How to be more active in the forums?

[Lonely Parrot]

Well, I really did not know where to post this, so spare me with the comments like: "Not the place to ask this"

Okay, so that out of the way, to my question, How to get more active?

Hey, guys. Lonely Parrot here. I really wanna contribute to the community and help people out but I am not really good at cubing(I can't solve the whole cube, only the first two layers, that too very slowly, and just know one algorithm[F R U R' U' F']). I know this is a weird question, and you probably are amazed by my 'epic' talents in cubing. I don't even have a 3x3x3(I ordered 2 though, should reach me by tomorrow. And, for the curious minds, they are a Zhanchi and an Aolong V2) and just use my 5x5x5 (Rubik's Brand) for 3x3x3 practice. I know, not the best cuber.

 

[Bindedsa]

The first step is to get more interested in speedsolving, don't post just for the sake of it. We all started out slow, in terms of times and posts, and those who don't tend to end up becoming a nuisance. The more you cube and the more you read, the more you will be able to join in the discussion.

 

[Lonely Parrot]

The first step is to get more interested in speedsolving, don't post just for the sake of it. We all started out slow, in terms of times and posts, and those who don't tend to end up becoming a nuisance. The more you cube and the more you read, the more you will be able to join in the discussion.

I really read a lot of the forums(I read threads even with 21 pages or so ), but just don't gain enough knowledge to help. Could you tell me some website or something where I could read some good? articles

 

[pewpewrawr]

just type stuff and hit the post button, if the mods don't like it they'll delete it later.

 

[Randomno]

Was that nervous laugh about me posting a useless thread? (Don't find it offending)

No, I often post useless stuff.

 

[Lonely Parrot]

@pewpewrawr Umm, I don't wanna increase my posts, I wanna be helpful

 

[stoic]

Remember, time spent posting is time you could be practising...
Plus, what Bindedsa said

 

[pewpewrawr]

@pewpewrawr Umm, I don't wanna increase my posts, I wanna be helpful

oh ok, well i guess you should learn more about the cube then, you can't help people if you don't know what you're talking about.

 

[Bindedsa]

@pewpewrawr Umm, I don't wanna increase my posts, I wanna be helpful

Whenever you see a term or concept you don't understand, Google it. If that doesn't work ask. You'll quickly learn pretty much anything commonly referred to on these forums and then you'll be able to explain them to others.

 

[Dene]

@pewpewrawr Umm, I don't wanna increase my posts, I wanna be helpful

Helpful in what way? If you want to come up with new stuff, you're just going to have to experiment. Most people don't have the creativity to realise new ideas though.

Alternatively, you could contribute in a constructive way to the community through helping the WCA, either organising competitions, or contributing to discussions on regulations, or coming up with new ideas for regulations or competitions to make things better.

Alternatively you can just post a lot of crap like I do.

 

[VintageAion]

To be honest man. Just post.

Everyone starts off as a "noob". Only through time experience will you get the knowledge to be able to help everyone.

 

[DeeDubb]

Hey, guys. Lonely Parrot here. I really wanna contribute to the community and help people out but I am not really good at cubing(I can't solve the whole cube, only the first two layers, that too very slowly, and just know one algorithm[F R U R' U' F']).

The vast majority of people here who I would say "help" or "contribute" to the community are people who are good at cubing. They are people who have something valuable to add, because of their experience. They are people who spend enough time NOT posting here to learn something valuable, so when they do post it's worth reading. Most of the people in this category answer questions from new speedsolvers. They don't force information, they only help people looking for information.

Some people are knowledgeable about hardware. Reviews on cubes, modifications that improve a cube, etc.

Some are really good at video editing, so they make videos demonstrating methods or reviewing cubes.

And finally, a small amount of people have some other skill that allows them to create something valuable. I.E. programming. They design programs that make learning how to speedcube much easier.

Consider for a moment why people come to this forum. They are trying to learn how to speedsolve. They are looking for advice on methods, advice on hardware, or tools that aid them in getting faster.

At this point, it seems you can offer none of these things. There's nothing wrong with that, but it means you can't really add to the knowledge base here.

When I first came here, I was a taker. I had nothing to offer, so I asked questions, gained from existing information, and learned a lot from the amazingly talented people already here. I chose my method from the "Choosing a SpeedSolving Method" thread. I picked a cube after reading reviews in the "Hardware Discussion" section. I practiced using QQTimer and Prisma Timer, which I found in the Software Area section. I came on here, looked for something new, then I practiced. I didn't even make a single post until I already could solve the cube using a method I'd already learned from the information on here.

After a lot of practice, I found a chance to give back. I made a series of videos for beginners to teach them how to solve using the Roux Method. This was well received and I felt really good giving back. However, there would be no way for me to make those videos if I didn't learn a lot from the already existing information here.

Here's my advice to you, if you genuinely want to give something to the community:

1. Stop Posting
2. Learn a speedsolving method from the information here, or YouTube (Main methods would be CFOP, Roux, ZZ, or Petrus). *If you want to learn an underutilized method, I would pick Petrus, because there's not a ton of information on here about it, so if you get good, you could definitely provide something to the community later.
3. Practice
4. Post here if you have questions that you can't find an answer for.
5. spare me with the comments like: "Not the place to ask this" - Don't start a post off like this.
6. Practice
7. Don't force contributions of things that have already been discussed. (i.e. don't make a post on how to do the cross or how to do 2-Look OLL/PLL).
8. Answer questions! If you know the answer to someone's question, feel free to help them out. Show them where you learned it.
9. Practice.
10. Don't ask us what you can contribute. If you find something to add to the forums, then feel free. However, I can't tell you what you should contribute. Only you know your skillset/work ethic.

 

[Dene]

/thread

 

[Seanliu]

Jesus no. If you are a beginner (sorry, no offence meant), dont get those cubes. The cubes will make your turning atyle too rough, and make it hard to improve. You should get a SS Wind, and use those cubes when your are sub 30.

 

[penguinz7]

Jesus no. If you are a beginner (sorry, no offence meant), dont get those cubes. The cubes will make your turning atyle too rough, and make it hard to improve. You should get a SS Wind, and use those cubes when your are sub 30.

No. Any cube is fine, I started out with a zhanchi.

 

[guysensei1]

Jesus no. If you are a beginner (sorry, no offence meant), dont get those cubes. The cubes will make your turning atyle too rough, and make it hard to improve. You should get a SS Wind, and use those cubes when your are sub 30.

That's a common misconception. You can start with any cube you want really.

 

[DeeDubb]

Jesus no. If you are a beginner (sorry, no offence meant), dont get those cubes. The cubes will make your turning atyle too rough, and make it hard to improve. You should get a SS Wind, and use those cubes when your are sub 30.

First cube was a WeiLong... Second Cube was AoLong v1....

That's just old-school thinking. Use whatever cube you want. Your turning style will adapt to the cube.

 

[brian724080]

Jesus no. If you are a beginner (sorry, no offence meant), dont get those cubes. The cubes will make your turning atyle too rough, and make it hard to improve. You should get a SS Wind, and use those cubes when your are sub 30.

I don't think that this is the case. Like what other people said - get whatever cube you want, since it's not like you'll get much faster with really bad technique

 

[Lonely Parrot]

Is there like a method that is very poorly developed with almost zero tutorials that I could learn and develop? Petrus is just intuitive so can't really develop it

 

[Dene]

You want to come onto the cubing scene with a BANG huh?

You could always try looking around the wiki. Otherwise, you're going to have to come up with something on your own. I'd suggest a different puzzle though. 3x3 has been so well explored...