I know that this gets brought up from time to time, but why don’t we have sticky’s here? I mean, just for some of the basics, like, beginners questions, DCC, scenery basics (like the scenery clinic), and so forth.
I understand that you don’t want twenty seven thousand sticky’s at the top of page one, but two or three might not be a bad idea I think.
One that answers a lot of beginners questions would probably cut down on the same questions being asked again and again. It could open with a well written, thorough, broad based commentary that covers a lot of the main bases, and then others could add on. That way a newbi can get most of their questions answered without having to feel their way through it one step at a time. They can get the basics, and then if they have a question they can post an informed question.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love newbi’s. They are the lifeblood of this hobby. I just think that this might help them. I know I might be intimidated as a newbi about posting stupid questions in my ignorance.
It’s just a opinion…opinion’s are like armpit’s, everybody’s got a couple, and some of them stink!
I have seen forum’s that had “newbie” sections were that is the only area where they can post for 3 months. All their questions are answered and it tends to weed out the morons, keyboard jockeys and trolls. The moderators can decide if the person is “worthy” of entering the entire forum or keep the “newbie” wear he/she is until they show a maturity level that is consistent with the rest of the forum members.
That would be a great idea for newbies to learn the basics from one area because I find myself searching old topics to learn from but sometimes I think that old dogs can learn new tricks, and the newbies can sometimes be the teachers. I think by not allowing everyone to put in their two cents would mean the end of this forum. It sounds like you just want to start up your own boys club. I think that would be a sad day for old and new alike.
it’s not really a big deal if we answer the same question over and over again, besides, there’s always the chance of getting a different answer that can put a whole new aspect on the same old questions asked with new bright ideas or techniques…remember…there are a lot of avid “begginners” here in the forum and answering their question again from past posts for the first, second, or thrird time will encourage them to stay in the hobby …once they see that there are those here in the forum that take delight in answering their questions and care about getting them thru the various aspects of the hobby will keep them here longer…it doesn’t bother me in the least to answer the same old questions over and over again and as far as i’m concerned, we’re all equal and should’nt have to run a gauntlet to be worthy enough to “enter” a higher level of forum usage…everyone here from the best modeler to the guy with his first train set should be on equal terms…chuck
You have a point there. We wouldn’t want to be exclusive to the point of being standoffish. And you’re right, newbi’s are great teachers.
I was thinking of something more basic. Something where a newbi can go to learn things like how to figure a grade and things like that that don’t change.
BTW, I didn’t necessarily mean that this whole idea was for newbi’s only. It could be for say, the most talked about issues, like scenery how to’s. It could be an evolving thread, like the one we already have. You just wouldn’t have to hunt for it. I know you can bookmark it, and I did, but someone who only has been here a short time, or maybe only drops by once in a while, might not know that.
The idea here is to make the info that people need more accessable to them, that’s all.
P.Carrell…I agree with the site for learning about scenery, grades, and other basics. I would probably use the site often but when a question is posted, it’s nice to have several different views and/or answers to consider and if it was on a separate forum area I don’t know if that would happen. Just food for thought!
There is an area with beginner information on the Model Railroader Magazine home page. I suppose a lot of newbies and even more experienced modelers/forumites don’t know about it and may never see it if they just hang out on the forums and don’t look at what else in on the website.
If you’re totally new to the hobby you can start with some basic information available on the Model Railroader Magazine home page. Here’s the link to their ABC’s of model railroading:
And check out the menu items down the left side of the page. Not all of this will be applicable or interesting to everyone. But you can pick up some info here:
Personally I’m not that much a fan of stickies. More than a couple and you pretty quickly start reducing the space for posts on page 1, and new posts get shoved down to page 2 even faster than they do now. Hard to decide what topics are important or common enough to warrant stickies.
I suspect that you’re not alone. A lot of people find this place and jump directly into the forums without noticing that there is other info available. Took me quite a while to realize it too. I’m not sure what the best way is to publicize that. Maybe we just keep answering questions…