How do we get people to use the Search facility

[ed_pete]

When the same questions crop up again and again...

(oops I haven't checked to see if anyone's asked this before so apologies in advance)

[Mark]

I have added "Please search for a cleaner/builder/tiler etc before posting a wanted ad" next to the text box in the wanted section, but I don't know other than that. I'll wait for an idea to arrive and then try that.

Making people put an "I'm looking for" question in the wanted section is hard enough

[edited once]

[ed_pete]

Replying to my own question, how about a sticky in the "General ED issues / gossip" and "Wanted, offered & recommendations" sections with the heading "PLEASE USE THE SEARCH BEFORE ASKING A QUESTION - IT MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN ANSWERED. IF YOU DON'T THEN PREPARE TO RECEIVE SHORT SHRIFT"

[mockney piers]

There have been stickies with etiquette in the past, and various discussion around this.

But human nature the way it is*, we just have to put up with it and as you did, leave a little suggestion for next time.

*man finds out about forum, man wants a driving range, man posts asking for one, man may not be well versed in netiquette and indeed it may be man's one and only visit to the forum until man thinks hmm I wonder what's a good curry house and man revisits with new posting.

Ho hum, what can you do?

[peckhamboy]

When someone posts a new thread, could you have a pop-up box that asks them if they've already searched? They then have to click yes before they can post the thread. Not foolproof of course but may reduce duplication a bit and at least make people consider it before posting.

[mockney piers]

Even with all the best pointers, stickies etc, people will still do it.

I can't believe people don't just google the key words in their question more often, but that's just me.

[Mark]

I think that would be annoying to the majority peckhamboy, like those "are you sure?" Windows buttons.

[peckhamboy]

It would, but might be the lesser of two evils. After all it's only annoying to the one person wanting to start a new thread rather than to everyone on the forum. And only delays the thread by a second (unless you haven't searched first, of course...)

[Mark]

Good point, I'll have to have a think about the least offensive method to the users and then the programming and whether it's possible on this system.

[Keef]

The thing is, I don't know why we all get so annoyed by the duplication, surely we can just ignore it, and us more old skool users can try and post links to older threads.

Besides, just because we had a conversation a while back, a load of newly registered people may wish to have that same conversation.

It does annoy me when people don't search for a plumber or something though.

[SeanMacGabhann]

Keef in one of his more chilled moods today methinks ;-)

I've become hot and bothered in the past about this but have adopted Keef's advice and chilled. But when people open a thread even tho there is at least one other within 5cms away from them on the screen I don't hold much hope for that person...

[Keef]

Agreed, there were far too many bonfire/firework threads!

[ed_pete]

And now another bloody Yoga one (6)

[OutOfFocus]

I can't believe people don't just google the key

words in their question more often, but that's just me.

I sometimes think that, but often people (inc me) want a bit of human contact. Sometimes you can strike lucky doing a search, sometimes you get a load of crap.

I don't mind new treads repeating old topics - maybe there are different Yoga classes now. But I get annyoed with multiple threads at the same time.

[mockney piers]

well said Mr Black.

[SteveT]

Would it be useful to have an A to Z of trades and specialities that have been recommended by our forum users?

Would that prevent duplication of threads?