Homebrewing FAQ?

Talk Discussion in 'BeerAdvocate Talk' started by GetMeAnIPA, Sep 26, 2015.

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  1. GetMeAnIPA

    GetMeAnIPA Pooh-Bah (2,559) Mar 28, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah

    The more I use the homebrewing forum the more I notice a lot of the same questions are posted from new Brewers. I had the same questions, so I am not excluding myself. I was thinking that a FAQ or general information thread or sub forum would be helpful. When I first started beer trading I read the rules sub forum that I found very helpful, so helpful that my first trade was smooth and didn't have to post a thread about every question I had, and there were a lot.

    The general information/FAQ thread would be a great resource for new homebrewers and as this great hobby grows so will the the number of people getting into.
     
    #1 GetMeAnIPA, Sep 26, 2015
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  2. corbmoster

    corbmoster Pundit (848) Dec 15, 2014 Texas
    Trader

    I agree. But I wonder how many would actually utilize it.
     
    #2 corbmoster, Sep 26, 2015
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  3. GetMeAnIPA

    GetMeAnIPA Pooh-Bah (2,559) Mar 28, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah

    Agree. If it was a thread I could easly see it getting buried and since most people don't use the search function most will miss it. I think it would be great as a sub forum category like recipes is. Titled something like homebrewing - getting started. Then threads can build from there.
     
    #3 GetMeAnIPA, Sep 26, 2015
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  4. corbmoster

    corbmoster Pundit (848) Dec 15, 2014 Texas
    Trader

    yep. I like the idea. I also like the idea of saying "read the book: How to Brew". Because this will answer other questions they had not thought to ask yet.
     
    #4 corbmoster, Sep 26, 2015
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  5. HerbMeowing

    HerbMeowing Maven (1,295) Nov 10, 2010 Virginia
    Trader

    BA forum 'rules' advise members to search for existing threads before creating new threads; however ... as you point out ... this doesn't happen and MWSNBQ show no interest in following through.
    Word.
     
    #5 HerbMeowing, Sep 27, 2015
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  6. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    To everyone: There's a Report link. If you're tired of duplicate topics, use it. Otherwise you have nothing to complain about.

    And we're not opposed to an FAQ sticky for Homebrewing, but who's going to write it and proof it?
     
    #6 Todd, Sep 27, 2015
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  7. GetMeAnIPA

    GetMeAnIPA Pooh-Bah (2,559) Mar 28, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah

    It's not just complaining about duplicate posts as we can always just ignore them. It's more about helping new Brewers and proving a resource that would help answer their questions. Particularly those questions that don't need an in depth answer.

    I am not qualified to write the FAQ sticky from a skill or experience level but I can proof it.
     
    #7 GetMeAnIPA, Sep 27, 2015
  8. HerbMeowing

    HerbMeowing Maven (1,295) Nov 10, 2010 Virginia
    Trader

    With all due respect ... reports of duplicate posts are routinely ignored.
     
    #8 HerbMeowing, Sep 27, 2015
  9. corbmoster

    corbmoster Pundit (848) Dec 15, 2014 Texas
    Trader

    I don't think anyone was actually complaining here. Just stating the fact that a FAQ would be useful.

    But yes, it would be a lot of work. More than what most would be willing to do.
     
    #9 corbmoster, Sep 27, 2015
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  10. wspscott

    wspscott Pooh-Bah (1,958) May 25, 2006 Kentucky
    Pooh-Bah

    I would be happy to help write a FAQ. If we start something here, will it end up as a sticky?
     
    #10 wspscott, Sep 27, 2015
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  11. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    We look at every single report and nearly all of them are resolved. And we very rarely receive reports from the Homebrewing forum. So there's that.

    Anyway. My point stands. It's not the solution, but reporting threads greatly reduces repeat topics.
     
    #11 Todd, Sep 27, 2015
  12. PA-Michigander

    PA-Michigander Grand Pooh-Bah (3,372) Nov 10, 2013 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Clearly a home brewing FAQ sticky should at least be led by, if not written by, @FATC1TY
     
    #12 PA-Michigander, Sep 28, 2015
  13. FATC1TY

    FATC1TY Pooh-Bah (2,564) Feb 12, 2012 Georgia
    Pooh-Bah


    I would actually defer- @jbakajust1 is an extremely good brewer, who's still brewing. There's several other guys who tend to help the new brewers in there even more. I've been on a brewing break aside from sours in the post couple months.
     
    #13 FATC1TY, Sep 28, 2015
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  14. jbakajust1

    jbakajust1 Pooh-Bah (2,552) Aug 25, 2009 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    I would be more than willing to pool the collective wisdom of the seasoned brewers in the HB forum to do a FAQ sticky, or even sub forum. I think we could even pool the information already on the HB forum and do a sticky with it. List the questions and then tack on links to threads that have already answered it in the past. Do this for each question. If we get a question that arises that is not on there I can add the question to the sticky and add that post as the link to answer it for the future. I can send messages to noobs that don't use the search or ignore the sticky and point them to the sticky whilst deleting the new thread they posted.
     
    #14 jbakajust1, Sep 28, 2015
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  15. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    In a somewhat different context and on a very different topic I have used pretty much the approach you are describing and it can work very well.

    Especially valuable being able to start with a pool of existing information on topics that are often repeated and then treating the "document" as a living, evolving thing that gets improved over time.

    Trying to do too much of the task at one time can lead to overwork (especially of volunteers), and kill enthusiasm. Engaging over time the folks who most often step up to answer those frequently asked questions can produce a very successful outcome.
     
    #15 drtth, Sep 29, 2015
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2015
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  16. dauss

    dauss Pooh-Bah (1,954) Aug 9, 2003 Colorado
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    #16 dauss, Oct 1, 2015
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