You guys are a little too uptight....

Well until there is no search function there might be few options. The FAQ link can be hard to see the first few times, even though it on top it's basicly mixed in with the rest of the links toolbar and there is no nothing to make it stand out. I sure missed it the first few times. Is there a way to make it big and shiny for newcomers? Or can snowboards have sticky posts at the top, so that the FAQ could always be the top post? maybe the board watchers can post a link to the FAQ as a response and that be that.

 

I knew how to do basic effects looooong before I found this forum... my first question was how best to do a force pull.... Seriously I find most newbies seripusly can't be bothered to even check out a site or forum before they swagger in asking repetitive questions and acting as if they own place. I am glad to say that some newbies get past this stage and begin to attempt to actually work things out for themselves.

 

I think the problem could be solved more easily if there was a way to make threads sticky so they remain as the first post at the top of the forum. Within this post you could have "New to the forums? READ THIS BEFORE POSTING!!" and within this thread, have rules, helpful links, what to do, what not to do etc.

But I am not sure if this forum software can do sticky posts. Nor does it seem to handle searches very well.

 

There is no board fix that will erradicate the problem. You can't cure human nature.

I'm not sure what "seripusly " means, but one doesn't void their right to respect, simply because they didn't work as hard as you before posting.

People will post bad posts. It happens.

I've done this, and I'm an "experience" poster. When I got my ATI card and wanted to capture one of my son's movies for a long car ride, it wouldn't work, (because of Macrovision, I later learned), but my first instinct was, "WHY? Someone must know what to do!!!", and so I posted the question in first forum I found. After 20 minutes with no reply, I got frustrated and did an AltaVista search, and behold, there was my answer, just waiting for me.

Back on the board however, was something very different waiting for me. It wasn't pretty. I felt bad, and I appologized profusely but the damage was done. I never returned to that board, not out of shame (shame has never stopped me from doing anything), I just didn't feel welcome there. All because I was over-eager to get an answer.

If we just let the mods do thier jobs, everything would be fine!!

Sauja

 

I will agree with Sauja.

Daft pointed out to Clone that he was posting threads already answered on the web site and I pointed out that he needs to research his questions first rather than coming to the forum for the easy answer.

If you are finding a poster to be repititive, just PM them and let them know about the wealth of resource at fanfilms.com, fanfilmfx.com, fanfilmsforum.com, and others.

Only Daft, Rive, and I should come down on someone in public and we will be directing them to do research.

There are exceptions: No warez, No porno, No flaming, No Sock Puppets.

 

Animatronic puppets, on the other hand, will be considered on a case by case basis...

 

"There are no bad questions, only bad answers."
I don't know who said this first, but I kinda like it.

There is a FAQ link always displayed in the upper left of the forum window, but it's not clear from the link what is actually in there. My first thought in seeing the link would be to expect to find "Answers to questions that are asked frequently on the forum." It's acutally a set of Guidlines on how to use the forum. Maybe the link should be Forum Guidelines instead.

The other thing is that I think TFN's tutorial section is little behind in terms of what is asked and answered here in the forum. The question of what to use for a saber blade, how to make a saber hilt (Brian's explaination is nice, but ther are no pictures (=1000 words ea.) to work from.), how to improve a bluescreen shot, etc. come up time and time again, yet there is no tutorial on TFN Theater to point to for the answer. I can't wait to see tumblemoster's work on software summaries and descriptions. This is another common question that is really not answered effectively in the exisiting tutorials.

One system that might be useful for the FFTheater would be to create a survey like the one used at SciFi3D.
Instead of listing models that people are interested in, the survey could cover a list of tutorials people would like to see [<-EDIT: Forgot to finish this sentence]. Then users that may have answers to the questions could see what the hottest topics are and write answers/tutorials for TFN to host. It could also help TFN identify areas of interest and solicit a tutorial from a genuine expert to be hosted. (Just look at all the activity DVGarage got from the compositing tutorial series. Something to be learned there.)

Just some thoughts.
Go easy on the new comers. We were all there at one time...
For Example
JediTAC's First Thread Ever:
Date Posted: 12/26/00 9:47am
Subject: Kinda OT - BLACK HOLE Models/Meshes -
I was wondering if anyone ever heard, saw, or modeled any ships, characters, and/or elements from the movie, The Black Hole.

Specifically, I am hoping to find animate-able meshes of the Black Hole itself, Vincent, Maximillian, and the Cygnus.

Sorry for the non-Star Wars question, but I actually am thinking of incorporating some of this stuff into my Fan Film concept that I am developing.

Thanks for any leads.

THE RESPONSE FROM ADMIN SCIFI_3D_ZOO:

Date Posted: 12/29/00 7:39am
Subject: RE: Kinda OT - BLACK HOLE Models/Meshes
Try doing a search on the net. The latest top rated engines are GOOGLE.COM and NORTHERNLIGHTS.com

--------

HAVE FUN!!!!

 

Email kurt@theforce.net about FAQ updates and tutorial updates. That is exactly what I hired him to do

 

<<That is exactly what I hired him to do >>
Could've fooled me!

Just imagine, TAC, a newbie! I'm in heaven!

anyway,

Nick "Shorty" Long

 

LOL Can it be true, Tac asked a question and was told to go and look!

LOL LOL ROFLMAO.

This has to be an all time classic!

Pete

(P.S. - we love you 'Tac)

P.P.S ROFL

 

Well, I wasn't expecting that much of a response. Lord Rive basically said what I wanted to say, only he hadn't just read a post where someone was lambasted. He was more articulate then I was because he wasn't laughing at the "forum police." Azeem said it best. Besides, I want to retract my "every board member" to "some board members." As far as Warez is concerned, I never said it should be allowed to be topics, but some of you guys FREAK out at the mere mention of it. i used to work for a major software company. They are well aware of Warez and actually budget for them. Some of them even like the idea because of the free publicity. I like the don't ask don't tell approach. Now, can we close this topic and get back to the good stuff? I have a question. How do you make the lightsabers glow and what is the best compositing program that I can download for free?

 

I'm nearly done with th FAQ updates I've been working on. Kurt will have them early next week. I'd be done already but I, err, misplaced, a file.

-tm

 

Darth,

The difference is..

LFL is on this board everyday, so is Apple, and a number of other companies. If we became a haven for warez, our credibility is gone and/or we will be shutdown (something called copyrights).

Now that we are working "officially" with Electric Image, I'm sure they will be poking in from time to time too.

 

::Starting shameless plug::

Everyone that is a "newbie" or really wants a question answered or a problem solved [intelligently] without feeling... awkward or intimidated should check out www.blenderwars.com and go to their forum. I have asked many a stupid question there and nay have I ever had someone flame me or even use a upset or annoyed tone (of typing anyway).

I think this forum, being as large as it is, loses a bit of its sincerity and caring, like a big city. The Blenderwars Forum (by the way, it's not just about Blender-related topics) is like the local neighborhood, not as many people, but a bit more closely bound.

::End shameless plug::

I must agree with LordRive in my personal opinion. Anyway... Peace.

 

I agree with azeem, this board has a reputation, while some people don't care about that, he has worked hard to get the reputation it has, and we should obey his rules... nuff said.

I must admit, I asked a question about engine glows and I got a great link from Rive, then, someone felt the need to say "go look in the help book that came with your software, it's quite easy"

I own many books on my program including the original. Sure, the cd and book are owned by my school, but hey, the program is legitimate, which is more than alot of people can say.

But just implying that someone uses warez for them asking a question about a simple feature applied isn't called for, those responses don't help. Rive had already given me more than I needed and I didn't need to hear a 1 line post about how easy it is and how clearly it is layed out in the handbook.

Cya
Mike

 

DM

I can't believe you!

You create this thread, and there are numerous posts talking about the tutorials RIGHT HERE ON THIS SITE, and you ask the question which is answered in those tutorials more than any other!

To prevent being shouted at, here is the link to those tutorials. Please read them. They are a font of knowledge

EDIT 1: corrected markup codes
EDIT 2: writing the sentence above!

 

Looking forward to your updates, tumble.

 

WU-BAH!

 

Psst, Halibut: he was kidding.

 

Halibut, that was sooooooo clearly a joke. Calm down man. It will be okay. We'll all chip in and buy you a drink! Just walk over here away from the firearms........

 

<I have a question. How do you make the lightsabers glow and what is the best compositing program that I can download for free? >

I am glad SOME people realized that was sarcasm.

 

i think someone needs some midol or something

 

oops. my bad

Looking back on it, that was actually quite funny

Kudos on fooling the fish! Many have tried, few have succeeded

 

halibut!!!

You should've faked it man, I was soooo sure you were kidding too!!!!

LOL!

Sauja

Remember: first line of defense: it was a joke! seesh!

 

Well, I was a little inebriated last night.

But perhaps all my posts have been jokes. Or perhaps everyone else is joking, and I'm the only one not, or perhaps....Oh I'm bored now.