new thread
No, I didn't cut my hair, you gotta' be kidding!
Many here have asked for it (myself included) and now here it is!
I created the RAQ, which stands for Repetitivly Asked Questions, and posted it on my website: http://members.tripod.com/hairreligion/mlh.htm
You can also access it on my links page under the link to the MLH board.
New guys don't take offense, this isn't a brush off, it's just an easier way for veterans of this board to answer questions that we hear over and over and over about hair. This repetition tends to fill the board and push out other threads that can be more interesting.
There will still be plenty to talk about on the board and maybe even more room to do it in.
This list contains most of the questions that we see the most but I am sure that there are others that I missed or will need to add in the future so let me know if you think the list needs an addition.
If you don't like what I have done then please DON'T feel the need to tell me all about it because you won't have to use it or refer to it.
There are other guys and gals who may (and will) find it helpful.
When a new guy asks one of these questions then just post the address and his question, along with others, will be imediately answered and he'll also have a page to reference again instead of hoping that someone remembers "something" about it.
Every once in a while I'll post a link to it so it doesn't get lost in the shuffle of the board.
Hope you guys (and gals) find this useful!
That's a VERY good idea. I honestly spent hours, a few afternoons worth of looking through links, pages, pictures, and all the posts before making my first post. I didn't want to annoy the regulars by posting a question that was already answered somewhere. But some of those RAQ are either things I missed or forgot (there is now A LOT of great stuff to go through and can take literally days). I saw some questions that I hadn't even thought of, but was glad to see it posted.
Might be a good idea to link to it at the top of the page near the FAQs or where we click to post a new message. But I'm sure there will still be some people who just ask a question before even taking a brief look. It's just easier to ask rather than do some looking, not that it's right, but it's human nature.
Yes, I agree. Maybe Victor would like to post the link at the top of the page to head some of these questions off at the pass. Victor?
STRONG WORK! Your answers are concise, well-rounded and thoughful as they always are.
It will be interesting to see if this works.
ToddB
Hair Religion, are you seriously suggesting that Kurt's hair-care ritual of washing it with a bar of soap once a week isn't a good example of hair care? Doh!
;-)
Congrats for the most parts, but I think you might be hammering the newbies and those of us growing out a little with some of your RAQ's.
You've offered well rounded opinions for the most part, yet you seem to have an understandable natural bias to people who have already "made it" as a longhair.
I think your RAQ would have done better to stick to defining terms rather than discouraging people from posting who are looking for support, advice and encouragement. For example: "how to deal with co-workers, family, church etc." or "To trim or not to trim"
These are all very individual cases and there is no one right answer, especially when mearly talking about such issues with people who have experienced the same problems can help in itself... This kind of group therapy can only help produce more people who have made is as longhairs and consequently won't be asking all the newbie questions.
But hey its your web site, I think you have the right to determine if its appropriate for your site, but whilst I think much of it has a place here on the board, it would do better to be strictly a glossary. Afterall although your well informed and balanced in your view point, you cannot speak for all the members of the board and parts of what you have written are a matter of opinion. Personally I want to hear from some of the people you dont and vice versa... Can you see my point?
Anyway... Respect HR you are a king in your own right.
-Sorted-
Thanks for the feedback.
I'm not sure what I wrote that hammers newbies but I have elaborated a bit to the "trims" entry. That one and the "dealing with people" entry and a few others are kept pretty general because like you said some of these questions cannot be answered with just one answer.
These RAQ's are generally aimed at the newbie so you should see that they come from the experience of a longhair and of course there will be a little bit of personal opinion but I tried to keep that to a bare minimum. Because this is a list of questions and not a list of terms you will get answers that are somewhat more intuitive than a definition but with plenty of room for questions for the board if they need more. Think of the one post wonders who ask a general question and then don't follow up. Apparently they didn't want or need more or they would have followed up. This list would be perfect for them.
Actually I think that a glossary would be better on the official board FAQ rather than my list of questions since questions have such a range to them and the list is to deal with those that are repetitive (whatever they may be, even beyond stuff on a glossary). I do have links to hair-science.com where they can basically get the most complete glossary and more on hair if that is what they are looking for.
This won't take all that much away from the board if that is what you are worried about and I don't believe that I am discouraging people from asking things, just trying to answer a few questions before they are asked...again.
Good point. I didn't want to say anything, but I did kind of get the impression that I wasn't welcome to post as a newbie. I'm sure that wasn't the intention, and I can totally understand the frustration from people who don't bother to do a bit of reading and just post a question instead. It's a Catch-22 really, the only way to get past being a "newbie" is to post, yet you don't want to post in fear of annoying anyone. What more can you post about, especially in the early stages before you're well educated and familiar with the website? It almost seems like you need to wait until you've grown your hair out completely before you can post anything, but many people need some help and suggestions (in many cases on an individual basis) along the way.
Again, I'm aure that wasn't the intention, but that's what it comes across as. In fact, I had a question yesterday, but after reading about the RAQs, I didn't want to post a "silly" question on the board (which, btw, wasn't in the RAQs or anywhere else I could find), so I emailed the webmaster to ask him instead of asking on the board. Being new, I didn't want to over-step my welcome and annoy anyone.
Please don't take this the wrong way, I'm not angry at anyone, just wanted to add to this point, coming from the perspective of a new member.
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Good point about the one-post wonders. Just in their defence, maybe they forgot to bookmark the page and couldn't find it again? For the RAQs to be most effective, I still think a link at the top of the page would be a great idea. Hopefully this will stave off questions before they are already asked.
It'll take a little time to hone things a bit. I'm tweeking things here and there from what you guys have said.
Thanks for taking our thoughts on board.
-Sorted-
Don't ever think that a question posted here is considered silly, especially by a newbie! That's what this board is for!
Well, it seems to be getting around. I've had over 100 hits in less than 24 hours. Some of this may be coming from outside the board too so it does serve a dual purpose on my site.
there are far more people just reading tan posting.
well done!