Well I hate to be participating in pirating my own thread I wil have to say the Detroit Redwings have the most impressive Stanley Cup record for US teams...but Colorado, Dallas and New Jersey are awesome newcomers to the NHL... ok...settled? clc
First of all clc, thanks for putting together a set of questions. I think these questions are good questions. I appreciate your work and praise your ability of browsing (and absorbing) tons of information in a short amount of time. I am still gathering information from this board and am completely awe-struck and spell-bound with the knowledge of old timers and experienced folks here. Having said that, I would say that I agree with soren. I do not want to repeat soren's arguement as it was a well written post. I strongly disagree with the term 'exam' as it has a connotation of passing with a minimum score or something. And I disagree with the idea of putting newbies through a test/grill session. This is an open board, and open forum for discussion for people from all walks, people from all levels. Putting an exam as a sheild or filter, in my opinion, will not do justice with the very idea behind the foundation of this group(or such a group). Just like any discussion group, live or online, it is everybody's responsibility to maintain the decorum and participate intelligently. The reality is that no matter how many exams/tests you create, there will be newbies asking basic questions. If it is desired that a discussion group to be open for people having a certain level of knowledge, that group should have restricted entry. Meaning some sort of referral or membership criteria. I still like the "questionnaire" (notice i refuse to call it an exam) and I would suggest, if some/all of it is not already in the standard documentation places (like FAQ's, Library), they should be added there. I would leave it to the more experienced to decide the content of what all should be added (in FAQ's). That becomes the central repository of information for both newbies and not-so-newbies. This board already has such places. I founded the FAQ area highly helpful in my first few days. At the end, it becomes the responsibility of all newbies to first go through the central repository (not necessarily all searches, but basic questionnaire), absorb the information (based on their ability and time constraints) and then ask questions. We all have different background, different situations, and are under different degrees of urgency when we come to this board. I guess I have started repeating myself. Have I started repeating myself? I think I have started repeating myself.... Basically, as I see it, clc, some of your questions should be added to FAQ's - if they do not exist there already. HAVING SAID THAT, this discussion has prompted to make the following suggestion: {PBM, Nave, site managers please listen} [actually I feel bad, I do not even know who all are involved in managing this site - may be I have not read my FAQ's that well - damn newbie! ] Anyway, my suggestion is as follows: 1. We create a collection of links and directions to fresher/newbie. 2. We create a welcome letter(or document). In that document, we mention the FAQ's and basic palces and where to look for information. 3. When anyone joins the group, with the first email we send that letter to everyone. That way you get to see the basic sources of information even before you are elligible to post a question. 4. We leave those newbies alone and 'trust' them to read the letter and browse through information before asking basic questions. When I joined, I got a simple text email with the link to go directly to the borad. If my suggestion is followed through, I will be willing to contribute some time to make a html based formatted intro email containing info for new members. Thank you for reading this far. I would like to hear others' view points as well.
chargedoff- Thank you for your sincere and straightforward comments. I don't think one should get overly concerned re:semantics...exam vs questionnaire. I agree that at first blush the "exam" might have been perceived wrongly...for that reason I spent my free time earlier today in posting answers to the so-called exam....which included sites that I found on my own and had never been referred to in any other forum I have been participating in since early June. The site I used for judgments and collection SOL is a debt collection site but it was one I thought was the best and most complete because it not only cited SOLs but also wage garnishment laws and interest rates on a state by state basis. I don't want to break my arm patting myself on the back here...but as a newbie I am trying to contribute...and I feel that this small contribution was an unselfish effort on my part. As a newbie at this site I usually defer to the old timers on most subjects....but just 'cause I'm a newbie doesn't mean I'm brain dead...so I think my efforts are as valid as any old timer. JMHO..... clc
<bump> I am going to move this up one more time...even though I've been accused of insulting newbies that was NOT my intent....there are some good sites in my answers...specifically the complete texts of the Acts and a site for debt collectors that does give collection, judgment, interest rates and garnishment laws on a state by state basis...good to have bookmarked for anyone doing credit repair. I am going to bed....cya' all tomorrow. nite. clc
Mommy2Cats...How did you manage to raise your scores from 40-80 points so quickly? Are these deletions from 30 day validations? What's your secret?! Send me some of that good mojo, LOL!
