How about a longer waiting period before allowing new users to post something?
Hi all,
(I did a search and couldn't find a previous thread on this topic; my apologies if it already exists).
Although the Spanishdict answer forums contain a lot of helpful and interesting posts, I generally find that I have to wade through a lot of strange, redundant, or otherwise spam-ish posts by people who just joined the site and seem to be trying to get an instant translation without intending to stay and contribute to the forum in a meaningful way. I'm wondering what other uses think of the idea of creating a longer waiting period before users can post something to the forums. The purpose of this would be to discourage users that are joining only for an instant answer. On other forums I've seen around the web (none of them language forums), a waiting period of 1 to 2 weeks before users can post something seems to really reduce the amount of spam-ish posts that make it onto the site.
Let me know what you think of this idea!
20 Answers
Personally, I don't really mind who posts what - I'd rather put up with the odd waste of time and still have lots of fresh questions popping up every day. Quite often the short general questions provide me with motivation to look something up and confirm something I already thought I knew or even to learn something new. More often than not, teaching on SD is learning for me 
Also, I always have the option to answer or not or even to click on the question or not so I see no real hardship in allowing new comers to post as soon as they join.
I really do see your point. However, I think that just as we have to weed through our annoying junk mail/emails daily, we will have to continue to do the same here.
And as Mountaingirl said, she stayed after posting her very first "intelligent" question. I think I read the posts for a day when I first joined and asked my first question on the second day. I'm sure if you checked with the other members, most of them started posting almost immediately and I can't imagine if we had lost some of our quality members because of a waiting period.
Yes, it can be quite annoying, especially the totally unintelligible questions or the ones that ask if we like their new sneakers, etc. 
In a related topic, today I was reminded that we really have to be patient with newcomers, even if questions have been asked many times in the past. Yes, I am aware that they can make a search, but I think there is something to be said about revisiting topics and questions from time to time.
I was thinking about this because one of my friends announced to me this morning that she and her husband have begun learning Spanish this week. They are so excited. They are very intelligent people. She is a school teacher and her husband is an amazing musician and also a computer genius. I am mentioning this because she was asking me simple questions like "What does "yo" mean"?
I think that sometimes we may come off as being dismissive or even exasperated because someone is asking such an obvious question. I fully believe that people should try to figure things out on their own first and put a little effort in. However, I was just reminded that we all had to start somewhere and that we should remember to never dampen someone's excitement about learning a language because we think a question is just too simplistic.
I looked back at some of my posts in the first week or two ,and I wanted to crawl
into a corner and wither in shame. But they were necessary to establish my level
of knowledge and , or, incompetence ,it was the pole I needed to vault me
ahead to the next level. It would be thoughtless of us to deny the opportunity for
newbies to hone their untried skills early on. A few silly question here and there
is a small price to pay for helping others to apreciate the great benefits there
are in being a member of SD.
Boy, I belong to a lot of Internet forums for a lot of different hobbies. If I had to wait that long to post something, why the heck would I join? Just to sit around and read for 2 weeks? That would certainly kill a web site.
I agree that the newbies can be annoying, but think of it as an opportunity to exercise your language skills while being annoying back in a language they don't understand. Not that I would ever do that, of course.
I think there has been some sort of discussion about this general topic.
I stumbled on Spanishdict when I was trying to find a definition for "arraigar" in reference to drug cartels. I joined up, posted my question, got an answer, and then became curious, so I hung around for more.
If there had been some sort of "waiting period", I would have moved on, since I wanted the definition in a timely fashion.
The moderators do a good job of weeding out the spam.
I think most of us would shudder at the questions we first asked as novice members of SpanishDict.com. Speaking for myself, what I thought of as my knowledge of Spanish soon became my presumed, knowledge of Spanish. The many people who helped me by suggestions, and first hand knowledge as native speakers, made all the difference in my progress through the last couple of years. Each question, each utterance, correct or not, contributes to the process of learning. We review the correct and incorrect statements equally , and benefit from both. Finally, I believe there should be no restrictions, no, "trial period," let the chips fall where they may, and let's get on with the business of learning on this beautiful, and user friendly site!
I would like to see more people throwing in their two cents rather than just viewing the posts, even if what they contribute is wrong. It would be great if more of the beginning and intermediate members would write in Spanish more and expect to be corrected by the more advanced or native speaker members.
If there had been some sort of "waiting period", I would have moved on, since I wanted the definition in a timely fashion.
Of course, as Kevin said, the "waiting period" would kill the forum. As far as I know this does not exist on any forum. Actually, the only reason to join, is because you want to ask a question, to read the forum you don't need to be a member.
The moderators do a good job of weeding out the spam.
Thanks, I think we do.
Just a few points from someone who is newer to the forum and to the Spanish language:
I agree entirely that the reason for joining is to ask a question- I personally used the site on and off for 2 months prior to joining. I joined when I wanted to ask a question.
There is definitely a learning curve to using the site, and discovering everything on the site takes a little time and exploration- sometimes questions are asked simply because the user has not figured out how to use the site to find the answer to their question. Also sometimes people need to be helped in how to best pose their questions. I know that when I started I required a number of corrections as to how to best ask questions, how to title them, how to properly categorize them, and as to where I could have found the answer myself. Sometimes I was very frustrated.
I think the reasons most people answer questions are that they learn from answering the questions and/or they want to share their excitement/joy in learning the Spanish language (or both). I try to answer questions where I can- I am not terribly fast at formulating my answers, so often someone answers before I can, but I still learn from doing it, even if I do not end up posting the answer. I have gotten better at recognizing which ones are beyond my abilities. I appreciate the learning threads, as I feel more comfortable putting something down that could be incorrect when I know that it is supposed to be for learning.
I think remembering that we were all new at the site once, and that we were all new at learning a second language once, will help ensure that we answers questions respectfully and helpfully and that we encourage people to explore and use this site and take enjoyment in learning. If one does not like a particular question, one does not have to answer it.
I asked a question immediately after I joined, on May 8 2009. It seemed incredibly intelligent to me 
but in retrospect, not so much. I'm glad that people were willing to jump in and help me with my questions. I would have gone somewhere else if I had to wait for days.
I'm a member of several other forums that enacted rules like this, and I can tell you, it has killed my activity on them. On one site, EVERY thread is heavily and ruthlessly moderated, and you have to post 10 times without being infracted to be able to post a new thread. Keeping in mind, this is a gaming site, and they will infract you for not using capital letters or confusing your/you're.
The other just plain doesn't allow you to post in certain areas of the forums, and requires that you post a certain number of times before being able to even ask questions.
Sadly, while they're great resource sites for me, I never contribute because 1) I'm paranoid of a cranky moderator smacking me down for asking a question that was asked months ago by someone else, and 2) Because their rules put up this wall of exclusivity that makes me feel unwelcome.
I like SpanishDict the way it is.
It sounds good in theory but not in practice. I cannot imagine waiting to be able to participate in the threads. Initially when I joined this site I was looking for information to help me plan a upcoming trip. The trip was in one week. If I would not have been able to participate for two weeks I would have had to move on to a different site.
If I had to wait that long to post something, why the heck would I join?
Exactly.
The moderators do a good job of weeding out the spam.
Thanks!
Dude, you were a beginner once too and maybe you didn't post those questions but not everyone is equal and some may find the need. When I began I found this place a little daunting. New users may not realise that they can search old threads or that there is a translator. You just don't know who you are dealing with, be it elderly people, or someone who just can't get their head around it. I'd say just ignore and enjoy the rest. It doesnt bother me at all.
The best thing for you as a person is to become more patient. You can
either contribute to the education of new members, or you can brush past them. How you contribute to this site is up to you.
Deeming a new user's post as 'spam' is actually quite egocentric. This
site was not created with only your interests in mind. It is guaranteed that even without new users posting you will find posts which you would not consider relevant to your own needs. That is a recurring theme in the world.
I think that the administrators here do a fine job, judging from my
observations thus far.
