JB
Honorary Moderator Emeritus
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2001
- Messages
- 45,907
Re: Forums
Hi, Guys.<br /><br />As Moderator1 said, iboats is making some changes with the intent to better serve the boating community.<br /><br />The FAQ section is not going the way we expected or planned. I don't know how we are going to fix that without offending the many people who have offered their time and expertise by posting there.<br /><br />Our plan was to have a read-only section of carefully written answers to a selection of frequently asked questions. . .answers that are as complete and bulletproof as possible.<br /><br />As a model of what we planned, I drafted the "Outboard Wont Start" troubleshooting guide, ran it by the other Mods for ideas and suggestions, then posted it for suggestions and ideas from other outboard wrenches. I then revised it several times to include the excellent advice I got. This process took several weeks.<br /><br />I was a professional Technical Writer for many years. I taught Outboard Wrenches how to troubleshoot and Technical Writers how to write instructions. Yet I still needed days to write the draft and more weeks to collect corrections, additions and rewording advice before I was ready to put that in the FAQ section.<br /><br />To meet what Admin5 has asked of us for the FAQ section, that process is necessary.<br /><br />First, we need to ensure that we are addressing a truly frequent question that can be accurately answered for all versions of the question. We don't want to include links or C&P.<br /><br />After Admin5 agrees that we have a good candidate, we need an expert to write a draft answer. Then we need to submit it to all of our expert helpers, or selected experts in some cases, for comment, advice, additions or corrections. Then revise it to fit that input.<br /><br />Then it is ready to be included in the FAQ section for read-only use by members.<br /><br />My thanks to all who have contributed and my apologies that we introduced it without thorough explanation. <br /><br />If your contributions don't get included it will not be because we don't value them, we surely do, it will only be that they didn't fit the plan. When (if) we get to the question you addressed we will surely seek your input in preparing the FAQ solution.<br /><br />Thanks for reading.
Hi, Guys.<br /><br />As Moderator1 said, iboats is making some changes with the intent to better serve the boating community.<br /><br />The FAQ section is not going the way we expected or planned. I don't know how we are going to fix that without offending the many people who have offered their time and expertise by posting there.<br /><br />Our plan was to have a read-only section of carefully written answers to a selection of frequently asked questions. . .answers that are as complete and bulletproof as possible.<br /><br />As a model of what we planned, I drafted the "Outboard Wont Start" troubleshooting guide, ran it by the other Mods for ideas and suggestions, then posted it for suggestions and ideas from other outboard wrenches. I then revised it several times to include the excellent advice I got. This process took several weeks.<br /><br />I was a professional Technical Writer for many years. I taught Outboard Wrenches how to troubleshoot and Technical Writers how to write instructions. Yet I still needed days to write the draft and more weeks to collect corrections, additions and rewording advice before I was ready to put that in the FAQ section.<br /><br />To meet what Admin5 has asked of us for the FAQ section, that process is necessary.<br /><br />First, we need to ensure that we are addressing a truly frequent question that can be accurately answered for all versions of the question. We don't want to include links or C&P.<br /><br />After Admin5 agrees that we have a good candidate, we need an expert to write a draft answer. Then we need to submit it to all of our expert helpers, or selected experts in some cases, for comment, advice, additions or corrections. Then revise it to fit that input.<br /><br />Then it is ready to be included in the FAQ section for read-only use by members.<br /><br />My thanks to all who have contributed and my apologies that we introduced it without thorough explanation. <br /><br />If your contributions don't get included it will not be because we don't value them, we surely do, it will only be that they didn't fit the plan. When (if) we get to the question you addressed we will surely seek your input in preparing the FAQ solution.<br /><br />Thanks for reading.
