Mods to enforce the search tool?

[ry4N]

I am noticing alot of new users fequently asking the same sort of questions,

maybe its a good idea if the Mods try to enforce the use of the search function on the forum? perhaps have a sticky with commonly asked questions? (FAQ's?)

i myself always spend a few extra minutes searching for information i need as opposed to just starting a new thread, although i am aware that i rarely post

Let me know your input guys

 

[SlipCivic]

I agree.

 

[olly ek9]

I have also noticed these sorta things becoming allot more common on here, its like we have a new batch of users and the same questions that came up a year or so ago are coming back on the board,,

everyone can help with this,

i think its much more freindly if someone who has been on here for a while notices one of these threads and remebers a previous post, if they have enough time to find it and paste a link into the new thread. the mods can then lock the new thread if they notice it and discussions can carry on in the original thread where all the juicy information lies therein,

Mods cant do this on their own they would spend all night doing it,
some forums just get really bitchy and every thread you open up says use the search, woudl be nice if we all work together so we dont have the same here,

 

[Jokeshopbeard]

I have also noticed these sorta things becoming allot more common on here, its like we have a new batch of users and the same questions that came up a year or so ago are coming back on the board,,

everyone can help with this,

i think its much more freindly if someone who has been on here for a while notices one of these threads and remebers a previous post, if they have enough time to find it and paste a link into the new thread. the mods can then lock the new thread if they notice it and discussions can carry on in the original thread where all the juicy information lies therein,

Mods cant do this on their own they would spend all night doing it,
some forums just get really bitchy and every thread you open up says use the search, woudl be nice if we all work together so we dont have the same here,

Really well said olly, with you all the way mate

 

[_JT]

I agree.

 

[Mattharvey12]

agree aswell

 

[Vtec6000]

Agree

 

[blinx9900]

As a mod i agree but i also know its impossible lol, every forum suffers from this, it is the nature of the forums, no way to fix it or around it.

Many things can help like helpful users, good stickys, good search function, etc... but there will always be the people that are impatient/lazy and want that answer instantly!! There is no way to fix those people...

 

[SlipCivic]

As a mod i agree but i also know its impossible lol, every forum suffers from this, it is the nature of the forums, no way to fix it or around it.

Many things can help like helpful users, good stickys, good search function, etc... but there will always be the people that are impatient/lazy and want that answer instantly!! There is no way to fix those people...

To be fair, it can get highly annoying when people just keep asking the same questions.
People on here arn't lazy, if anything the person asking the question is lazy because they can't be bothered to use the search feature on the forum, which is the main reason of this thread.

 

[_JT]

As a mod i agree but i also know its impossible lol, every forum suffers from this, it is the nature of the forums, no way to fix it or around it.

Many things can help like helpful users, good stickys, good search function, etc... but there will always be the people that are impatient/lazy and want that answer instantly!! There is no way to fix those people...

But you can try to minimize the reason for posting. Like you just told us And as for fixing those people, maybe take 1 or 2 extra moderators to direct those people in the right direction?

Just like SlipCivic says, it can get highly annoying. That is one of the reasons the quality of a forum can degrade, till it has gone so low that it's not interesting anymore for the real enthusiasts. What will be left is a forum with lots of 1time n00b visitors and maybe 2 or 3 people that do stay.

It's nowhere near that situation, but it is better and easier to prevent than to fix/heal.

If it's wanted I could maybe start a general FAQ, where people can find their most basic answers and information. Others can edit it where it's wrong or where it can be better and then finally start using it for new users.

Another solution could be to set a requirement for a minimum amount of posts (eg 5) on the forum before people can post in the technical forum category and immediately locking any tech topics opened outside the technical category. Or user with under 10 or 20 posts that open a topic need to wait for approval of the opening of their topic.

 

[Jokeshopbeard]

Reminds me of that 'minimum number of posts before a member can start a new topic' idea I mentioned the other day...

 

[_JT]

I think that would be an excellent idea. It'll probably prevent 80% of the unwanted n00b topics from people that do not bother using the search or reading FAQs.

 

[Tim]

I have also noticed these sorta things becoming allot more common on here, its like we have a new batch of users and the same questions that came up a year or so ago are coming back on the board,,

everyone can help with this,

i think its much more freindly if someone who has been on here for a while notices one of these threads and remebers a previous post, if they have enough time to find it and paste a link into the new thread. the mods can then lock the new thread if they notice it and discussions can carry on in the original thread where all the juicy information lies therein,

Mods cant do this on their own they would spend all night doing it,
some forums just get really bitchy and every thread you open up says use the search, woudl be nice if we all work together so we dont have the same here,

Please do this rather than just pointing out that the forum has a search function, otherwise we'll end up like itr-dc2.com. The irony is when searching for something on that forum, the 2nd post in anything you find just says "tried search mate?". It's annoying, even more annoying than reading a repetitive topic. At least with a topic that's been discussed more than once we're more likely to find the answer.

Reminds me of that 'minimum number of posts before a member can start a new topic' idea I mentioned the other day...

If I've got a problem with something I want to get it fixed asap by asking the question (after searching of course), I don't want to have to work my way up to being able to ask the question. I don't get it. Please explain.

Either they'll register, go to create a thread, find they can't.. and leave. This leaves an inactive account for the moderators to tidy up.

OR, they'll spam their way up the required post count. Again, more work for the moderators.

OR, they'll take threads off topic or revive old threads because they can't ask their specific question.

You don't need extra rules. You just need dedicated moderators and helpful members with a bit of free time.

Whilst i'm on the subject, how about we remove the "mate i'd love these but i'm skint lolz" type posts when people are trying to sell something? and GLWS? whats that all about? ah thanks mate, I couldn't have sold it without your good wishes :/

 

[_JT]

If I've got a problem with something I want to get it fixed asap by asking the question (after searching of course), I don't want to have to work my way up to being able to ask the question. I don't get it. Please explain.

Either they'll register, go to create a thread, find they can't.. and leave. This leaves an inactive account for the moderators to tidy up.

The question is, how bad is this if the member does not have any other reason to stay here except that question. What they might contribute to the forum isn't that much that way. So imho thats not a big loss and I don't expect 20 people every day not coming back because of that

OR, they'll spam their way up the required post count. Again, more work for the moderators.

I don't think so, but only 1 way to find out.

OR, they'll take threads off topic or revive old threads because they can't ask their specific question.

Which means they have used the search and then it isn't a problem that they are kicking that topic imho.

You don't need extra rules. You just need dedicated moderators with plenty of spare time.

How long will those moderators stay motivated if 8 out of 10 locks and posts to go with that have to do with users that don't use the search? Everytime having to search for the users what they are looking for just to be friendly and to prevent ending up like itr-dc2.com (searching for topics only to find posts that direct to the search)? Moderators too are only human...

For that same reason of being human, you can't expect mods to be on here 4-5 hours a day. That means that those topics that annoy the hell out of a lot of regulars that have to contribute something will still be there for some time and might still scare away people that have something to contribute cause they have to face all those n00b topics everytime they visit.

One solution for all this is the other suggestion I posted - mods having to give their approval for new topics. That way newbe's can post new topics but mods can decide wether they have the right to exist on ek9.org.

 

[Tim]

I made a small edit, of course we (general members) should take some of the work load off moderators, but i'm with Blinx, there's only so much you can do and bringing in new rules and regulations doesn't always work.

 

[Tim]

The question is, how bad is this if the member does not have any other reason to stay here except that question. .

That's generally where new members come from though, just asking a quick question and then they're hooked.

I remember asking for advice on how to overclock an old AMD Thunderbird processor on a UK based computing forum. 20k posts and a few forum meet-ups later, i'm still posting

 

[Jokeshopbeard]

Either they'll register, go to create a thread, find they can't.. and leave. This leaves an inactive account for the moderators to tidy up.

I'd like to see statistics on post count vs. time since last visit. I'd be willing to bet there's a large number that have come along and done exactly that, regardless of the fact we have no enforcement against it.

I really don't see it as being a bad thing - having a more dedicated and involved community by far outweighs the loss of the few who would be put off by such a rule.

 

[Championship White]

I am noticing alot of new users fequently asking the same sort of questions,

maybe its a good idea if the Mods try to enforce the use of the search function on the forum? perhaps have a sticky with commonly asked questions? (FAQ's?)

i myself always spend a few extra minutes searching for information i need as opposed to just starting a new thread, although i am aware that i rarely post

Let me know your input guys

I search but the trouble is, the results are ranked by how recent the post is rather than by most pertinent.

 

[SlipCivic]

You don't need extra rules. You just need dedicated moderators with plenty of spare time.

I'd be happy to help moderated many other forums, have had some experiance before with Vbulletin.

 

[blinx9900]

because they can't be bothered to use the search feature on the forum, which is the main reason of this thread.

But i still think that is part of the nature of forums in general.

If it's wanted I could maybe start a general FAQ, where people can find their most basic answers and information. Others can edit it where it's wrong or where it can be better and then finally start using it for new users.

Another solution could be to set a requirement for a minimum amount of posts (eg 5) on the forum before people can post in the technical forum category and immediately locking any tech topics opened outside the technical category. Or user with under 10 or 20 posts that open a topic need to wait for approval of the opening of their topic.

Memers are always welcome to write faq's and helpful threads, as far as making a minimum post the problem with that is the user then cannot introduce themselves

Reminds me of that 'minimum number of posts before a member can start a new topic' idea I mentioned the other day...

see above

Whilst i'm on the subject, how about we remove the "mate i'd love these but i'm skint lolz" type posts when people are trying to sell something? and GLWS? whats that all about? ah thanks mate, I couldn't have sold it without your good wishes :/

Well thats a free bump, its kind of polite i think, i am guilty of doing it...

In short i know rvm himself has noticed this and recently revamped the search feature to include the google toolbar which i personally find MUCH BETTER, hopefully as more people notice its there that will help also... Thanks for the feedback everyone