[wp-docs] WordPress generally.

[Scott Merrill]

Podz said:
> Is it considered either 'uncool' or beneath some people to try and help
> out in the forums ?

I think it's generally harder to help out in the forums, and far less
gratifying.  I used to help when I could, resolving problems when I knew
how.

I think -- in some cases -- the lack of response is the same thing as
saying "I don't know how to help."  I've never experienced the 'I can't
log in!' problems, so I really can't offer too much help to those people. 
Replying to the post with an 'I cannot help you' response is _worse_ than
no response at all.  This happens in IRC, too.  Molly (www.molly.com)
expressed her frustration at not getting questions answered... I likened
it to the old saying "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say
anything at all."  Replace "nice" with "helpful", and you'll see what I
mean.

Further, I think a lot of people genuinely don't like to use the forums
because they don't like miniBB.  Such is life.

> If I log into irc, there are dozens of people there, Dozens. Yet how
> many frequent the forums ? Hardly any.

Because it's entertaining, and easy, to socialize while also doing
whatever it is I need to do during the day.

It's often easier to help in IRC because I can ask pointed, direct
questions and get immediate responses.

> 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.

To a degree, you have a point. But for all the people writing plugins,
WordPress works for them.  They're not experience those problems, so they
spend their energy working on things that are interesting to them.

<snip>

> 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 think it goes a little beyond that, but you have a valid point.

> 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.

As with most unorganized efforts, I think a lot of people are expecting
"someone else" to step forward and help.  I know I'm guilty of that on a
regular basis.

I'd suggest a dedicated "support team", but I don't know how useful that
would be on an all-volunteer basis.  Interest will wane, real life will
interfere, and energy will run low...