The forum's search feature is completely useless. Luckily you can use Google to search diyaudio.com. Do your search like this:
+site:diyaudio.com "new law"
Little inside joke there.
+site:diyaudio.com "new law"
Little inside joke there.
Re: hihi
But some act like their humerous is being twisted. As it is, there is always someone willing to waste bandwidth with a response like, "Why didn't you search, dumb newbie!"
And sadly, there are far too many newbies who will ask for something that easily found at their source on the web resulting in far too many oldies that waste energy clapping them on the ear. Instead, how about stony silence when someone asks something like: "Can I get the datasheets for the LM1875?"
Now when a newbie asks about the difference between inverting and non-inverting opamps, that is a good question, even if it has been answered many times on this forum or elsewhere. Such a topic does not deserve an aggressive answer. It is the question that only a truly curious newb that wants to learn might ask. It's a question a beginning electronics student will ask of a prof.
The flame wars are almost always started by dis-courtesy, whether the reason is ignorance or arrogance.
🙂ensen
uli said:
But some act like their humerous is being twisted. As it is, there is always someone willing to waste bandwidth with a response like, "Why didn't you search, dumb newbie!"
And sadly, there are far too many newbies who will ask for something that easily found at their source on the web resulting in far too many oldies that waste energy clapping them on the ear. Instead, how about stony silence when someone asks something like: "Can I get the datasheets for the LM1875?"
Now when a newbie asks about the difference between inverting and non-inverting opamps, that is a good question, even if it has been answered many times on this forum or elsewhere. Such a topic does not deserve an aggressive answer. It is the question that only a truly curious newb that wants to learn might ask. It's a question a beginning electronics student will ask of a prof.
The flame wars are almost always started by dis-courtesy, whether the reason is ignorance or arrogance.
🙂ensen
For those grumbling about the search engine, time was when you had go into places called libraries and read things called datasheets, databooks, books or magazines. Worse still, you sometimes had to speak to real people at real companies and ask them for these databooks and sometimes they may even ask you for money in exchange for these databooks.
Re: Re: hihi
Arrogance of course.
Everybody who is member for longer than a year, and is able to solder more than 2 resistors onto a pcb without error, calls himself expert.
Everybody was a newbie sometimes and tried to get answers.
(Me too). Its the same phenomenon as adults treating children as if they have been never young.
Its a matter of maturity to treat a newbie with respect even if he asks "dumb" questions. You will gain as much respect as an expert as you are willing to give.
Uli
purplepeople said:
Arrogance of course.
Everybody who is member for longer than a year, and is able to solder more than 2 resistors onto a pcb without error, calls himself expert.
Everybody was a newbie sometimes and tried to get answers.
(Me too). Its the same phenomenon as adults treating children as if they have been never young.
Its a matter of maturity to treat a newbie with respect even if he asks "dumb" questions. You will gain as much respect as an expert as you are willing to give.
Uli
A few months ago one of the moderators indicated that there was work proposed to allow the search engine to pull up the exact post where a word was written rather than just the thread. Hopefully this will be implemented as it would make the search much more effective as some of the threads are very long.
I also hope that 3 letter words can get searched. Currently 3 letter acronyms will return no hits if searched by themselves.
I also hope that 3 letter words can get searched. Currently 3 letter acronyms will return no hits if searched by themselves.
Click on the "show results as posts" button, that should do what you want.
As for the search engine, yes, it is limited. But could you code another one? Poor Audiofreak is working his fingers to the bone as it is!
As for the search engine, yes, it is limited. But could you code another one? Poor Audiofreak is working his fingers to the bone as it is!
pinkmouse said:
SELECT * FROM <TABLE> WHERE <FIELD> LIKE UPPER('%psu%') AND FORUM = 'CHIPAMPS';
😀
Thank you all for the replies on this thread, i have already got a better understanding of how this works and why someone sometimes get upset about questions being asked, maybe i don't understand the exact meaning of every thread but most of them i do understand. (my english is based on what i learned at school back in 1978) have a nice day.......
For those who find seeing the same questions popping up over and over annoying, why not start a FAQ thread and ask the moderators to sticky it.
As long as the forum stays open to anyone regardless of their level of knowlege theres always going to be repetitive or idiotic questions. Being rude wont change that at all.
Having said that, I think all in all people here are remarkably tolerant of newbies and quite willing to help. My first post got something like 70 replies and all I asked was a recommendation for an efficient two way. I, quite literally, didn't know a thing about speaker building or electronics when I joined here and there has always been someone out there willing to help with the problems I've encountered even when they were real eye rollers. I could hardly believe it when I saw someone like Nelson Pass personally helping a diy'er trouble shoot one of his amp projects.
As long as the forum stays open to anyone regardless of their level of knowlege theres always going to be repetitive or idiotic questions. Being rude wont change that at all.
Having said that, I think all in all people here are remarkably tolerant of newbies and quite willing to help. My first post got something like 70 replies and all I asked was a recommendation for an efficient two way. I, quite literally, didn't know a thing about speaker building or electronics when I joined here and there has always been someone out there willing to help with the problems I've encountered even when they were real eye rollers. I could hardly believe it when I saw someone like Nelson Pass personally helping a diy'er trouble shoot one of his amp projects.
I agree, I was just thinking about that the other day but you beat me to it! 🙂 But what would be considered a FAQ?
Wayne
cogsncogs said:
I guess that could be determined by those who are are irritated by the questions that are asked frequently. 🙂 If someone feels 🙄 when they read some question again then maybe that question should get added.
What 2way/3way/5.1 etc speaker should I build
Can you help me with a crossover for my first speaker
I want to build my first amp. What should I build.
What drivers are good for ________.
I kind of thought of starting a thread on it but it felt abit presumptous since Im relatively new here and abit clueless. Maybe I'll have a go at it if it doesn't come up from elsewhere.
Netlist said:
Personally, even though I've been here now for about 3/4 of a year and am fairly web savvy, I still find the wiki cryptic. I've seen several posts by people who dont really get it. Some subjects have nothing in them. You just have to go there a couple of times and find nothing to come to the conclusion that its not the best place to find answers to basic and general questions. I'm sure it has its uses but I dont think that it works as an FAQ.
An FAQ isn't really intended as service to newbies so much as a means of keeping clutter and bandwidth consumption under control for the benifit of regular users.
If its worth doing its probably worth making prominant so the potential question poster finds it BEFORE posting their question. If they have to be told where to go (and not just figuratively) after they post then the FAQ isn't really working very well.
In the video forum we already have a thread: "Things newbies should know."
There is nothing that can stop you from starting such a thread in any other forum here at DiyAudio.
If enough interest is shown we could make it sticky.
You could consider that as a FAQ too. Only, its a thread. A FAQ basically has the search option or categorized section where answers can be found more easily.
But then we probably need to implement another type of coding.
I'm pretty sure AudioFreak has enough on his to-do list so we won't see this type of FAQ in the near future.
/Hugo 🙂
There is nothing that can stop you from starting such a thread in any other forum here at DiyAudio.
If enough interest is shown we could make it sticky.
You could consider that as a FAQ too. Only, its a thread. A FAQ basically has the search option or categorized section where answers can be found more easily.
But then we probably need to implement another type of coding.
I'm pretty sure AudioFreak has enough on his to-do list so we won't see this type of FAQ in the near future.
/Hugo 🙂
The lack of ability to FIY (find it yourself) using some search engine is portentious regarding one's ability to DIY, isn't it?
There's nothing wrong with asking a question, but it is often clear that no search was ever attempted. If your time is too valuable to do research and learn the basics, buy second hand gear - it'll be far cheaper.
If you're just after a result, your understanding will be shallow and you'll probably make some dangerous and/or expensive mistakes. There is an endless stream of examples supporting this statement in the ChipAmp forum. Threads like "My amp caught fire" and "Smoke came out of my speakers" being two of dozens - and both outcomes are avoidable by reading and understanding the material readily available on-line in the form of the chip manufacturer's data sheet.
In order to DIY, you must want it, "it" being understanding and not the end result. If you want the understanding bad enough, you'll find it, and you wont need to have someone handhold you.
There's nothing wrong with asking a question, but it is often clear that no search was ever attempted. If your time is too valuable to do research and learn the basics, buy second hand gear - it'll be far cheaper.
If you're just after a result, your understanding will be shallow and you'll probably make some dangerous and/or expensive mistakes. There is an endless stream of examples supporting this statement in the ChipAmp forum. Threads like "My amp caught fire" and "Smoke came out of my speakers" being two of dozens - and both outcomes are avoidable by reading and understanding the material readily available on-line in the form of the chip manufacturer's data sheet.
In order to DIY, you must want it, "it" being understanding and not the end result. If you want the understanding bad enough, you'll find it, and you wont need to have someone handhold you.
I think jeff hit the nail on the head with the your time is too valuable comment. Those are the only type of newbe questions that really irk me.
I could search but I'm really too busy and was hoping someone could point me in the right direction.
We are all busy, and if you want to learn the best way is to try and do it yourself. If you are really stuck or confused then ask a question 🙂
Tony.
I could search but I'm really too busy and was hoping someone could point me in the right direction.
We are all busy, and if you want to learn the best way is to try and do it yourself. If you are really stuck or confused then ask a question 🙂
Tony.
Wow. An entire thread over using the "Search" function!
Remember that newbies might not have much experience with either message boards or chat rooms, and there is a level of apprehension in posting the first message or two.
Coming onto a new forum is a little like entering a place of business, and asking to be directed to Jones' office. The person there can either say, "Jones' office is one flight up the stairs, and there is a company directory on each floor if you want to see anyone else", OR they can say, "There is a company directory on each floor, why the heck didn't you consult that instead of wasting my time asking for Jones' office??!!!"
Which answer would you like to encounter?
Remember that newbies might not have much experience with either message boards or chat rooms, and there is a level of apprehension in posting the first message or two.
Coming onto a new forum is a little like entering a place of business, and asking to be directed to Jones' office. The person there can either say, "Jones' office is one flight up the stairs, and there is a company directory on each floor if you want to see anyone else", OR they can say, "There is a company directory on each floor, why the heck didn't you consult that instead of wasting my time asking for Jones' office??!!!"
Which answer would you like to encounter?
I agree. I think there are some people that just dont have the ability to look at a challenge like building a speaker and go and find information about it. One of the smartest guys I've ever met, the kind of guy that people write books about,was completely, and I do mean completely, incapable of filling out a basic form. By about 40, he had progressed to the point where he could fill out simple forms but forget anything complicated. My point is some people are deficient in ways that we might not be able to imagine and sometimes people like that come off as inconsiderate or stupid.
This forum is remarkable free of the kind of airs that you encouter in most hifi shops (at least the ones I've been in in canada and the US) but there are a very small number of posters who seem to feel a strong need to respond with bile to any post that doesn't meet their expected level of sophistication. I'm always suspicious that these people are infact quite dissatisfied with themselves. Interesting that many of the respected designers in diyaudio will always answer question about their stuff.
So lets face it, theres ALWAYS going to be people who just barge into the forum and start asking incredible annoying questions. Might as have somewhere to direct them.
Just to be clear, Non of what I say here is directed at anyone in this thread.
Anyway, I've started an FAQ thread in loudspeakers so hopefully we'll have one there soon.
This forum is remarkable free of the kind of airs that you encouter in most hifi shops (at least the ones I've been in in canada and the US) but there are a very small number of posters who seem to feel a strong need to respond with bile to any post that doesn't meet their expected level of sophistication. I'm always suspicious that these people are infact quite dissatisfied with themselves. Interesting that many of the respected designers in diyaudio will always answer question about their stuff.
So lets face it, theres ALWAYS going to be people who just barge into the forum and start asking incredible annoying questions. Might as have somewhere to direct them.
Just to be clear, Non of what I say here is directed at anyone in this thread.
Anyway, I've started an FAQ thread in loudspeakers so hopefully we'll have one there soon.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.