Do you feel this forum has a "don't ask for help attitude"?

Question

The aim and main attitude of this site is " be friendly and helpful".

I would like to copy Jim's opinion on this topic:

I have been with this forum for a few years now. Lately I must say it seems a little more unfriendly then what it used to be. Yes we should all try as much as we can on our own. Using the site itself is a learning process. I find some of the answers these days cold and indifferent. I have also noticed the threads have lost a lot of their interesting input because of this "don't ask for help attitude"

Do you feel this way? Why?

I think we have a great crowd on this site and don't know why anybody should think this way, however, I would like to hear your opinion on this.

I have seen answers on here that would have turned me away had I received them. - Seitheach

I would also like to know why you said this Phil

• Well done for asking this Heidi - sheila-foste Nov 4, 2009
• Heidi why don't they get a big chatroom that we can have right next to the forum. It would be awesome! - 0068e2f4 Nov 4, 2009
• I noticed that Heidita earned a "good question" badge for hijacking this thread. - Malenor Nov 4, 2009
• Dialogue is good. As a group we are all proving that. Let us hope we understand this great place better after this. - Jamesv0r Nov 4, 2009
• Malenor, I don't think Heidi is really worried about badges. - Seitheach Nov 5, 2009
View 6 more commments >>

Answer 1

People are harsh all over the internet. It's just a psychological thing that they know they could hide behind a computer and this is the place where they could just let that frustration gooooooo. I mean, it's just a normal thing. robertico

Yes, I can see that Roberto

Thank you Phil for pointing out that I am in no need of badges.

Eddy already pointed out that we did not like the idea of badges or reputation points etc,. However we have to agree at hindsight that people do like the system and we think it has been an excellent commercial view from the web creator.

Alguien tiene que ser el jefe. Not everyone is going to be happy. Those who aren't are not forced to stay. - Nicole-Baile

Thanks again, Nicole, this is also an important point. If somebody is not willing to be constructive, that person might want to look for a better place on the web. I Personally don¡t think there is one, but, of course, I may be somewhat biased...

• Good response!! - 00515f39 Nov 5, 2009
• This was a longer post but I think on hindsight I think it was not a good idea, some things are better talked over in private - Heidita Nov 5, 2009

Answer 2

This forum has one of the most positive attitudes I've seen yet. There are many other forums that I have visited in the past, especially while learning Japanese, and I can tell you that most forums aren't nearly as friendly as this one.

Hi jeezle, I am really grateful for this post especially seeing some people's agressive attitude .

I think this thread proves our will and readyness to improve the site whereever and however we can.

Heidi, I think the fact that you are taking the time to even address this issue speaks volumes. You are truly concerned about the welfare of the site and about the people on it. Because of that, we may drift off course a bit, but you and Eddy always bring us back to where we need to be.

Thanks a lot, Nicole, this is why I opened the thread in the first place: to learn from other people's experience and insight. I have never been and I am not now willing to look the other way when there is a problem on this sight and a thread like this "why are you so angry" saddens me and made me open this thread.

However, we also get threads like "the people here" this one by a newbie, who got flagged several times and I had to delete several posts, in spite of this he thinks we have a friendly website. I am glad

Answer 3

By coincidence, I just made a post which might be relevant to this subject.

Missing "Rules for Posting"

• thanks mortimer, I have sent Chris all teh corrections so far, let's see if he gets round to correcting them - Heidita Nov 4, 2009
• I only just saw this error. Pleased you know about it. - 00515f39 Nov 4, 2009

Answer 4

That was much less offensive Heidi. Ok, It wasn't offensive at all. And....it was helpful at the same time. Now if we can get the rest of the team onboard we will be good.

I don't think we should have a generic answer for this either. Every one should use their own personal touch. Nicely though. I do think we are headed in the right direction though.

• Thanks , Phil, it was just a thought, everybody shoudl used their own words and approach but in this line sorta... - Heidita Nov 5, 2009

Answer 5

I read I and mary are going to the movie . with great interest,

It's certainly not intimidating or off-putting but Heidi, is it really you?

In the short time that I have been here, I have greatly admired the way this forum is maintained and monitored and that is only possible by the exercise of a stern form of authority (and that authority is you, Heidi, together with some ot the more advanced members of the forum).

I do feel, however, that the attitude, or percieved attitude, of some of the normal forum members can also seem to be very stern, and that a correction or rebuke that one would accept cheerfully from a person in authority can feel very different when administered by one of your fellow students. Perhaps the forum rules could be updated to provide guidelines on courtesy and politeness when answering questions - although it seems a shame that this might be necessary.

• A line from the movie Roadhouse.... Be nice. :) - Seitheach Nov 5, 2009

Answer 6

By the way, I remember one of my first texts I posted here to be proofread and I still recall one comment ridiculing my mistakes. As this was (and still is, jejeje) the beginning of my learning Spanish, I felt a bit disappointed and - well, not offended, but maybe discouraged. Luckily, I also got a friendly and helping hand from other users, and for that (and all of the other help you've been offering) I'm really grateful. I hope that on the first anniversary of my joining SpanishDict I'll still be here and I'll post a huge pastel de cumpleaños

• Remember me ? :) - ian-hill Feb 16, 2012

Answer 7

I have just seen this post. I would like to applaud all posters who answered on that thread, especially cheesie and izan. The post was flagged but I removed the flag so that everybody could see the thread. We often deal with this kind of threads and I normally either close or delete them, but this has made me think...it might be a good idea to intruduce some changes I hope you will support us on this

I am going to open a new thread and suggest possible changes and approaches to the posting. Probably something in this line, what do you think?