Re^2: Where is the input box?

[ELISHEVA]

in reply to Re: Where is the input box?
in thread Where is the input box?

I think this question was well meant. hsfrey was only 3 days 'old' when he posted this question. Sometimes it takes a while for new users to find all the links in the sidebars. There are an awful lot of them and the document you posted has lot of information to sort through. It can be overwhelming. I know it took me a while.

The topic you linked to, "Posting on Perl Monks", is at the very top of the FAQ, but it is buried in the middle of a heavy block of summary topics. Even if the item did catch the OP's eye, I think he or she may still be forgiven for not realizing that it answered his/her question. Not everyone is going to make the connection between "posting" and "asking". Unless you are a frequent participant of question and answer boards, posting sounds like you are tacking up a notice, writing an article, or making a comment on a blog or Facebook wall, i.e. providing information rather than requesting it. And if you aren't familiar with the on-line world, it might even be unintelligible: "what?! post a letter? do you mean email?"

In any case, if we wish to be welcoming, certain facts shouldn't require RTFM to understand. The interface should speak for itself. Isn't that the point of usability?

Best, beth

[apl]

Under slightly different circumstances, I'd agree with you wholeheartedly. But when I read a post that starts:

Why can't I find the input box to submit a post on the Monastery Gates page?

and ends

Or, is it your policy to make it hard to post?

my immediate response is to think "The problem may not be with this site". An analogous situation is reading a post that says "There's a bug in Perl; it won't do what I want it to".

Could I have posted in a more civil fashion? You bet. Was my sentiment wrong? I'm not so certain.

[planetscape]

Um, actually hsfrey has been a user since Jul 13, 2008 at 18:26 CDT. Of course, in that time s/he may well have spent only 72 hrs actually using PM.