New Member Login
In the last few days, we have seen entries in the forum about helping other members by correcting their entries. One of the things we seem to have lost sight of is what brand new members are asked to supply when they first sign in.
Take the time now to see what is asked before a question is entered in the forum by a first time ever user. First the same page you are looking at now is presented. Then in the lower right of the screen before a question is accepted, this information must be provided:
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By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
New members entering through the question window route are NOT:
- asked to fully complete their profile includin the "About Me" section
- required to identify their native tongue and their proficiency in Spanish and English
- directed to the reference section
- directed to our rules and guidelines
- advised to use correct capitalization and sentence structure
- avoid the use of chatspeak and texting
- directed as to the use of the dictionary
- directed as to the use of the translator
- directed as to the existence or use of the conjugator
- Offered any more direction advice or counsel than Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Some of the comments and replies I have seen fail to recognize the basic lack of knowledge these neophytes bring to the forum. Some of the replies and comments have been very presumptuous and in their presumptive nature have been offensive because the questioner did not know, indeed could not know, that more was expected of them.
If active and veteran members mean to give good answers, and I think they all are well intentioned, it is imperative that we recognize who posed the question by ALWAYS looking at the enquirer's profile page. Be reasonable about what the questioner may be expected to know and to not know.
I offer this personal feeling in a spirit of goodwill and fair play. I believe all members want to present Span¡shD!ct in the best possible light. I hold the opinion that in presenting this community in the best possible light, we present ourselves as individuals in the best possible light.
This was not meant to be a homily or sermon, but on re-reading it, it looks like a sermon, when read aloud, it sounds like a sermon, it is structured like a sermon, so, it must be a sermon. Sorry folks, it wasn't my starting out intention.
All I really wanted to do was to say that we must give fuller more complete answers and make respectful and courteous requests for additional information wherever it might be helpful to have it.
Como siempre, Muchos saludos/As always, Best regards,
Moe
6 Answers
I think you bring a good point, Moe.
I am frequently torn between my own reluctance to preach or tell people off, and the absolute disregard that some neophytes show for basic grammar and spelling, manners, and /or common sense. I admit that I have given one or two replies that could have been softer, in retrospect - although I have made it a personal practice to leave a question unanswered if I find myself wanting to say something nasty or corrosive, in order to wait and see if someone posts a more compassionate answer.
I have also wondered whether, as you seem to imply, offering more precise instructions and "conditions of use" upon sign up is likely to improve the situation.
Just last night I gave a response that was rather...unruly. Unfortunately, I was also in a bad mood and not very considerate at all. In hindsight, it was a reasonable question that made perfect sense to ask. I've certainly learned not to 'critique' someone when I'm not in a sound mindset to do so properly. It also doesn't help that I am somewhat new here myself as well...
A minute ago I looked at 2 different profiles and neither of them listed their native language.I passed on any editing. The longer I am on the forum the more I realize how important that little piece of information is.
It is a good point. I have to admit, I didn't know everything that SpanishDict had to offer--and I don't know if I still know everything. However, I have been surprised when people would ask what a word meant--and it wasn't an idiom, so much as something that could be found on the dictonary. I try never to be rude to people, but it never occurred to me that they didn't know that there was a dictonary.
I have found a very good reason to be polite on the internet as you are in real life. Do you know if you do a google search on your screen name--you can find a list of every comment you have ever made on a web site? I was horrified--because I have a screen name on YouTube where I sometimes get a little...rowdy. Fortunately, none are my real name...my account that I'll be listing on resumes, that is clean as a whistle--and I will do everything to keep it that way.
You can call me clueless, but I never even realized there was an alternate way to enter the forum. Until recently, I always thought members joined the same way I had, by answering all of the questions and reading the information. In fact, I was doing the video lessons for months before I even ventured near the forum.
On retrospect, it makes more sense to know that people looking for quick and easy answers type something in as sloppily as one of us might type in a quick Google search.
I always do check profile pages, but I'm not sure I understand if there is a difference between an actual member who limits their information vs a person just popping in to ask a quick question.
Am I still not understanding something?
Either way, I will apply your sermon to my heart Moe and be kind and welcoming. 
When any member proceeds to post a question, he/she will first see "Tip: put phrases to be translated in quotes."
I think instead it should say something like "Tip: please use correct spelling, punctuation, and capitalization."
Maybe it won't help....maybe it will.
