Post by SHAUNEH on Jul 15, 2012 16:49:05 GMT -5
I'll try to make this as short and painless as possible, but yes, there are some guidelines to the writer's help thread. I know it may seem silly to have any here, but they're to prevent problems the likes of which I've seen on other forums.
1.) Nobody is allowed to monopolize any of the sub-boards here by seeking help several times, yet never giving it. If you are going to ask the other members for help, then you'd better be willing to return the favor when your fellow forumers need it. This isn't to say you need to comment on every thread asking for help, but you should be reciprocating the help you give by being willing to assist others. It's only fair! If I see people asking for help a lot, but never giving it when other members are asking, I will bar them from seeking help again by...Well, I'll pretty much lock your thread and send you a personal message about the matter, and only unlock it when you've given help back.
So to avoid all sorts of frustrations, please just be prepared to help others or at least try to if you're going to expect others to do that for you. Nobody wants to or should be taken advantage of, so let's just be fair and avoid that.
2.)Be patient with your fellow members. While people here are willing to help each other out, we can't always respond to your requests immediately. We have lives and writing projects of our own to attend to, as well as other things. If you're on a time crunch or something like that, where you need opinions within the timespan of a week or so, mention that in your post but still be patient. If you are super impatient, then that might annoy people and it may hurt your chances of having them help you in the future.
3.) If you don't get any feedback, please don't feel too discouraged! Sometimes people aren't paying attention to certain sections, they just have no idea what to say, or, if your request requires them to have a certain amount of knowledge on a subject, they may not have enough of that to even begin trying to help you out. Don't feel so upset that you'll never use this section again in the future. I have to believe that all of us have questions on occasion that probably wouldn't get answers, but we all also ask for things the other members will respond to, so if at first you don't succeed...Well, you know the saying, try again!
4.) Please don't ignore the people who offer you their opinions or advice. They are taking their time out to help you, so make sure to acknowledge that. Nobody is entitled to getting all the help and answers they seek, so please don't turn your nose up and act ungrateful to your fellow members. It's not cool. Also, please don't get upset or throw a fit if something somebody says as far as help isn't what you wanted to hear- especially if you're seeking constructive criticism.
5.) On this same token, if you're going to help somebody out, don't be dismissive of what they have to say. If they don't agree with what you're suggesting or feel the need to explain/defend something, don't write them off or react poorly if they are doing this maturely and not throwing a fit of any kind. Read what they tell you, take it into consideration, etc. Be helpful, not harmful! And when it comes to help, please at least try. If you are half-arsing it and don't really care about giving somebody help and just are tossing a comment or two in to seem like you're giving help so you can ask for more...No. Don't do that. Actually try to help.
I understand we can't always offer the most insightful or helpful commentary, but we can at least try. If you're not even trying, it will be obvious. And of course, don't force yourself to give help on something you feel you can't give any help at all on; wait until somebody makes a request you CAN help on. I will definitely be understanding in that case! I'm not going to lock your threads and demand you reply to requests you're not sure how to answer- that's just for people who NEVER try and can never be bothered to help their fellow members out yet seek a lot of help for themselves.
I think that's all for now. More will be added if it becomes necessary, but I'm hoping it won't.
1.) Nobody is allowed to monopolize any of the sub-boards here by seeking help several times, yet never giving it. If you are going to ask the other members for help, then you'd better be willing to return the favor when your fellow forumers need it. This isn't to say you need to comment on every thread asking for help, but you should be reciprocating the help you give by being willing to assist others. It's only fair! If I see people asking for help a lot, but never giving it when other members are asking, I will bar them from seeking help again by...Well, I'll pretty much lock your thread and send you a personal message about the matter, and only unlock it when you've given help back.
So to avoid all sorts of frustrations, please just be prepared to help others or at least try to if you're going to expect others to do that for you. Nobody wants to or should be taken advantage of, so let's just be fair and avoid that.
2.)Be patient with your fellow members. While people here are willing to help each other out, we can't always respond to your requests immediately. We have lives and writing projects of our own to attend to, as well as other things. If you're on a time crunch or something like that, where you need opinions within the timespan of a week or so, mention that in your post but still be patient. If you are super impatient, then that might annoy people and it may hurt your chances of having them help you in the future.
3.) If you don't get any feedback, please don't feel too discouraged! Sometimes people aren't paying attention to certain sections, they just have no idea what to say, or, if your request requires them to have a certain amount of knowledge on a subject, they may not have enough of that to even begin trying to help you out. Don't feel so upset that you'll never use this section again in the future. I have to believe that all of us have questions on occasion that probably wouldn't get answers, but we all also ask for things the other members will respond to, so if at first you don't succeed...Well, you know the saying, try again!
4.) Please don't ignore the people who offer you their opinions or advice. They are taking their time out to help you, so make sure to acknowledge that. Nobody is entitled to getting all the help and answers they seek, so please don't turn your nose up and act ungrateful to your fellow members. It's not cool. Also, please don't get upset or throw a fit if something somebody says as far as help isn't what you wanted to hear- especially if you're seeking constructive criticism.
5.) On this same token, if you're going to help somebody out, don't be dismissive of what they have to say. If they don't agree with what you're suggesting or feel the need to explain/defend something, don't write them off or react poorly if they are doing this maturely and not throwing a fit of any kind. Read what they tell you, take it into consideration, etc. Be helpful, not harmful! And when it comes to help, please at least try. If you are half-arsing it and don't really care about giving somebody help and just are tossing a comment or two in to seem like you're giving help so you can ask for more...No. Don't do that. Actually try to help.
I understand we can't always offer the most insightful or helpful commentary, but we can at least try. If you're not even trying, it will be obvious. And of course, don't force yourself to give help on something you feel you can't give any help at all on; wait until somebody makes a request you CAN help on. I will definitely be understanding in that case! I'm not going to lock your threads and demand you reply to requests you're not sure how to answer- that's just for people who NEVER try and can never be bothered to help their fellow members out yet seek a lot of help for themselves.
I think that's all for now. More will be added if it becomes necessary, but I'm hoping it won't.
