I am shocked at the overall disrespect and rudeness that is being shown toward new writers at these type of writing site forums. They come to the forum and ask a question and all they receive is a snipey comment about people asking this question before.
I will be the first to tell you. I have a million and one things to do a day. I do not have time to search through thousands and thousands of forum posts to answer the questions I have. I thought forums were to support each other. I seem to be the only person who feels this way about it. I just think we should help others as much as we can. We might need help one day and what goes around comes around.
Every time I visit one of the several forums on the sites I write for I see posts where innocent people are being snapped at for posting previously answered questions, questions about how the site/pay works, or personal posts.
What happened to helping one another? I know had it not been for the several experienced writers who offered me guidance in the beginning, I would have gave up a long time ago. I may be the only person who feels this way and although it has never happened to me, I feel empathy for these people.
I stick to the philosophy if you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything it at all. I think that should be a forum rule.
Maybe it's because too many people are asking first rather than reading the comments and other help pages? I'm a forum member in several writing sites and all the questions new people commonly ask are all answered perfectly plainly in the FAQs or site guidelines, if only people actually READ these things before commenting, not after posting and being told to read them...
ReplyDeleteCome on, if you're intelligent enough to write, you must be able to read a little for your research?
Agree about the snippy comments though, even if sometimes I'm as guilty as the next. Depends on the way the new user has phrased their question, in a lot of cases.
I agree with you about the help section of sites. The first thing I do is read the guidelines, FAQS, and other information pages several times before I even attempt to write an article.
ReplyDeleteBut what harm is it to just simply remind them that the information is found in the help section? Why must people talk down to them like they are complete idiots?
Also, these posters may be asking questions that seem to be covered in the information sections but what they are really seeking is the personal experience of others. For example, a newbie asking, "What should I expect to be paid here?" isn't really asking for the revenue share information found in the help section. What they really mean is, based on your experience what can be expected to pay for 10 articles, 25 articles, 500 articles? And although two articles will never pay the same for revenue, newbies may not know this. Or they could just be looking for a general expectation.
I just don't feel they should be bombarded with rude comments telling them to take a hike to the help section and the forum search button.