Forum etiquette

[Dav the wheel nut]

When someone asks for advice or help on the forum I don't understand why people reply with 'use the search' or something similar.

I'm sure the majority of people asking are aware of the facility and have been unsuccessful in their search.

If the answer is so easy to find why not just post the link instead of stating the obvious.

It seems even more ridiculous when more than one person replies with the same statement
This is not aimed at anyone in particular just a general observation.

[Taz x]

i suppose for some members it must become tiresome answering the same old questions time after time

i often use the search facility without success

[doofus4000]

X2

Well said Dave, well said my son!

[Dav the wheel nut]

i suppose for some members it must become tiresome answering the same old questions time after time

i often use the search facility without success

Then why bother answering at all?

[Taz x]

i'm not disagreeing with you

[ranski]

I disagree - the forum has been going for some years now, longer than I have been here.

This coupled with the 'limited' number of mods available, most if not every mod and 'problem' has been covered in great detail (except for the rarer E89) In some cases by people who have moved on and so their knowledge is only available in old threads.

I am not saying the admins should be more proactive, as managing duplicate posts would be unsustainable. However, I do think we should all use the search feature more and keep relevant information under a few, instead of many threads.

*TIP
Use the + symbol on searches as this will cut down results considerably



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Finisterre]

did you search for an answer before you posted?

[Zed_Steve]

Im only too happy to offer help or advice where possible to new, or existing members.
But when a subject is raised that has been done to death, they either dont know, or more likely too lazy to use the search function to find the relative information.
Do agree posting a link of a past thread is better than just saying "use the search function"

[ColinP]

Im only too happy to offer help or advice where possible to new, or existing members.
But when a subject is raised that has been done to death, they either dont know, or more likely too lazy to use the search function to find the relative information.
Do agree posting a link of a past thread is better than just saying "use the search function"

x2

[markeg]

As a 'newbie' to the forum (but not forums in general), first impressions do count. A polite "did you try using the search facility" or "try this link" works far better than an abrupt "use the search" - just in any walk of life, gentle coaching brings dividends, abrupt direction breeds discontent.

As my (and I'm sure, other) mothers say, "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything"

[doofus4000]

Imo the search function is s**t and if you don't have anything useful to post other than use the search page then don't post..simples. rant over!

[ranski]

Imo the search function is s**t and if you don't have anything useful to post other than use the search page then don't post..simples. rant over!

Its all about how you use it..

An Example which always pops up - Wipers that stop half way up the window from grease build up on the sensor

Now if I just put in wipers into the search box it will bring back over 68 pages with 938 posts

If I enter wipers + stop I get back 34 posts with the fix being post number 4

[srhutch]

perhaps the mods could post a thread on how to get the best out of the search facility and make it sticky.

[doofus4000]

perhaps the mods could post a thread on how to get the best out of the search facility and make it sticky.

Now that's good thinking!

[bluestreak56]

I disagree - the forum has been going for some years now, longer than I have been here.

This coupled with the 'limited' number of mods available, most if not every mod and 'problem' has been covered in great detail (except for the rarer E89) In some cases by people who have moved on and so their knowledge is only available in old threads.

I am not saying the admins should be more proactive, as managing duplicate posts would be unsustainable. However, I do think we should all use the search feature more and keep relevant information under a few, instead of many threads.

*TIP
Use the + symbol on searches as this will cut down results considerably



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I agree - not just for this forum but all forums on the tinternet