TheSamba.com :: View topic - Stickies for new members and those new to VW

Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:15 pm

What are y'all's thoughts on having a stickies thread dedicated to new members and those new to VWs in general? One of the common threads I see are "I just bought a bug, it's been sitting for years. What should I know?" Many of the answers to these threads include, get the Muir book and Bentley, replace your fuel lines, and so on. Other information often missed by new members includes the location of the dictionary, that posts can be edited so typos like "beatle" and "bettle" can be removed, and just a general introduction to the site and it's navigation.

Since these threads contain a lot of repeat information, would it be possible to have a sticky to which new people can be directed?

Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:44 pm

there are stickies in every tech forum for noobs...

Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:52 pm

Newbies don't know to read Stickies.

They also don't know to use the search feature.

Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:56 pm

you mean that's why he's in here suggesting things that already exist?

Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:04 pm

He is not a newbie. He has 296 posts since he joined.

Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:07 pm

Russ Wolfe wrote: He is not a newbie. He has 296 posts since he joined.

true... but still hasn't found/read the stickies....

Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:49 pm

No, I'm not a newb, and I know about, and have read, the stickies in the threads. Even though though there are stickies in each forum there's not one which contains a brief "hey, this is the deal" and tells them where the dictionary is, and how to manage them selves here and so on. For instance, there is the sticky "Beetles and Fires," but a newb wouldn't know by that title to look there when they're just starting out, nor have they been told to use the search feature regularly, or what the "Site" forum is for. They also wouldn't know that much of the questions they have can be addressed by the Muir book, or the wealth of information found in the "Technical" tab.

Here's a response I recently posted to such a newby thread:

Dolamite02 wrote: As far as navigating the site, it's pretty straight forward, though if you have any trouble you can ask questions in the "Site" forum. Folks ask a bunch there, and repeats are frequent, though two of the big ones are about a VW Dictionary, which can be found by clicking the "Technical" link, and for help posting pictures. Picture instructions can be found here. Use the search feature frequently, as virtually every question has been asked here at some point. Finally, as I'm sure you'd like to, remember that you can always go back and edit typos in your previous posts by clicking the "Edit" button at the top right of the given post.

As you're new to VW's, I and everyone else here, will advise you to first off, get the John Muir book, How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive for the Complete Idiot. This book will guide you through every step of virtually every topic you can imagine with your car. The next book after that should be the Bentley manual for your car, your's will be the orange covered one. Bentley is the official service manual for VW, and will have more detailed instructions than the Muir book. You don't have to get them both right off, but the Muir book is a must.

As to the car itself, give it a thorough checking over, trace all of your systems, look for any loose wiring, or parts that seem to be out of place, broken or loose. Check the oil, it's most likely some black sludge by now, so you'll need a good oil change. One thing you absolutely must do is to replace every inch of rubber gas line and move the fuel filter to a different location. Do a search for "fuel line," or something similar and you'll find very quickly why this is a critical thing to do. Beetles and fires don't mix well at all.

There's lots more, but I'll leave that to some of the others for the time being. Welcome to The Samba, and to Volkswagen!

This information while common to us, is just as commonly repeated to the newbies. I think that having a single sticky giving direction to the newbs would be an easier way for them to get around and for us to say, "Go here," when these threads pop up.

Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:29 pm

Surely there are more opinions...?

Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:53 pm

We have a wonderfull search feature, it is suggested in every thread. you could create every sticky in the whole world, NOOBs ignore em to ask there petty Q in all caps or just can't spell worth adamn, and the older members get pissy, cause it is a FAQ.

Sun Dec 16, 2007 7:43 pm

Project_67 wrote: can't spell worth adamn,

:lol: Thats why they invented spell check :D

Sun Dec 16, 2007 9:26 pm

While it's true that virtually every question has been covered here at some point or another, it would be a lot easier in my mind to have a stickey titled, "New to TheSamba, or ACVW...?" or something similar which could contain pointers for navigating the site, using the search feature, reading sitickies, and advising them to check the stickies involving Beetles and Fire and so on.

This way, all the main points would be covered, and veteran members could simply direct new folks to the new folks sticky. If additional information were required in the sticky, it gets added immediately and once, rather than over and over.

Mon Dec 17, 2007 4:04 am

Dolamite02 wrote: While it's true that virtually every question has been covered here at some point or another, it would be a lot easier in my mind to have a stickey titled, "New to TheSamba, or ACVW...?" or something similar which could contain pointers for navigating the site, using the search feature, reading sitickies, and advising them to check the stickies involving Beetles and Fire and so on.

This way, all the main points would be covered, and veteran members could simply direct new folks to the new folks sticky. If additional information were required in the sticky, it gets added immediately and once, rather than over and over.

we do that now with the specific stickies in each forum, plus the rest of the site's features...

where would such a sticky be placed? one in each forum? or here in the site forum?

I genuinely believe that a newb-specific sticky would get read anymore than the existing ones...

Mon Dec 17, 2007 5:53 am

Dolamite02 wrote:
This way, all the main points would be covered, and veteran members could simply direct new folks to the new folks sticky. If additional information were required in the sticky, it gets added immediately and once, rather than over and over.
we already do that and direct N00bs to the SEARCH function.
a sticky isn't going to help a N00b who wants an answer NOW and is too lazy to Search.
a better suggestion would be to highlight the SEARCH key the same way as help/FAQs are, but again this will still not help lazy N00bs.
i cannot count the number of people who have been here for years and have never read the rules or even knew there is rules.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4
oh! the rules are a STICKY too !!

Wed Dec 19, 2007 8:25 am

The FAQ sticky in each Forum should be a intro to each type.

I have thought about a need for a site introduction in the Site Forum but I get very few questions on how to use the site so I haven't put much effort into it. The number 1 question I get is problems with placing ads. 99% of the time it has to do with people using photos that are too large. Almost everyone knows how to resize them though once they understand the issue.

I know people have trouble using the Search from time to time so maybe I need a little Search tutorial on how to get the best results?

Wed Dec 19, 2007 8:26 am

EverettB wrote: The FAQ sticky in each Forum should be a intro to each type.

I have thought about a need for a site introduction in the Site Forum but I get very few questions on how to use the site so I haven't put much effort into it. The number 1 question I get is problems with placing ads. 99% of the time it has to do with people using photos that are too large. Almost everyone knows how to resize them though once they understand the issue.

I know people have trouble using the Search from time to time so maybe I need a little Search tutorial on how to get the best results?

Yes. That should reduce the number of posts that state, "Tried to search but Search doesn't work".

Sun Jan 06, 2008 11:06 am

There is one thing I can think of that would really help noobs.

That would be annotated pictures of each stock model, especially the engine bay, but also all common project areas. This magnifies the benefit of a dictionary 1000 times (picture worth a thousand words).

My '70 type 1 is my first Beetle and although I had already removed engines on a '69 Bug and a '70 Ghia first-hand, it wasn't until now that I cared about the proper routing and location of every single wire, hose, and component.

I suppose these pictures already exist, but as a noob, I'm still finding it difficult to narrow down the search results.

When I say "annotated", I mean that someone starts with a good picture of a proper stock car and then adds labels or find numbers so one can cross-reference the image with the terminology.

The dictionary sort of does this already, but is too broad and wasn't designed with this purpose.

Another way I've seen this done is to take one of the manufacturers exploded parts diagrams and make that a sticky. Those help give the best view of each part but at the expense of not telling the noob how they go together...I think you know what I mean. The combination of a picture of what things look like as they are installed and how they "explode" into separate pieces together with text that identifies the names of the parts is the most helpful basic information. Adding part numbers is just icing on the cake.

Here's an example:
http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/290363.jpg

FWIW
Geoff

Sun Jan 06, 2008 2:23 pm

I recently added a search tutorial.
It's linked from the Search page and is also in the Site Forum

Sun Jan 06, 2008 2:24 pm

Gsport wrote: That would be annotated pictures of each stock model, especially the engine bay, but also all common project areas. This magnifies the benefit of a dictionary 1000 times (picture worth a thousand words).

When I say "annotated", I mean that someone starts with a good picture of a proper stock car and then adds labels or find numbers so one can cross-reference the image with the terminology.

Here's an example:
http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/290363.jpg

Thanks for the input.

There is some information here:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=206491
but not exactly what you are asking.

Sun Jan 06, 2008 5:35 pm

maybe new users could recieve a PM telling them about the various things that a newb should know. i.e.

Search feature
the community,
achives
and technical tabs
the stickys

"Welcome and thank you for registering on thesamba.com Before you begin we'd just like to clue you in on a few things that new users might find helpful...."

Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:49 pm

EverettB wrote:
Thanks for the input.

There is some information here:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=206491
but not exactly what you are asking.

Thanks Everett