Getting Help in the Forum

1. 79

   EricDockettposted 5 years ago

   This is getting silly.
   
   How about this: Instead of telling people who failed QAP to click here and get help in the forum, direct them to a page that explains what HubPages is, what is required to write here, and common reasons articles get rejected. Make it in-depth and informative. Link to the Learning Center, or copy and paste from there if needed.
   
   Include a box they have to tick at the bottom of the page(s) that shows they have read the information. Only then do they get the link to post in the forum and ask for help.
   
   I mean, any writer who is serious about HubPages surely wouldn't mind a little informative reading before asking others for help, right?

   replyreport
   1. 64

      OldRosesposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Based on my experience with my hubs' Q&A, people don't want to do research any more.  They want to pose a question and have other people do the research.  They don't want to have to work for the answer.  So directing aspiring hubbers to the Learning Center might be a good way to weed out a lot of the ESL writers.

      replyreport
      1. 74

         theraggededgeposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         I often think that they can't even understand the advice they are given.

         replyreport
         1. 77

            wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            When the answers are in the hub, clearly written with no ambiguity, it does make one wonder, doesn't it?

            replyreport
            1. 74

               theraggededgeposted 5 years agoin reply to this

               Oh, sorry, I was referring to advice given here to QAP fails.

               replyreport
      2. 95

         AliciaCposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         I agree. On one article in particular, I get questions that sound very much like ones from school assignments. I suspect that some students want a quick answer without doing any research or thought about a question.

         replyreport
         1. 99

            DrMark1961posted 5 years agoin reply to this

            I get tired or writing "you need to take your dog in for an exam by your local vet" so I only end up answering about one question in 10.

            replyreport
2. 37

   Robort smithposted 5 years ago

   Yes, I agree with you because Many people come here for only getting a link, not want to get information.  Hubpages is a very effective informative platform.

   replyreport
   1. 74

      theraggededgeposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      And that's not how you spell 'Robert'. And you aren't from Australia.

      replyreport
   2. 60

      FatFreddysCatposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Nice try, "Robort."

      replyreport
3. 68

   PaulGoodman67posted 5 years ago

   I think you raise a good point. To put it bluntly, I think the forums are getting a lot of hubs from writers who do not have the fluency in English necessary. Their hubs don't need tweaking, the problems are much more fundamental: spelling, grammar, syntax. Essentially, they need more advanced English lessons, or experience of living in an English-speaking country, which cannot be provided by other hubbers.

   replyreport
   1. 74

      theraggededgeposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      They come here because people post links in forums, telling them they can earn money.
      
      I agree, it's getting ridiculous now. It's like a tsunami. We hardly have any requests for reviews from Western hubbers.

      replyreport
4. 81

   Rupert Taylorposted 5 years ago

   Good idea, but I doubt it would work. Somehow, the word is going around, particularly in Pakistan, that HubPages is a place to get rich quick. I used to offer advice to some of these hopeful people, but now I simply say "Your writing is not up to the standard required by HubPages" and point them to the Learning Center. Generally, we never hear from them again. This, of course, is a version of what Eric is suggesting.

   replyreport
   1. 99

      DrMark1961posted 5 years agoin reply to this

      I have been thinking about writing some of my articles in Urdu. I do not speak Urdu, and certainly cannot write in that language, but I figure there must be free grammar programs that will help me with those little issues.
      What I am worried about, however, is someone telling me that I need to visit the Urdu Learning Center.

      replyreport
      1. 74

         theraggededgeposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         Yep, I might try Welsh. Only because all the vowels are fading on my keyboard and there aren't many of them in Welsh. Although I tried several times to learn it, my language skills lie between my ice-dancing and quantum physicist abilities.
         
         Ddim yn dda iawn ar unrhyw beth, mewn gwirionedd. (Not very good at anything, really).

         replyreport
         1. 99

            DrMark1961posted 5 years agoin reply to this

            You should try to write something for that website for people that are afraid of vowels. www.vowelphobia.com
            I bet they would love an article in Welsh.

            replyreport
            1. 74

               theraggededgeposted 5 years agoin reply to this

               Good idea. But I'd have to use translation software... like some people do here occasionally

               replyreport
5. 68

   psycheskinnerposted 5 years ago

   I assumed the email does include that link.  But it isn't much help to people not fluent in English. 
   
   Also, I have to say I found the help and instructional pages of little value when I started.  They use a fair amount of jargon that only makes sense once you have been here for a while, are often vague, and in some cases out of date.

   replyreport
6. 81

   Rupert Taylorposted 5 years ago

   Most esteemed gentlepeople on forum. Please to accept my humbul invitation to Gujarati seminar. Hear you will learn real estate teckneeks of highly superior quality – guaranteed. Much rupees you will make. Also added benephit for Dr. Mark, recipes for goat curry (no cows), so know knead for vet. Save money. Yum yum.

   replyreport
   1. 60

      FatFreddysCatposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      

      replyreport
7. 84

   Kenna McHughposted 5 years ago

   Even though HubPages form letter has a link to the Learning Center, it is easier for the newbies to click on the link and ask us to figure out why they didn't get approved.  Dumping them on us is a waste of their time and ours. With that, please HubPages screen your newbies. Can they write a complete sentence, let alone a paragraph?

   replyreport
   1. 74

      theraggededgeposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Yep. This.
      
      Just a paragraph on an application form that could be passed (or failed) by a simple automated grammar checker.
      
      I suppose it could be copied and pasted though, so probably wouldn't work in practice

      replyreport