What goes around . . .

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 16 Feb 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Talisman	16 Feb 2002
'Lo all, Recently, very recently, I think, someone, (I think it was Kayne), suggested a way to help the Aeclectic burden by collecting the frequently asked questions (FAQs) is one place. Some old guy named Tarotbear once had this idea, and started those FAQs. How do you select a deck? How do you shuffle the cards? What are good spreads to use? Etc.? But Aeclectic is like a quicksilver pool, and things float to the bottom. Like bobbing for apples in a wooden barrel, only when your teeth hit an apple, it floats to the bottom and comes back in a different form. I love the "new" questions repeated over and over, and have answered many, but would love to see Tarotbear's FAQs kinda anchored at the top. Just'a a thought. Talisman

Greenman	17 Feb 2002
that's a good idea. my experience has been that most people just don't read the faq's, but it's still a good idea. PS; does anybody 'bob for french fries'?

kayne	17 Feb 2002
I don't think it was my idea, Talisman, but I'm quite prepared to claim it as my own because I think it is a good one :) I actually noticed that there is an FAQ page in Aeclectic, right next to the word 'Forums' on the main page. I had never even noticed before... or maybe I had, just hadn't checked it out... Could more be added to this to satisfy those commonly asked questions?

faunabay	17 Feb 2002
It was Delani and I that brought that up. I have emailed Solandia and she's thinking about it - in her spare time. LOL I know we tried to do a FAQ section on the forum and that didn't work out???? But Solandia and I were talking about doing a static text (like the one Kayne pointed out, not a forum section) page or two that talked about the most raised questions by beginners - good beginner's deck, how to shuffle, storage and care, how to learn meanings, good beginner books, etc. That way if we have the pages already posted somewhere we could just point beginners there and end up saving aeclectic space by not answering the same questions over and over. I think Solandia believes it to be a good idea but hasn't had time to do anything about it. I'm sure she would appreciate any offers from any of you writers out there (I'm not one!) to help her get this written.

Talisman	17 Feb 2002
faunabay, Delani, Kayne, Sorry. I just get my favorite mosters all pixed up. Talisman

faunabay	17 Feb 2002
hehehehehehe Talisman, you're so cool!!! LOL

tarotbear	18 Feb 2002
Yeah- well- this old tarotbear does have something to say about it! :-o I was very perturbed by what happened. We all saw a need for the FAQ section. I did, in fact, try to start one up as Talisman remembers. I was asked 'not' to start one up at that time, even though small sections of it did appear. It had something to do with 'timing' and 'space'. ??? What really ticked me off was that no sooner than that happened that an entire thread was given to Thirteen (sorry, trying not to sound bitter here, thirteen) devoted to explanations for the Majors and Minors. I feel that a permanent FAQ section could have just as easily been started as THAT one did. As a result (sorry, again, Thirteen - I am in no way mad at you personally -- just mad) I have never been a visitor to Thirteen's section in the Index. On the surface, I say it's because I was writing my book at the time and did not want to be influenced by the thread; in reality, my toes (and nose) were very,very hurt by what is probably an unrelated, but ill-timed occurrance. >( A permanent FAQ section is probably more important to the Forum than four separate trading and selling sections. {OOOPS! Sounding bitter again!} >(

Talisman	19 Feb 2002
'Lo all, I remember (in the last century, children) Aeclectic BC. BC, for "before the crash." It was a small but lively community when I first found the site. Tarotbear, BC, had almost 900 posts and was acclaimed "Wizard in Residence." Then came the apocalypse. Aeclectic crashed. Crash is perhaps too mild a term. It was as if it had been hit by a mighty tsunami, buried beneath the angry waves as surely as Lyonesse. The archives, everything, was lost. Then Solandia managed a phoenix act, and resurrected Aeclectic. Many of the original cast had found their way back, but at first it was a sad and lonely place. Instead of the familiar colors you see, it was black and white. Anyway, when the community started growing like spring dandelions, Tarotbear started a series of FAQs designed to answer the most commonly answered questions. Great idea! (Especilly now, with the "Future of the Forums announcement.) 'Cept, they kept floating to the bottom of the archieves. I'm not sure I agree with Tarotbear about a seperate forum for these FAQs. In newcomer enthusiasm and forum inexperience, I'm not sure how many would go there. Afterall, Solandia has a wonderful FAQ section which answers many of these, well, uh, FAQs. Doesn't seem to matter. I do think it would be neat if the Tarotbear FAQs could somehow be anchored at the top of each forum. I ain't a computer guy. Maybe that would be like trying to nail jello to the wall. That's all. That and remembering Aeclectic BC. Oh. Sorry about calling Tarotbear "old." (And Mojo conservative, and . . . But this could go on forever.) But it doesn't sound right to refer to our resident wizard as a young whippersnapper. (Why you young people snap whips is beyond me. I loaned mine to Indiana Jones years ago and he never returned it.) Talisman

MeeWah	19 Feb 2002
Tarotbear: I understand & share the confusion--(not directed at you, Thirteen). Had wondered what happened to the original plan for a FAQ section. I think it got "missed" in all the things that ensued, as Talisman recounts, but will need to check on it. Talisman: You have a wonderful poetic instinct that makes the telling of a story magickal, even when it is about real life intrusions. (We all know how dry & unpalatable that stuff is!)

bec	20 Feb 2002
I wandered where all the faq posts went, just to the buttom eh ????, now that is a shame..... Though a board for FAQ´s I don´t think will be read, but as Talisman said, get it to the top - I´m sure Solandia knows how to get the jello´ to stick to the wall there ;) A FAQ line (read only) for each board is how I see it become most usefull. Kind of let beginners AND old-timers read faq´s of the topic they wants to know about. My 2-krone - Chears for FAQ´s. (And Good Old Wizard In Residence - you do a great job in many areas, no wonder you feel somewhat stepped on) bec :)

catlin	20 Feb 2002
Ehm, just my 2 cents: is there a chance to pick up most of the threads which answer such common and often asked questions like beginners' decks, books, etc. just to save time and energy for those who are deeply envolved in other aeclectic matters and turn them in a FAQ thread? Maybe with a comment placed above that newbies should read them such as the information placed directly above the forum sections? B/W we should also ask if tarotbear is still willing to start the FAQ business again. In case he has no time or still computer trouble, we still can consider the above mentioned idea, can't we?

arizonagirl	20 Feb 2002
I, too wondered whatever happened to Tarotbear's FAQs. I don't have Talisman's good memory and thought that maybe the crash interrupted and deleted them, and thought that Taortbear didn't want to re-create all his hard work. For a totally unrelated website, I worked very, very hard putting together a FAQ page since all the same questions were being posted over and over and over. Well, the people with the questions obviously didn't go to the FAQ first since the same questions kept being posted over and over and over. How do you get folks to take advantage of the resources available? Maybe when someone has a question, they want feedback, a range of choices, etc.

Jewel	20 Feb 2002
WOW! quite a bit of history here ~shakes head~ ... It sure would be nice if the Aeclectic BC TarotBear FAQ's could be found and anchored in place ... and it is a real shame that people go directly to the Forums without looking through the FAQs and other sections of this web site. The other thing I would like to see anchored in a read only format is Thirteen's deck overview. Sort of like a Beginner/Newbie section. So complicated. I have no idea how to create/design websites or anything so unfortunately I am of new help (I made a financial donation as my way of contributing). Wish I did know how so I could help Solandia. Ohhhhh well ....

faunabay	20 Feb 2002
tarotbear, As I was still sort of a newbie when you started the FAQ's I didn't realize they would turn into a read only section. I think that's a great idea!!!! And Catlin's idea about moving the thread's already created would save people from retyping the same info. To get new people to read it maybe head it with "BEGINNERS - READ THIS" Think that might work???? LOL

DeLani	23 Feb 2002
Hi all, Having a title "Beginners, read this" at the top is a great idea. Also, it could include Thirteen's posts. But as well, whenever a newbie posts "the same old question" on a board, perhaps the moderator (or somebody) could politely recommend that thread (or whatever it would be called.) As for the logistics of actually doing it: Solandia, what would need to be done? (if you are out there). Could someone type it up as a text format and then just post it to the site? Anyway, willing to help however I can, DeLani

The What goes around . . . thread was originally posted on 16 Feb 2002 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.