Before You Create A New Thread Please Do The Following......

Up to a point I understand what you mean, but as I opened this thread, on the FIRST PAGE of threads, I counted 3 different new or nearly new (but still on the first page) threads asking the same question, and most of them are getting pointed to the thread that was on the first page much of the past 2 days about outsourcing.

Just because it's not seen on the first page when you load it, doesn't mean you shouldn't at least TRY the search button.

Using search, for the word "outsourcing" I found 5 differnt threads which were posted to in the main forum alone, within the past 5 hours.

Of those, only 3 were on the first page of threads as I started this message

So rather than starting a new thread asking where to outsource... Doesn't it make sense to try the search button first?

If the question was answered 4 hours ago by 7 different warriors, odds are THEIR answers haven't changed in the last 4 hours, and many of them won't STILL BE ONLINE to see your thread now.

If a lot of good information is in those threads, but after reading them you still had questions, the logical choice might be to try asking in the most relevant of those threads, because a thread with 7+ replies is more likely to get opened by people because a) it already has info, b) they may have already seen the thread a couple times, and c) if it's back on the top of the forum, something's been added since they lat looked.

(yikes, I didn't intend for that to be so long, sorry)

I've started a few threads over time, and I've had some sink like stones right off the first page with 3 views and no replies. But a thread that keeps getting interest, that keeps coming back up because people add more to it... Those threads can become goldmines of information. And it there's a goldmine of information that was last updated 6 days ago... Do you think asking the same question today is going to get all that same info?

They don't have to read hundreds of threads back. That's why SEARCH was mentioned. Using the search for their keyword (like the apparent hot topic of the week "where to outsource"), a visitor could find all the information that was discussed on this topic JUST yesterday even.


The only reason I'm chiming in, is that when you have 3 threads today about a topic that has been discussed repeatedly, a lot of people are less likely to open the three new threads. So the new threads sink without much attention, and the poster feels that the forum isn't helpful, or they come back and re-post their question again in another new thread.

We are trying to educate newcomers and old warriors both, that the search its there and it's there for a reason. Although I do think it could stand to be more visible... On more than one occasion I had found myself starting to type search terms into the newsletter subscription box, because it just FELT like that box was a search box. (of course I caught myself before I ever submitted a search phrase...)

I've seen a number of such posts, and I have to agree. It's really sad to see someone with 11 posts, and if you look up all their posts, they've asked 1 question and posted 10 "hey thanks!" type comments.

And if someone asks a question about a subject (let's stick with outsourcing, like I said it's a popular topic at the moment), but in their post they refer to other threads on the subject (links or not), it at least shows the reader that the OP in question at least did some research.

If the poster demonstrates they've tried to find the answer, there are many people who are more willing to help, than if it looks like the poster just came in and asked a question (especially a very generic question) without even trying to find an answer on their own.

While that may be a misperception, it is still a perception that a lot of people cling to. "This has been asked and answered 17 times this month, and you can't be bothered to look? I've answered in 5 of those 17 threads and I'm tired of repeating myself if no one can be bothered to look it up"


But if someone doesn't even appear to make the attempt, or worse yet, gives the (correct or not) appearance that they don't even look at the current first page of threads, then it (right or wrong) leads to people feeling like the advice they keep offering is falling on deaf ears and is being discarded or ignored.

Much more succinct than my post above. Glad to see it and add it to my reply.

But there is a sticky listing all the threads, it is at the top of the Main Discussion forum.

Rod,

Nice idea, so be it, I support!

Istvan,

Your quote matches to your answer.

That villain Murphy is versatile as we see, he always hit the nail on its head.

Best,

Sandor

I'm in total agreement about how annoying it can be to read the same question over and over - and I've only been here a month.

but since I'm still a relative newbie, I haven't become totally jaded to the WF newbie plight.

Keep in mind that a search is only as good as the search term used to find it. If you aren't familiar with the terminology searching is futile.

There are also some questions that are never answered properly, like how to embed youtube video. I searched and the only decent answer was the 12th reply down in an obscure thread. The problem was that youtube changed their link code but no one on the threads updated the directions. I figured it out on my own but pointing me to a thread wouldn't have been much help. Just an example of how the "Go find it yourself" isn't always helpful.

I love it here but I'll be honest, some of you guys are brutal. I know it's a hard job keeping the forum free of trolls and spammers but sometimes the digital lynch mob really gears up to kick a newbie when he's down. I'm not talking about spammers or the 3 word posters. I'm talking about legitimate newbie questions. Sometimes it seems like it's a race to see who can chastise the offender first and once one person wags the "no-no" finger the swarm comes in for the kill.

Really? Does it take 43 people to tell someone their posting was off?

This is rather discouraging and these people may never participate and/or may leave all together.

While some of you may say good riddance keep in mind that it's the newbie dream that fuels IM and every newbie that has been bullied off may be one less subscriber and customer.

If it's really that bothersome to have those silly newbie questions littering the forum, consider keeping newbies from starting new threads until X number of posts.

My two and one half cents. Descending from my virtual soapbox now.

Before the thread gets any hotter than it is now, would it hurt to start or end
a question with something like this?

"Sorry if this has been asked before since I can't seem to find the answer via
the search function."

And that's after making a sincere effort to make a search for answers. But by
golly, the things people here passionately (?) argue about.

Admittedly, I sometimes personally get irked when I see the same question is
asked time and again. I've since decided to just reply if I feel like it or if some
further answers are needed, and just suggest to search for it in the future.

Back to work now...

Caliban,

That will probably work fine for a bit but if someone follows your advice too frequently, they could very easily find that it's no longer just a matter of having their threads deleted or locked. I would imagine that if you aggravate a mod often enough, just because you're too lazy to search, then they could easily give you a vacation.