Searching or starting a new discussion?

[floatinghat]

I was debating if this should be asked.  On this site I often see the comment telling people to use the search feature. But I want ask the question, these days where bandwidth and storage is almost free and most people have been on enough forums to understand how and when search.  Why not stimulate conversation, unless the user base here is stagnent.  Information and contributors change with time (if they didn't little information has been gained since the days of Dorian's site or George Davis input).

Is reviewing an old topic always bad?

[66andBlue]

Reviewing - or better reviving - an old topic is not bad at all provided the information in the topic being revived/reviewed is insufficient.
However, it takes a lot of effort to answer questions succinctly, to the point and possibly with a detailed photo.  If the same question - for example, "how do a I close my soft top, the fabric has shrunk" - has been asked already 50+ times then a gentle reminder to use the search function is not out of line. My $0.02.

BTW, most members here appreciate it very much if they know where a questioner is located and what kind of model he/she is driving. It is not difficult adding this information to the "Profile".  

[Peter van Es]

On most technology oriented forums, asking a question without doing a modicum of research yourself (i.e. without using the search function) is considered bad form indeed. It will sometimes even lead to flame wars or expulsion.

Here we tend to welcome new members, and allow them leeway. So we tend to get the same question asked over and over again. For the regulars (i.e. the full members that really read every message) this can get rather old, but I've never seen it lead to nastiness. Clearly we are a polite and forgiving bunch, keen to help out other members.

The downside of the forum as a knowledge base is precisely that: conversations get sidetracked, multiple opinions are given without being able to say which is preferred: in short, there is a lot of noise. We've been trying to condense some of the knowledge in the Technical Manual. However, that is a volunteer effort, and very few members actually help correct and add to the Technical Manual.

When we started the T.M., people were afraid that the forum would die… it did not.

So: try and find out if your issue has been covered before, and then post a question. Reopening an old thread is ok, if you really believe there's something that needs to be added or clarified. At least it means you've looked for it…

Peter

[floatinghat]

Peter,

I wasn't referring to a post of mine but I'll look to see if I was told to search (because I did and asked for some specific information).

I viewed a couple of posts by people and noted that they were directed to search.  My search on those subjects provided a lot of "hits" one of the older threads from 2004 or 05 had the most relevant information (IMO) to the topic. However, after the OP was told to search there were some relevant and updated points and information that I did not see provided in the historical posts.  That is what prompted me to create this post that I assumed would not be taken as the "friendlest" of posts, depending on the thickness of skins. 

Another reason I asked because I don't notice this trend on other forums where I am a member / and admittedly more active and thought I would ask the question.  I also understand the community here is smaller than the other communities and the TM is a in depth FAQ which could be part of the reason.

But, I believe your forum you set rules and guidelines, so delete the thread if it is considered out of context for the forum. 

66,  You are right in line with my thinking, Shrunk soft top, someone determines a new method.  Do they create a new thread and ask, add it to an existing thread or keep it to themselves?  RE-


 

[stickandrudderman]

I much prefer it if old threads are resurrected by new people after the same information.
it makes searching in the future much quicker and is more liable to yield beneficial results.
I will quite often post to old threads with new information in order that there's an easily identified and followed train of thought or development.
Where there are multiple threads on the same subject it becomes tedious to have to trawl through several threads in order to piece together the information required.
perhaps more so on other forums but I have adopted it as a policy.