Our quest to help the the new commers

[BaileyUK]

OK, I know the pitfalls, but I feel somewhat elated when I've truly engaged with those new to domains who have truly appreciate my feedback. It's wonderful to read the appreciative feedback in all it's forms. Sometimes your left totally in the dark as to the logic of previous registrations. So for me, tough love becomes the starting point.

I try to avoid elongated Private messages correspondence these days, In the past they could go on for weeks. I've tried to differentiate between those who are just looking to 'Scrape' domain investment info to those who appear genuinely interested in a way forward.

Lets be clear I'm NO domain guru, by any means , far from it. but I do know whatworks or at least should do (yes, one of my old holdings) Today, there are so many newcomers, I don't really like the word 'Newbies' It has a prejudgement quality about it. I always think twice about replying. Should we abandon new commers to their fate, Maybe just make an initial judgement on the nature and wording of their posts. Do they try to add some logic ? or just post on the fly.

I feel like all teachers, your there to help. A little bit of payback maybe for what you've enjoyed. But man I can understand why the appraisal section remains largely ignored these days. It's truly a thankless task these days, shame it never use to be. Even myself, I learnt so much in the early days (1999 to forever) from many mentors that took their time and patience to help/support me

 

[Adrigan]

First off, this site needs to rehash the forums menu, as it is such a mess that I have little confidence that beginners will ever get to the beginners forum and have a look through the beginners resources post from 2015.

Indeed, the site needs to be redesigned as there is such a jumble of panels, boxes, colours and adverts, all jostling for attention.
It might be difficult for beginners to focus in this visual cacophony of text.

Secondly, we cannot know who has read what before posting for help as a beginner. This site is not an education service with any type of obligation to help people, just because they ask for it.
People on here do help, out of the goodness of their hearts and also, to make themselves feel better or perhaps because of some sort of pride.

It is sometimes easy to spot the "just connected to the internet and bought 10 domains" person, but engaging with people who don't really understand what they are doing is difficult when so many things are unknown.

I will often ignore posts with bad or sloppy English, poor forming of sentences and poor or non existent punctuation. Text speak is a pet hate of mine and I don't even answer people I know when they write that way.
But these are all signs of an inattentive person, or someone who isn't very focused on this area and since they are asking for help, the least they can do is write legibly and with attention. If they can't or won't, in my experience it is likely to be a waste of time for me.

I think therefore that the extent and depth to which help can be given is reliant on the understanding the person requesting help has, plus the amount of information they can handle in one go and also, finding finding out their motivations/plans for getting involved with domain names.

Just to mention that no-one has ever helped me in this business but I am more than happy to help others if anyone asks.

 

[Kyle Tully]

There seems to be an abundance of new people who have not done nor are willing to do any work/research themselves and just want everything handed to them on a silver platter. And even when you hand it to them they refuse it

I enjoy helping people and have gained a lot from others sharing here but the sheer volume of lazy people coming into the industry means I'm mostly ignoring new people until they have proven they're worth helping

 

[Adrigan]

There seems to be an abundance of new people who have not done nor are willing to do any work/research themselves and just want everything handed to them on a silver platter. And even when you hand it to them they refuse it

This is what I wanted to say but I didn't manage to say it as well as you have.

It's a modern disease/affliction, much like free music, free software, free anything. There seems to be no questioning by those who avail themselves of free stuff, in how it comes to be free.
An entire generation has grown up with this mentality and so it doesn't surprise me that so many people have expectations, without more or less not doing anything, to get something.

I think we should tread carefully, with each person we encounter and make them work for every bit of knowledge and wisdom we may have. Otherwise, they are likely to take such knowledge and wisdom as flippantly as they often seem to do, which can mean "yeah, thanks, but I'll go do what I want anyway" or some such sentiment, providing you receive a response at all!
Something given away is almost never perceived as valuable.

I learned long ago that you can't help someone who doesn't want to help themselves. It's a endless and painful void into which you can waste away if you don't have any conditions and rules for yourself.