Compulsory "location" and "experience" fields

[HandySparks]

I've mentioned this elsewhere, but I thought that if I repeated it here, it might get more notice from the forum management.

We've had numerous posts where the OP has kept quiet about their location and level of experience. This can lead members to reply inappropriately and become frustrated at the OP, leading to increasing acrimony. Two of the most often asked questions when answering a post are "are you an electrician" and "where are you located".

My suggestion, if at all possible, is to make filling in the "location" field compulsory and to add another compulsory field "experience". This could either be limited to a pull-down list of options, or at least a guidance list offered, eg: homeowner, inexperienced DIYer, experienced DIYer, electrical trainee, electrical apprentice, recently qualified, multi-skilled tradesman, experienced electrician, retired electrician, other technical occupation, etc, etc.

I understand that there's no way of confirming the truth of either of these pieces of information, but it would not be in the interest of the poster to lie and I think most members would be happy to provide the info.

If both location and experience were visible to members posting replies, I think it would allow answers to be pitched appropriately and improve the quality of the forums which will encourage members to carry on posting.

 

[i=p/u]

Could work.... But at end of day ,as ya say . It should be about people answering questions if they want too and not answer to give someone....

Distressed electrician population....

 

[Dan]

I've mentioned this elsewhere, but I thought that if I repeated it here, it might get more notice from the forum management.

We've had numerous posts where the OP has kept quiet about their location and level of experience. This can lead members to reply inappropriately and become frustrated at the OP, leading to increasing acrimony. Two of the most often asked questions when answering a post are "are you an electrician" and "where are you located".

My suggestion, if at all possible, is to make filling in the "location" field compulsory and to add another compulsory field "experience". This could either be limited to a pull-down list of options, or at least a guidance list offered, eg: homeowner, inexperienced DIYer, experienced DIYer, electrical trainee, electrical apprentice, recently qualified, multi-skilled tradesman, experienced electrician, retired electrician, other technical occupation, etc, etc.

I understand that there's no way of confirming the truth of either of these pieces of information, but it would not be in the interest of the poster to lie and I think most members would be happy to provide the info.

If both location and experience were visible to members posting replies, I think it would allow answers to be pitched appropriately and improve the quality of the forums which will encourage members to carry on posting.

I understand where you're coming from but if a person isn't saying so when asked in a thread, they probably wont say so in their profile when registering to the forum.

We have to make the registration process as easy as possible so that we attract the most members.

It's already a ballache because we have to have anti-spam procedures in place which doesn't always stop spam and sometimes unfortunately prevents a genuine human from registering.

What I did do the other day is change the questions and answers to be a bit more electrical-related and less obvious. So one for example is "What does PAT stand for in the electrical industry?" - Wont stop all from guessing or searching online but it should stop a few people who shouldn't even be changing a plug from registering to find out how to rewire their house.

The problem in the industry in general with these types of people will never be solved with a forum let alone a couple of compulsory fields in a profile on a forum.

What I can and will do though is add the fields, not make them mandatory, but perhaps those who have issues with people who haven't filled out the fields just don't respond to those people or something?

Fact is if they're being asked if they're an electrician and not answering - they probably aren't. I've never found an electrician who has been asked if he is one say he isn't or even ignore the question.

It's one of the, if not the most regulated trade in the UK. A fully fledged sparky will say he is.

Think that would help at all?

 

[Dan]

Okay.

I've made "Location" mandatory.

And have added a new area on the "About Me" tab which isn't mandatory but can be filled in.

So far I only have one question:-

http://www.electriciansforums.net/profile.php?do=editprofile

What electrical qualifications do you have?

What other questions would you like to see there? I'll add them now for you.

 

[HandySparks]

I understand where you're coming from but if a person isn't saying so when asked in a thread, they probably wont say so in their profile when registering to the forum.

I think my point really was that it hasn't even occurred to many new posters that location and experience is relevant. It can take a while before they answer the direct question (if they ever do), so for example, members can be wasting time with answers based on UK practice, but it eventually turns out that the OP is on the other side of the world. If the info is available up front, it should make things work more smoothly.

 

[Dan]

I understand.

99.9% of our hits is UK traffic, and 90% of that comes from Google.co.uk

I wouldn't worry about overseas too much they've visited and registered to the wrong website altogether if they've ended up on here. So treat them as UK and if they get it wrong it's not our fault fully.

I've made it mandatory though for new registrations, and also when people edit their profile they'll need to fill in that before they can save it.

We do have 35k+ members though so you'll see a shed-load who still haven't entered their location or occupation (another one I've made mandatory).

 

[HandySparks]

Okay.

I've made "Location" mandatory.

Thanks. That's the easy one to sort out.

Now...

And have added a new area on the "About Me" tab which isn't mandatory but can be filled in.

So far I only have one question:-

http://www.electriciansforums.net/profile.php?do=editprofile

What electrical qualifications do you have?

What other questions would you like to see there? I'll add them now for you.

It's a difficult one; and maybe we need a few suggestions from other members. What I'm thinking of is some sort of shorthand description which appears (with "Location") at the side of every post and allows members to pitch their answers to the knowledge and experience of the OP. It's difficult to think of nice short phrases which would cover every type of poster but I think it's worth trying to come up with a scheme. But lets throw out a few ideas before implementing anything.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Seems that you've also made the job title mandatory as well.

 

[Dan]

Occupation yeah. Thought it might help with those who wish to find out if somebody's an actual sparky.

 

[Geordie Spark]

Those little modifications stopped me in my tracks when I tried to log in this evening !!!! :32::banghead:

 

[dagrat]

Me too, I thought the qualifications field was mandatary and filled it in before realising..lol