2007/1/8, rob <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
-----Original Message----- From: M Henri Day [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 08 January 2007 10:18 To: [email protected]; James Mckenzie Subject: Re: [users] Forced Registration For This List (was Re: [users]Return receipts) 2007/1/8, James Mckenzie <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: <snip>What do other readers think of the requirement to post through a web page if you are not subscribed using a simple form like this: Your e-mail address: > Subject of your question: > Details on what you are trying to accomplish or problem: > > Note: Your message will be reviewed prior to posting to the appropriate > mailing list by a volunteer. This will take time. You will receive a reply > from the reviewer if you question can be answered by this person. This > answer will also be added to the archives. > > James McKenzie I certainly think it worth a try - it won't resolve all the problems from which the list suffers, but it may - only time will tell - alleviate some of the most pressing ones. It should be of aid to inexperienced users in thinking through their problems and learning how to describe them in a manner which is meaningful to others - things that they often (not always !) need to learn. Perhaps this particular problem could be addressed by adding a link on the archives to a page entitled <How to ask questions and get answers>, on which advice is given - with examples - concerning such matters as naming the specific problem in the subject line, providing information on the equipment one is using, describing events in the detail and in the order they occur, and not least, looking up similar problems in the archive.... Henri I agree it is worth a try but how about adding a request to know the operating system they are working on as often this can help to solve the problem. Rob
I'm with you all the way, Rob - indeed, this is one of the things I meant when I referred to «providing information on the equipment one is using». But here it is probably wise to be very explicit - and provide concrete examples of the type «I'm using OOo version x.x on a Windows XP SP 2 computer with a clock speed of X MHz and a RAM with X MB capacity. ...», so that novices can have the opportunity to learn just what type of information is relevant to the task of sorting out their problems. To paraphrase Harold Fuchs's observation, the distinction between ignorance and stupidity is that the former is amenable to treatment.... Henri
