A "View profile" suggestion - 09/08/09 10:30 PM
No post counts is probably a good idea. The number of posts does not tell you if the poster has been active in troubleshooting or spends more time chatting in the lounge. However, as a new visitor it would be nice to know a bit about a poster's background.
Maybe, there could be a space in a member's profile where they could list their profession, technical background or whatever it is that makes them feel confident enough to offer solutions to problems.
For instance, Dave (in a thread I can no longer find) said that (and I paraphrase to the best of my recollection) his interest in computers was no more than he needed to keep his Mac running and that he had to solve his problems himself. (Sorry, Dave, if I do you an injustice here. It's just for example.)
(Edit to included Dave's comment, also below in his post: "To put things into context, although I've owned Apple computers exclusively since 1988, I'm not a power user at all. Everything I've learned about using my computer was not due to interest but out of necessity. To me, my computer is just a tool, and I've only learned what I've had to in order to do what I needed to do." I apologize for my faulty memory.
But my point is, it might be helpful to the reader to know that kind of information when getting different advice from multiple posters.
If each poster took it upon themselves to write a brief statement of "expertise" in a space provided for that purpose in their profile, a reader could make a quick check on their background by clicking "View profile"
As an example, I would write that "I am a semi-retired advertising art director and graphic designer. I have learned to maintain my own Mac by reading manuals and following online fora for the last 12 years (OS 8.5 – 10.5.8). I am proficient to a professional standard in the use of the Adobe CS3 and QuarkXPress 7. My hobbies are photography and motorcycling."
Actually, spaces for most of this are already provided if you want to keep it short and sweet. It just needs people to be willing to do it, I guess.
Cheers.
Maybe, there could be a space in a member's profile where they could list their profession, technical background or whatever it is that makes them feel confident enough to offer solutions to problems.
For instance, Dave (in a thread I can no longer find) said that (and I paraphrase to the best of my recollection) his interest in computers was no more than he needed to keep his Mac running and that he had to solve his problems himself. (Sorry, Dave, if I do you an injustice here. It's just for example.)
(Edit to included Dave's comment, also below in his post: "To put things into context, although I've owned Apple computers exclusively since 1988, I'm not a power user at all. Everything I've learned about using my computer was not due to interest but out of necessity. To me, my computer is just a tool, and I've only learned what I've had to in order to do what I needed to do." I apologize for my faulty memory.
But my point is, it might be helpful to the reader to know that kind of information when getting different advice from multiple posters.
If each poster took it upon themselves to write a brief statement of "expertise" in a space provided for that purpose in their profile, a reader could make a quick check on their background by clicking "View profile"
As an example, I would write that "I am a semi-retired advertising art director and graphic designer. I have learned to maintain my own Mac by reading manuals and following online fora for the last 12 years (OS 8.5 – 10.5.8). I am proficient to a professional standard in the use of the Adobe CS3 and QuarkXPress 7. My hobbies are photography and motorcycling."
Actually, spaces for most of this are already provided if you want to keep it short and sweet. It just needs people to be willing to do it, I guess.
Cheers.