OT: ***RANT*** Same questions over and over....

[Need4Speed]

***start of rant****
I know that this is an open forum to ask whatever computer questions someone has, BUT...
would those people that have specific questions PLEASE try the search engine first before posting. The mods here have done a fine job of making the search engine more friendly and accurate. It gets old fast when one has to answer the same questions over and over. I'm sorry of this offends anyone here, but I am willing to bet that many peeps feel this way.

Or lets start an FAQ section with things like...

1. Partition info
2. NTFS vs FAT
3. SCSI vs IDE
***end of rant***

thank you

 

[Noriaki]

Heheh
my favourite is "Will more RAM help my system"

The speaker ones get asked alot to, but that ones doesn't bother me much because speakers are very personal and everyone wants something a little differnt from their speakers.

 

[duragezic]

I somewhat agree. Yes I get annoyed type the SAME thing over and over. But, if we need all these questions, even if they're the same, to keep the forums alive.

 

[Need4Speed]

"Yes I get annoyed type the SAME thing over and over. But, if we need all these questions, even if they're the same, to keep the forums alive."

Agreed and Exactly my point. There has to be some middle ground though. I don't think the forums will die out if we start a FAQ or use the search engine. There will always be nw stuff to talk about. I am only refering to some of the general questions...

 

[fir3wir3]

I dont come around here often...but I agree..that would get annoying and I think I'd become cynical

 

[Lore]

I think a topic I've seen over and over in the last few months is something along the lines of,

"Looking for a 19" monitor. Opinions?"
"Aperture grille vs. Shadow invar mask: Which is better?"

 

[TravisBickle]

well, it would be soooooo easy for the site masters to write at the top of the page "Try search- you question may already be answered!"

oh about the RAM, what do you use your computer for?
about the 19" monitor, wear a weightlifting belt if you ever have to move it.
and shadow masks don't deform as much when you beat on your monitor in frustration at your Radeon.

 

[Need4Speed]

Thats one way of encouraging it....

 

[thorin]

I agree but only parially.

Some questions expand as OS and HW change.

Also you can use the search engine to look up one of the other threads on the same topic which you posted to and just link it or copy/paste your post.

However I do think a FAQ area would be a good idea.

Other recurring topics include:
Modems (Win vs HW)
IDE Config (what to attach where, master/slave config info etc)

Thorin

 

[Windogg]

I used to answer a lot of questions but I've slowed down alot. Make little sense to post in a thread requesting help when 20 other people have already answered the question. I now try and pick out the ones that are ignored or have very few responses.

If the mods feel it's ok then so be it.

Windogg

 

[Oyeve]

Not to bitch, but, its called selective reading. Just don't read it. No one is forcing you to repeatedly answer the same questions over and over again. Just go on to the next post.


BTW....is the Geforce GTS faster than the Voodoo 5500? Should I get the PCI version? Is plextor a good cd-burner? Or should I go with HP?

 

[Need4Speed]

Yes, its called selective reading, but my better half wants to help people out.

 

[FaultCode]

here here

 

[Cosmic_Horror]

An FAQ would be an excellent idea, but remember that there are many websites that already have this information posted.

Alot of qustions are asked by new members that have only been here a little while and are finding there feet, and others by members that need/want fast answers.

The search engine is good but even the archive section doesn't seem to go back very far.

 

[sandorski]

A FAQ or FAQs would be a good idea as well as encouraging newbies to use the search, but the questions will still be asked. The reasons are simple enough, many people are still just getting on the net and discovering sites such as this one. For those people, they don't know what a FAQ is or what Search does. Another reason(this happens to me often)to not search is that often previous threads don't really address one's concerns. The same thing happens with FAQ's, for me 9/10 of the time FAQ's don't answer my questions so I usually don't even bother reading them.

A reason why these new threads are actually a good thing: With the steady influx of new members and do-it-yourself computer builder wannabes, going over the same thing helps to bring up the next generation, as it were. Not only that, but as sommeone else pointed out, what was considered to be true on a subject a month ago may not be true today. So re-hashing old subjects also helps keep info up-to-date.

 

[Impact55]

An FAQ would be too hard to set-up because a lot of the questions that are answered by people can be opinion, and tend to cause debate. ( Partition threads! )

 

[Neoplasia]

<< Not to bitch, but, its called selective reading. Just don't read it. No one is forcing you to repeatedly answer the same questions over and over again. Just go on to the next post. >>


Gotta agree with that. A FAQ wouldn't really do too much. If people are too lazy or don't want to use a search feature chances are they aren't going to use a FAQ either.

 

[MulLa]

Those Intel VS AMD threads never failes to attract a crowd tho

 

[Hanpan]

Maybe it's just me but lately there have been a lot of threads inquiring about raid.

 

[Need4Speed]

Maybe not an FAQ on partitoning, but there isnt much left for opinions when it comes to ide vs scsi or ntfs vs fat32, etc.

as far as not finding the answer in the serach function, i guess i would disagree with that. chances are that if a new member is asking a question about some kind of computer issue, its been answered before.

I am not trying to propose that we should discourage questions, but rather but those that are asked all the time at everyones fingertips without having to browse through endless threads.

 

[Oyeve]

ahhh! But we love helping out the new guy! Its fun.