Thunderbird/Support/GetSatisfaction/GettingStarted: Difference between revisions

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== Rule # 0 - Anybody can do support which is a good thing! ==
== Rule # 0 - Anybody can do support - this is a good thing! ==
If somebody has solved your Thunderbird problem or you have ever helped anybody with a Thunderbird problem then guaranteed there are at least 10 or more other users with the same problem who '''you''' can help! Give back to Thunderbird by helping other users with the same problem! You don't have to be technical as long as you can be patient and communicate clearly.
Has another Thunderbird user ever solved your Thunderbird problem? Have you ever helped anybody with a Thunderbird problem? It is likely that there are many other users who have the same problem. Why don't you help them out and give back to the Thunderbird community? You don't need to be highly technical - all you need is patience and good communication skills.


== Rule # 1 Always have fun ==
== Rule # 1 Have fun ==
If it's not fun, email the Technical support lead, roland AT mozillamessaging.com and we'll figure out a way to make it fun :-)
Helping other users is both satisfying and fun. If it's not fun, email the Thunderbird technical support lead, roland AT mozillamessaging.com. He'll help you out.


== Rule # 2 Always be polite ==
== Rule # 2 Always be polite ==
Even if folks are impolite, be polite. It doesn't make things better to respond to impoliteness with impoliteness. If you are getting frustrated with folks rudeness or folks are abusive, see Rule #1 and immediately contact Roland (see rule #1)
Sometimes people are frustrated, impatient and impolite. Regardless, keep your cool and be polite to them. If you are impolite, the person you are helping will probably become more frustrated and impolite. If you are getting frustrated by someone's rudeness or if someone is abusive towards you, see Rule #1 and contact Roland , roland AT mozillamessaging.com.


== Rule # 3 Use the Boilerplate ==
== Rule # 3 Use the Boilerplate ==
More than 50% of support requests have already been answered previously or at  the support topics requires some Boilerplate response (e.g. most support topics have troubleshooting details  missing)
Most support requests have already been answered. There are some boilerplate responses here:
 
Please use the Boilerplate responses here:
https://wiki.mozilla.org/Thunderbird/Support/GetSatisfaction/BoilerPlate
https://wiki.mozilla.org/Thunderbird/Support/GetSatisfaction/BoilerPlate
and customize them to your style of writing and to the particular support request
and customize them to your style of writing and to the particular support request


== Rule # 4 Don't re-invent the wheel, link to existing solutions ==
== Rule # 4 Don't re-invent the wheel, link to existing solutions ==
More than 50% of the support topics already have solutions at:
There are solutions for most support topics at the following sites:
 
* [http://support.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/kb/ The official knowledge base at support.mozillamessaging.com]
* [http://support.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/kb/ The official knowledge base at support.mozillamessaging.com]
* [http://getsatisfaction.com/mozilla_messaging previous replies on Get Satisfaction]
* [http://getsatisfaction.com/mozilla_messaging previous replies on Get Satisfaction]
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* [http://forums.mozillazine.org the excellent 3rd party support forums at MozillaZine]
* [http://forums.mozillazine.org the excellent 3rd party support forums at MozillaZine]
* the rest of the Internet e.g. [http://superuser.com/ SuperUser]
* the rest of the Internet e.g. [http://superuser.com/ SuperUser]
''So if there's an existing solution, please just copy and paste the link into a Get Satisfaction reply with a concise explanation.''
 
When you find an existing solution, please copy and paste the link into a Get Satisfaction reply with a concise explanation.


== Rule # 5 Use the Search Luke ==
== Rule # 5 Use the Search Luke ==
Use the built-in search to find solutions in the knowledge base, Get Satisfaction and MozillaZine. Often, however, it's faster and easier to use Google to search using "site:sitename".
While you can use the built-in search on each site to find solutions in the Thunderbird Knowledge Base, Get Satisfaction and MozillaZine, often it is faster and easier to use Google to search using the "site:sitename" qualifier. For example,
e.g. if you are searching for information about gmail settings then the following searches would be faster
if you are searching for information about gmail settingsthen the following searches would be faster
"site:siteurl thunderbird gmail settings":
 
* [http://www.google.ca/search?q=site%3Asupport.mozillamessaging.com+thunderbird+gmail+settings&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a site:support.mozillamessaging.com thunderbird gmail settings]
* [http://www.google.ca/search?q=site%3Asupport.mozillamessaging.com+thunderbird+gmail+settings&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a site:support.mozillamessaging.com thunderbird gmail settings]
* [http://www.google.ca/search?q=site%3Agetsatisfaction.com%2Fmozilla_messaging+thunderbird+gmail+settings&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a site:getsatisfaction.com/mozilla_messaging thunderbird gmail settings]
* [http://www.google.ca/search?q=site%3Agetsatisfaction.com%2Fmozilla_messaging+thunderbird+gmail+settings&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a site:getsatisfaction.com/mozilla_messaging thunderbird gmail settings]
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== Rule # 6 - Develop your own personal support process that works for you ==
== Rule # 6 - Develop your own personal support process that works for you ==
It doesn't hurt to be a wee bit systematic :-)
 
Most people do the following:
# You can find topics you think you can solve by using the [http://getsatisfaction.com/mozilla_messaging/ Get Satisfaction console]. Search for keywords that match your area of knowledge. Alternatively, you can subscribe to the RSS feed for Get Satisfaction for specific terms. For example, the following RSS URL would return [http://getsatisfaction.com/mozilla_messaging/tags/comcast.rss?sort=recently_created Get Satisfaction issues that include the term "Comcast"])
# Find topics you think you can solve via the [http://getsatisfaction.com/mozilla_messaging/ get satisfaction console] or via a search for topics you know you can help with or via RSS for a particular tag (e.g. if you know that you can help folks with problems with the settings for Comcast, then [http://getsatisfaction.com/mozilla_messaging/searches?query=comcast&x=0&y=0&style=topics search for topics with Comcast in them] (or use a [http://www.google.ca/search?q=site%3Agetsatisfaction.com%2Fmozilla_messaging+comcast&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#q=site:getsatisfaction.com/mozilla_messaging+comcast&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=SbT&tbo=1&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&output=search&source=lnt&tbs=qdr:m&sa=X&ei=JwQ5TajMF5GasAP50siuAw&ved=0CAoQpwUoBA&fp=d8459ed94990d2c9 Comcast Google Search]), or subscribe to the [http://getsatisfaction.com/mozilla_messaging/tags/comcast.rss?sort=recently_created Get Satisfaction RSS feed for Comcast])
# Search for answers in the places suggested in Rule #4 above.
# search for answers to the support topics
# Post a reply using [[Thunderbird/Support/GetSatisfaction/BoilerPlate|your own personal boilerplate]] that answers the question or asks for [[Thunderbird/Support/GetSatisfaction/BoilerPlate#Troubleshooting_details_missing|followup troubleshooting details]]. You will be automatically emailed any subsequent replies to the topic. We recommend using Get Satisfaction Replies and not Get Satisfaction Comments because comments are not listed in reverse chronologically order, which means they are easily missed by future readers of the topic. (Also, you can't mark comments as answering the question or solving the problem!)
# post a reply using [[Thunderbird/Support/GetSatisfaction/BoilerPlate|your own personal boilerplate]] (this causes an automatic email subscription to any subsequent replies to the topic) that answers the question or asks for [[Thunderbird/Support/GetSatisfaction/BoilerPlate#Troubleshooting_details_missing|followup troubleshooting details]] - We recommend using Get Satisfaction Replies and not Get Satisfaction Comments because comments are not reverse chronologically ordered which means they are easily missed by future readers of the topic and you can't mark comments as answering the question or solving the problem!
# repeat


== Rule # 7 - Don't be afraid to ask for help ==
== Rule # 7 - Don't be afraid to ask for help ==
No woman or man is an island :-) None of us know everything. If you are stuck, please don't hesitate to ask for help! Everybody who contributes to Support has been there and wants to help and is friendly!
None of us know everything. If you are stuck, please don't hesitate to ask for help! Everybody who contributes to Thunderbird support has had similar experiences, wants to help and is friendly!


If it's about a specific Get Satisfaction support topic, ask Roland by clicking on "Email this to a friend" in the right sidebar and fill in my email address: roland AT mozillamessaging.com (change 'AT' to '@' of course!)
If you are having trouble with a specific Get Satisfaction support topic, ask Roland by clicking on "Email this to a friend" in the right sidebar and enter: roland AT mozillamessaging.com (change 'AT' to '@' of course!)


For general questions and comments, please join the [[Thunderbird/tb-support-crew|tb-support-crew mailing list]] and ask for help when you get stuck or contact roland AT mozillamessaging.com or in IRC (rolandtanglao on [irc://irc.mozilla.org/tb-qa #tb-support-crew on irc.mozilla.org)]
For general questions and comments, please join the [[Thunderbird/tb-support-crew|tb-support-crew mailing list]] or send a message to roland AT mozillamessaging.com. Alternatively, log in to the IRC channel [irc://irc.mozilla.org/tb-qa #tb-support-crew on irc.mozilla.org)].


== Rule # 8 There's lots to learn; we can all get better ==
== Rule # 8 There's lots to learn; we can all get better ==
That's the beauty of computers and Thunderbird! Always something to learn!
There is always something new to learn! Here's some places to start:
* How be a better Support Contributor aka Higher Support "Skill Levels":
* [[Thunderbird/Support/GetSatisfaction/TaggingConventions|how to tag Get Satisfaction topics]]
** [[Thunderbird/Support/GetSatisfaction/TaggingConventions|How to Tag Get Satisfaction Topics]]
* [[Thunderbird/Support/Workflow|advanced Get Satisfaction support process and "workflow"]]
** [[Thunderbird/Support/Workflow|more advanced Get Satisfaction Support process and "workflow"]]
* add your Get Satisfaction thoughts to our [[Thunderbird/Support/GetSatisfaction/ToolsAndTips|Get Satisfaction Tools and Tips Page]]
** please add your Get Satisfaction thoughts to our [[Thunderbird/Support/GetSatisfaction/ToolsAndTips|Get SatisfactionTools and Tips Page]]
* [http://support.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/kb/Creating+articles write and improve Thunderbird Knowledge Base articles]
** [http://support.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/kb/Creating+articles write and improve Thunderbird Knowledge Base articles]
* [http://www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/about/get-involved/ Other ways you can contribute to Thunderbird]
** [http://www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/about/get-involved/ Other ways you can Contribute to Thunderbird]
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