1

I’ve noticed a definite uptick in the number of inarticulate posts from consumers who have stumbled on the site.

Yes, Virginia - there is such a thing as a stupid question.

I realize Spiceworks revenue stream is all about ad placement in front of eyeballs, but I hope they realize it can’t be the only priority.

I appreciate the resources that have gone into development of the software, but please realize that the educated segment of your user base is your biggest asset.

I honestly don’t know what can be done to try to reverse the trend.

I’ve been trying very hard to keep my flamethrower holstered.

27 Spice ups
2

It may be stupid from your perspective, but not from theirs. ITs primary reason for existing is to provide working systems and support for those who choose to specialize in something other than computers.

3

It’s not that the questions are stupid, but he’s pointing out that it is the consumer questions - those coming from people who don’t work in IT and aren’t meant to be on this site. Real IT Pros who have, let’s call them “n00b questions” are one thing - or even students looking to learn about IT and come to us as students/interns, but the non-IT people who come here looking for free help is the problem. And not power users, but “stupid consumer” questions. There are places for consumers to get help as end users that are meant for that.

We just had one, minutes after this post, of some guy who definitely doesn’t work in IT asking if we could get him an illegal license key for some crappy home user software that he wanted. That’s a perfect example. He has no idea what this site is or how he got here and is just looking for someone to do his dirty work for him. Ugh.

It’s sometimes hard to tell the IT Pros who are just having one of those moments from people who don’t belong here at all and sometimes it’s obvious. The download system does a very good job at limiting the “wrong people” exposure but it doesn’t guarantee it by any stretch.

I honestly haven’t seen an uptick in this - it was just highly coincidental that the very next post after this one turned out to be exactly this.

4

Maybe there are no stupid questions, but a lot of inquisitive idiots!

5

Tony Poupa wrote:

Maybe there are no stupid questions, but a lot of inquisitive idiots!

HaHa.

That is posted up in our server room, along with a jump to conclusions mat.

6

I also try and sadly fail at not lashing out at some of these “users”. It’s sometimes as if they are deliberate in baiting one into losing your cool at them. I’ve commented on this before, and it’s still just as true. We have some brilliant members from a certain continent but yet 80% of the gene pool problem also comes from there. Is it a language barrier and we just miss the point they’re trying to make?

7

Scott Alan Miller wrote:

It’s not that the questions are stupid, but he’s pointing out that it is the consumer questions - those coming from people who don’t work in IT and aren’t meant to be on this site. Real IT Pros who have, let’s call them “n00b questions” are one thing - or even students looking to learn about IT and come to us as students/interns, but the non-IT people who come here looking for free help is the problem. And not power users, but “stupid consumer” questions. There are places for consumers to get help as end users that are meant for that.

We just had one, minutes after this post, of some guy who definitely doesn’t work in IT asking if we could get him an illegal license key for some crappy home user software that he wanted. That’s a perfect example. He has no idea what this site is or how he got here and is just looking for someone to do his dirty work for him. Ugh.

It’s sometimes hard to tell the IT Pros who are just having one of those moments from people who don’t belong here at all and sometimes it’s obvious. The download system does a very good job at limiting the “wrong people” exposure but it doesn’t guarantee it by any stretch.

I honestly haven’t seen an uptick in this - it was just highly coincidental that the very next post after this one turned out to be exactly this.

I haven’t seen any of these posts yet… where are they? lol

8

I havent seen any either, so whoever is hiding them, thanks!

9

I see this problem on many forums.

It is so easy to google your problem and end up on a forum, where you can quickly and freely join and then ask your question, hoping for an idiots guide to solving the problem.

There is no easy solution, other than to make it more complex to join or charge an annual fee.

I think it is something we may have to live with as a community.

10

The solution is already there, at the bottom of each thread is a spot to “Report topic”. It will give you a chance to let Nic know what you think is wrong with the topic and he can investigate it.

Personally, if I can help them and they have described their problem well enough, then I will help. If not, then I’ll have Nic break out his flamethrower.

Remember that, while SW is for IT professionals, you never know whether someone is going to be worthwhile. is what, 16 now, and we don’t have a problem with him, and he’s not an IT Pro, but he is interested and serious.

Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.

11

Scott Alan Miller wrote:

It’s sometimes hard to tell the IT Pros who are just having one of those moments from people who don’t belong here at all and sometimes it’s obvious.

Just look for “that” flag.

12

benhar wrote:

Or a guy with crossed eyes and a Duh! face…

13

benhar wrote:

+1

14

b0b wrote:

benhar wrote:

+1

+2 ditto

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse that privilege.

15

This is an ongoing concern for us, making sure the discussion stays about real IT topics, rather than being a place for spam or consumer level questions.

Like Limey said, you can use Report Topic to let me know, and I’ll remove them. With the next community release we are opening up moderating abilities to a wider range of folks. If you are of a high enough pepper level, you will be able to just delete them directly yourself. If we delete these sorts of posts, then we at least send the message that they aren’t appropriate for our site.

As far as keeping these from happening in the first place, that is tougher. We can put up CAPTCHAs and barriers for the dedicated spammers, but catching the consumer level questions & strange questions in advance is harder.

16

My favorite:

“HELP!”

“My computer won’t boot!”

.

.

.

.

(I know, the correct spelling and punctuation is inaccurate but I just can’t lower myself like that)

17

What about raising the minumum post length so people at least have to write one semi-complete sentence or the equivelent in disjointed and unconnected words. If not a hard requirement maybe even a pop-up warning

“You post seems to short, do you want to add more detail or do you prefer to be asked many questions filled with thinly veiled mockery?”

18

NIC - so were good to report any threads that fall under the consumer support level?

I too have noticed a marked increase in joe-public coming on and asking questions that make it so obvious they are not in the IT sector. lt1john has a classic one going from title only…

i’ll generally leave the threads that fall under this category just because it isnt the jist of what spiceworks is!

i doubt captcha and other spam measures would help, since i dont think their bot-driven posters (ie: selling viagra). if we want to keep it spiceworks only, then maybe some UUID code from our spiceworks install is registered against username? it should validate the difference between general users and spiceworkers.

just my 2pence :slight_smile:

19

Justin.Davison wrote:

“You post seems to short, do you want to add more detail or do you prefer to be asked many questions filled with thinly veiled mockery?”

+1 for this idea

20

Vee.Hexx wrote:

NIC - so were good to report any threads that fall under the consumer support level?

I too have noticed a marked increase in joe-public coming on and asking questions that make it so obvious they are not in the IT sector. lt1john has a classic one going from title only…

i’ll generally leave the threads that fall under this category just because it isnt the jist of what spiceworks is!

i doubt captcha and other spam measures would help, since i dont think their bot-driven posters (ie: selling viagra). if we want to keep it spiceworks only, then maybe some UUID code from our spiceworks install is registered against username? it should validate the difference between general users and spiceworkers.

just my 2pence :slight_smile:

Yes, please report anything that seems like a consumer grade question.