[wp-forums] Finding Codex Articles and Help

[Podz]

Michael B wrote:
> I get that, but I guess I simply have a different approach to teaching
> someone to fish.  I rarely hand them a book and point them to the bay.
>  I generally take them out the first time, show 'em how to tie a few
> knots, a few different types of bait, and talk a little about the
> tides and their effect on the flats.  But I digress.
> Thanks for the perspective, and perhaps I will focus more effort into
> the codex then and less on individual questions.
> 

As much as I like Codex, I prefer this approach too.
I think it's important that we don't just reply to posts with a Codex 
link - or any link. Someone asks a question, they come back, they see a 
link and only a link. They could interpret that as being wonderful, or 
terse and we don't know which. I have also see many replies which just 
give a link and it's the wrong link - the question was not properly read.
I think it's important to judge how the questions is phrased as this 
gives us clues to the person. It may well be that something like
"This article in the Codex seems to cover your problems, but you might 
also which to search here for a,b,c ...." -Link-
is an acceptable response, but for other people we may need to do a bit 
more hand-holding and invite them back if they do not understand, ask 
something that tests their understanding of the issue.

If we are encouraging people to search, then a simple link answer also 
is of little use. If we can give slightly expanded answers I feel this 
can only assist searchers.

All this is not to say that if someone just asks for the link we 
shouldnn't just give that of course.

It's important too - for me - that we don't just turn into a 
question/link arena. People may well browse, read long threads (I do) 
and learn from that. And in doing so they learn from many different 
people. This is a good thing. We got our reputation because we helped as 
we did and I'd like not to lose that.

The problem is abuse/dependence. Once in a while we get someone for whom 
the forums become their home and WE build their blog. WE create all the 
code, WE place everything, WE get to read post after post after post 
from someone who is either incapable of learning, just plain lazy or who 
think WE should be doing it anyway. As soon as I see this I stop all 
responses - this is teaching them to fish, cooking the dinner and then 
blending it so it's easy to swallow. We don't get many but they 
certainly exist......

So yes we need good signs to Codex, we need a link in the core at the 
bottom to Codex but we mustn't forget that there is a very frustrated 
person on the other end of the question.

P.