Two years in the WordPress forum
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Tomorrow I will have two years spent in the WordPress forum.
Most of that time I used to be a simple member as anyone else, and being promoted to “moderator” it just made it more difficult. It comes with more responsibilities. Whatever you say it gets some kind of authority(?) — even if it shouldn’t. However, that’s the general perception…
It is quite a long time. (My wife says I am addicted to it…)
Addicted or not, I like helping in the Forum. Generally it is a very rewarding activity. Seeing a newbie struggling with the installation and then coming back with a big smile saying “thanks, it works now” — it’s good. Explaining a more complicated feature or just providing some good resources from the Codex usually puts the users on the right track.
Yes, sometimes writing the same answers for the 103rd time… is a bit boring. But for the new user it is only the first time. They are not familiar (yet) with the Search functionality or just too frightened by an error message to think about a search.
Unless it is a very bad day I can manage even those. What I hate (and those are the cases when I become mean, mean, very mean) are the following:
- a user with a link in his name to a “pro” site offering web design services and asking for basic html/css questions (like, how to change the colour of visited links). Shameless… and you’re telling me you are designing for a living, eh?
- users who post back in two and half minutes after you gave them resources to read that would take about an hour… and saying: “that doesn’t work”. Liar, you didn’t even try… you didn’t even read it!
- when giving a link to a very detailed guide/tutorial the OP (original poster) writes back: “I am not a reader type… can you give me the code?”. Well, if you are not a reader, you probably are not a “writer” either, so you don’t need a blog…
- whenever I see a post with the word “simple” in its title: A simple question. A simple issue. Usually the poster wants some totally out of ordinary, over-complicated thing ;) - Never presume it is simple!
- users who don’t want to accept that every script has its limitations and certain things just cannot be done with WordPress, and keep asking, asking, asking… Shut up!
- when users post a request and they add: in xyz or abc software this is easy to do. How do I do it in WP? - It reminds me of those that praise their previous spouse to the new one…
- users who want the instant gratification: no learning, no reading, just give me the solution. NOW! It is urgent! Email me ASAP! - Screw you, if you don’t have time to come back to read the replies, why should anybody spend time on answering your question?
- users who use a tool (in this case WordPress) but never go through the admin panels to see the options they have. These are the idiots who never learn how to use any software installed on their computer. They ask the most stupid questions.
- users who contact me through a totally non-WP related blog (My Prairie Gazette) and expect instant, private and free support. Hey, dummy, that’s my “gazette” for my ramblings… no support there, and anyway if you contact me privately for support (unless I told you so in the Forum) - that costs money!
Thanks God, the percentage of posters like above is small, and with a bit of self-restrain I can manage to just ignore them and never answer their questions. Though patience is not my ‘forte’. And more than once a day happens that I have think about this nice quote:
In view of the fact that God limited the intelligence of man, it seems unfair that He did not also limit his stupidity.
All in all it’s fun. I’ve got even invitations for a drink if I ever visit the physical location of some those who were happy with my help :) Also, after months spent with “regular” veterans in the forum you begin to form some kind of bond with many of them, kind of internet friends and you communicate with them in private, too.
Tomorrow I’ll try to remember only the hundreds of nice people I met there and I won’t let anybody to spoil my 2 years anniversary “celebration”!
Holy cow — 2 years! Incredible. I bet you’ve seen a lot of volunteers come and go over that time… yet you’re still there. Good on ya.
And yep, your wife has it right: addict. :-)
Keep on helping the noobs and avoiding the hate.
She must know something - she’s a psychiatrist, LOL…
I try not to hate anybody, I am just intolerant toward stupidity. Not a PC attitude, but on the other hand PC is a great pile of BS.
Thanks for stopping by.
Well if not addict, then it’s strange kind of love. You see, when you watch a movie that’s incredible awesome fantastic :) you began to think of and you like it. It began to be your “mania”. Like Star Wars fans or LOTR fans. Yeah, may be you’re in strange way “fan” of WP Forums :D Wow, what a complicated and senseless explanation. Anyway… The most interesting part of the post is describing the n00b. Huh it’s always fun to read this :)
Thanks for your dedication and consistent work. Man, 2 years, you are a really dedicated person. I admire you. Finally, I appreciate your presence in the forum! Now, let’s celebrate!
Nice work with the 2 years moshu!
I’ve noticed your help in WP forums heaps, and thought I’d come take a look at a pro’s blog :) You’ve helped me out a couple times too I think.
Lately I’ve had some free time and starting to become addicted to helping people, it’s pretty satisfying. Although, I can only help with my limited experience, so I answer the easy ones and provide URL’s from the documentation, and let you guys take over if they still don’t get it ;)
I enjoyed reading how you respond to annoying peoples posts :)
Tommorow’s your anniversary?
Note to self: performed all of above mentioned despised acts tommorow, as many times as possible
and yes, you have approx. 7350 posts at the forum. In my books that counts as addiction ;)
Hey, Resiny, “tomorrow” was written on April 24 ;)
jeeberz. I really ought to start looking at dates.
Thank you for all the support Moshu!
Only 46 errors to sort out..lolol
Have fun but keep safe.
Katijah
Congrats! :-)
Keep up the good work! You helped me, too;-) Now I start learning around WP and Gengo, too:)
–Michel
PS Come and drink a beer with me, if ever near Sofia, BG :)
Why is it that all of this is so addictive?
I for one, actually left a big old job in New York to write on the net…and I’ve never felt more satisfied!
Great topic.
-kevin
Nice post, it was an excellent read.
- Jeremiah
Hi, and thanks for a great job here!
I’m a novice on WP and appreciate your work!
Hello Moshu,
I just posted a coment in one your other Blogs about Wordpress Anatomy Image you have done suggesting it must be added to the download package. You are doing great service to the Wordpress community.
The most interesting part of the post is describing the n00b.
It has been fun Blogging all this time. And I have seen WordPress from becoming a startup to perhaps one of the most popular tools to spam Google results. Bravo technology bravo Open Source Community.
Blogs and articles are great asset to the internet community.
I’m the only one in this world. Can please someone join me in this life? Or maybe death…
Hello I’m ryan i’m new here. I just wanted to drop a note to say hello and i’m pleased to be here.
Just saying hello to you all .. Still a bit confused about the goings on here, but I guess I’ll keep poking around.
Just wanted to say hello all. This is my first post.
I would like to learn a ton here.
I also agree with you regarding keep asking questions about some particular services and post their links on same topic that they offered these services. I mean totally crap.
Yeah, WP has really become quite popular….