vBulletin - quo vadis?

[Thomas P]

Hello vBorgs,

I can remember times, when people were answered if they asked for a hack or modification.

Today: It's maybe just me being tachyed, but for the last three questions not a single person even bothered answering anything:

Prevent Shouting in Thread titles?
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=74457

Notice for threads older than 3 months?
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=121176

Set default icon only for showthread?
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=119898

And if I read the in-posts requests and answers I get the impression that people are getting a bit arrogant by the time over here.

You were better once, long time ago!

These are my €0,02 - nah, I give you €0,05 ;)

cu,
-Tom


P.S.: Most answers came from http://www.vbhacks-germany.com/
Young fresh and patient team, I really can recommend visiting them if you can read german.

[Dan]

I'm sorry that no one has replied to your threads, even if there is a hack listed at vBhack-germany, we don't have the permission to port them to english unless the author specifically says we can. Also I'm going to say a good majority of the people on this site cannot read German (with a select few who can), I personally cannot read German otherwise I'd probably end up helping out.

[Guest210212002]

So you're giving the thumbs down and three examples to:

Example #1: A thread from a german site, as above.
Example #2: A thread that you searched and found the answer to, as you should have in the first place.
Example #3: A thread from a german site, again.

Little harsh, no?

[Paul M]

Unless you are a member of the German site those links will simply give a no permission error.

[kira]

Example #1: A thread from a german site, as above.
Example #2: A thread that you searched and found the answer to, as you should have in the first place.
Example #3: A thread from a german site, again.

Little harsh, no?

No, because that's not what he's saying, and those threads aren't from German sites. His point is that he asked the questions here and received no help/answers for them, but eventually had success only by posting at the German help site.

[Thomas P]

Don't get me wrong: I think vb.org is a great resource for vB forum owners and has many useful hacks and modifications.

It is just that people were more helpful years ago.

@Dan: It's not about getting support in german, I'm fine with english. Just was pointing out that vbhacks germany is young and fresh and they are doing a good job answering hack request threads - in contrast to my latest experience over here.

@Paul: Feel free to register ;)
Btw: Your in-post answer to one of my questions is exactly what I would call a bit arrogant. Not meaning to be harsh, but that it what I think.
Feel free to study the plugin to see what it does.

Conclusion:
@Chris-777 et al: kira exactly pointed out what I wanted to say...

[Guest190829]

Hey Thomas,

The staff here tries very hard to help answer everyone's queries. Also, there are many helpful members that are willing to help when they have to time to give a hand. I'm sorry that you haven't had your threads answered, but we are all volunteers here and try our best to help each other out.

If you threads are not getting answered, I can only suggest you gently bump them (in accordance with vB.org bumping rules), and hopefully someone will be able to help you. :)

[Guest210212002]

No, because that's not what he's saying, and those threads aren't from German sites. His point is that he asked the questions here and received no help/answers for them, but eventually had success only by posting at the German help site.

Gotcha. So vb.org gets the thumbsdown because while 12,000 other questions were answered for other people, two of his didn't get a response so the German site is better than us.

Still harsh in my opinion, but you can't please everyone. ;) This site is just busy, and people try to answer questions as they can, but you can't hold it against the staff if every single thread doesn't get an answer. It may seem like people were more helpful years ago, but you need to keep in mind that vb.org is a lot busier nowadays than it was back then. Thomas, if you want to help people out, instead of posting a link to the german site that other people can't get at/read, don't you think it might be a better idea to post the solution in your threads? That way it will come up in searches when other people have the same problem that you have. You're saying nobody helped you out, but you aren't exactly going out of your way to help the next guy with the question either.


they are doing a good job answering hack request threads - in contrast to my latest experience over here


You're seriously trying to imply that vb.org doesn't do a good job at answering questions?

Side note: I've been a member here since 2002, this screenname is associated with a new license, hence my '06 reg date.

Edit: I don't mean to be singling you out Thomas, it's just that lately there are a lot of threads from folks disgruntled that their simple, searchable questions haven't been answered. Between that, the 20-some-odd PM's a day I get and the recent influx of "plz hlp!!! wut do i do?!!?" threads, I think I'm just becoming a bitter old sod. ;)

[Chris M]

As Danny stated we are a volunteer site; The idea of a community is to get everyone helping each other wherever they can, but its not always enough...

Chris

[Thomas P]

Fair enough. I see that many people are volunteering over here and do a good job - no question.

@Chris: Good suggestion - I thought of posting the code here, but as Dan pointed out in post #2 I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post code here which resides there.
Afaik everyone with a valid vB license can register and read the solution at vbhacks germany.

Thanks for your answers :)

[Chris M]

The issue is that users are required to register elsewhere, and navigate a forum that may or may not be a language they understand ;)

The code you are not allowed to post here from vBhacks-Germany is modification code; Code that is offered to the public eye for use by you or any of the users who can access the site should be OK to copy accross to here for anyone wanting to know how it was done... You could always ask the user if they mind it being posted on here so that users here can gain the benefit of it :)

Chris

[Paul M]

@Paul: Feel free to register ;)
Btw: Your in-post answer to one of my questions is exactly what I would call a bit arrogant. Not meaning to be harsh, but that it what I think.
"Feel free to register" - a bit arrogant wouldn't you say ?

As to the other, you wanted me to start explaining to you how my code worked - sorry but that's just not going to happen - all my mods/hacks are provided free and I will support them if they have a problem (a lot more than most people do) but that support does not extend to detailed explanations on how they work.

[aceofspades]

Oh my god I cant believe what i am reading. Now, correct me if i am wrong, but your coming on here to demand hacks, meaning you want other people, who have bothered to learn the skill of coding, to take time out of their life, sit down at a computer and make something just for you, because you said you want it? Then, you even have the audacity to moan when someone doesn’t do something for you.

Learn to code yourself you ****. The staff here are doing a fantastic job, they arnt robots they are real people, its time people started treating them as such and appreciate the work they do do.

[Thomas P]

I wasn't asking how the code work, I just kindly asked for what a variable stands, since we have a modified style and I was thinking of where to put that, that was all. I'd never ask for a hacks primer or something like that...

Regarding being arrogant: Guess now we are even ;)

@ace: Now for what is the hacks request subforum? Think again...

[aceofspades]

Yes, you are requesting peoples time, you dont demand it. Get that into your head, ill give you a hint:

hacks request subforum

[Chris M]

Ok I think the point has been achieved...

We endeavour to answer almost every thread on the site, and there are some that fall through the cracks... Please understand that we are volunteers, as is any coder, designer or member who helps you with your requests, and that our time is given to you if and when we can :)

I'm closing this now to prevent further escalation of this situation :)

Chris