[wp-hackers] For those who don't subscribe to the wp docs mailing list:

[Mark Jaquith]

I think he is right, to some extent.  Part of the problem is that there 
is sparse documentation, and the Wiki isn't very user friendly.  I think 
that it would be good to start developing a comprehensive user manual 
and FAQ database once most of the major changes to 1.3 CVS have been 
finalized.  Personally, I'd like the get/echo function issue resolved 
before such documentation was started.

But even then, and especially now, those who know wordpress/php or both 
would do well to help as much as they can.  What would be a good feature 
for the boards would be a "this problem has been resolved" link for the 
original poster and certain known frequenters and admins.  That way, one 
can easily tell which problems still need fixing.

On Thu, 29 Jul 2004 12:27pm, Craig Hartel wrote:
> What follows is a message from Podz. Podz is, in my opinion, one of the 
> greatest contributors in the WordPress community. He tirelessly answers 
> questions on the support forums, and he helps a lot of people directly 
> through IM, email, and the resources that he has built and hosts on his 
> personal site. That he has reached this level of frustration speaks 
> volumes of what needs improving if WordPress is to become the best 
> toolbox for building quality web sites.
> ==========================================================
>
> From the docs mailing list:
> docs at wordpress.org
> http://wordpress.org/mailman/listinfo/docs_wordpress.org
>
> Is it considered either 'uncool' or beneath some people to try and help 
> out in the forums ?
>
> If I log into irc, there are dozens of people there, Dozens. Yet how 
> many frequent the forums ? Hardly any.
>
> I've read on several blogs recently that people just "don't want to 
> help those that can't search", or "are fed up of answering the same 
> crap" or other similar stuff.
>
> Are you aware just how many people are having problems logging in ?
> How many people are having trouble with php files ?
> How many people who appear to have unique problems, not of their own 
> making, but no answers ?
>
> The simple fact is, all the plugins and functions are of no use 
> whatsoever to someone who has either been locked out of their blog, or 
> cannot get the thing to work in the first place.
>
> Hell, I know how to search, I know where to look, and I'm not even 
> bothered about breaking my blog, yet when I have come into irc, I get 
> roundly ignored for the most part. People shouldn't have to join and 
> repeat their questions ad nauseum - they should be answered. And if you 
> are afk, then FFS indicate it. I went there this morning, indicated a 
> post that needed help, and left. Has anyone helped ? No. Were there 
> people there who could have helped ? Yes.
>
> Why not have #wordpress-hackers and #wordpress-help ? Why ? Because 
> those currently in channel would not join the second one there.
>
> So I've answered the most questions on the forums, and for the most 
> part they aren't repeats, they are getting more and more specific, and 
> increasingly taking myself and other regular answerers out of our 
> depth. I'm sure I'd get leapt on from all over if I directed someone to 
> do something that deleted their blog, but until then, it seems that 
> those that code, those that know PHP try to make some sort of name for 
> themselves, or flesh out their cv, without any real regard for those 
> thousands of people who just want to blog and hit problems.
>
> The simple fact is that too many people seem to want to leap aboard, be 
> associated, get the 'kudos' yet aren't prepared to go out of their way 
> hardly at all to answer questions from others.
>
> I've been told that the 'hackers' list gets a ton of mail, yet this 
> list is dead. And despite this, it's some of those very hackers who 
> will lament the poor state of the docs ! If only you tried half as hard 
> to help in that direction we would have great docs by now !
>
> I thought the situation on the forums was bad a while ago given the 
> volume of posts, but it's worse. And when 1.3 gets released ? And 
> things break all over the place ? Well I guess a lot of smugness will 
> exude from the irc channel.
>
> And yes, given my contribution to WordPress, I am entitled to have an 
> equal voice. Me not being able to write PHP actually puts me closer to 
> the average blogger - and there is a lot of them that need help, like 
> it or not.
>
> P.
>
>
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