searches - here and elswhere (gogle)

Submitted: Saturday, Sep 02, 2006 at 15:51
ThreadID: 37342 Views:2661 Replies:9 FollowUps:26
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Sort of a gripe, but not really. Quite often, some posters are shot down a little about 'do a post search, google etc'. While this is a good suggestion, almost every issue you could imagine has been covered (for travel/4wd) on this forum, so should we never post again?

I like it when something comes up that hasn't been covered for a while, a few people may have had another experience on the topic since the last thread, the 'knowledgeable ones' may have been bush and missed the thread last time. Some new product, member....etc...

I'm not saying don't suggest a search, but at times it seems to be put across a bit rudely.........I wonder if this has been covered before LOL

Cheers Andrew
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Reply By: PK Eildon (VIC) - Saturday, Sep 02, 2006 at 16:17

Saturday, Sep 02, 2006 at 16:17
Andrew

"I wonder if this has been covered before"

Course it has **** DO A SEARCH ****

:)must agree with your comments though. The trouble with gaining experience is you forget how little you knew at the start. The novice asks the what the experienced sees as obvious or inane. The asking needs to be encouraged; that's how you become experienced.



PK
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Reply By: Notso - Saturday, Sep 02, 2006 at 16:20

Saturday, Sep 02, 2006 at 16:20
Mate 99% of people on the forum think the same way, there's only a couple who reckon it is their duty to educate??
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Reply By: Max - Sydney - Saturday, Sep 02, 2006 at 16:22

Saturday, Sep 02, 2006 at 16:22
Andrew

We do need to be sensitive to all the factors you raised, and often an oldy gets a good run anyway.

If its any consolation, this site is a heck of a lot more accepting than some others. There is a caravan site I belong to, and at times the members act like kids, tearing each other to bits. I just choose not to contribute to threads that are getting nasty, and persist because some of the techo stuff is helpful.

Perhaps ExplorOz is well moderated - certainly when I have raised the odd issue I get a quick response from David or Michelle.
Max
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Follow Up By: GU - Saturday, Sep 02, 2006 at 17:08

Saturday, Sep 02, 2006 at 17:08
Could I have the name of the caravan site Max?

Sounds like it could be entertaining, being a caravan tower myself.

No doubt I will something in the meantime.

GU
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Follow Up By: GU - Saturday, Sep 02, 2006 at 17:10

Saturday, Sep 02, 2006 at 17:10
See I'm learning already. I just realised I left the word "learn" out of the last sentence.

I think I need a nap.

GU
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Follow Up By: Max - Sydney - Saturday, Sep 02, 2006 at 18:44

Saturday, Sep 02, 2006 at 18:44
Hi GU

The site is groups.msn.com/Caravanersforum/ - see how you go.

Regards
Max
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Follow Up By: GU - Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 10:55

Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 10:55
Thank you MAX.
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Reply By: Member - Doug T (W.A) - Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 11:40

Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 11:40
Andrew
Only just a couple of days ago i see 2 new members, we were all new members once , I can remeber when I pressed the PTT on my first CB and what response i was going to get , so yes we all should make new comers welcome
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Reply By: GoneTroppo Member (FNQ) - Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 17:51

Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 17:51
I do agree wholeheartedly Andrew.

The other issue is that "things" are forever changing (sometimes even for the better) so what was the definitive advice/discussion/recommedation last week may be entirely altered this week and warrants a new look.
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Reply By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Moses - Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 18:23

Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 18:23
Andrew, I did yesterday what is often suggested and that was put Ironmn to the search line. Search didn't come up with one post more recent than the 5th of July, putting the lie to the old suggestion to SEARCH. It just didn't do it.
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Follow Up By: GaryInOz (Vic) - Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 19:52

Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 19:52
Site Link

Revealed 107 matches, no way of sorting by date, but the one of the more recent ones was 3 August 2006 (third one down on list).
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Follow Up By: GaryInOz (Vic) - Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 19:53

Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 19:53
Correction...28th August 2006...
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Follow Up By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Moses - Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 20:31

Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 20:31
Interesting Gary, when I tried yesterday all I got was archive material. One wonders why.......
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Follow Up By: GaryInOz (Vic) - Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 20:55

Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 20:55
I tried it when the lasyt person tried to start (yet) another thread on it a week or so ago nd still came up with a loooooong list.

Noting your entry above, you may have misspelt it????
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Follow Up By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Moses - Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 21:24

Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 21:24
As I said, I had looked for Ironman but with an 'a' mate. It did come up with the archives............ Sure I leave out letters in paragraphs but try to check out where it is in search engines. Perhaps it was the capital 'I' that was the problem.
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Follow Up By: GaryInOz (Vic) - Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 21:36

Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 21:36
My typing aint the best either LOL
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Follow Up By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Moses - Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 22:26

Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 22:26
psssttt, Gary, I saw from the heading we aren't the only ones. LOL
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Follow Up By: GaryInOz (Vic) - Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 22:33

Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 22:33
...aye sore that two...
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Follow Up By: Member - andrew B (Kununurra) - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 07:03

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 07:03
The spell check didn't check the heading - noticed it after posting but kept quiet hoping no-one would notice.
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Reply By: GaryInOz (Vic) - Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 18:37

Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 18:37
It is not an unreasonable ask to expect people to do a search before asking a question. It is simply good manners to make an effort yourself, before expecting other people to go out of their way to do your "work" for you.

"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and proove it beyond all doubt". Do YOUR homework and ask relevant questions...no-one will have an issue with that.

The information you will get from a google search is likely to be relevant and include more than the required amount of information you are after. It's not like there's a shortage of information available 24/7 on the net.
AnswerID: 192522

Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 01:30

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 01:30
Gary,

Sorry mate but I can't agree with you in any shape or form.

It is totally unreasonable to expect everyone to be instant experts on using search engines, either internal to this site, or external and then criticize that person when they don't do it.

It someone doesn't want to help someone else with an answer to a question, then don't criticize them....just shut up and don't reply at all.....simple.

Bill


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Follow Up By: Member - andrew B (Kununurra) - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 07:11

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 07:11
In my experience, Gooogle gets great information, but is generally by the seller or the manufacturer. The great thing about this site is the 'I put one of these on my car last year and it was a waste of time and money' etc. Maybe we should all start a post with 'I did a search and didn't get the info I wanted'.

This is by far the most polite, well informed and set out forum I have found, and the only one I regularly use as a consequence. I just get annoyed when someone feels they need to shout 'DO A SEARCH', or being critical. The best ones of late are the constant Battery/isolater, and The diesel gas ones. I'm especially interested in the Diesel gas one, as I want to get it done soon, and although its been done and you can find it in a search, as it has only really been in the market for a short time, a new post can get some more recent experiences out that aren't in old posts. Not many people add stuff to a post once it is off the first page.

Cheers Andrew
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Follow Up By: GaryInOz (Vic) - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 11:15

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 11:15
The other thing about doing a search is that you can tack your experience on to the end of an existing post, effectively concentrating all the knowledge in one area/thread to minimise (guess what??) the amount of searching for the next poor soul looking for the exaact same information. If you are not looking to buy then in google add " -ebay - buy - sell" (without quote marks).

Classic example was the Ironman issue where we now have information about the product, its fittment range, and various opinions about its operation and worth spread across 107 threads....Simple searches would have reduced this number, prevented repetition, and made relevant information easier to find in the first place....and left it that way for the next couple of dozen people that did a search for the same information (so as not to be selfish by starting yet another unnecessary thread). Doing a search, even by simply putting the basic product/service into the search box and hitting "enter" (not that difficult!!!!), is simply common courtesy.

Tell me something, do you go to the Supermarket to buy fresh food asking everyone around you for directions to the various products, and then expect the Supermarket to provide you with instructions on how to prepare a meal from what you have bought, or do you look at your cookbook, walk into the Supermarket and look for the products on the list, asking for assistance only when needed, and buy what you need? The first instance you have not bothered searching for yourself, the second instance you have. As anyone in retail will tell you, it's much easier to look after the second person..............

It does come down to "nettiquette", common courtesy to other net users.

I also include the "What is the best .....? questions into the same league as not searching. There is no correct answer, only opinions of what may or may not suit your needs. If you do not elaborate sufficiently on your needs then we really can't help....

People say that the most important things on a forum are the people, I would suggest it is what the people write or have written.
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Follow Up By: Member - Mike DID - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 11:33

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 11:33
garyinoz - the purpose of supermarket is to sell things - the ONLY purpose of this forum is to allow people to exchange information. So if someone asks for some information (rather than offering it) we shouldn't be surprised, just because it's obvious to us, as regulars, how recently the information was discussed.

If someone asks for some info that was recently covered, I'll find the info and give them a link to the info and explain how to do a search - if I don't have time to do that I'll do nothing. Telling someone to "do a search" isn't helping them - and that should be the spirit of this forum.
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Follow Up By: GaryInOz (Vic) - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 11:56

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 11:56
"...the purpose of supermarket is to sell things...."

Got it in one. They are not there to tell you ewhere every item is, they are there to stock the items on the shelf so that you can go and find them for yourself, asking for assistance IF NECESSARY (not for every item that you want to buy).

The "shelves" of this forum have been stocked with information about most products and services on the maket relevant to our needs. Have a look on the "shelves" first.

I too will help out wherever I can, but with the Ironman issue it was at the point where a poster didn't even scroll down to the bottom of the forum page (where another poster had a similar Q about the Ironman suspension), and I for one simply stated to do a search for "Ironman" as it had been covered several times already in recent weeks. Was I being unreasonable, or were they being lazy?
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Reply By: Muddy doe (SA) - Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 21:18

Sunday, Sep 03, 2006 at 21:18
The ability to sort search results by date was something we had until a fairly recent update but now they are automatically sorted by rank and then date. If you do a fairly general search like "Ironman" then you get lots of hits and the order is not real apparant.

Would love to be able to sort these results manually by post ID or by response date so I can look at the latest info first.

Cheers
Muddy
AnswerID: 192551

Follow Up By: Member - andrew B (Kununurra) - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 07:13

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 07:13
Yep, I did a search yesterday that confused me, had to do a lot of reading - would have been easier to do a post......

Cheers Andrew
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Follow Up By: GaryInOz (Vic) - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 11:20

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 11:20
Easier for you, but compounded the problem for the next person....................

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Follow Up By: Member - andrew B (Kununurra) - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 11:30

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 11:30
Gday Gary

Toungue was in cheek a bit with the easier to do a new post comment. In some ways, I like the way things get re-posted, sometimes I don't bother reading them if they don't interest me or if I have no knowlege....The search date thing would be good to have back, I'm sure it used to happen. As I said above, once a thread is off the 1st page not much ever gets added to them, so a new post will get more up to date info.

The new post, however, should be a more specific question as info from privious posts could be elaborated upon. There was some suggestion a while ago about having seperate Forums for separate subjects. It was generally shot down (politely). I like to be able to see all topics in this format, but maybe a separate page with the threads in topics would make searching easier, but also make the site more expensive to run....

Cheers Andrew
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Follow Up By: GaryInOz (Vic) - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 12:36

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 12:36
It still would have tied everything together in one "conversation" in the thread, rather than waiting for next weeks/months/years "episode".

As the current format of this forum is, it is always going to be easier to keep everything "tight and relevant" on a topic to topic basis rather than having information scattered throughout everyone elses irrelevant information.

By searching and tacking on to the end of relevant threads you can end up with the "horizontal" thread type forum, instead of the loooooong list of occasionally connected threads we have now.
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Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Tuesday, Sep 05, 2006 at 02:45

Tuesday, Sep 05, 2006 at 02:45
Just like you are doing with this thread Gary?:-)))

I would just as soon give a person a link, or explain in more detail, than say "do a search". That will just turn a person away from this forum and achieve nothing positive.
Bill


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Follow Up By: GaryInOz (Vic) - Tuesday, Sep 05, 2006 at 11:05

Tuesday, Sep 05, 2006 at 11:05
Two types of posters:

1. "I've done a search and can not find the information on a particular subject. Does anyone know.......?"

2 "I'm too lazy to look for myself (even to scroll to the bottom of the page), but can you look for me and tell me what I want to know?"

Sand Man, you are welcome to the 2's..............
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Follow Up By: GaryInOz (Vic) - Tuesday, Sep 05, 2006 at 11:09

Tuesday, Sep 05, 2006 at 11:09
Addit: I don't really thing the "2's" of this world are likely to contribute anything meaningful to the forum anyway, so the forum may well be better off without them.
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Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Tuesday, Sep 05, 2006 at 16:16

Tuesday, Sep 05, 2006 at 16:16
Thanks for that contribution Gary,

Now other forumites can better classify you.

Bill


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Reply By: Member - Mike DID - Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 11:37

Monday, Sep 04, 2006 at 11:37
I think a reason that many people have trouble finding recent posts on a topic is because the default for this forum is "Sort by Post ID" rather than by "Sort by Response Time".

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