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I find it difficult to help people who choose to use Facebook only, am I alone?

Discussion in 'Off Topic' started by WheresWaldo, Jan 11, 2017.

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Is it harder to help people on Facebook vs this forum?

Poll closed Feb 10, 2017.
  1. Yes, Facebook is infinitely harder.

    7 vote(s)
    77.8%
  2. Somewhat harder but can be done.

    2 vote(s)
    22.2%
  3. This forum can be inconvenient.

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  4. The forum here sucks.

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. WheresWaldo

    WheresWaldo Volunteer ( ͠° ͟ʖ ͡°)
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    Because of the non threaded nature of Facebook and the fact that you have no easy way of telling if the original poster read the message. As well as the fact that a lot (not all) of Facebook users are very novice computer users or 3D Makers. I find it difficult to help out by answering questions. At least here, people can respond back to the same thread and you pretty much know they read what was posted before.

    I have tried over the past couple of weeks to answer a few questions, but I fear it is just an exercise in futility and my life is too short to be filled with any more frustrations or regrets. Am I the only person that feels this way?

    Of course I am ranting, ugh. :mad:
     
  2. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    Every time I try to help someone via Facebook it always devolves into a chat session.
     
  3. Geof

    Geof Volunteer Moderator
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    Not a fan of facebook, google groups, etc lol. I perfer the forum route. Most legitimate manufacturers have a forum, whether its used or not is up for debate but still better than "social media troubleshooting" in my opinion :D
     
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  4. Rigmarol

    Rigmarol Well-Known Member

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    My experience with IT issues (not 3d Printer issues) is that the nature of FB makes it impossible to have a legacy path of troubleshooting that others can also use. It is only useful for the one person you are trying to help. I found myself repeating basic things over and over and no real convenient or intuitive way to point at historical solutions or tips.

    I have used forums for decades all the way back to when you dialed directly into a Bulletin Board system. As long as the system is still up, my conversations are also still there in cronological order for anyone else to find and use and comment on.

    Forums are the main tool I use for help or asking for help.

    Facebook seems more geared for the short sighted, impatient, users with very short attention spans and no time to truly learn a process.

    That is a "generalization" and yes I realize some good things happen on FB however, my experience is there is far less useful and deep dive help FB than in Forums.
     
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  5. Printed Solid

    Printed Solid Volunteer Admin
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    Ha! You're lucky you don't have people hitting up your company for tech support via twitter! Try troubleshooting in 140 chars or less... The only appropriate response is "contact us via email" but that pisses some people off.
     
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  6. WheresWaldo

    WheresWaldo Volunteer ( ͠° ͟ʖ ͡°)
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    I have Twitter and Facebook accounts that lay dormant, I tried the Facebook thing earlier this month but before that I hadn't posted anything other than automatic updates to a single page when I add something to my Shapeways store. No human posts in years. Twitter hasn't seen activity in probably four years, although I still log in about twice a year just to keep the account open.

    Like @Rigmarol says, it is nice to have things in chronological order and preserved in threads so that we can refer back if needed. It also serves a wider array of users than the one-off conversations on FB or Twitter.
     
  7. Rigmarol

    Rigmarol Well-Known Member

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    I've had a twitter account for years (I sign up for everything so I anchor my "Rigmarol" username) but have made less than a handful of posts. 140 characters are simply not enough for my long winded posts! And it's too much trouble linking to places where I can get long winded.

    Forums and emails are my preferences. I even avoid phone calls at work!
     
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  8. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    Me too and I think I have tweeted .. like twice since its inception.
     
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  9. Geof

    Geof Volunteer Moderator
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    I has a twitter and I twat peoples with it lol. Use it to show off prints and the such and talk with other hobbyists. Not a valuable tool for troubleshooting and repair...at all. the direct conversation is nice but perfer the forums
     
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  10. daniel871

    daniel871 Well-Known Member

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    Stuff like this is probably why certain companies resorted to maintenance/support contracts for their products once they got large enough in the general market.

    EDIT:

    Because providing support for the vast swaths of people that don't bother to read owner's manuals is a full time job for a division of the company.
     
  11. Geof

    Geof Volunteer Moderator
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    my sticker isn't hot...you have 140 characters matt.....go ;)
     
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  12. daniel871

    daniel871 Well-Known Member

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    Not Matt, but here goes.

    "Read the owner's manual for the printer. Uninstall MatterControl. Use Cura."
     
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  13. Geof

    Geof Volunteer Moderator
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  14. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    I remain (even at my age and experience level) amazed (nay, even astounded!) at what will piss SOME people off.
     
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  15. daniel871

    daniel871 Well-Known Member

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    Second tweet: "If your printer did not come with a manual, you bought the wrong printer."
     
  16. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    Mocking people via twitter is easy. Some have elevated it to an art-form.
     
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  17. daniel871

    daniel871 Well-Known Member

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    Where is the "No problems at all regardless of website" option?
     
  18. WheresWaldo

    WheresWaldo Volunteer ( ͠° ͟ʖ ͡°)
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    Not necessary, because my friend @daniel871 as you are a contrarian that selection either means you are not helpful no matter the communication method, or you are in a class all by yourself. :eek::)
     
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  19. Geof

    Geof Volunteer Moderator
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    LOL!!!!!!:D
     
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  20. WheresWaldo

    WheresWaldo Volunteer ( ͠° ͟ʖ ͡°)
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    @Geof I thought you might enjoy that.
     

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