Geoff,
Why not the more experienced people just indicate the FAQ, and not answer some basic questions? It would work and help to reduce the lenght of the answers. I think would be easier to define this rule with a few experienced people than change the mind of a lot of newbies.
Why not the more experienced people just indicate the FAQ, and not answer some basic questions? It would work and help to reduce the lenght of the answers. I think would be easier to define this rule with a few experienced people than change the mind of a lot of newbies.
blmn
Yes, it would help to reduce the time spent in composing replies, provided other members and visitors didn't mind keep reading "see FAQ", but it would do nothing to cut down the time spent accessing threads and reading new posts which is taking longer and longer even if one is selective in the forums visited.
Geoff.
Yes, it would help to reduce the time spent in composing replies, provided other members and visitors didn't mind keep reading "see FAQ", but it would do nothing to cut down the time spent accessing threads and reading new posts which is taking longer and longer even if one is selective in the forums visited.
Geoff.
Unfortunately, we don't have an FAQ section, per se. At least not in the sense that we can point to an established "What Do R0, R1 & R8 Do In The Aleph 30 & 60?" writeup in a separate area.
(As fate would have it, I was searching for the exact same thing Geoff was searching for, and hit exactly the same problem...I eventually got it by going for the keyword 'offset' [thereby sidestepping having to use 'DC,' which isn't indexed], and something else, which I've forgotten.)
The cynic in me thinks Geoff is right--that people are going to be lazy and ask, rather than search, but the optimist in me wishes it weren't so.
Geoff,
Your suggestion about shorter replies is, taken by itself, a reasonable one. I know (I reckon everybody knows by now) that I'm prone to long posts. But, there are two other factors that I try to balance into the equation. One is that I believe not only in giving a person a fish, but trying to teach them how to fish. With luck, they'll be able to answer their own questions next time (by looking at the SOA chart, for instance). The other is--and I'm the first to admit that there are pros and cons to this--the personal aspect. Skippy and Norman (and many others who e-mail me directly) seem to like the lighter, less formal approach. Electronics can get awfully dry if it's reduced to nothing but numbers, so I try to make it warmer, more human, and when possible, funny. But that takes more words, hence longer posts. It's possible to answer some of the questions that come up with a simple yes or no, but it rather takes away from the 'feel' of the place. This is another one I don't have a good answer for.
Someone take a vote somewhere and let me know if I'm supposed to drop back to yes or no answers.
I do like your idea of some basic ground rules. The trick will be to apply them as gently as possible, as it would be easy to bludgeon someone with a rule and chase them off.
But something's got to be done.
Grataku had a post which seems to have vanished, but the point he made still hangs in the air, unspoken.
Why do I do this? Why don't I just walk away?
The answer is long and complex and would take a long post even by my standards (people at this point start looking at their watches...). Part of it is simply that this is in my blood. I've been fiddling with electronics since I was five or six years old, picking up discarded radios and wondering about all those colorful parts inside. If I get away from this stuff too long, I get itchy. I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about cathode followers and MPSA18s.
Maybe I need to join a 12 step program for recovering electroholics.
(Nah...I'll stay sick a little longer...)
Another reason is something I've always heard called a Chinese Obligation. If you take in a stray cat, you incur the moral obligation to either care for that cat, or find it a loving home if you can't support it yourself. You can't just put it back on the street. It simply isn't right. It doesn't matter whether anyone is watching. It doesn't matter whether there's a law against it. It's a matter of self respect.
So what's that got to do with diyAudio?
Have you looked at how many strays we've picked up here?
I never intended to rack up a thousand posts. I never even intended to get ten. I just jumped in and the little counter started clicking. If someone passes me, that's cool. That's not what I'm here for. Somewhere out there is a kid who's got the innards of a radio in front of him and wants to know what the color bands on the resistors mean. I'm here for him.
Or her, come to that...
Grey
(As fate would have it, I was searching for the exact same thing Geoff was searching for, and hit exactly the same problem...I eventually got it by going for the keyword 'offset' [thereby sidestepping having to use 'DC,' which isn't indexed], and something else, which I've forgotten.)
The cynic in me thinks Geoff is right--that people are going to be lazy and ask, rather than search, but the optimist in me wishes it weren't so.
Geoff,
Your suggestion about shorter replies is, taken by itself, a reasonable one. I know (I reckon everybody knows by now) that I'm prone to long posts. But, there are two other factors that I try to balance into the equation. One is that I believe not only in giving a person a fish, but trying to teach them how to fish. With luck, they'll be able to answer their own questions next time (by looking at the SOA chart, for instance). The other is--and I'm the first to admit that there are pros and cons to this--the personal aspect. Skippy and Norman (and many others who e-mail me directly) seem to like the lighter, less formal approach. Electronics can get awfully dry if it's reduced to nothing but numbers, so I try to make it warmer, more human, and when possible, funny. But that takes more words, hence longer posts. It's possible to answer some of the questions that come up with a simple yes or no, but it rather takes away from the 'feel' of the place. This is another one I don't have a good answer for.
Someone take a vote somewhere and let me know if I'm supposed to drop back to yes or no answers.
I do like your idea of some basic ground rules. The trick will be to apply them as gently as possible, as it would be easy to bludgeon someone with a rule and chase them off.
But something's got to be done.
Grataku had a post which seems to have vanished, but the point he made still hangs in the air, unspoken.
Why do I do this? Why don't I just walk away?
The answer is long and complex and would take a long post even by my standards (people at this point start looking at their watches...). Part of it is simply that this is in my blood. I've been fiddling with electronics since I was five or six years old, picking up discarded radios and wondering about all those colorful parts inside. If I get away from this stuff too long, I get itchy. I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about cathode followers and MPSA18s.
Maybe I need to join a 12 step program for recovering electroholics.
(Nah...I'll stay sick a little longer...)
Another reason is something I've always heard called a Chinese Obligation. If you take in a stray cat, you incur the moral obligation to either care for that cat, or find it a loving home if you can't support it yourself. You can't just put it back on the street. It simply isn't right. It doesn't matter whether anyone is watching. It doesn't matter whether there's a law against it. It's a matter of self respect.
So what's that got to do with diyAudio?
Have you looked at how many strays we've picked up here?
I never intended to rack up a thousand posts. I never even intended to get ten. I just jumped in and the little counter started clicking. If someone passes me, that's cool. That's not what I'm here for. Somewhere out there is a kid who's got the innards of a radio in front of him and wants to know what the color bands on the resistors mean. I'm here for him.
Or her, come to that...
Grey
Thank you
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this thread, and especially to Grey for selfless and giving nature. Congratulations on the thousand posts.
You can count on my help in taking your dreams wherever you want them to go. I can provide web space, bandwidth, php/mysql expertise. My day job at sitepoint doesn't leave much time in the day for my hobby (this site) but I can make time for anything that is important.
I'm still on holiday so I am avoiding the computer at the moment, but will be watching this thread avidly.
Thanks once again.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this thread, and especially to Grey for selfless and giving nature. Congratulations on the thousand posts.
You can count on my help in taking your dreams wherever you want them to go. I can provide web space, bandwidth, php/mysql expertise. My day job at sitepoint doesn't leave much time in the day for my hobby (this site) but I can make time for anything that is important.
I'm still on holiday so I am avoiding the computer at the moment, but will be watching this thread avidly.
Thanks once again.
Hey Jason, i just realised why the board is reporting the wrong time ..... you've got the server in daylight saving time....
For the benefit of those reading this thread and finding that parts of it don't make sense, Grataku has deleted two posts that he had submitted. I was originally going to include a precis of what was in the posts so that subsequent comments made more sense, but finally decided that if Grataku no longer wished his views to be made public then I would respect that desire.
This comes back to my gripe in another thread about disappearing threads/posts. If you have second thoughts and decide to remove something that you have said, please either edit the original post or delete it and add another to indicate that something has been removed (preferably with some indication as to why). This will make the thread easier to follow for subsequent readers.
Geoff
This comes back to my gripe in another thread about disappearing threads/posts. If you have second thoughts and decide to remove something that you have said, please either edit the original post or delete it and add another to indicate that something has been removed (preferably with some indication as to why). This will make the thread easier to follow for subsequent readers.
Geoff
There comes a time when everyone has to decide how best to ration their available time. I understand your comments about electronics being in your blood. Its in mine too and many others no doubt feel the same. But its just a bit like the corner dairy. There you could pass the time of day chatting learning browsing and walking away with good thoughts. The store owner took the time to talk to you. He knew you. He knew you since you were 5 years old. He may likely have known your parents and sold them goods along with interesting chat.
Today its rush and bustle. Down to the supermarket where chances are you are an unknown, you are a number passing through the shop. Nobody cares if you come or go. And you could end up with a dent in your car from Mr or Mrs annonymous. They say its progress. You get your goods cheaper. Wrapped up better. Package sizes and 16 million colour photos on the front reseached by highly paid consultants. This will sell. This is what they want.
Is it what we want. Do we want a supermarket DIY forum where answers are packaged.
Do we just want to hop in and get an answer and hop out again or do we need not only the answer but some background to go with it like a side salad. Here is your steak Sir/Madam and here are the trimmings just the way you like them. That is the reason you keep returning isn't it.
I think this forum has grown because it is popular. There are very few rules. There is a very friendly atmosphere and there are some very knowledgeable people offering their time and their experience and their best advice. A lifetimes best advice.
Maybe an FAQ would help. Who would maintain it. Who would add to it. How can you know what people will ask. What percentage of questions could a DIY FAQ answer. Maybe Jason could automatically number posts in a thread.
Yes Fred thats a good question see post # 14 might help you there. Somebody will remember the post numbers and contents and that could be more help than no one answering a newbies' question.
Just a few thoughts.
Today its rush and bustle. Down to the supermarket where chances are you are an unknown, you are a number passing through the shop. Nobody cares if you come or go. And you could end up with a dent in your car from Mr or Mrs annonymous. They say its progress. You get your goods cheaper. Wrapped up better. Package sizes and 16 million colour photos on the front reseached by highly paid consultants. This will sell. This is what they want.
Is it what we want. Do we want a supermarket DIY forum where answers are packaged.
Do we just want to hop in and get an answer and hop out again or do we need not only the answer but some background to go with it like a side salad. Here is your steak Sir/Madam and here are the trimmings just the way you like them. That is the reason you keep returning isn't it.
I think this forum has grown because it is popular. There are very few rules. There is a very friendly atmosphere and there are some very knowledgeable people offering their time and their experience and their best advice. A lifetimes best advice.
Maybe an FAQ would help. Who would maintain it. Who would add to it. How can you know what people will ask. What percentage of questions could a DIY FAQ answer. Maybe Jason could automatically number posts in a thread.
Yes Fred thats a good question see post # 14 might help you there. Somebody will remember the post numbers and contents and that could be more help than no one answering a newbies' question.
Just a few thoughts.
Consider this a philosophical musing upon Geoff's and Richard's most recent posts: We have reached a point where it's no long a dozen guys with beers at their elbows arguing and laughing about Audio Things. It's gotten too big for that. I don't recognize a lot of the people here any more; there's just too many of them. That's okay, it's part of growing. But another aspect of growing is that people need to settle into some sort of embedded rule system. When you're driving to the bar to chat with the guys, you can't just drive down the middle of the street like you used to when you had the road to yourself. You have to stick to one side of the road so as not to have an unpleasant encounter with oncoming traffic.
Bummer.
What the rule system should be, I don't know. I grudgingly see the need for it, but I think that it will change the feel of the place. Of course, that was inevitable once things started ramping up the way they have. My internal shift in metaphor from guys (and the occasional gal--most welcome, mind you) having a drink together, to the University of Audio represents my own struggle to keep all this in perspective. It's one thing to have three or four people in on a conversation, but it's another entirely when it becomes 30 or 40, each wanting their say.
Then along comes some pesky SOB, half-drunk before he even gets to the table, and he wants to make a spectacle of himself. <i>Sigh.</i>
(Where's the bouncer when you need him?)
So do you limit the number of people? Yikes! Don't want to do that. The one left at the door might have been the one with the solution to the problem.
Do you take out the convivial atmosphere? Oh, brother. Now it's no fun any more. Too much like work.
One of the things I find worrisome about imposing rules is that the person who has to crack down ends up being unpopular. Don't think so? How many people here count a policeman as their best friend? Perhaps one or two, but not that many. Policemen serve a noble and necessary function, but they're also pariahs. They mainly hang around with each other.
Growing pains...thought I was old enough not to have to worry about that any more. Silly me.
One aspect of the problem is that people feel this hobby on different levels. To some it's just an avenue to save money; they could care less about theory, just give them a complete, tested schematic, a box of parts, and a soldering iron, and they're out the door. Others are just beginning to wonder about why these things work. Given a little attention, that spark might burst into flame. Then there are those who are on fire from head to toe when they come in the door. They're easy to spot.
Those who just want a schematic don't understand that people might <i>like</i> being on fire. Conversely, those who burn don't understand how someone could get through the day without thinking about the differences a little more bias might make.
I estimate that there are less than a half-dozen people here who are competent to conceive a new non-trivial project (bolting a driver into a round hole to make a sub is <i>tres</i> trivial, don't even bring it up), design it, build a prototype, solve the bugs, build a second prototype, solve the remaining bugs, and wrestle it across the finish line as a finished project...with no help from anyone in any way. There are probably thirty or forty who could do so with a little help. From there, it drops off fairly rapidly. This is no surprise, it's a standard pyramid of ability, just like you find in any field. The question is to find a balance between the amount of access that people have to those with more ability. Right now, it's 100%, and I like that. But does that need to change? (Whether I like it or not.) Do the hypothetical rules need to incorporate some built-in hierarchy? A moderator for each forum? For each sub-forum? (We're headed that way. It's getting awfully hard to find things now. Some sort of breakdown into more narrowly defined categories might help people [both newbies and oldbies] find things more easily.) Note that I'm not advocating that much regimentation (I prefer being a bit of a maverick, myself), just trying to imagine a structure that will meet the needs of the largest number of people...
...and still be fun. 'Cuz when it quits being fun, people start leaving, and that would be a cryin' shame.
Grey
Bummer.
What the rule system should be, I don't know. I grudgingly see the need for it, but I think that it will change the feel of the place. Of course, that was inevitable once things started ramping up the way they have. My internal shift in metaphor from guys (and the occasional gal--most welcome, mind you) having a drink together, to the University of Audio represents my own struggle to keep all this in perspective. It's one thing to have three or four people in on a conversation, but it's another entirely when it becomes 30 or 40, each wanting their say.
Then along comes some pesky SOB, half-drunk before he even gets to the table, and he wants to make a spectacle of himself. <i>Sigh.</i>
(Where's the bouncer when you need him?)
So do you limit the number of people? Yikes! Don't want to do that. The one left at the door might have been the one with the solution to the problem.
Do you take out the convivial atmosphere? Oh, brother. Now it's no fun any more. Too much like work.
One of the things I find worrisome about imposing rules is that the person who has to crack down ends up being unpopular. Don't think so? How many people here count a policeman as their best friend? Perhaps one or two, but not that many. Policemen serve a noble and necessary function, but they're also pariahs. They mainly hang around with each other.
Growing pains...thought I was old enough not to have to worry about that any more. Silly me.
One aspect of the problem is that people feel this hobby on different levels. To some it's just an avenue to save money; they could care less about theory, just give them a complete, tested schematic, a box of parts, and a soldering iron, and they're out the door. Others are just beginning to wonder about why these things work. Given a little attention, that spark might burst into flame. Then there are those who are on fire from head to toe when they come in the door. They're easy to spot.
Those who just want a schematic don't understand that people might <i>like</i> being on fire. Conversely, those who burn don't understand how someone could get through the day without thinking about the differences a little more bias might make.
I estimate that there are less than a half-dozen people here who are competent to conceive a new non-trivial project (bolting a driver into a round hole to make a sub is <i>tres</i> trivial, don't even bring it up), design it, build a prototype, solve the bugs, build a second prototype, solve the remaining bugs, and wrestle it across the finish line as a finished project...with no help from anyone in any way. There are probably thirty or forty who could do so with a little help. From there, it drops off fairly rapidly. This is no surprise, it's a standard pyramid of ability, just like you find in any field. The question is to find a balance between the amount of access that people have to those with more ability. Right now, it's 100%, and I like that. But does that need to change? (Whether I like it or not.) Do the hypothetical rules need to incorporate some built-in hierarchy? A moderator for each forum? For each sub-forum? (We're headed that way. It's getting awfully hard to find things now. Some sort of breakdown into more narrowly defined categories might help people [both newbies and oldbies] find things more easily.) Note that I'm not advocating that much regimentation (I prefer being a bit of a maverick, myself), just trying to imagine a structure that will meet the needs of the largest number of people...
...and still be fun. 'Cuz when it quits being fun, people start leaving, and that would be a cryin' shame.
Grey
Grey,
Well said.....and congratulations for the 1000th or rather 1009 th post...better late than never😉
Well said.....and congratulations for the 1000th or rather 1009 th post...better late than never😉
I was not proposing that a rigid set of rules be laid down and that dire consequencies befall anyone who breaks them, such as having one's membership revoked. The behaviour in these forums is generally very civilised and any policing that has been needed has normally been done by other members. What I am suggesting is a short list of guidelines for new (and some existing) members, designed to remove some of the chaff from the forums. There wouldn't need to be too many guidelines and I don't see a need for Grey's 'unpopular policeman', just some peer pressure to get the point over to recalcitrant offenders.
I suggest that all that is likely to be needed is something along the following lines (obviously put into a sensible order and correct English):
Please search before posting a new query to see if the question has already been answered.
If you decide to delete a post please leave an indication that you have done so (and preferably the reason why).
Please only submit posts to an existing thread that add value to the discussion.
Please try to keep to the topic of the thread. If going off-topic please consider starting a new thread so that it is indexed and can be seen by a wider audience.
Please start new theads in the correct forum for the topic being raised.
Please avoid inflamatory statements and derogatory comments. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion.
Please respect intellectual property rights and neither request nor supply details of schematics, pcb layouts etc that are not in the public domain.
There are bound to be other suggestions that will need to be considered. These are just some first thoughts to get a debate going. However, as we have gone completely off-topic in this thread, perhaps I should have started a new one.
Geoff
I suggest that all that is likely to be needed is something along the following lines (obviously put into a sensible order and correct English):
Please search before posting a new query to see if the question has already been answered.
If you decide to delete a post please leave an indication that you have done so (and preferably the reason why).
Please only submit posts to an existing thread that add value to the discussion.
Please try to keep to the topic of the thread. If going off-topic please consider starting a new thread so that it is indexed and can be seen by a wider audience.
Please start new theads in the correct forum for the topic being raised.
Please avoid inflamatory statements and derogatory comments. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion.
Please respect intellectual property rights and neither request nor supply details of schematics, pcb layouts etc that are not in the public domain.
There are bound to be other suggestions that will need to be considered. These are just some first thoughts to get a debate going. However, as we have gone completely off-topic in this thread, perhaps I should have started a new one.
Geoff
FAQ's and Wiki's
The DIY world needs a really good FAQ - or Knowledge Base of All We Know About Sound. The reality is that given all the posting that happens here, if somehow it could be distilled down, it would make a good book.
Well, recognizing this, there is a type of web software called a Wiki. It allows users to add, edit, play around with, the web pages of a site. It allows trusted users to edit the web pages of a site. Perhaps if we connected a Wiki to this site, and then allowed users who had been around and posted say 50 messages to work on the FAQ - in a while, we would have a FAQ without any one person having to do all the heavy lifting.
I have not done a good job of explaining this - so take a look around a Wiki (there are many about computing) and see if this might be a doable thing for us. I would love to contribute.
The DIY world needs a really good FAQ - or Knowledge Base of All We Know About Sound. The reality is that given all the posting that happens here, if somehow it could be distilled down, it would make a good book.
Well, recognizing this, there is a type of web software called a Wiki. It allows users to add, edit, play around with, the web pages of a site. It allows trusted users to edit the web pages of a site. Perhaps if we connected a Wiki to this site, and then allowed users who had been around and posted say 50 messages to work on the FAQ - in a while, we would have a FAQ without any one person having to do all the heavy lifting.
I have not done a good job of explaining this - so take a look around a Wiki (there are many about computing) and see if this might be a doable thing for us. I would love to contribute.
Whew!?!?!
Good day to All,
I like most people in the Southern Hemisphere have been on holidays, so I have just logged on to DIYAudio for the first time since coming backk to the real world! Ugh!! What an interesting thread, to come back too!!
Congratulations to Grey for a 1000 posts, it represents a huge contribution of time and commitment at the cost of your own projects and life.
First, I want to thank everyone on this forum for their help, guidance, and advice that they have imparted to me on my flaming ride into the world of DIY Audio. I believe each of us owe a huge thank you to the "elders" of this forum including Grey, Geoff, Nelson Pass, ThomasW, Kelticwizard, and many more. These are people who give a tremendous amount of time dispensing advice and ideas to those of us who do not have the experience or knowledge needed for the current project.
Here is an excerpt from an E-mail I sent to Geoff recently in response to a project we are working on - "I believe in every hobby there is a group of 5% of the enthusiasts who contribute 90% of the time, know-how and energy to promote and expand the interest and quite often because of very little support and
gratitude from the 90%, they burn out and become cynical and leave the discipline altogether. And then they are bagged and boo'ed for being spoil-sports and self-promoters by the very people who were parasites on them for many years."
I am not technically competent in the theory and practice electronics as I would like to be, but learning as rapidly as possible and much of the credit has to go the folks of DIYAudio. So I am relying very heavily on the experience and patience of those in the know on this forum as I take a headlong plunge into the world of electronics.
I have experienced the addictiveness of this forum, spending way too much time here reading and replying. I embarked on 3 projects late last year, a power amp, pre-amp, and a set of full range drivers built from scratch designing even the magnets and cones. But because of the grip of passing on information, I have made little progress, instead helping format web-pages, scanning graphics, redrawing schematics, and etc for everyone to profit from.
I personally try to find the answers to my question by searching the forum before starting a new thread so I believe that an expanded search engine would be a great asset, also a set of guidelines for new members(and old!!) that recommend reducing duplicate threads by searching for answers on exsisting threads. Also I like the Wiki idea presented by Sawzall, to help catalog information on the site for quick reference.
But above and beyond all of this, we, newbies and learners, need to keep a constant stream of gratitude and support going to those who have the answers we need, so that they will continue to make the necessary contributions and guidance that this forum has become known for, and so we all can benefit from the experience of the "elders" and the enthusiasm of the "neophytes" in our quest of audio perfection.
So thank you to everyone for your time and advice, it is much appreciated.
Surf, Sun & Sound
Good day to All,
I like most people in the Southern Hemisphere have been on holidays, so I have just logged on to DIYAudio for the first time since coming backk to the real world! Ugh!! What an interesting thread, to come back too!!
Congratulations to Grey for a 1000 posts, it represents a huge contribution of time and commitment at the cost of your own projects and life.
First, I want to thank everyone on this forum for their help, guidance, and advice that they have imparted to me on my flaming ride into the world of DIY Audio. I believe each of us owe a huge thank you to the "elders" of this forum including Grey, Geoff, Nelson Pass, ThomasW, Kelticwizard, and many more. These are people who give a tremendous amount of time dispensing advice and ideas to those of us who do not have the experience or knowledge needed for the current project.
Here is an excerpt from an E-mail I sent to Geoff recently in response to a project we are working on - "I believe in every hobby there is a group of 5% of the enthusiasts who contribute 90% of the time, know-how and energy to promote and expand the interest and quite often because of very little support and
gratitude from the 90%, they burn out and become cynical and leave the discipline altogether. And then they are bagged and boo'ed for being spoil-sports and self-promoters by the very people who were parasites on them for many years."
I am not technically competent in the theory and practice electronics as I would like to be, but learning as rapidly as possible and much of the credit has to go the folks of DIYAudio. So I am relying very heavily on the experience and patience of those in the know on this forum as I take a headlong plunge into the world of electronics.
I have experienced the addictiveness of this forum, spending way too much time here reading and replying. I embarked on 3 projects late last year, a power amp, pre-amp, and a set of full range drivers built from scratch designing even the magnets and cones. But because of the grip of passing on information, I have made little progress, instead helping format web-pages, scanning graphics, redrawing schematics, and etc for everyone to profit from.
I personally try to find the answers to my question by searching the forum before starting a new thread so I believe that an expanded search engine would be a great asset, also a set of guidelines for new members(and old!!) that recommend reducing duplicate threads by searching for answers on exsisting threads. Also I like the Wiki idea presented by Sawzall, to help catalog information on the site for quick reference.
But above and beyond all of this, we, newbies and learners, need to keep a constant stream of gratitude and support going to those who have the answers we need, so that they will continue to make the necessary contributions and guidance that this forum has become known for, and so we all can benefit from the experience of the "elders" and the enthusiasm of the "neophytes" in our quest of audio perfection.
So thank you to everyone for your time and advice, it is much appreciated.
Surf, Sun & Sound
Grey is indeed one of the masters of this forum. 1000 posts is indeed amazing.
On the subject of posting records, in www.hometheaterforum.com (In the DIY section) this guy called Patrick Sun has posted roughly 9000 times. Now that is absolutely unreal.
On the subject of posting records, in www.hometheaterforum.com (In the DIY section) this guy called Patrick Sun has posted roughly 9000 times. Now that is absolutely unreal.
FAQ
Congrats on 1000 posts Grey. You're an inspiration to everyone who comes to DIYAudio.
I'd like to add my thoughts on this. Rather than compiling an FAQ for its own sake, I'd suggest we analyse what topics the bulk of the repeated posts are, and produce a focused document on that.
So, if many of the posts are Aleph construction related, let's put together an "Aleph builder's handbook" or something similar. I don't have a problem with being told to "have a read of our Aleph builder's handbook, and ask again if you're still having troubles" - because it makes the information easy to access (as opposed to searching).Don't call it an FAQ - many FAQ's are useless so people ignore them.
Although I have posted only rarely, I have learned much from regularly visiting this site, to the point where my own Aleph 30's are now operational. Thanks everyone.
Suggesting that a handbook/guide is put together is like saying "Grey, how about answering the next 1000 simple questions in advance" - someone has to do it. I don't think it should be Grey - he's done more than enough already and has better things to be doing.
I'm going to put my hand up and say I'll put the Aleph construction handbook together, if it get's the nod. We should get the OK from NP before doing this to be polite.
I don't know what other common topics are discussed, but perhaps a few others can kick in to put other topics together.
Congrats on 1000 posts Grey. You're an inspiration to everyone who comes to DIYAudio.
I'd like to add my thoughts on this. Rather than compiling an FAQ for its own sake, I'd suggest we analyse what topics the bulk of the repeated posts are, and produce a focused document on that.
So, if many of the posts are Aleph construction related, let's put together an "Aleph builder's handbook" or something similar. I don't have a problem with being told to "have a read of our Aleph builder's handbook, and ask again if you're still having troubles" - because it makes the information easy to access (as opposed to searching).Don't call it an FAQ - many FAQ's are useless so people ignore them.
Although I have posted only rarely, I have learned much from regularly visiting this site, to the point where my own Aleph 30's are now operational. Thanks everyone.
Suggesting that a handbook/guide is put together is like saying "Grey, how about answering the next 1000 simple questions in advance" - someone has to do it. I don't think it should be Grey - he's done more than enough already and has better things to be doing.
I'm going to put my hand up and say I'll put the Aleph construction handbook together, if it get's the nod. We should get the OK from NP before doing this to be polite.
I don't know what other common topics are discussed, but perhaps a few others can kick in to put other topics together.
Grey, I would be particularly interested in your idea of constucting a "How to listen handbook" as I too find that there is a severe lack of resources on what is a very important topic .... although it is easy to become cynical..... though if there wasnt a little bit of cynic in each of us there wouldnt be a need for DIYer's..........
Sud,
I agree that FAQs are frequently a waste of time. That's why I came up with the 'textbook' metaphor. The topics would, indeed, be based on the most-often asked questions: Can I substitute MOSFET x for MOSFET y?, Where do you find big heat sinks?, etc. as those are some of the biggest time-wasters. The first time you see someone ask such a question, you're sympathetic...after the fiftieth time, it gets a little old. I'd like to have a permanent, easy-to-find thread on each of the most common time-wasters, as it's a bit difficult to get on to the more interesting things if you're forever trotting over to the IRF (or Motorola, or whoever...) website to do someone's homework for them.
And the actual mechanics of how to arrange the 'textbooks' are still up in the air...
More advanced topics, like building an Aleph, are where my interests lie. I've got ideas circling like planes at a busy airport, waiting for a chance to land (Why should the solid state guys have all the fun? How would you tube folks like a tube X preamp? Your choice: 6DJ8/6922s, 6SN7s...how about a nice X-OTL amp to go with it? Not to mention a basketful of solid state projects that are in limbo for lack of time.) But I can't seem to break free of the mundane stuff. As long as they're legitimate questions, I'll try to get around to them, but I'm trying to get some projects moving here at Chez Bear, and that doesn't leave as much time for Q&A sessions online.
Incidentally, I've already started a thread for Aleph building: Aleph 2s (and others) as a project...or something like that. I try to make my titles as obvious as possible (in contradistinction to such useless titles as Help! or I have questions! which could be on anything from how many spots are on a leopard, to how to fry an egg). I will, eventually, get a parts list in there and get some other factors--like transformer selection--nailed down. My motto these days is,"Rome wasn't built in a day."
AudioFreak,
Yeah, that's one of my higher priorities, trust me. From day one, I've seen evidence that people spend too little time actually <i>listening</i> to their stereos. I'm not talking about the amount of time spent sitting in front of their speakers--I mean the level of actual perception that they bring to the table. Human hearing can be educated...the sad part is that most people have kindergarden ears...
Grey
I agree that FAQs are frequently a waste of time. That's why I came up with the 'textbook' metaphor. The topics would, indeed, be based on the most-often asked questions: Can I substitute MOSFET x for MOSFET y?, Where do you find big heat sinks?, etc. as those are some of the biggest time-wasters. The first time you see someone ask such a question, you're sympathetic...after the fiftieth time, it gets a little old. I'd like to have a permanent, easy-to-find thread on each of the most common time-wasters, as it's a bit difficult to get on to the more interesting things if you're forever trotting over to the IRF (or Motorola, or whoever...) website to do someone's homework for them.
And the actual mechanics of how to arrange the 'textbooks' are still up in the air...
More advanced topics, like building an Aleph, are where my interests lie. I've got ideas circling like planes at a busy airport, waiting for a chance to land (Why should the solid state guys have all the fun? How would you tube folks like a tube X preamp? Your choice: 6DJ8/6922s, 6SN7s...how about a nice X-OTL amp to go with it? Not to mention a basketful of solid state projects that are in limbo for lack of time.) But I can't seem to break free of the mundane stuff. As long as they're legitimate questions, I'll try to get around to them, but I'm trying to get some projects moving here at Chez Bear, and that doesn't leave as much time for Q&A sessions online.
Incidentally, I've already started a thread for Aleph building: Aleph 2s (and others) as a project...or something like that. I try to make my titles as obvious as possible (in contradistinction to such useless titles as Help! or I have questions! which could be on anything from how many spots are on a leopard, to how to fry an egg). I will, eventually, get a parts list in there and get some other factors--like transformer selection--nailed down. My motto these days is,"Rome wasn't built in a day."
AudioFreak,
Yeah, that's one of my higher priorities, trust me. From day one, I've seen evidence that people spend too little time actually <i>listening</i> to their stereos. I'm not talking about the amount of time spent sitting in front of their speakers--I mean the level of actual perception that they bring to the table. Human hearing can be educated...the sad part is that most people have kindergarden ears...
Grey
AF: The server is in the states and keeps its own time, I guess I should make 'diyAudio time' simple old GMT to keep it in line with the worldwide nature of the site, but most traffic seems to come from the US.
Geoff: I have now changed the way posts (a post is any subsequent reply to a thread) can be edited. Zero to 2 minutes after posting if you edit your post if will appear word for word. If you edit it within 2 - 10 minutes, it will have "Edited by..." after it. After 10 minutes you won't be able to edit or delete your message.
For what it's worth, grey has now punched more than a million keys into this forum comprising 13% of the content here. What an amazing contribution.
> Something needs to be done before the more experienced members of the forum become disallusioned and stop providing replies
I think this is certainly the heart of the matter. The answer is limited only by our imagination.
From your suggestions can I suggest the following preliminary battle plan:
<li> Ground rules presented and emailed to new users on signup (I like Geoff's suggestions)
<li> Improved 'in your face' search throughout
<li> A checkbox in the 'start new thread' forum that must be checked to make sure people have searched for their answer before asking
<li> Search will be reduced to 2 characters
<li> A user editiable FAQ be set up, so that people who want to contribute their best, can, knowing that it will not go to waste. The choice of software will make or break this, but I like Sawzall's suggestion of a Wikki, restricted to people with experience.
Geoff: I have now changed the way posts (a post is any subsequent reply to a thread) can be edited. Zero to 2 minutes after posting if you edit your post if will appear word for word. If you edit it within 2 - 10 minutes, it will have "Edited by..." after it. After 10 minutes you won't be able to edit or delete your message.
For what it's worth, grey has now punched more than a million keys into this forum comprising 13% of the content here. What an amazing contribution.
> Something needs to be done before the more experienced members of the forum become disallusioned and stop providing replies
I think this is certainly the heart of the matter. The answer is limited only by our imagination.
From your suggestions can I suggest the following preliminary battle plan:
<li> Ground rules presented and emailed to new users on signup (I like Geoff's suggestions)
<li> Improved 'in your face' search throughout
<li> A checkbox in the 'start new thread' forum that must be checked to make sure people have searched for their answer before asking
<li> Search will be reduced to 2 characters
<li> A user editiable FAQ be set up, so that people who want to contribute their best, can, knowing that it will not go to waste. The choice of software will make or break this, but I like Sawzall's suggestion of a Wikki, restricted to people with experience.
Jason
Thanks, your 'preliminary battle plan' seems to be a move in the right direction.
My suggested ground rules were very much a first stab and I think we should encourage input from other members (maybe a new thread?) since if there is not a concensus then the rules will not be followed. I have thought of a few more possible additions since my previous post such as 'Please don't add posts that just say "Yes, I agree with UncleSam"' (though this is really covered by the 'added value' rule). I will add these to the new thread if it is created.
Geoff
Thanks, your 'preliminary battle plan' seems to be a move in the right direction.
My suggested ground rules were very much a first stab and I think we should encourage input from other members (maybe a new thread?) since if there is not a concensus then the rules will not be followed. I have thought of a few more possible additions since my previous post such as 'Please don't add posts that just say "Yes, I agree with UncleSam"' (though this is really covered by the 'added value' rule). I will add these to the new thread if it is created.
Geoff
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