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Good topic/rant/discussion.
Here is one idea that worked on another forum I was on. When new member registered, they were only allowed to see one thread; a "Welcome - READ THIS" thread. They basically had to read thorugh it and it contained the rules, How to Search, and basic/noob FAQ. I can't remember if they then had to 'check' a box saying that they read it before being able to get access to the forum or if it was a 24hr first log in thing. Whatever it was it helped!
I for one am 'guilty' of shutting down repeat threads and here is my main reasoning for doing this at times. Quite simply I hate spoon feeding people! Give a man a post he'll read read for a day, teach a man to search, he'll have posts for a year!! :thumbup:
I hear some 'complaining' that they have to read through a couple of threads and 20 pages to find what they want. So. I (and others) had to go out and find the Mod, pay for the Mod, wait for the Mod to be shipped, install the Mod, take pictures of the Mod, upload the pics of the Mod, write a write-up about the Mod.....and your complaining that you had to sit and read for 10min to find your answer about the Mod?!?!?!? C'mon.
Lots of people here spend an awful lot of time documenting, outlining and sharing their information here. So yes, I sometimes resent the fact that other members (yes, typically new members) can't even spend 5 mins looking around before wanting to be handed the answer. To me it's almost disrespectfull to all the people who have busted their butts to post up information. The funny thing is that 8/10 times it would have been quicker for them to search than posting the new thread!!
Next to using Search, Google....hello..... My god I've lost count of how many questions I've answered using the FIRST 2 results from Google! I'm not asking for a lot but c'mon people; flex those brain muscles just a little bit!
So I don't mind helping people, in fact I quite enjoy it, but I do mind helping people who seemingly don't want to help themselves.
That's mainly where I am coming from when I tell people to use the Search function.
Here is one idea that worked on another forum I was on. When new member registered, they were only allowed to see one thread; a "Welcome - READ THIS" thread. They basically had to read thorugh it and it contained the rules, How to Search, and basic/noob FAQ. I can't remember if they then had to 'check' a box saying that they read it before being able to get access to the forum or if it was a 24hr first log in thing. Whatever it was it helped!
I for one am 'guilty' of shutting down repeat threads and here is my main reasoning for doing this at times. Quite simply I hate spoon feeding people! Give a man a post he'll read read for a day, teach a man to search, he'll have posts for a year!! :thumbup:
I hear some 'complaining' that they have to read through a couple of threads and 20 pages to find what they want. So. I (and others) had to go out and find the Mod, pay for the Mod, wait for the Mod to be shipped, install the Mod, take pictures of the Mod, upload the pics of the Mod, write a write-up about the Mod.....and your complaining that you had to sit and read for 10min to find your answer about the Mod?!?!?!? C'mon.
Lots of people here spend an awful lot of time documenting, outlining and sharing their information here. So yes, I sometimes resent the fact that other members (yes, typically new members) can't even spend 5 mins looking around before wanting to be handed the answer. To me it's almost disrespectfull to all the people who have busted their butts to post up information. The funny thing is that 8/10 times it would have been quicker for them to search than posting the new thread!!
Next to using Search, Google....hello..... My god I've lost count of how many questions I've answered using the FIRST 2 results from Google! I'm not asking for a lot but c'mon people; flex those brain muscles just a little bit!
So I don't mind helping people, in fact I quite enjoy it, but I do mind helping people who seemingly don't want to help themselves.
That's mainly where I am coming from when I tell people to use the Search function.
