Maybe time for a posting requirement before asking questions???

I never understood it myself as when I first join I spent alot of time reading and searching for questions I had.

Some want answers without doing any work to get it and some really have no clue how to go about and search so maybe a stickie showing how to search a forum with pics to help and direct new members to it?

I would encourage everyone to go over to the gold refining forum and see how a good forum can be ruined by too many stupid rules. It is truly an uncomfortable, hostile place where new people are clearly not welcomed. Just ask one simple question and you can be permanently banned.
Yes, the repetitive questions here can be annoying at times, but you learn something new every day. You might catch something you missed before.

A lot of people don't understand forum etiquette in general. I join very, very few forums, since I take my membership seriously in a community. I lurk for long periods of time before any posting, anywhere, to get a feel for the members and the norms. I try to share and contribute; I avoid asking questions without doing my due diligence research first.

But then, I've been a professional forum moderator for over a decade, and I'm pretty potty trained by now.

People new to forums as a "thing" are often very, very lazy, but they don't know better.

Like Jilly, I'm selective on the forums I join, an my participation in them. Over the years I've visited many, an just remained a lurker, due to various reasons. Strict rules, rude members, lots of flaming or trolls, etc.

Maybe a sticky in each section with a link to the popular questions. I.e. - What gas does a tv have in it?(insert eye roll here) Are mylars worth anything? How do I tell which metal is which? etc. etc.

Maybe it could be set up for an auto email to be sent to what ever email was used for registering with a reminder to search first, an a link to the various stickies. Other forums do this, as a way to remind you of certain rules. You know something like..

"Dear so an so,

Thanks for joining our community. Here's a few tips to help you get started." add in some links to various topics, a mention about searching first, or something like that. Then add a link to have them click to get started. A 101 guide to the forums if you will. The link can also be an activation for the forum. Once you click it, your taken to the 101 guide, an then have the ability to post. You take away the option of ignoring the link. It also reinforces the search first, ask second thought process. Nobody can then say, they didn't know, without showing they didn't pay one ounce of attention to the email or helpful posts.

I dunno, just a thought.

We're reps of this forum, whether we like it or not, folks lurking get their impression based off of us active members. We're the face of the forum. Do we want that face to be one of strict rules an rudeness to someone who didn't know better? or was their first time visiting a forum? Or do we want to it be...something better? I'd rather teach an mold then yell an scold. That's just me tho. The ones that don't get it, an keep asking things that've been asked an pointed to where the answers are, eventually leave on their own. We've seen this happen time an time again.

I know I got welcomed by several veteran members, an hopefully they find I've been a helpful member of the community. I don't know it all,but I can provide a new way of trying something, I can answer questions, heck I can even be somewhat amusing at times, an why yes, every now an then..I have something new to add, that helps a newer member, or even one who came before me.

We're all here to share our knowledge, learn new things, make the most money we can out of what we are into. Yes yes..I'm done now. /end novel and sermon.

Sirscrapalot -There are two kinds of teachers: the kind that fill you with so much quail shot that you can't move, and the kind that just gives you a little prod behind and you jump to the skies. - Robert Frost

Bonus : You can get help from teachers, but you are going to have to learn a lot by yourself, sitting alone in a room. - Dr. Seuss

I just went back & looked at my intro thread & the other ones that I've started here just to see how I sound to myself now a little over 2 years later (hopefully that makes sense) I think that it's all in the individual - some people are rude, selfish, & have a deep rooted egocentric way that they live their lives - while others understand the concept of common courtesy & respect that is automatically given to another person. I never had belonged to a forum prior to here nor was I aware of basic forum etiquette but basic decency I think got me by ok. I may be alone in this belief but I think that it would be a waste of time to put more effort into making in easier to find basic information or to "hold the hand" of a newbie more so than has already been done. If the person wants to put the effort in then they're going to - otherwise they won't - not in the beginning or the end. Of course there are the uncommon instances where just a nudge is all they need but I'm sure they will be easy to spot. Not trying to be an elitist or anything - just my opinion of course

Well said Julie. I read what I posted earlier and want a redo. To many rules not good nor helpful, I do like a "Rookie" badge just to remind the rest of us not to blast a swimmer out of the water.

I agree about the badge thing

I'm just fine with a badge.

My thoughts were just that thoughts..I'm not in favor of more rules. Just tossing out suggestions.

I'm quite ok with things the way they are. I got patience.

I'm a glass half full kind of guy.

I stand by the we are reps of the forum, how we act influences are newer members, an the lurkers that decide to join.

I offer no refunds on my .02 tho.

Sirscrapalot - Patience is the key to a stress free life, that..an humor.

I like the rookie badge idea. Maybe also something along the lines of no posting in certain subforums (such as Tips and Advice) until a certain length of time passed and/or certain number of relevant posts. Or even no posting until an introduction has been made.