Guru/Experts Exchange Section

Hello everyone,

I would like to suggest creating a section where Gurus/ Experts have the privilege of starting new threads, but would be viewable/ answerable by all. The reasoning for this, is that even though Gurus/ Experts are knowledgeable with regards to many aspects of Excel, no one knows everything. For example, I will often have to ask for help from others about problems I have, or for solutions that I am not aware of. I sometimes start threads, but there is no way to make those threads stand out or get the attention of the other Experts/ Gurus without having to PM them and directly ask for help. We already sort of do this when helping others using the 'Call in the Calvary' thread which is monitored by a lot of us Experts/ Gurus, but we can't/ shouldn't post there asking for help for our own threads. I think this would be a small privilege given to Experts/ Gurus who have already invested countless hours helping others on this site, but could need a little help themselves from time to time.

Thoughts... comments... (and rep points ) welcome.

Thanks.

abousetta

In that case it should be defined who's allowed to post in that section.

Hey Oeldere,

She just wants the OP's to be Experts and above - she'll take solutions from any contributor. I think it's a good idea

What would be wrong with posting the question in the appropriate forum, just like every-body else does? I cant speak for others, but I take at least a look at almos all threads - if for no other reason than to see what potential solutions there may be, to learn from.

I am not against the suggestion, per se, I just cant really see the justification behind it, other than giving a certain segment of the membership preferential treatment

The site already has 'preferential treatment' for those who are willing to pay in the 'paid services' subforum. Therefore, why not create a section for well-deserved 'preferential treatment' to thank those who work on answering the questions of others and keep the traffic coming to this site? There's no guarantee the questions will be answered, but as they will be limited in number (in comparison to the hundreds of thousands of questions on the site) and asked by Experts/ Gurus, they are expected to get more attention. I for one would want to help out a fellow Expert/ Guru whenever I could.

abousetta

I agree with FDibbins.

I agree with abousetta, because myself experienced the same many times.

When I post a question I know I need a small help but posting the question in the general area takes more time to catch the eyes of the experts because the questions from others make my question move to some other pages.

Many times I have waited for a long hours/days to get a solution for my question.

forum gurus can presumably use their own forum to draw attention to questions-so all you need to do is get promoted :-P

Nice suggestion, Abousetta.

We will discuss this and get back to you.

Post deleted by poster - Misunderstood

Originally Posted by abousetta

I would like to suggest creating a section where Gurus/ Experts have the privilege of starting new threads, but would be viewable/ answerable by all.

not exactly what was suggested ;-)

Pepe, before we proceed, please read abousetta's post again. He is suggesting that only gurus will create the threads but answerable by all.

I support the idea of Abousetta.

Finally tempted by Pepe to join in ... and ask what's with all the Latin? If you've got a point to make, make it and stop being so pretentious.

With regard to the concept, I have no strong views either way. However, I'm not sure that a "special" sub-forum for gurus and experts to post their questions would help. It's still going to be one among many in the new threads list, just that it can be isolated if anyone wants to look specifically at the sub-forum for gurus and experts. What it might do, I guess, is demonstrate that we don't all know it all and we all need to ask for help sometimes.

If a guru or expert asked a question in the general forum, and I saw it, and I could answer it, then I would.

There are lots of specialist areas, for example, Charting, Pivot Tables, Database Connections, Web scraping, to name but a few that spring to mind ... none of which I feel able to answer without doing my own research. But I know the people who can and do pick up on those topics and, if I needed to ask a question, I would ask it in the open forum fairly confident that one of those people would offer a solution or workaround.

If I'm honest, if I did have a question, I'd research it as thoroughly as I could and test out approaches before I asked it in the EF ... put that down to personal pride, or vanity, or to the simple fact that I use Google to find answers. And, more often than not, what I want to do has been done before.

So, good suggestion and I'm not unhappy to support it if it is implemented but don't really see it as an advantage.

Regards, TMS

Originally Posted by arlu1201

Pepe, before we proceed, please read abousetta's post again. He is suggesting that only gurus will create the threads but answerable by all.

You have a point there Arlette , I missed that part-
I rest my case, although I keep thinking a section where only a " happy few" can start threads is superfluous. Why should (albeit small) privileges be granted ?

@TMS

Sorry for the Latin. My command of English not being good, I use whatever means I have to express my opinion - Thanks to Internet, everybody can get the translation and grasp the idea.
But I can try French Dutch or Italian if you prefer

I think it makes sense .. A forum where Guru's and experts are asking the questions would obviously be for more advanced users and therefore a valuable research tool...

I side with those who say for now we have plenty of forums, I, too, would just ask my question in the open forum...and have.

i agree with jb

So why not removing some, like

http://www.excelforum.com/f1-get-the...ip-help-guide/

or

http://www.excelforum.com/f1-get-the...and-functions/

I'd vote for that. Waste of space.