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lynn comstock
06-15-02, 12:38 PM
I see the same questions appearing again and again.
The toughest ones are simple questions. We experts must provide lengthy explanations because many visitors understand so little of the terminology and the concepts needed (such as duct design and heat load and electrical wiring diagrams).
I realize that the website instructs visitors to search the database, but much good information is too awkward to find. There is too much fluff and repetition in the database. The repletion comes from the very problem that I am addressing. The same questions appear again and again.
Have you considered an indexed knowledge base as the first research option for people with questions? This could be condensed from the database you have and organized and indexed.
Problem solving flowcharts are another powerful tool. A dictionary of terminology and definitions could help greatly. An area of tool use instructions and safety issues would not be wasted either.
This is a good website, but it is on the verge of outgrowing its usefulness to the very visitors that you attract. The existing format cannot handle a 4-fold increase in traffic. I believe that the volunteer experts tend to neglect the simple questions that are laborious to answer. It is more fun to help someone with a narrowly defined problem that can be answered without teaching the basics of HVAC as a preamble.
The experts could point to the relevant sections of the knowledge base to prepare the users for more specialized answers when they are needed.
The toughest ones are simple questions. We experts must provide lengthy explanations because many visitors understand so little of the terminology and the concepts needed (such as duct design and heat load and electrical wiring diagrams).
I realize that the website instructs visitors to search the database, but much good information is too awkward to find. There is too much fluff and repetition in the database. The repletion comes from the very problem that I am addressing. The same questions appear again and again.
Have you considered an indexed knowledge base as the first research option for people with questions? This could be condensed from the database you have and organized and indexed.
Problem solving flowcharts are another powerful tool. A dictionary of terminology and definitions could help greatly. An area of tool use instructions and safety issues would not be wasted either.
This is a good website, but it is on the verge of outgrowing its usefulness to the very visitors that you attract. The existing format cannot handle a 4-fold increase in traffic. I believe that the volunteer experts tend to neglect the simple questions that are laborious to answer. It is more fun to help someone with a narrowly defined problem that can be answered without teaching the basics of HVAC as a preamble.
The experts could point to the relevant sections of the knowledge base to prepare the users for more specialized answers when they are needed.
Sharp Advice
06-15-02, 09:51 PM
Hello: Lynn
The point you have made is very well expressed and taken into consideration. I would highly suggest you send this page, with your posting, in a link, to the web site administrator and staff. Doing so would allow them to understand the situation your expressing and assist me also in making the point.
To address the specific point your making regarding continuous repetition of questions, is one of the main reasons I have begun generalizing the topic of the posted questions in other forums.
Doing so provides two benefits. Moderators must open the topic to read the question and hopefully by doing so, will take some time and post a reply.
Secondly, by generalizing the topic, it makes it much easier to post a brief reply to a new question asked and then instruct the person asking that question to check the existing like topics to find prior replies with answers to the same or similar questions like they are asking.
I have been tracking the results of this method and am quickly coming to the conclusion this method is working but admittedly not as well as expected, as of yet. Having noticed that all too many newcomers fail to read even the forum announcements, has prompted me to attempt this new method.
More questions are getting replies, more archives and recent posting are being read by newcomers prior to posting a questions.
However, I could use more help, specifically within this specific forum topic. This topic needs a moderator and a co-moderator to assist with replies and edit the topics to generalize them and or make them topic specific.
Interested parties with knowledge in the heating and cooling fields are encouraged to apply. Yourself included Lynn.
Kindly send me a Personal Message {PM} with a request to moderate this topic, include your real first name only. I could really use the help and would appreciate the assistance.
Sincerely,
Tom_B
The point you have made is very well expressed and taken into consideration. I would highly suggest you send this page, with your posting, in a link, to the web site administrator and staff. Doing so would allow them to understand the situation your expressing and assist me also in making the point.
To address the specific point your making regarding continuous repetition of questions, is one of the main reasons I have begun generalizing the topic of the posted questions in other forums.
Doing so provides two benefits. Moderators must open the topic to read the question and hopefully by doing so, will take some time and post a reply.
Secondly, by generalizing the topic, it makes it much easier to post a brief reply to a new question asked and then instruct the person asking that question to check the existing like topics to find prior replies with answers to the same or similar questions like they are asking.
I have been tracking the results of this method and am quickly coming to the conclusion this method is working but admittedly not as well as expected, as of yet. Having noticed that all too many newcomers fail to read even the forum announcements, has prompted me to attempt this new method.
More questions are getting replies, more archives and recent posting are being read by newcomers prior to posting a questions.
However, I could use more help, specifically within this specific forum topic. This topic needs a moderator and a co-moderator to assist with replies and edit the topics to generalize them and or make them topic specific.
Interested parties with knowledge in the heating and cooling fields are encouraged to apply. Yourself included Lynn.
Kindly send me a Personal Message {PM} with a request to moderate this topic, include your real first name only. I could really use the help and would appreciate the assistance.
Sincerely,
Tom_B