Please use the search button.
 

In the past few months we've had an influx of new members to the World Network Forums, and with all these new members, I've noticed that people have been asking lots of questions over and over that have already been asked and answered in the past. I ask that everyone make yourself acquainted with the "search" button up at the top of the screen. If you click on that, it will give you the ability to search for a response to your technical question immediately, without having to wait for someone to respond! :) This is helpful to you because you get your answer fast, and it is helpful to the forum because you wont be cluttering things up with a question that has already been asked. :)

Thanks everyone!

Mike

Good call mike!

so...
 

anyone know where i could find some info about using the search button? im looking for old posts about wasting forum space.... ;) j/k.....good idea!!!!

OT completely but who is that girl on your avatar? Just curious.

pic
 

thats a pic of Megan (92svxchick)

Re: pic
 

Ah...
I see. Hi Megan.

got others
 

got some others...wanna see ;) Meg says hello!!!

Re: got others
 

It's ok. Just curious. On Brighthand forum, there is a guy with picture of Anna. Man with her looking at you, you can't post at all. :)

Re: Please use the search button.
 

Mike,

Are we running out of space agian? (Notice how I shorten your original post to save space.) :)

At this time, there really arent space concerns, but it is always good to plan for the future. The forum is growing at a FANTASTIC rate, and we need to look ahead. :)

Mike

While it definitely would help if new folks used the search on old threads to find answers, I fear this thread may make them feel stupid asking a question they may not have been able to find an answer to by searching, even if it is there. I never want anyone to feel stupid or shy about speaking up and reasking something that was already covered. If we all did that the forum would dry up pretty quick as most questions would have been asked before. If a PC magazine stopped making howto articles just because they did it last spring in a previous issue they would eventually run out of things to write about. If someone posts a new thread with a question or problem that has been discussed in the past it would be a better idea to reply with a note letting them know it's already been covered in depth before along with a link to the old thread. Eventually they will get the hint and do a search first without feeling awkward about being spanked for posting on an overused topic in the mean time. Remember that with so many new people on the board it's all new to them. We must be patient with them and accept this as a consequence of a board of this nature.

In the 3.x months I've been on this board I've already seen most every question repeated at least once. If anything, repeat questions keep the board alive and give us something to read and have fun with. It's the very thing that has allowed this board to grow as it has. If everyone just went over the old threads it would quickly become a dull place indeed and members would slowly fade away due to the reduction of activity.

Just my 2 cents... ;)

I tend to agree, Johnny. Over the past 3.x years, I have answered the same questions innumerable times (here and on the Yahoo forum). I've had numerous debates over whether 'tis nobler to re-answer questions and been given much guff for off topic and inane posts. It's the interaction between members, the "conversational" attitude and the genuine willingness to help that makes these forums (in my mind) unique among other, online "product specific" communities.

I see it as if we're standing around, discussing. If a person walks up to the crowd and gets in on the middle of the conversation, they may ask a question that has already been covered by the group that is standing around talking. The member who may have just learned the fact, will then, give the newest member of the conversation, the facts he's looking for.

The search function is extremely useful. I use it often. But, I don't think it should be a barrier to "newbies" asking questions. I figure, if you don't want to answer a question, don't. There are enough members here, now, that are willing to answer, and with the knowledge, that the question will be answered, and the member doing it is always happy to do so.

Let's not "sterilize" our community by pointing people to impersonlized attention.

I agree. I have found myself answering questions for someone that I didn't know myself when I first joined this wonderful place. I look at it as a test whenever someone askes a question, and if I don't know the answer, I watch for the answer so I will know it in the future. Sometimes someone may also be busy when that discussion was going on, and didn't see the answer. I have asked a question after doing a search because it was not answered fully and there are more members now who may have an additional answer. I would never want to make a new member hesitant to ask a question here, but sometimes members forget that we have such a great tool that can do a seach for them. Not all forums have it. ;) :)

By no means should this keep people from posting a question. I am talking about the once a week posts like 'my power steering is making noise' or 'what is the best tires for the svx.' These topics have been discussed AT LENGTH in the past, and there is no reason to keep bringing up that discussion over and over. Just in my opinion, of course.

Mike

Just do waht i do, if someone re-ask's a question, search for them ,and then put a link to the old thread with tons of discussion and consideration by us in it, into the new thread :) Solves all problems and there is no need to feel stupid!
phil