Maybe it would have been better for you to have said all of this in your first post. Instead of just saying "ugg" witout anything information or explanation. It made it seem like a spam post on the messageboard, worse than any others that you mentioned. Your post definitely elicited to a flame session, as does this one. Think about your posts too. No one can read your mind.

I agree what you are saying Travis(nobody likes getting flamed)but when you said ugg(on the other thread)I wasn't sure what you were saying I thought you were

Start of Rant....
In my browser window, in general discussion, there are currently 42 threads showing. Of those, about half should probably be in either the help or skinning discussion, leaving room on the front page of the general discussion for well, general things not related directly to Stardock Apps, WinCustomize or Skinning. Yeah the remaining threads are sometimes silly or ridiculous or flamefests, but if no one had any interest in those threads they'd fall off the first page just like all uninteresting threads.

I think what got a lot of the "regulars" here all worked up yesterday was the ridiculous number of posts from freeloaders, er...excuse me...non-paying customers (Politically Correct ) complaining, asking nicely, whining, etc. about why they couldn't download anything. I mean you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that if there are already about 10-12 threads about a subject, you might want to read one, just one, didn't have to read them all, maybe even post their problem if they felt they needed to be heard, in one of the existing threads. What a concept.

I understand your frustration Travis, hence my parody yesterday about a pair of shoes. I think anyone who has been around here long enough got the point I was making more readily with that thread than just saying "uggg"
....End of Rant

/ start rant



/ end rant


wincustomize style

Travis....guess who is missing the point?

Rather than a second 'ugg' thread, rant or not, thanking me for closing the first, what about the fact those legitimate threads are now twice displaced.

MB protocol and manners is not merely a reluctance to flame, but also a consideration for all those other people with a need for valid input.

The closing of the thread was not solely for your benefit but for that of all ....

Again, [to all] think before posting......generally the grief is lessened...

As I stated above that thread was for a purpose. Its purpose was served. I agree that it did knock off a thread, and so did this. I had intended to place what I wrote above in it, but as it was locked before I could (I do have a life and had stuff to do) I didn't.

and I actually didn't mean for you to lock it so quick, but the quickness of locking it was a good example of your moderating abilities

From a relative newcomer to these boards I can say that it'd be useful if the different sections had clearly defined descriptions. To me, as a recent buyer of Object Desktop and thereby the SDC, I'd wrongly assumed that this message board was for Stardock products. Longtime readers and posters no doubt find that foolish but there's no clear distinction between Stardock and WinCustomise to a new user's eyes.

What is that user to make of three sections labelled WC-General, WC-Help and WC-Skinning? Is General for questions about WC (or Stardock) that don't come under the other sections? Is Help for help with WC the site, WC the files or Stardock products? Skinning? What's that? Something to do with Windowblinds, or Object Desktop.. or.. or...

You get the idea I'm sure.

Descriptions would be very handy - but I still think that the various sections need a better and more intuitive layout.

regards, Jerry

PS "I can't download, why?" is a relevant question, especially with the flakiness of the servers and the 50MB limit that I for one had no idea existed. You might hear it again and again, but the new user comes here assuming it's a support board with a question they need answering. Being discourteous to that new user (even if you think he may be a bit of a leech) is no way to ever turn them into a customer.

Being discourteous to that new user (even if you think he may be a bit of a leech) is no way to ever turn them into a customer.

very well said

Being discourteous to that new user (even if you think he may be a bit of a leech) is no way to ever turn them into a customer.

Generally those who are 'discourteous' have no connection with the site Owners [Stardock] other than being skinners of their product/s...and this 'discourtesy' is from being constantly jaded and/or peeved by complainants demanding something for nothing whilst those who berate are financially supporting those referred to as leeches.

If no-one could access anything at all without FIRST contributing then this anomaly would not arise.

I, too, hate to see my financial contribution/s being used by casual visitors to siphon bandwidth without recompense, but it's a necessary 'evil' of viability.

There's always two sides to what is perceived as discourtesy...

Creating a dozen threads asking the same question which has already been answered simply because you couldn't be bothered to read, is also discourteous. Both to the other users whose threads are pushed down the list, and the person who took time to answer the original question.

Maybe because I'm a reader I generally read board/forum threads (especially if I'm in a new place) before posting. As for what information is or is not available to the new or casual user, I just looked at the WC Help board and there's a sticky thread called something like "Welcome to the WC Help Board" and the thread explains what the messageboard is for. Similarly the skinning messageboard has a sticky thread that serves as an intro to that board. This of course is the general discussion board whose nature apparently is not self-evident in contrast to the other two messageboards. It does have a FAQ sticky that is frequently overlooked (and which probably could use some updating/expansion but as it was virtually a volunteer effort one can't be too picky). Also, for a time there was a sticky thread here by KarmaGirl (IIRC) that clarified that these discussion boards are not the venue for contacting Stardock support; user to user discussions do occur on the boards and the SD newsgroups but those who seek support from Stardock should email Stardock directly. I don't see that sticky up now here so I guess it's been unstickied. (People didn't seem to pay much attention to it anyway.)

But at least as far as I know it's considered general "nettiquette" at just about any messageboard, forum or newsgroup for users to read pre-existing threads to see what the place is about, discern what conduct is or is not generally appropriate and that posters should generally join current discussions in topically relevant threads already in progress rather than starting up a new thread for the exact same question or topic. Epecially if there are already several active threads on the same issue on the board. At one time I counted over 20 threads about bootskin questions/problems here at one time (I stopped counting once it went over 20+); people didn't look at the existing active bootskins threads and just started another one regardless.

Perhaps general ettiquette guidelines should be posted and users must affirmatively indicate that they have read and understood them prior to being allowed to view and post on the messageboard. One would think that such an approach would not be necessary for people who are assumed to have the capacity to read and reason. (With so many international visitors on occasion there are communication problems when English is not the first language but most often that is not the issue.) But there is more info that should perhaps be more prominent, like the 50 MG cap and some others areas. Still, even with stickies, active threads, info on the site's main page, some people do not read the info already available.

And the vast majority of posters here have no affiliation with Stardock or with WC other than members/users/customers. Generally, although not always, people will go out of their way to help someone who is polite and friendly.