Suggestion (Joke)

[eddie]

I came across this post (http://www.devmaster.net/forums/showthread.php?t=4945) and it made me think.

We should have a part of the character profile that has a "Jaded With Newbies" meter.

I think a lot of us come into this forum thinking we'll help everyone we can, and slowly but slowly there's a list of topic posts that eat away at our sanity and turn us into bitter, bitter programmers:


"I've never programmed before, I'm going to build an MMO!"
"Hi, can you do my homework assignment for me?"
"Wow, this code looks hard. Someone write it for me?"
etc.


Anyways, the reason I thought of it was reading monjardin's second post on that link (which I totally agree with, I just have to laugh thinking about it).

I think your JwN meter just went up a notch, monjardin my friend. :)

Perhaps it's just a bad day; so don't worry, I'm not accusing: we've all been there. ;)

[ProgramWizard]

Actually, this is a pretty good idea. :yes:

I try to bring "never programmed and want to make an MMO" people back to earth (because I've been in that category before), but they usually get defensive and say they can make an MMO and it won't be hard either. Which I totally understand, because that's what I did :lol: .

[eddie]

Personally, actually, I think there's a "better solution".

Rather than listing which poster is more irritable than another, I think it would be best to find the posts/things that make people go bonkers (like the list I posted), and create something a little bit more permanent/easily-referenced like a Wiki article, or at least a "sticky" thread.

Then when somebody comes along and offends in a certain way, you can point them to a permanent document that already outlines why things have failed, and why people's attitudes are a certain way.

On the whole "MMO" front, I see both sides. It bothers me when people automatically shut down a new forum poster because they want to create one (or some other game that's equally challenging), because you never know what someone can truly do. That said, statistics are against them, and they *do* deserve to see what they're in for.

I think it would be nice to give them a list of reasons as to *why* we think these things might/will fail, rather than just "don't, it'll suck, I'm too busy to go into why".

A good example is the How to Ask Smart Questions (http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html) document.

[monjardin]

LOL. Yes, my JwN meter was red-lining, but it was also do to a momentary irritation from my wife while I was reading the post! ;)

Personally, I just don't respond to the "I'm a newbie and I'm makeing a MMORPG!!!" threads. I've never made one, and I don't want to rain on the parade of someone who wants to do so.

For now, I'll go build a JwN meter into my signature and try to keep it updated. :)

[eddie]

Hah! Good on you, monjardin. I didn't expect something, but that's a beautiful meter. :)

[ProgramWizard]

Agreed. Here's to hoping this doesn't evolve into a full-fledged rating system :lol:

[monjardin]

I just switched to the NightBlue Master theme and the meter does look outstanding; if I must say so myself! :lol:
Other grumpy programmers should feel free to rip it off as well. ;)

EDIT: The light-hearted banter has decreased my JwN level already!

[eddie]

I miss grumpy monjardin! Bring him back. ;)

I'm glad you didn't see my original post as an attack. :)

Although it's funny you mention being irritated with your wife. Sometimes when I'm posting and I'm getting chatted to by anyone (lately my fiancee) I feel as tho' someone's interrupting my conversation. Oddly enough I sometimes make my posts a little edgier than they should be, because of this. Whoops.

Anyways, I know what you're feeling. :)

[Dismalbiscuit]

Hi I'm new and I wanna make a MMo............ I don't know C++ or extensive photoshop, but i'm determined. (everything is true cept the mmo and determined part....... help me)

[eddie]

... I hope you're joking. :)

If you're not, the reason I mention it is because replying to a stale thread that's only tangentially relevant won't get you far. Start a new thread and post your actual question there.

[monjardin]

Time to adjust the ole' JwN meter! ;)

[Dismalbiscuit]

Nah, It was a joke. :whistle:

[eddie]

Time to adjust the ole' JwN meter! ;)

Heh, indeed! :D