Are we too harsh?

[Knytestorme]

I've noticed that there has been a rash of people posting recently that make 1 or 2 posts and then are never heard from again, and I'm wondering if we are being too harsh with them.

Typically they start off one of two ways, either stating they have read the stickies and then asking questions that are answered by them or starting off showing no clue and no intention of wanting to learn past being spoonfed and we (using that term a generic for the community, myself included) will typically give them a "read the stickies, read the wiki" comment after which they are never heard from again. Now is this because the comments are seemingly unfriendly, or because they can't be bothered actually doing the work? (well I think we all know the answer there)

I got to thinking about it, and came up with the following...in one of the beginner stickies have a comment like "Now, when you post asking for help use the phrase purple bubblegum heart and people will know you have read this"...it's weird enough no-one would randomly add it to their posts, and probably easily skipped over if you aren't paying attention and trying to learn from the stickies but would allow people to know that the person using it has taken the time to read and try to learn and will likely be worth spending some of our time to help.

I think all of us here are willing to help as much as possible when someone shows a willingness to help themselves first, so why don't we give us and them a way to show who they are rather than let someone that could be an asset to the community get swept away in the flood of leeches that get ignored?

[Khazrael]

I think you hit the nail on the head with the types of posters that get scared off. While some of the stickies could probably be cleaned up/updated, and I certainly don't speak for the community as a whole, as far as I'm concerned if you can't put forth the effort to do some digging and play around with it some yourself, multiboxing might not be for you. I'm plenty willing to help, I've made plenty of constructive posts and also am pretty regular in the IRC and help people that join in there, but at some point if you can't help yourself, others can't really help you either.

[geoffdavison]

I don't think that people are being harsh but more that they are tired of people popping up with the same questions and not putting forth any effort.

Even though i've only been here a few months it does get annoying when you see the 1-2 posters that ask the same questions... alot of times they seem to be on the younger side.. i'm basing that on the lack of communication skills... not that gamer geeks are the best at it sometimes.. but hey most of us can spell and use periods completely inappropriately................................... ............

[Kaynin]

Well, if anything. Even though pretty much all the information any multiboxer needs is already on the forum. It did look like a maze to me when I came here originally. :P

That said, perhaps it's better to link people to the stickies they should read when asking them. Instead of just saying 'go read the stickies'. Besides, some people might be at work like myself, not really having the time to go through all stickies trying to look for some information. ^^

Still, I haven't seen much harshness except to people 'breaking the rules' here and there. And for as long as I've been here. (What, like, 2 months? >.<) This community has been one of the nicer, more mature communities I've been a part off. Which is a rare oddity these days!

[Knytestorme]

Yeah, I guess when I say harsh I should say terse or curt. I don't think anyone has outright flamed a person for their posts (except the Gambler that got banned for promoting private servers) but some of us (again, myself included) are very curt with people, and while I don't mind it when it's deserved I was trying to think of ways to make sure people that deserve some time and effort in response to the time and effort they have put in, get it.

And yes, holy bad grammar there batman.

[Khazrael]

As far as better ways to respond, I'd have to completely agree with Kaynin about linking the stickies you want them to read, rather then just saying go read the stickies. I try to do this myself whenever I have the time to do so. Even if it's just a thread thats helped me personally understand something in the past, just to give them something to look at rather then a general statement that may seem too overwhelming to them. (Stickies? Zomg theres dozens of them, which one!)

[spannah]

When folks signup they get an e-mail for the next step. Instead of providing a link in order to complete the signup maybe instructions should be given such as go to dual-boxing.com, click on this link then on that link, then enter this code. Before providing instructions, give a generic well written paragraph about multi-boxing - something along the lines:

"Multi-boxing is not for everyone, it takes time to setup your environment, it will cost money, and it will require you to do some reading on your own so you understand how it works and how to set things up. If you don't want to bother with the technicalities, then no one else is going to do it for you. Yes it does help if your are computer literate or at least if you are willing to learn the basics on your own."

There will still be peeps who won't bother to read or pay attention to that, but at least it is a warning of things to come

[Kaynin]

Ain't that just what we try to avoid though, Spannah? xP

[Kaynin]

How many people go "overboard" helping people in game that inquire about multiboxing? Giving them all the details, methods, etc.

I know I do. And when I feel they are truly interested, I direct them here to the forums. I sort of "feel them out" first, to try and stem off the total noobs who still have their parents changing their diapers.
Then I come here, and its the same question every day - that the answer is SUPER easy to find. Or questions that are so subjective that one cannot give an honest answer because there are too many variables? (omg what class should I choose?!)

Honestly? With the huge influx of new people lately, and all the bad PR we get, screw them. The less people doing this the better. All this community needs is some shit stained individual that likes to post on the general forums start multiboxing and giving us all a bad name.

I'm help the people who show they are worth helping. The total jack holes? learn2wiki

I do sometimes when I'm not busy, other times I tell them the 'basics'. (As in. "One keyboard, multiple accounts. Basicly!") And tell them to look for it on the internet. Official forums/google/dual-boxing.com

[Doubleo7]

It's even easier to just not respond to a post that irritates you. If they don't get any responses maybe they will be motivated to go back and read the stickies again or make their questions more specific.