| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | "Sticky topic" for questions that are repeated over and over Thread poster: Jan Sundström
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Hi all,
I think it's time for the Proz moderator to implement sticky topics, and put a FAQ on top of every subforum. This is supported with other forum software like phpBB, so it should be possible for the Proz webmaster to develop.
Take for instance the question:
"How do I convert a PDF to Word/How do I translate a PDF with Trados/How do I count the words in a PDF?"
This has been asked almost once a week ever since I joined Proz.
I'm not... See more Hi all,
I think it's time for the Proz moderator to implement sticky topics, and put a FAQ on top of every subforum. This is supported with other forum software like phpBB, so it should be possible for the Proz webmaster to develop.
Take for instance the question:
"How do I convert a PDF to Word/How do I translate a PDF with Trados/How do I count the words in a PDF?"
This has been asked almost once a week ever since I joined Proz.
I'm not blaming newbies for not searching in the forum archive, but everybody would benefit from sticky topics as long as certain question is being repeated, and as long as newbies keep shooting questions without searching first.
Newbies will find the answer quicker rather than having to wait for replies. And the forum will be less cluttered by posts that are repeated and taking up screen real estate...
Jan ▲ Collapse
| | | | Marc P (X) 
Local time: 12:00
German to English
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| "Sticky topic" for questions that are repeated over and over | May 31, 2007 |
Jan Sundström wrote:
I think it's time for the Proz moderator to implement sticky topics, and put a FAQ on top of every subforum.
With links to relevant HowTos in the article base.
Marc
| | | | Margreet Logmans (X)
Netherlands
Local time: 12:00
English to Dutch
+ ...
I totally agree with Jan.
And Marc's idea is good too.
Best wishes,
Margreet
| | | | | Great suggestions! | May 31, 2007 |
Jan Sundström wrote:
Hi all,
I think it's time for the Proz moderator to implement sticky topics, and put a FAQ on top of every subforum. This is supported with other forum software like phpBB, so it should be possible for the Proz webmaster to develop.
Hi Jan,
Thanks for a great suggestion! I also like Mark's idea to provide links to articles in the knowledge base.
This should be done by staff, not moderators. I have added these suggestions to our to-dos list.
Thanks again,
Enrique
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Andrzej Lejman
Poland
Local time: 12:00
Member (2004)
German to Polish
+ ...
| I have already suggested the same last year, | May 31, 2007 |
so I can totally agree only.
Best regards
Andrzej
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 12:00
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
| A different suggestion... | May 31, 2007 |
Jan Sundström wrote:
I think it's time for the Proz moderator to implement sticky topics, and put a FAQ on top of every subforum.
Take for instance the question: "How do I convert a PDF to Word/How do I translate a PDF with Trados/How do I count the words in a PDF?" ... This has been asked almost once a week ever since I joined Proz.
I have a better idea.
When someone posts a question like that, the moderator should do two things: 1. he should reply to say that the question has been asked and answered, and that the poster should consult the archives; and 2. he should close the thread.
Closing the thread will keep people from replying to those questions, and cluttering up the forums with the same old responses to the same old questions.
If anyone did not find what he was looking for in the archives, then he can specifically say so when he posts a new thread, and explain in more detail what information he is looking for that he didn't find in the archives.
| | | | | I would not close threads on repest issues | May 31, 2007 |
Hi Samuel,
I see no reason to close a thread because the issue has been discussed already. New people may bring new ideas. Why prevent them to ask or answer? What damage is done?
Cheers,
Enrique
| | | | | They don't search | May 31, 2007 |
Samuel Murray wrote: Jan Sundström wrote:
I think it's time for the Proz moderator to implement sticky topics, and put a FAQ on top of every subforum.
Take for instance the question: "How do I convert a PDF to Word/How do I translate a PDF with Trados/How do I count the words in a PDF?" ... This has been asked almost once a week ever since I joined Proz. I have a better idea. When someone posts a question like that, the moderator should do two things: 1. he should reply to say that the question has been asked and answered, and that the poster should consult the archives; and 2. he should close the thread.
I don't think idea with closing threads would work. If a newbie doesn't search a forum before asking a question, they he/she wouldn't see closed threads on a subjects. Forums might end up flooded with many many many closed threads.
Anni
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Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 12:00
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
| I misunderstood | May 31, 2007 |
Enrique wrote:
I see no reason to close a thread because the issue has been discussed already. New people may bring new ideas. Why prevent them to ask or answer? What damage is done?
Sorry, I misunderstood. I thought the purpose of the original suggestion was to reduce the number of repeat-threads. Now I see that the purpose of it is simply to increase usefulness for people who don't want to search.
| | | | Vito Smolej
Germany
Local time: 12:00
Member (2004)
English to Slovenian
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER | "increase usefulness for people who don't want to search" | May 31, 2007 |
... and charge them a brownie or two for it? No, no ... I am just joking.
My good ol' boss called this kind of people "hunt dogs you need to carry on the way to the hunt".
smo
PS: In German it sounded much better:"Jagdhunde, die man zur Jagd tragen muss."
PPS: what about having a special corner for the OFF-the cliff-topics. Like
i) "I dowloaded TRADOS and it says it's a demo version"
ii) "Help - I keep seeing ... See more ... and charge them a brownie or two for it? No, no ... I am just joking.
My good ol' boss called this kind of people "hunt dogs you need to carry on the way to the hunt".
smo
PS: In German it sounded much better:"Jagdhunde, die man zur Jagd tragen muss."
PPS: what about having a special corner for the OFF-the cliff-topics. Like
i) "I dowloaded TRADOS and it says it's a demo version"
ii) "Help - I keep seeing double - source and target"
Sigh ...
[Edited at 2007-05-31 19:36] ▲ Collapse
| | | | lexical
Spain
Local time: 12:00
Portuguese to English
| It's not a question of people who don't want to search... | May 31, 2007 |
...more a question of not knowing how to. I recall a recent question about reversing a TM - the asker HAD used the search facility but didn't use the right key words that would have triggered results.
I think Jan's suggestion is a brilliant and elegant solution, and I'm delighted that Enrique agrees.
Let's remember that newbies by definition are less experienced at all these things - as we all were once upon a time. I wouldn't want us to adopt a vindictive approach - "... See more ...more a question of not knowing how to. I recall a recent question about reversing a TM - the asker HAD used the search facility but didn't use the right key words that would have triggered results.
I think Jan's suggestion is a brilliant and elegant solution, and I'm delighted that Enrique agrees.
Let's remember that newbies by definition are less experienced at all these things - as we all were once upon a time. I wouldn't want us to adopt a vindictive approach - "You didn't do this properly, so we're going to block you, so there, yah-boo sucks" (puts thumb to nose and waggles the other four fingers while sticking the tongue out as far as it will go).
[Edited at 2007-05-31 20:21] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I like the title "Sticky topic", too | May 31, 2007 |
Sounds just right for this type of thing. I hope the idea is implemented.
Astrid
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| New aspects of sticky topics | Jun 1, 2007 |
When time passes by, the sticky topics give us additional information as well. More ideas to be exchanged on this forum.... unless we want to ignore certain forum postings.
In my opinion, the sticky topics are mostly concernted by translator professionals. This is one merit of Proz.com forum.
Regards,
Soonthon L.
| | | | | Off the cliff | Jun 1, 2007 |
Vito Smolej wrote:
PPS: what about having a special corner for the OFF-the cliff-topics. Like
i) "I dowloaded TRADOS and it says it's a demo version"
ii) "Help - I keep seeing double - source and target"
Sigh ...
[Edited at 2007-05-31 19:36]
Fully agree with you, Vito. This would als be the right place for topics like: "I delivered my translation on time, client was satisfied but haven't been paid yet. Do I need to issue an invoice?"
[This is not fiction: there _was_ a colleague who asked this question]
| | | | | Used to be a forum search on the home page... | Jun 1, 2007 |
Part of the problem is that at the forum section at the bottom of the home page, there are two places to click to "start a new forum post" and absolutely no "search forum" button in the immediate layout vicinity of that section. So I can understand that a newbie would have much more difficulty finding the forum search option instead of just starting a new post.
I know at one stage the staff added a forum search box at the lower left corner (just like for Kudoz questions), but for s... See more Part of the problem is that at the forum section at the bottom of the home page, there are two places to click to "start a new forum post" and absolutely no "search forum" button in the immediate layout vicinity of that section. So I can understand that a newbie would have much more difficulty finding the forum search option instead of just starting a new post.
I know at one stage the staff added a forum search box at the lower left corner (just like for Kudoz questions), but for some reason it was removed 2 days after it appeared, and I am not sure why... I sense that it would be helpful if this were put back in place.
By the way, speaking about repeated forum threads, this topic has already been discussed at http://www.proz.com/topic/68474... ▲ Collapse
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