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01/13/2006 01:48:20 PM · #1 |
I'm sure most of you have read literally hundreds of threads that ask questions like, "Hi guys. I'm relatively new to photography but I want some good equipment. Should I get the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 or the Canon version? What's the difference? I mostly shoot landscapes. Any ideas?" Or threads like, "I want to get involved with studio photography, but I don't know what kind of lights to get. What's the difference between strobes and continuous lights. Any help would be appreciated!"
Sound familiar? I realize that DP started out as JUST a photography competition. But like any company/community, things have/and will continue to evolve. Right now, DP is an ongoing competition, but it's also an information depot...mostly in the form of threads.
I think it would be wise, on someone's part (maybe the site council??) to go through a good chunk of the threads and compile a list of the 10-20 most common questions and then put together links, on the front of the web page (noticeable and easily accessible) that people can click on to learn more about relatively common topics (like the generic questions I posted in the first paragraph).
I know I'm not the only one that has posted a similar question (like the ones above) and had 20 people (in relatively angry tones) say stuff like, "That has already been discussed in great detail" or "Don't duplicate threads! That's already been covered"...as though I spend my entire day sifting through the threads, looking for duplicates!
Just some ideas.
Message edited by author 2006-01-13 13:52:37.
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01/13/2006 02:08:56 PM · #2 |
Can't you just suggest that more people use the search in the forums to find past threads? Would that not work instead of making more work for the people that already give their time freely ? Just a thought.
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01/13/2006 02:25:33 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by Pioneer:
Can't you just suggest that more people use the search in the forums to find past threads? Would that not work instead of making more work for the people that already give their time freely ? Just a thought. |
Have you tried the search feature? I find it doesn't work very well.
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01/13/2006 02:26:59 PM · #4 |
| How about expanding the FAQ pages to included these types of questions? |
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01/13/2006 02:28:01 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by KarenNfld:
Originally posted by Pioneer:
Can't you just suggest that more people use the search in the forums to find past threads? Would that not work instead of making more work for the people that already give their time freely ? Just a thought. |
Have you tried the search feature? I find it doesn't work very well. |
And it doesn't work at all if you know the title of the thread, but it's never used IN the thread. |
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01/13/2006 03:12:11 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by chafer:
I think it would be wise, on someone's part ... |
Me too -- are you volunteering? You are someone, you know ... : ) |
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01/13/2006 03:27:54 PM · #7 |
I know it doesn't work very well, although I thought it worked fine before. I thought maybe it was just a glitch and not a long term problem. Maybe the site search can just be made to work properly and then we could all use it as it is suppose to be used
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01/13/2006 03:29:41 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by chafer:
I think it would be wise, on someone's part ... |
Me too -- are you volunteering? You are someone, you know ... : ) |
The obvious evolution here would be a "knowledge base" that is searchable, but it takes a LOT of work to create one. The best-qualified person to do this would be someone with industrial knowledge base creation; there are tons of people in the "real world" who organize knowledge bases for a living.
I'd volunteer to work on this in an editorial capacity, but the actual identification and collation of the knowledge base is beyond my primitive computer-organizational skills. I was, however, involved in editing a knowledge base for a software company at one time.
Robt.
Message edited by author 2006-01-13 15:36:19. |
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01/13/2006 03:35:59 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by Pioneer:
I know it doesn't work very well, although I thought it worked fine before. I thought maybe it was just a glitch and not a long term problem. Maybe the site search can just be made to work properly and then we could all use it as it is suppose to be used |
The problem with the search function, aside from its problematical functionality, is that it returns too many hits and you have to sift through the chaff to find the wheat. A knowledge base would exist outside the current search function and be categorically organized:
1. Seek "Sharpening"
2. Return "Sharpening in Photoshop" with subheads "USM", "High Pass Sharpening", "Sharpening artifacts" etc etc.
3. Select and click on subhead to see more and find links to entire threads.
Ideally the knowledge base would contain synopses of the various things returned to allow the seeker to determine if the "hit" was what s/he was really seeking. This is what an editor would be doing.
R.
Message edited by author 2006-01-13 15:36:49. |
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01/13/2006 03:39:50 PM · #10 |
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01/13/2006 03:41:15 PM · #11 |
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01/14/2006 02:36:12 PM · #12 |
Everybody is missing the point. But that's ok. I'm also surprised at how arrogant the responses are...from Pioneer, General, etc. Can't you guys respect someone's suggestion without having to make comments that belittle and overanalyze every little aspect. Sure, there's a search feature, but it doesn't work very effectively and also, I'm suggesting maybe 10 categories that can answer the MOST common questions (like the ones I posted in my first entry). I'm not saying create some ridiculous 20000 question knowledge database. And no, they're not creating this site out of the goodness of their heart...hint to Pioneer...I'm paying to participate (what they do with the money is their problem...but it's not free).
Message edited by author 2006-01-14 14:40:57.
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01/14/2006 02:46:16 PM · #13 |
The comments made up to this juncture were nowhere nears as demeaning as those that you just edited Chafer.
Word to the wise, you may find it difficult garner support for your "innovative" idea, if you initiate the process by demeaning the members of the audience.
Ray |
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01/14/2006 02:47:47 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by chafer:
Everybody is missing the point. But that's ok. I'm also surprised at how arrogant the responses are...from Pioneer, General, etc. Can't you guys respect someone's suggestion without having to make comments that belittle and overanalyze every little aspect. Sure, there's a search feature, but it doesn't work very effectively and also, I'm suggesting maybe 10 categories that can answer the MOST common questions (like the ones I posted in my first entry). I'm not saying create some ridiculous 20000 question knowledge database. And no, they're not creating this site out of the goodness of their heart...hint to Pioneer...I'm paying to participate (what they do with the money is their problem...but it's not free). |
If you make comments like this I am pretty sure you will not bring many people around to your ideas nor make any freinds at the site
you should also read
Forum etiquette
Message edited by author 2006-01-14 16:25:14. |
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01/14/2006 02:59:32 PM · #15 |
If I really want to search the site for somthing, I used the advanced features on Google.com, with the site difined to stie:dpchallenge.com
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01/14/2006 03:19:32 PM · #16 |
Wow you are putting me in my place aren't you. Sorry I didn't respect your opinion. You were not belittled by any means, I just made a statement about a possible way to find what you were looking for. I also did not know the SC members get paid for this as you say. I always thought they were doing this without pay, but as you say they get something for their time, but I think you are wrong. I don't know what you feel you should be getting for your $25 , but most of us got our monies worth
I joined here a couple years ago now, and loved coming here. I don't participate in many challenges, but I look at them all and learn so much from all the people here.I pick up things for shooting pictures and editing, there is so much to learn here. I have found though over the last few months people getting argumentitive and rude, and I am truly sick and tired of it.It seems as thought the purpose of the site has changed, and not due to the power to be, but from some people that feel only their opions matter. I will not be participating much here any more and will not renew when it is time. This is a great site and it is very sad that it has come to this point. I am tired of attitudes, good luck to the rest of you and I hope this once again become the site it was befor.
Mike |
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01/14/2006 03:21:04 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by chafer:
I think it would be wise, on someone's part ... |
Me too -- are you volunteering? You are someone, you know ... : ) |
The obvious evolution here would be a "knowledge base" that is searchable, but it takes a LOT of work to create one. The best-qualified person to do this would be someone with industrial knowledge base creation; there are tons of people in the "real world" who organize knowledge bases for a living.
I'd volunteer to work on this in an editorial capacity, but the actual identification and collation of the knowledge base is beyond my primitive computer-organizational skills. I was, however, involved in editing a knowledge base for a software company at one time.
Robt. |
Not to tip my hand too much, but I'm working on an off-DPC project that is along these lines. Feel free to PM/IM/email me if yu want more details.
~Terry
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01/14/2006 03:26:40 PM · #18 |
Just a quick reminder to everyone:
It's certainly ok to disagree on whether this suggestion is worthwhile, or with whether or how it should be implemented. In the interest of a constructive discussion, it's important that we don't misconstrue simple disagreement as a personal attack.
I think we'd all benefit from some extra effort to keep this thread on topic.
As a side note, I'm moving this thread to the Website Suggestions folder as it seems to fit there better.
Thanks,
~Terry
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