Members Helping Members

[Gerry]

A new forum has been added in Miscellaneous titled Members Helping Members.

 

There was a preponderance of posts like this in Community Feedback, even though that title didn't really lead people to expect that function.

 

To keep the two areas separate, a new forum was created.

 

I encourage all people having trouble with the FPN software or application or whatever to raise their questions there.

 

I also encourage the good denizens (especially the experienced ones) to go there regularly help out. We are known to have many very helpful people. It's a resource we should make more visible, and available.

 

I expect this to be a popular meeting place for the more experienced to help the less experienced, as is the custom in this gentle hobby of ours.

 

I wish I had the eloquence of Raf in introducing news - but alas I don't. But this is an earnest suggestion for what I see as a community building activity. Please frequent it, and contribute regularly...

 

Warmest regards,

 

Gerry

Edited June 18, 2009 by Gerry
Typos... (sigh)

[penspouse]

Great new step in the ever evolving FPN. This will be helpful for many. Thanks.

[Gehaha]

Hi Gerry,

 

Great!

Very good approach!

Thank you all.

 

Best,

Anna

[AndyH]

Nice! Although in many respects I think "Members helping members" would be a valid title for almost every forum here. (Speaking as one more frequently helped than helping... )

[RayMan]

Thanks! Great idea.

[Inka]

A great idea!

I learn so much here I am always one to reciprocate, teaching others as I learn or what I have already learned.

This is a wonderful idea, I'll keep an eye out there as time permits and do my best to lend a helping hand when I can.

 

[gyv]

A wonderful idea! Shows that nuts and addicts can be kind and creative.

 

If the Pandora's box I am about to open has already been beaten to death, please accept my apologies (*)--see end note.

I hate to be a party pooper (this a lie: of course I love being a party pooper!), but I see some risk. This is a general issue: The multiplication of forums increases the chance that posts miss their intended audience. For example, to what forum should I send the following post?:

 

"Hey folks, I think I found a solution to the perennial leaking Fellini nibs problem. It's an EZ repair, all you need is a polenta maker and a spare Antonioni feed. BTW, does anyone know a good source for Antonioni and De Sica parts?) Warning, for some reason, replacing a Fellini feed with an Antonioni one turns any lumious, highly-saturated ink into a boring, watery one. Don't thank me, I only did my duty...Ciao!"

This post is "helpful," it fits the new forum. But it also fits a bunch of others: writing instruments, inks, repair, Bella Italia. Whatever the forum I pick, the post is bound to miss some members anxious to repair their Fellini nibs, and I might never learn where to source Antonioni and De Sica parts.

What are the mechanisms for minimizing those risks?

 

Congrats again,

 

-Gerard

(*) come to think about it, I might not be entirely to blame. If someone like me spends inordinate amounts of time logged in a reading about nibs, feeds and ink saturation is still unaware of any discussion on the visibility of threads, perhaps that advocates for the merits of a life with a few fat forums rather than one with a multitude of skinny forums. I don't feel strongly either way--how could I feel strongly about anything? it's 2:30 AM around here.

[Gerry]

Hi Gerard,

 

We certainly understand the dilemma. It has been debated endlessly in the Community Feedback forum, where you might have posted this observation.

 

As for your question, I think that wasn't exactly the intent of the Members Helping Members forum - it was provided as a place for members with questions to feel free to ask - and hopefully other more experienced members would be able to contribute. In time most common questions would have been answered, so a search in it might solve some of the more common problems without even the necessity of asking. The mods, and in particular Admins are stretched pretty thin and can't pretend to be able to answer all the questions new members seem to have - more hands makes light work, or so they say.

 

Your idea of offering unasked advice is good, but that tends to be what the other forums are for - Repair and Bella Italia seem to be two good choices. Depends on the general posts in each perhaps - if the traffic in Bella Italia seems to support repair advice - or the particular make is discussed often, then I'd put it there - if not - repair might be the best place. Ultimately one needs to search in either. BTW - make sure Fellini Nibs appears in the Subject to make searching easier and more successful for others.

 

There are some sites that appear to be one great big fat single forum, but it usually is a significant task to search - and indeed, it isn't possible to search in some. Here, you can search the entire site - or first try more likely forums.

I have been around for a long time - and I haven't yet seen the 'perfect' solution, so we make do with what we have. works most of the time, and allows for some major groupings, as well as a few smaller favorites - but there's always the pressure for more and more specialization - as well as people who want less... <grin>

 

Regards,

 

Gerry

[planmeister]

Brand new to this site. Want to post information about a recent purchase, and don't know where to start?!

[kushbaby]

Brand new to this site. Want to post information about a recent purchase, and don't know where to start?!

 

If it's one of the pens for which we have a board (e.g., Waterman, Pelikan, etc.), you could post it there. Alternatively, try "Writing Instruments" or "Fountain Pen Reviews."

 

 

(Whadja get?)

 

[musiani]

Hello I have a pen and a pencil 1910 universal 18k italians. And i need to value them

A new forum has been added in Miscellaneous titled Members Helping Members.

 

There was a preponderance of posts like this in Community Feedback, even though that title didn't really lead people to expect that function.

 

To keep the two areas separate, a new forum was created.

 

I encourage all people having trouble with the FPN software or application or whatever to raise their questions there.

 

I also encourage the good denizens (especially the experienced ones) to go there regularly help out. We are known to have many very helpful people. It's a resource we should make more visible, and available.

 

I expect this to be a popular meeting place for the more experienced to help the less experienced, as is the custom in this gentle hobby of ours.

 

I wish I had the eloquence of Raf in introducing news - but alas I don't. But this is an earnest suggestion for what I see as a community building activity. Please frequent it, and contribute regularly...

 

Warmest regards,

 

Gerry

 

[rhosygell]

We have a number of Italian pen experts on this site, however two spring to mind being Sanpei and LetiziaJac - if you contact them perhaps they can throw some light on the matter for you

[diplomat]

Hello I have a pen and a pencil 1910 universal 18k italians. And i need to value them

 

The link you provided it's empty. Do you have pictures?

 

Cheers,

 

[Fountainglenn]

Hello there, Id just like to thank all the lovely people that put the Melbourne Pen show on, Peter your a Marvel, and telling me all about my Pens which I brought in and showed you, thank you so much as Im a first timer and came down from Dimboola espcially for the Pen show whic was indeed an eye opener. I purchased a Parker pen about 1930,s vintage from Old Post Office Pens and it made me a set, combine-ing with my Parker 1934 Pencil so i now have a set thanks to the wonderful People that explained all to me. Ill very much look forward to another Pen show, and once again I thank all those people that put the show on and exhibited their lovely Pens and all chatted with me. yours very Sincerely Fountainglenn. Dimboola