Before a new post

[rebeccajo 14]

When a member posts a question, there's the lovely little request above the window to "Please consider reading the FAQ's and Guides before posting" and the happy little smiley with his signage.

This obviously is not working.

Can we have something a bit more 'out there'? Could it be in RED? Could it also politely say "have you used the search function of this forum to find your answer?".

I can honestly say that today, I see soooooooooo many questions where the answer is EASILY obtainable just by scrolling down the first page of the forum. I know we don't want to be unfriendly to new members or someone with a legit question, but IMO something somewhere is broken.

I purposely have not answered any of those questions today.

[Sheriff Uling 3]

I believe the little request above the window to "Please consider reading the [FAQ's, Guides, and utilize the Search function] before posting" should be bigger and bolder. With the guide that I created for the Manila Embassy. I have essentially stopped answering questions and referred them to the section of the guide that is applicable to their question. For me, it's generally easier for me to look up the answer then to ask a question. However, it appears that is not the average person's mentality. Folks join and ask questions like this is a service and we're all here to answer their questions. Hehehehe! I'm now charging $4.95 per question and $9.95 per question that I have to look up. Please make checks payable to Capt Ewok. Unfortunately, my contract is under negotiation. Hehehehe!!!

Seriously, you are absolutely correct in that folks do not take the time to review the vast amount of credible information that VJ has to offer before asking questions that have been answered one hundred times over. What can you do? It's the nature of the beast. Lord knows how many questions I asked…

Cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling

[KarenCee 3]

Maybe newbies should be required to read the guides and then take a test over what they read before they can post for the first time?

[Jamie76 0]

One comment. I find the search function on here, as on most forums not very useful. I've tried searching for things on here and not find what I was looking for. Is there a way to find the most commonly asked question on here for say the past year and put them in to the FAQ's? Or is it everyones opinion that the FAQ's already answer these most commonly asked questions already?

[Jasman0717 8]

New people usually aren't familar with all the features of the site, give them some time to get up to speed.

[disbelief 0]

New people usually aren't familar with all the features of the site, give them some time to get up to speed.

I agree... I'm a newbie and I don't ask questions simply because I have been lucky enough to browse around and find all that I've needed to know, thus far... however, I think that the frustration and the anxiety that some of the new people feel leads them to just want to ask because they want to get an answer quickly and don't even think to look for past posts... besides, truth be told... ALL of the answers can be found SOMEWHERE...

[rebeccajo 14]

New people usually aren't familar with all the features of the site, give them some time to get up to speed.

Jim, I agree.

BUT today I saw several questions with similar topics already posted on the front page of the forum they were asked in. I know that you and I both used to look around for our answers before we asked. It's almost like people are not even trying.

Maybe if there were a bigger bolder announcement at the top of posting window, they'd go back and look? I mean, sometimes people get confused by the guides but they aren't confused by reading the forum. I'd like to help find a way to encourage them to do that.

[ILIKEALLCAPS 0]

When a member posts a question, there's the lovely little request above the window to "Please consider reading the FAQ's and Guides before posting" and the happy little smiley with his signage.

This obviously is not working.

Can we have something a bit more 'out there'? Could it be in RED? Could it also politely say "have you used the search function of this forum to find your answer?".

I can honestly say that today, I see soooooooooo many questions where the answer is EASILY obtainable just by scrolling down the first page of the forum. I know we don't want to be unfriendly to new members or someone with a legit question, but IMO something somewhere is broken.

I purposely have not answered any of those questions today.

I can only speak for myself, but having something in RED makes it pretty much irrelevant to me, and to anyone else who is colorblind. All in all I'm more likely to ignore red and/or green text because it makes my head hurt trying to read it.

[rebeccajo 14]

When a member posts a question, there's the lovely little request above the window to "Please consider reading the FAQ's and Guides before posting" and the happy little smiley with his signage.

This obviously is not working.

Can we have something a bit more 'out there'? Could it be in RED? Could it also politely say "have you used the search function of this forum to find your answer?".

I can honestly say that today, I see soooooooooo many questions where the answer is EASILY obtainable just by scrolling down the first page of the forum. I know we don't want to be unfriendly to new members or someone with a legit question, but IMO something somewhere is broken.

I purposely have not answered any of those questions today.

I can only speak for myself, but having something in RED makes it pretty much irrelevant to me, and to anyone else who is colorblind. All in all I'm more likely to ignore red and/or green text because it makes my head hurt trying to read it.

Ooooooooohhh, I never knew that!!

How about purple? What color works?

[Sheriff Uling 3]

I can only speak for myself, but having something in RED makes it pretty much irrelevant to me, and to anyone else who is colorblind. All in all I'm more likely to ignore red and/or green text because it makes my head hurt trying to read it.

THAT'S A BOLD FACE LIE! THE REAL REASON IS BECAUSE YOU LIKE THINGS IN ALL CAPS!

[Caladan 19]

To be honest, you can make it as big as you want and people still won't read it, or won't understand what they read. Maybe we need to rotate our vets on a daily schedule so they don't get burned out (plus, if no one jumps up to answer their questions, then maybe the newbies will read.)

[LaL 418]

If the vets are burned out, they should be aware of it. When I am burned out know I cant help anyone!

[rebeccajo 14]

Who said anything about being 'burned out'?

Hey it was just a suggestion.

[TracyTN 237]

Who said anything about being 'burned out'?

Hey it was just a suggestion.

Really.

And I'm 'vet' enough to know if I am frustrated and that it is thus time to step away and not post. I'm sure Rj knows when she reaches that point, too.

[LaL 418]

What? Caladan suggested being burned out, it wasn't said to be a needle in the side of the original suggestion. C - correct me if I am wrong, but I believe she was commenting on that people won't read it regardless of the color, etc.