Simple Solutions isn't working

[The Ocelot]

I cruise the New Members forum almost daily and people are not posting in "Simple Solutions." When someone is new, posting in the general New Members section seems the most logical. Unfortunately, with mechanicals and RBAs currently the Must Have Hot Toys, the section is flooded with questions about them and I'm concerned that a beginner browsing the forum might get the impression that vaping is too complicated and feel intimidated. Not to mention members who may have limitations that might prevent them from being able to rebuild devices.

I think a sub-forum titled something like, "Advanced New Members" might get a better response, especially if there is a way to insert it between the stickies and the regular threads to make it more eye catching or even a forum of it's own between New Members and General Discussion. Looking up to where "Simple Solutions" is located isn't as engaging as seeing all of the threads posted below. Also, no matter what the beginner's experience level is, I'm sure they would rather think of themselves as Advanced, instead of Simple, yet if they wandered into a bunch of rba threads that they didn't understand, they would likely go back to where the "regular" vapers were.

Jumps off of soap box.

 

[ShariR]

I take a look at the New Members Forum every day, usually late in the evening. I will try and help people when I can. I was happy to see the Simple Solutions sub forum but I am seeing that it is not very active. I think it may have something to do with the fact that it is a sub forum and not the default area for new members to post in.

I remember when I was new a year ago; I found ECF very large, intimidating and confusing to navigate. I never would have found the sub forum in my first few days here. In discussions with other members that also try to help the new people it has come up that maybe a sub forum for the mech users, rba and sub ohm users should be the ones directed to a sub forum. Ocelot mentioned that the people already interested in those topics tend to be a little more knowledgeable and able to navigate to another area.

ECF is the most content rich and people friendly resource I have found regarding vaping. The people who need our help the most may not be forum or computer savvy, let alone have any knowledge about vaping. I know I had no knowledge of vaping until I found ECF.

It would be nice to keep those very new, inexperienced members (and lurkers) in the default area so when they post they can also find their thread again to read the responses. And weed out the more 'advanced' vapers that can find their way to a sub forum. Plus, reading about mechs, rbas, rebuilding and blowing huge clouds and sub ohming would have scared me away a year ago. I am a 58 year old woman and that would have turned me off. Especially if that was what I was being advised to get for my first setup.