May 28, 2013 01:14 AM
(This post was last modified: May 29, 2013 06:22 AM by muzzy..)
So after viewing this thread regarding the education nation section, I'd like to throw in my thoughts on the Beginner hacking section. For anyone unaware, I am one of the 2-5 (Myself, Perfect Cell, Lante, Dante, Turtle, Occasionally others) that actually does anything in that section. With questions being asked continually, it's a lot of work with little or no reward.
EDIT: I was waiting for someone to comment here. If it wasn't made clear in the first line of this post, the design is similar to Feynman's because the layout made the thread look nice and was easy to read.
The Good!
One could simply not ask for any better users to work with than the ones active in the beginner hacking section. Daily, they trawl through the threads there and answer every single question posted. Although some of us may not know the answer to a certain question, another of us will. Even though the same, basic questions are asked daily, they still pull through and answer them. I will be styling this thread in the same way that the above thread is. This is not an attempt to copy that user, but the layout used was nice and easy to navigate; it will aid you in reading this thread.
Some users ('Snorlax for example) do not actively post in that section, but run help desks with over 100 replies. Users like this that station themselves and answer direct questions there help out a tonne. I'd say that at least 30% of the spam type questions are not used to make threads but asked and answered on a help desk.
On occasion, a skilled new user will overlook the hacking tutorials section and post a tutorial in the BHS. Most of the time, these tutorials are informative, easy to read and actually benefit beginners. Sadly they're buried in the mass of questions quite quickly, but the ones that stay around I go out of my way to link.
The bad.
This is a big one, and a serious issue. New users trawl through that section without reading other threads, and use it like yahoo answers. Without doing any research, they make an account and ask a question. This clutters the section and throws away anything of any quality into the bin.
How to fix?
Completely remaster that section. Before entering, add a search prompt from which users can look up their questions. If they can't find it, they're allowed to post a thread in which a dedicated usergroup could answer. This way, users won't waste resources asking questions that have (quite literally) been answered thousands of times before.
EDIT: I have completely changed this portion of the post. It was the only part being called out on, and quite frankly it was the weak point of this thread. I stand by what I said and what is below here is an attempt to re word it into what I had planned to write out; it was never meant to be a dig at staff, nor a beg for the role of sectional moderator.
One of the beginner hacking section's main flaws is one found in not many others on this site. When a user registers to hack forums, they rarely read the rules and go right ahead and post in that section as it seems the 'shiniest' to them. As a result, multiple rule violating threads are posted there every 12 hours or so. We go out of our way to report as many threads as we can - I've reported threads that I was unsure if it violated even minor policy. However, the mass amount that goes into that section as far as LQP goes leads to some of it being missed.
I will skim back 10 or so pages and see threads that were overlooked while I and the other helping members were sleeping (we're all in similar time zones; give or take 6 hours) and see rule violating threads that haven't been picked up. To me, this implies that the mentors + staff aren't occasionally checking that section for rule violating material. I'm not trying to pin this on staff at all, I'm simply stating that it feels as if that section is being ignored outside of reports.
Luckily, as a result of this thread I have received the promise from Froggy, Mr Kewl and Paradoxum that they will sweep that section more often, which is a great start.
How to fix?
In a discussion with Factor8 regarding the BHS, he gave me this quote:
In my eyes, that is exactly what this section needs. A user that can actively aid in that section, while having the ability to remove policy violating threads.
I'd like to add, that before I'm accused, this is not me asking for that role.
In the beginner hacking section there are 0 stickied threads. A single thread answering the commonly asked, generic questions such as:
'How do I hack a Facebook account?'
'How do I hack WiFi?'
How do I hack *sitename.extension*'
Would allow new members to have some of their commonly asked questions answered without the need to make a thread.
The BHS sees the brunt of 1 post alpha users begging for a Facebook account to be hacked, a site to be DDoSed and other miscellaneous hacking requests. This begging just adds to the lessening of the section's quality. These requests have their own section but it is ignored.
How to fix?
Quite simply, make a thread outlining the rules of that section and clearly state where requests are supposed to be put. This one is an easy fix.
To conclude.
In conclusion, I hope that members that overlook this section get a taste of what it is like trying to help over there. I hope that you think twice before making a thread, and try to spread this message to others.
Tips for the section:
A final note to Omni:
I understand that you're surely sick of the amount of threads / PMs about this, and I'm sorry. It is still my favorite section on this forum, and I hate seeing it this way.
Also, a number of members have commented on my remarks regarding the section's moderation. Please, if you reply to this give us a response on the section as a whole instead of just that part.
Thanks 🤝
EDIT: I was waiting for someone to comment here. If it wasn't made clear in the first line of this post, the design is similar to Feynman's because the layout made the thread look nice and was easy to read.
The Good!
- The helpers
One could simply not ask for any better users to work with than the ones active in the beginner hacking section. Daily, they trawl through the threads there and answer every single question posted. Although some of us may not know the answer to a certain question, another of us will. Even though the same, basic questions are asked daily, they still pull through and answer them. I will be styling this thread in the same way that the above thread is. This is not an attempt to copy that user, but the layout used was nice and easy to navigate; it will aid you in reading this thread.
- The helpdesks
Some users ('Snorlax for example) do not actively post in that section, but run help desks with over 100 replies. Users like this that station themselves and answer direct questions there help out a tonne. I'd say that at least 30% of the spam type questions are not used to make threads but asked and answered on a help desk.
- The tutorials
On occasion, a skilled new user will overlook the hacking tutorials section and post a tutorial in the BHS. Most of the time, these tutorials are informative, easy to read and actually benefit beginners. Sadly they're buried in the mass of questions quite quickly, but the ones that stay around I go out of my way to link.
The bad.
- The style of posting
This is a big one, and a serious issue. New users trawl through that section without reading other threads, and use it like yahoo answers. Without doing any research, they make an account and ask a question. This clutters the section and throws away anything of any quality into the bin.
How to fix?
Completely remaster that section. Before entering, add a search prompt from which users can look up their questions. If they can't find it, they're allowed to post a thread in which a dedicated usergroup could answer. This way, users won't waste resources asking questions that have (quite literally) been answered thousands of times before.
- Moderation.
EDIT: I have completely changed this portion of the post. It was the only part being called out on, and quite frankly it was the weak point of this thread. I stand by what I said and what is below here is an attempt to re word it into what I had planned to write out; it was never meant to be a dig at staff, nor a beg for the role of sectional moderator.
One of the beginner hacking section's main flaws is one found in not many others on this site. When a user registers to hack forums, they rarely read the rules and go right ahead and post in that section as it seems the 'shiniest' to them. As a result, multiple rule violating threads are posted there every 12 hours or so. We go out of our way to report as many threads as we can - I've reported threads that I was unsure if it violated even minor policy. However, the mass amount that goes into that section as far as LQP goes leads to some of it being missed.
I will skim back 10 or so pages and see threads that were overlooked while I and the other helping members were sleeping (we're all in similar time zones; give or take 6 hours) and see rule violating threads that haven't been picked up. To me, this implies that the mentors + staff aren't occasionally checking that section for rule violating material. I'm not trying to pin this on staff at all, I'm simply stating that it feels as if that section is being ignored outside of reports.
Luckily, as a result of this thread I have received the promise from Froggy, Mr Kewl and Paradoxum that they will sweep that section more often, which is a great start.
How to fix?
In a discussion with Factor8 regarding the BHS, he gave me this quote:
Quote:A sectional moderator will enforce policy as well as help members assuming he's has the skill-set of hacking
In my eyes, that is exactly what this section needs. A user that can actively aid in that section, while having the ability to remove policy violating threads.
I'd like to add, that before I'm accused, this is not me asking for that role.
- No clear guidance.
In the beginner hacking section there are 0 stickied threads. A single thread answering the commonly asked, generic questions such as:
'How do I hack a Facebook account?'
'How do I hack WiFi?'
How do I hack *sitename.extension*'
Would allow new members to have some of their commonly asked questions answered without the need to make a thread.
- Hacking requests
The BHS sees the brunt of 1 post alpha users begging for a Facebook account to be hacked, a site to be DDoSed and other miscellaneous hacking requests. This begging just adds to the lessening of the section's quality. These requests have their own section but it is ignored.
How to fix?
Quite simply, make a thread outlining the rules of that section and clearly state where requests are supposed to be put. This one is an easy fix.
To conclude.
In conclusion, I hope that members that overlook this section get a taste of what it is like trying to help over there. I hope that you think twice before making a thread, and try to spread this message to others.
Tips for the section:
- Search up questions before asking them.
- Post questions in the correct sections.
- Use the help desks.
A final note to Omni:
I understand that you're surely sick of the amount of threads / PMs about this, and I'm sorry. It is still my favorite section on this forum, and I hate seeing it this way.
Also, a number of members have commented on my remarks regarding the section's moderation. Please, if you reply to this give us a response on the section as a whole instead of just that part.
Thanks 🤝
![[Image: CJLOhGd.gif]](https://i.imgur.com/CJLOhGd.gif)
![[Image: 3.gif]](https://i.ibb.co/zH0GQ122/3.gif)
![[Image: lPQX27G.png]](https://i.imgur.com/lPQX27G.png)
