I have often heard that this forum is primarily a "Resource to learn PS" where Free and Paid requests are serving as a secondary function.
Correct. More so the paid section but that would also include the free edit section.
Scenario 1: 10 people made the edit of which 8 were willing to give an explanation and they give it right there in that thread. To me, there is great simplicity in this 'right there, right then' approach.
I do understand your point here. But I have to ask, is it really that difficult to make one click to another thread in the appropriate forum and give an explanation? I don't see that this would be so labor intensive that a member would have a problem with a few mouseclicks.
Scenario 2: I request those 10 people separately via direct message how they did it and get some 5 or so responses. To me, that borders on invasion of privacy or subjecting forum members to unnecessary obligation.
This option is not even on the table nor would it be suggested. Even so, it would not be as much of an invasion of privacy as it would be a detriment to the overall purpose of sharing Ps related information with the community. Selfish but allowable. I actually get questions asked of me via PM almost weekly! I simply ask them to post a thread on the question in General so that everyone benefits. They have done so without any problems and I answer the questions. My obligation of redirecting a valid question to the proper forum was fairly simple, typed a few words and clicked a mouse. Answering the question whether it was in a PM or in the proper forum is not what I would consider an unnecessary obligation as I was going to answer either way.
Scenario 3: I post a thread in General PS section posting a picture that belongs to someone else or I reference a particular thread and ask how the edit was done and get some 3 or so responses.
Now your talking!! When someone posts a "picture" under the rules of the free edit forum, that "picture" can be used anywhere on the forum. The link back is also a great idea and I have suggested this in the past. You will get the exact same number of responses that you would have had the question been left in the free edit forum.
To me, persons who did the edit and who would have assisted with explanation may not even see this new post, thus depriving me and other learners of helpful explanatory posts.
I really have to apologize here but this statement is ridiculous! There is an option in each forum called "Watch", that allows you to be notified when new threads are started. I have been watching you guys on this forum since all of you joined! I have a page called Current Visitors that I open and carefully watch so that I can see what every member logged on the forum is doing.
Everyone single one of you checks (Under "What's New") "New Posts" or "Forum List" and you show up as "viewing latest content" or "Viewing Forum List". I absolutely have to call you out on this one!! Sorry. Everyone
WILL see the new or moved post. The only way you would be deprived would be if you made a conscious effort NOT to look at new posts!
Seeing the three scenarios above, if you view a fulfilled request on forum and would like to learn how it was done
............you start a new thread posting your question, photo, and/or link in the appropriate forum for help and not in a forum that is for
free edits only.
it becomes inhibitive to face overheads of posting a new thread rather than just pop the question in same thread.
Mind you, I hear your point, however, and again with apologies as this is not personal, it wreaks more of laziness on the behalf of the user. You use the word "overheads" as if you were referring to a 12 step process that would take 3 days to accomplish. Starting a new thread is just not that difficult or time consuming.
If the concern is about 'better searchability', maybe hashtags could be added that would assist search engine spiders to locate it?
Yes, hashtags would help in finding help in a help related forum and not in a forum made for
free edits only.
If the concern is showing more number of threads as KPIs, then aren't we are deviating from core values of being a primary PS learning resource by fixating ourselves on KPIs just to show weight metrics?
KPI's are not the concern.
just trying to seek a re-calibration of balance between ease of use and following policy in context of the main aim of this forum.
I understand. The "context" of this forum is to attempt to maintain structure and organization. Placing questions about Ps techniques in the proper forum is this forums context. Having help based questions asked and answered in a non-help, free edit only forum does not support forum continuity.
The free request thread started by "Johnny" should only address the edit requested by "Johnny". Any further questions asked by participating/editing core members about another members technique should be asked in the proper forum and not by hijacking "Johnny's" request thread. Responding to a free edit request should only be about the OP's request. Any additional questions not asked by the OP should be placed in the proper forum.
You may not be aware of this, but free edits started in the General Ps Board. The free edit forum was originally created to separate "free requests" out of the General Ps Board since they were free edits and had nothing to do with Ps related questions/content. Another consideration involved with the creation of the free edit forum was to offer newly budding graphic artists the experience of what it would be like to deal with a client and the clients possible requests for edit changes. In the real world, as a freelance designer, you would not be aware of any other designers that were submitting work to the client much less be able to ask the other designers about how they performed the edit.
Let's move past this matter now. Thanks.
