Timeline for Questions to ask the SE staff regarding the future of ServerFault
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
10 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 7, 2013 at 19:35 | comment | added | Rob Moir | And they may not find the site initially from a page with a convenient site manifesto for them to read. @Goblyn27 - go to the site as an anonymous, not signed in, person. Click "Ask Question". See that whole page of stuff that comes up? Scroll down and click "Ask Question" again. Look at the big blue box to the side of the text box that users type their questions in to. I'd agree that the site might need to do even better in how it sells itself but equally, if someone manages to ignore all that stuff I described as already there then they're being at least slightly wilfully ignorant. | |
| Aug 7, 2013 at 18:51 | comment | added | Chris S Mod | @Goblyn27 The first time a new user hits the front page they're greeted with "Server Fault is a question and answer site for professional system and network administrators." in a big box at the top. Everyone who asks a question gets a big blue box saying "Is your question about professional server, networking, or related infrastructure administration?" with links to more guidance. You almost have to try to ignore these. We're much more sympathetic to misguided Answers, there's little warning there. Maybe we need the "Ask Question" warning to blink bright colors or something... | |
| Aug 7, 2013 at 18:27 | comment | added | Chopper3 | @Goblyn27 - that's right, many DO find us very easily - but few of those seem to pick up on the fairly-heavy-but-clearly-not-heavy-enough notices that do, if read, clearly state this site is for experienced pro's who do their homework first and are capable of expressing their question with sufficient detail. There's a disconnect - and that's to do with making those sign even clearer - because however much people want the site to be a free-for-all...it never was, isn't now and never will be - by design. | |
| Aug 7, 2013 at 17:58 | comment | added | Peter Lange | But @Chris S, it is mean. This is a site that is open to the public, ranks very high on google searches, and allows anyone who has mastered having a Google or Facebook account to become a site member. It has to be understood that most people who visit this site, specially new users, may not come in with the same perception of the site that existing members have. And they may not find the site initially from a page with a convenient site manifesto for them to read. | |
| Aug 6, 2013 at 15:27 | comment | added | voretaq7 Mod | I REALLY need to get off my ass and write a version of this for Server Fault newbies: phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2013/05/31/… | |
| Aug 6, 2013 at 13:42 | comment | added | Dan | It'll be the same people who ask you to do something that they have no idea about and say "It should only take you a few minutes" | |
| Aug 6, 2013 at 13:20 | comment | added | Chris S Mod | @RobM I'm very certain it's a punch-drunk combination of both, especially the latter. | |
| Aug 6, 2013 at 13:18 | comment | added | Rob Moir | Yes we can try and set peoples expectations of what the site will and won't do for them but if they refuse to listen then there's not much we can do. I honestly don't know if these people are just ignorant or if they're certain it must be really easy to do everything and we're just keeping secrets. | |
| Aug 6, 2013 at 13:17 | comment | added | Chopper3 | I couldn't have put that better myself - perhaps we need a close answer that's not just a short few words but explains it in much clearer detail - that was if they bitch about it afterwards we just point them to the text that will be included after the question - just a thought. | |
| Aug 6, 2013 at 13:15 | history | answered | Chris SMod | CC BY-SA 3.0 |