To search or to post?
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Quick comment on the search feature. Was just looking for an old post.
When doing a search it seems to default to "posts ". Go to advanced and click on " Titles and Posts ". Better results.Should this be the default?
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Im very late to the discussions but totally on board with FAQ and the similar thread suggestions! i realized some of the posts I made were questions made by others in the past. I am still totally agree that people can ask anyway and i still believe that whatever we do, some people (hopefully few) will still ask before their search. What we can do is to reduce that number down. Probably if you want, you can pin the topics that you think is necessary and new. Whilst there will be newer post regarding the same topics, we can answer to relate to the post and have that post deleted after few months of inactivity. It will reduce number of threads and probably confusion from others as well.
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I recommend being careful about pinning topics. They tend to be ignored by regular users and often skipped by new users if there are a lot of them.
Something I’ve done on some sites and seen on others is to create a pinned index of useful threads (a form of FAQ, really). Even if they are ignored (which they often are), they don’t clutter up the flow of a board.
The real problem with just referring a new user to a thread is the amount of off-topic discussion and banter that just naturally happen over the course of a thread. Someone who is looking for an answer about stuffing brats isn’t always interested in reading 47 posts on what everyone thought about the 2019 Super Bowl. LOL
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So, at 15,000 users (thank you guys!) I think we are at the point where we need to make a determination on how best to make use of the search/posting features. I noticed a lot of questions that were asked by new people recently that have already been answered. I have seen message boards before that had strong rules on searching before posting but as PapaSop likes to say, we are a “community” not a message board!
In my opinion it makes it easier on the person looking for an answer to be able to just post the question they have in mind instead of searching through older posts BUT I don’t even answer most posts anymore, it is you guys who do that majority of that nowadays.
So, Power-User Regular-Contributors how do you want it? FYI anyone can chime in here, just tagged those groups as they are the ones carrying the majority of the load.
Jonathon I would typically have to advocate searching first. However, if you are like me, you & the search engine don’t get along sometimes. I know I can search until the sun comes up sometimes & the search engine does not seem to understand my search words that make perfect sense to me. Well, when that happens, you just have to ask, even though it may be a repeat, since you could not find Pete.
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Jonathon I would typically have to advocate searching first. However, if you are like me, you & the search engine don’t get along sometimes. I know I can search until the sun comes up sometimes & the search engine does not seem to understand my search words that make perfect sense to me. Well, when that happens, you just have to ask, even though it may be a repeat, since you could not find Pete.
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So, at 15,000 users (thank you guys!) I think we are at the point where we need to make a determination on how best to make use of the search/posting features. I noticed a lot of questions that were asked by new people recently that have already been answered. I have seen message boards before that had strong rules on searching before posting but as PapaSop likes to say, we are a “community” not a message board!
In my opinion it makes it easier on the person looking for an answer to be able to just post the question they have in mind instead of searching through older posts BUT I don’t even answer most posts anymore, it is you guys who do that majority of that nowadays.
So, Power-User Regular-Contributors how do you want it? FYI anyone can chime in here, just tagged those groups as they are the ones carrying the majority of the load.
Jonathon I don’t have a problem with the questions, before searching. I have noticed that when a question is asked that the answer can be found by searching, members will reference that the person can do a search and how to do it and others will answer the question in the same thread. I think as people use the sight, they get more comfortable with searching first, then asking questions. I don’t want to discourage people from participating and asking questions.
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calldoctoday Yeah, the search function could use some tweaking and it is something we are looking into. There is an advanced search feature, do people know that? If you start typing in the search box/magnifying glass box a gear icon comes up and when you hit that and it brings you to the below where you can add some things to narrow down the search.
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Jonathon I don’t have a problem with the questions, before searching. I have noticed that when a question is asked that the answer can be found by searching, members will reference that the person can do a search and how to do it and others will answer the question in the same thread. I think as people use the sight, they get more comfortable with searching first, then asking questions. I don’t want to discourage people from participating and asking questions.
bocephus well said my friend
. Like I’ve said before I’m technically challenged and when I first found this community all I wanted was answers to a few questions. I didn’t want to spend hours trying to figure out how to navigate the site. Now that I have been here awhile I can get around pretty good. Thanks to all of you for helping me along the way. -
I recommend being careful about pinning topics. They tend to be ignored by regular users and often skipped by new users if there are a lot of them.
Something I’ve done on some sites and seen on others is to create a pinned index of useful threads (a form of FAQ, really). Even if they are ignored (which they often are), they don’t clutter up the flow of a board.
The real problem with just referring a new user to a thread is the amount of off-topic discussion and banter that just naturally happen over the course of a thread. Someone who is looking for an answer about stuffing brats isn’t always interested in reading 47 posts on what everyone thought about the 2019 Super Bowl. LOL
TexLaw Perfectly stated.
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we are all here to help each other just ask
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