Android Central Forums vs Google Help

[SeeBeeEss]

I visit quite a few Android- and Windows-related sites fairly regularly to keep up-to-date on the technology that interests me, acquire a bit of knowledge and/or assistance and mostly for pure enjoyment (hey, maybe I just like 1's and 0's, okay?).

Surprisingly (at least to me), over the past year or so, I have read more well aimed and thoughtful answers to Google/Android/Pixel related questions here than on the site created by Google for the very purpose of supporting and providing answers to the users of "all things Google."

While there are times on the Android Central Forums where one can't help but roll ones eyes or chuckle at the seemingly sincere, but off the wall (and off the mark) responses to serious questions or concerns, for the most part, the responses to, and dialogue around, questions are much better here - and unlike that other site, sometimes AC Forum members even take the time to read the original poster's whole question and the subsequent responding posts before offering their own two cents.

Frankly, I have been truly astonished at the lack of practical knowledge, the canned responses and the tendency for responders (whether Google's own paid help or community) to not fully read or comprehend the questions or concerns posed with Google Help. I have personally experienced this a few times, myself, and have given up on the idea that I should be able to get informed assistance from them.

I also appreciate the fact that Android Central hasn't become an outlet for never-ending negativity and hostility like some other online tech forums (yeah, sometimes a person needs to vent or call someone/something out [like I'm doing right now], but no one needs to do it or listen to it 24/7) and has even opened up a little room for some fun with the many threads in the Android Central Lounge and things like the show us your home screens, cases or pics threads for the various phones.

So, to all of my fellow deranged, confused, and literacy challenged AC Community members, I say thanks for keeping things real, informative and entertaining in 2024. I'm looking forward to reading your queries, news, views and anything else you choose in 2025.

Happy Holidays!

 

[notforhire]

well said

 

[Laura Knotek]

@SeeBeeEss You have put into words my exact thoughts in a much more eloquent way than I could have done.

Thanks to you and all the great Android Central members who make this site what it is!

 

[Mooncatt]

There's one key difference between us and Google. We actually care about learning the tech and helping others.

Ok, two things if you also count the managers at Google likely pushing quantity over quality, which is why you get nothing but scripted/canned responses instead of people that actually read and comprehend anything.

The same could be said for most any corporate tech support site.

 

[B. Diddy]

I'm also a Product Expert in Google's Chromebook Help Community, and I would say that the level of helpfulness varies with the help community. I don't frequent the Android or Pixel Help Communities very much, but I will say that we have some pretty good PE's in the Chromebook community. Just like here, the PE's are all non-Google volunteers, but we're overseen by a Google community manager. When an issue arises that seems like it might be widespread, they can be helpful to escalate the issue to the actual development team. But it might be a little more effective in the Chromebook community, since I'm guessing it's generally smaller and has less traffic than the Android or Pixel communities. For those bigger communities, it's probably a bit overwhelming at times, given how many separate issues people might bring up.

 

[mustang7757]

That's what always drew me to AC the members, helping, some of us known each other for years and created a nice atmosphere which is hard to do and I don't see much in the Andriod community out there.

 

[notforhire]

the AC forum is a strange breed indeed when compared to almost every other forum out there, whether tech or not. somebody had to drive this culture early on. I'll stand by waiting for someone to tell me who that was.

 

[B. Diddy]

the AC forum is a strange breed indeed when compared to almost every other forum out there, whether tech or not. somebody had to drive this culture early on. I'll stand by waiting for someone to tell me who that was.

I attribute it mostly to Paul Petko, who was head of the Ambassadors in the early 2010s, and then @Golfdriver97 , who took over.

 

[Windroid 2483]

Surprisingly (at least to me), over the past year or so, I have read more well aimed and thoughtful answers to Google/Android/Pixel related questions here than on the site created by Google for the very purpose of supporting and providing answers to the users of "all things Google."

Android isen't simply a Google project. Amazon's Kindle Fire tablet uses Android, yet has no Google services (unless you install them yourself).

 

[Golfdriver97]

I attribute it mostly to Paul Petko, who was head of the Ambassadors in the early 2010s, and then @Golfdriver97 , who took over.

Roughly May 2014 to November 2017. Where did the time go???

 

[Golfdriver97]

the AC forum is a strange breed indeed when compared to almost every other forum out there, whether tech or not. somebody had to drive this culture early on. I'll stand by waiting for someone to tell me who that was.

I attribute it mostly to Paul Petko, who was head of the Ambassadors in the early 2010s, and then @Golfdriver97 , who took over.

Most of it was already in place when I assumed the Team Lead role. All I did was re-emphasize the idea that there is no such thing as a dumb question and that if any Ambassador thinks that someone is new in a thread, welcome them within that same thread.