irc channel

[jotto84]

What does everyone think about PCMech Forums having an IRC channel? This way, if anyone needed IMMEDIATE help, it would be available, something I seek many a time. Most of the times i need help, i am reluctant to post here because I can't wait, even if only an hour.

[morriswindgate]

The problem with doing this, is like the people in the new Gateway Computer Infommercial. Everyone of these interviewed customers say that they knew what they wanted in a computer and that is why they chose Gateway (Music, Small Business, Digital Video Editing,ect)>So Gateway sold them all the very same computer.(If anybody sees this commercial pay attention to the Digital Photo/Video Guy, You can actually watch as the Digital Picture slowly expands as he is loading it)
The fact is that most people buy a computer like they buy a Microwave Oven. Thay want it to do something, but do not want to know why it does it. (I have, as many of you have, gone over to fix someones computer only to have to close out error box after error box) And these type of people are absolutly afraid to open the box and want somebody to do it for them.
I have tried to to help people one on one over IRC and by spending time typeiing out instructions sent via e-mail and all I got from them was I can't do this over and over. I also have a person here in town that everytime he wants to do something besides surfing porn, he is calling me to ask how (and this is after 3 years). And by the way this is after he calls asking me how to start the computer.
The reason this forum is successful is that people post and we research it to get the answer, in this way we learn also.

[jotto84]

that makes perfect sense morris, but I feel that the PCMech community is a bit brighter than most. It seems to be composed of a small group of individuals that are very knowledged, even the people asking questions know what they're doing. (heck, how did they get here in the first place) By getting to PCMech and registering for the forums and logging in, you obviously aren't a stupid computer user. But otherwise, I totally agree with you that most people buy PC's like an appliance. In my case, they want everything explained but they dont want to listen, but that's probably because I'm 17. For instance, a gateway 233 with a 66 bus. I bought PNY PC133/100/66 memory for my neighbors PC and attempted to install it, after testing and research, I realized that the mobo could not be upgraded from 32megs of ram without a bios upgrade. So after about 45 minutes(wondering why i was there so long after i told them it would take 5 minutes), they came down to supervise and question my activity, wanting to know exactly what I was doing. So I explain, and I explain in the simplest terms possible, but they dont listen.. "OK, if you need anything else, just yell". after they hear 5 words of my explanation. ANYWAY, that's one of my personal experiences. Despite my first argument, I agree with you for the most part, I just dont see that pertaining to the PCMech community. Besides, who the hell is gunna be able to figure out how to logon to IRC, but not turn on their box?

[DrZaius]

One of the most valuable features of a forum like this is the fact that all posts are stored! The most useful button for anyone with a question is the Search button first, and the Post button second. There are years of valuable experience and knowledge on almost anything computer related in these forums. More people should use it, so that we don't have a "Can I upgrade my motherboard and not format my hard drive?" questions every week. IRC may be quick, but what if an important problem is fixed, how will we be able to refer to the solution in the future?

[jotto84]

ok ye got me

[morriswindgate]

Agree with the above.
When a person posts a problem, they have to think about what they are trying to commumicate. With IRC they just type without thinking.
I know that most people that are here are willing to take chances to get results. (For the most part) But this forum is getting a reputation as the place to go and has been sited as such on a few major Computer Publications internet sites, so sooner or later we will be getting a lot of the microwave people. It's not that we don't like them, it's that if you come here we want you to learn about what a great hobby computers are, and not just treat them like appliances. Thinking and finding information may be a little more difficult, but a person learns by doing it before they post. IRC would just be the easy way out.

[Xayd]

Still, though, even if it isn't free help, an IRC channel just to chat with peeps in from here wouldn't be a bad thing .

[alan]

Maybe 2 years ago they tried to run a chat room but there were hardly any users. I finally got to meet a lot of moderators but rarely anyone else. We'd just sit around chatting about how no one comes to chat. They tried to rig it through AIM because, I believe, the software was either inexpensive or free. So many people were dead set against having anything to do with AOL that they didn't sign up for screennames. The IRQ or proprietary chat software was costly. Maybe the admins can give it another try with the new options available today.