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How many times have we seen someone post a question that has been posted many times before, and they quickly get a response that tells them to use the search?
Well, I have used the search myself extensively, and I noticed that I have a much better chance of finding a thread I have already visited and am looking to find again than finding a new thread on a topic.
I asked myself, why?
Here is what occurred to me:
If you know what you are searching for, it is easy to find. I mean, if you have seen the thread, you know the terms used to talk about the topic and can plug those terms into the search.
If you are looking for new information, you make up search terms that make sense to you, but often, those therms are not the ones used when people talk about the thing you are looking for and you end up with more useless results than good information.
It seems to me that if you are telling someone to search and not telling them how or what to search for, it seems you are not being helpful.
So, here is my suggestion, let me know what you guys think.
I am getting this from a reply that I got from Hal on thread some time ago.
He replied not just telling me to search, but with his search terms and a screen shot of the results, plus a link to the thread that answered the question.
Now, that may be above and beyond, but it would not be that big of a deal to provide search terms.
Well, I have used the search myself extensively, and I noticed that I have a much better chance of finding a thread I have already visited and am looking to find again than finding a new thread on a topic.
I asked myself, why?
Here is what occurred to me:
If you know what you are searching for, it is easy to find. I mean, if you have seen the thread, you know the terms used to talk about the topic and can plug those terms into the search.
If you are looking for new information, you make up search terms that make sense to you, but often, those therms are not the ones used when people talk about the thing you are looking for and you end up with more useless results than good information.
It seems to me that if you are telling someone to search and not telling them how or what to search for, it seems you are not being helpful.
So, here is my suggestion, let me know what you guys think.
I am getting this from a reply that I got from Hal on thread some time ago.
He replied not just telling me to search, but with his search terms and a screen shot of the results, plus a link to the thread that answered the question.
Now, that may be above and beyond, but it would not be that big of a deal to provide search terms.