Make finding your answer faster & easier!

[jadison]

This is a tip for any member who has a question or a conflict and needs assistance or advice...

TIP: Before even posting the question, click on the <SEARCH> button @ the top, type in any "keyword" that pertains to your conflict or question. Hit Search, and see if there is already a post that's related to what you had in mind. This, of course, doesn't always work, but you'd be surprised how many times it does.

Example-- My Question: I can't get ICQ to install properly?
My Solution: I go to <SEARCH>, type in "ICQ" or "icq", hit Search, and viola! Several posts pop-up pertaining to ICQ, I find the answer to mine...or if I don't find my answer I post my question w/in the post.

This way, we don't get multiple posts pertaining to almost the exact same subject matter.

-=jd=-

[Axel]

You can bring a horse to water, but you can't make him drink - unless you're huge and can dunk the horse - hahaha....

Basic lazy human nature - ask first - might be work to actually "look" for the answer yourself...... I see this post on every forum I've been on over the years and it almost always gets ignored..... Lazy people would have to look to find it anyway - much less consider the idea up front....

I feel your frustration -

BUT!!! - I find part of the fun is answering people's questions - Later I go back to see what else is written in the thread and sometimes learn more myself -

okay - so the term "people" might sometimes be a stretch based on some of the questions - for those severely challenged, we call them plants because they add more oxygen to the atmosphere then they consume......

Enjoy - that's the key -

[jadison]

Yes, I totally understand Axel, I used to be very lazy as far as wanting to search for posts on my question. In fact, in some aspects of my life, I am STILL lazy.

But, you'd be surprised how many newbies or even experienced users, don't know the basics of how a forum/message board works, and operates. For places like TechIMO.com, where you have hundreds of people registered, and many online @ the same time...it helps to have several posts about a similar topic. This raises the chances of more people noticing it.

I just wanted to submit a quick & easy tip, next tip will have to do with more of a "Technical" topic.

thanks for the response

-=jd=-

[Hickman]

I usually only ask a question if I need to know something right away. Otherwise, I use the search engines like Google and Lycos to look for answers.

I get annoyed when I go to message boards and someone asks a question only to be told "look stupid that question has already been asked a hundred times". I mean what is the board there for in the first place? If people get too arrogant about acting like that I usually leave to find some place that is a little more friendly. We were all once new to computers once. The best way to build up a new board is to keep it friendly and not tick people off if they have a question.

[flinder]

I agree Hickman.
Some help sites would be better off putting a
FAQ page with no posting allowed.

[otheos]

It is when you search that you learn as you browse and read all other (at the time useless) information.

[jadison]

and someone asks a question only to be told "look stupid that question has already been asked a hundred times".
This wasn't my intent in the beginning...I apologize if this thread was offensive.
Now, after reviewing some of the responses, I came to the conclusion that this wasn't a very good "tip". I agree that the purpose of the Forums is to read and learn. So what if there's multiple posting, you get a different viewpoint on the same matter, and in the end u get more out of it.

The End.

-=jd=-