.

I think unfortunately a lot of folks just come to ask for help and then leave without ever contributing back.

To keep the spirit of open source alive we ALL have to be willing to help each other. Not just take, take, take.

Also, I have noticed a trand where some folks come and ask for input in developing a really needed mod. They will then put out a few editions of that mod and after the bugs are worked out, will start charging for te mod. That is not right. Using us a guinea pigs to finetune the code and then refusing to open source the rest is not really honest. (IMHO)

[Guest]

while i dont want to keep this thread alive, it is good to see that people are seeing for themselves what has been happening and the changes that need to occur.

 

where have all the people gone - on vacation.. a long, much needed vacation (and rest...)

 

Benjamin, you are seeing the tip of the iceburg, but you are seeing what has driven a lot of people away from being here full time they way they used to be

 

it would be wonderful if people would learn how the use the search function (and yes, the search function has its limitations), but except for questions in the 'contributions' thread, i would guess about 99% of the questions being asked everyday have been answered numerous times and people are either not searching or do not know how to get around the limitations of the search functions (such as, do not search for a 3 letter word, search for multi word strings, use * as part of the search string, click the search for all terms checkbox, etc)

 

but then we start going round and round...

[ElLeonBlanco]

Hello All:

 

I was reading and learning about OsCommerce LONG before I ever became a forum memeber. When I was getting more familiar with Linux and would seek advice on IRC the standard answer ALWAYS was GOOGLE. That sure wasn't much assistance because most likely I had already looked there and come up empty handed. I also READ, READ, READ, here in the forums for a possible solution B4 asking some most likely answered B4 question.

 

Most times when I ask something here another member will offer advice or post a link where I can find my answer. There are also those times when you innocently ask a question for an idea on where to look to modify something to work with a new CVS of MS2 or a bug in a contrib for MS1 and the author of the contrib snubbs you like you were a 5 year old child.

 

That in my opinion IS NOT community spirit or support. It also completely debases the basic purpose of Open Source developmnet. To me Open Source is far more than a licensing agreement. It is a valuable means for other minds to contribute knowledge and share ideas to make something better and more useful for everyone.

 

Up until a couple of months ago OSC had that contributed by all knowledge feeling. Now it seems that there are still a few out there willing to lend assistance to those that sometimes seem to ask the stupidest of questions. I have also noticed that as in the Linux world many have become aloof, snobbish, and even outright rude to people seeking assistance.

 

Ever since these attitude changes have occurred I follow the same procedures listed below as when needing Linux assistance.

 

First: GOOGLE, if it's not there then you may be digging a while.

 

Second: Look for online tutorials relating to what you need to accomplsh. Many of them can teach you exactly what you need and how to iplement it.

 

Third: Look for another site that has the feature you need. Under certain circumstances this might boarder on plagerism. However if you give appropriate credit where it is due you will generally have few or no problems. (Please don't steal other people's graphics. It's far more original to create your own.)

 

Fourth: If you have or have access to them? Books. I know just how costly these can be as I have purchased several that cost well over $50. I also find the books to be one of the least useful items in my reference toolbox.

 

Fifth: "This is the most dangerous tool in the box so be careful." Ask for advice in a forum relating to your project. CAUTION: Purchase flame retardent suit before attempting this operation.

 

Sixth: Last recourse! Contract the services of a designer that is qualified to perform the services you need. In other words: Don't hire an Ecommerce specialist to author a website that doesn't sell anything.

 

Getting back on FORUM TOPIC!

 

I would like to suggest a page be displayed at the top of the categories list containing recently placed questions from those unfamiliar with the project. Something like a prescreeniing area that would retain the questions for a day or two so those willing to be of assistance could view them easier. After a specified time based on posting content be sorted to their appropriate topics under the forums. Also don't forget to mail a note to the poster where to look.

 

I have also noticed several of the topics have become quite LARGE, unfollowable, and many of the postings contain the same or similarly related solutions. These could be combined into a solution archive website with better search and retreival functions.

 

Just my thoughts. Will help with any of this if I can. All you need do is ask. :wink:

[martyjoe]

i'm a newbie and learn both the hard way ("do this and it breaks") or the easy way (wonderful advice from the community). the latter being the 1st choice.

 

personally, i don't have any answers, but i would hate to see intellegent members leave for reasons stated in the original post. (please don't leave - newbies need you!) i have been helped so much my so many wonderful people. my only regret is that i cannot buy them a drink and peronsally say "thank you".

[Guest]

To get the thread back on topic, I'd suggest a move away from phpBB;

 

- its bandwidth heavy compared to other boards

- its difficult to search unless you know the correct tricks to do so

 

Perhaps not being on phpBB (or updating the search facility at least - IIRC there is a module for a better search facility) would help immensely with people asking the same questions day in, day out ?

 

I would suggest replacing phpBB with Invision Board .. it has a wonderful, user friendly interface and it has a hack to convert current phpBB too!

 

HTH

 

Jan