Starting New Threads !

[Jimmy Joe]

I just read a somewhat blunt response to a thread, telling the poster to search rather than post.
I agree that one should search first.
But why is there such antagonism toward new threads?
Is space limited here or something?

Often when I search, I find a lot of info that does not pertain directly to the question in my mind.
What about when you find a thread that is 2 years old and has info no longer relevant?
What about the times when you find a great thread, but it is 8 pages long, and has drifted way off topic?
Should you just bump it up to the begining, putting it back on topic and hoping we will all read the whole thing? Or should you start another thread, precise and to the point?

just wondering what you all think is the best protocol...

[H-townbenzoboy]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Joe

I just read a somewhat blunt response to a thread, telling the poster to search rather than post.
I agree that one should search first.
But why is there such antagonism toward new threads?
Is space limited here or something?

Often when I search, I find a lot of info that does not pertain directly to the question in my mind.
What about when you find a thread that is 2 years old and has info no longer relevant?
What about the times when you find a great thread, but it is 8 pages long, and has drifted way off topic?
Should you just bump it up to the begining, putting it back on topic and hoping we will all read the whole thing? Or should you start another thread, precise and to the point?

just wondering what you all think is the best protocol...

I think you need to search before asking this question. Your answers are probably in the archives.
-Joe

[leathermang]

Part of the answer you may have given in your question...
That is having scores of threads about the same thing....
When one starts a new thread that is added to what must be waded through for future searchers...

If people KNOW that a subject was well thrashed out (AC,oil,cooling) in the past they are not necessarily going to do the typing all over again.. Larry Bible does some of that in the AC answers... but he also brags about typing a 100 words per minute... most are Much slower than that... and get tired of giving the same answers after a certain number of times...

If a person has really tried to search and still has a question I don't know of anyone that objects to trying to clear it up...and , YES, I think bringing up the best old thread which applies is a good idea.. as it attempts to keep the stuff together...

And sometimes a person knows that a particularly good thread can be found with certain words... like " sweet hot pickles" brings up Austin get together thread..

[TwitchKitty]

Most websites have to help make money to survive so posting is for information and for entertainment. It has to be fun to attract customers. I am all for fun, but... It is a Lord of the Flies thing. All of the repetitive posts make searching ineffective. It is a shame to see such a valuable resource get watered-down to the point that it is not useful. There is something about reinventing the wheel in there also.

I just have to guess user's names whose advice I would seek on an issue and use their names in the searches. If they have no posts I am out of luck or have to wade through a bunch of useless repetitive muck to maybe find something useful.

Two year old information on a twenty year old car is mostly pretty close and of course there are exceptions.

[Eric Eliel]

I generally use the search function before posting a question. I have found that those of you who have properly "titled" the post makes the search process much easier.

IE:
Bad Post Title: "I need help" "What do I do now?" "AC Question"
Good Post Title: "Upper Ball Joint Problem"

This makes searching for upper ball joint issues much easier, you only need to search titles.

[leathermang]

Even Better :
"Upper Ball joint problem 1985 SDL "

[boxscar]

IMHO, i think the search on here is pretty poor. lots of threads to read, threads get hijacked to senselessness. (is that a word?)
i get the feeling some of the "oldtimers" think every question is directed to them and they think they have to answer.... if you don't want to answer, ignore it, don't rail at someone for not reading 4 hours of material in the search.
IMHO

[sixto]

Originally Posted by leathermang

Even Better :
"Upper Ball joint problem 1985 SDL "

But there is no... never mind

There are two sure sure things on this forum -

- Newbies will get flack for bringing up topics that have been discussed. With regards to a 79 300D, what hasn't been discussed? You will get shot down for asking without searching, as well as for searching and not finding. Learn to live with it.

- Gray beards are ornery becuase there's nothing new to discuss beyond the creativity that goes into eBay ads. Seriously, a couple of forum members passed on in 2004. How much more mature can a forum be?

It's New Year's eve so a little noise is okay

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL