FTO AUSTRALIA

Now I may be the only one but I am getting a little tired of seeing "Use the Search Button" all the time. Don't get me wrong people should use it but asking a question that has already been asked could spark new conversation on a topic or better yet promote new ideas on the same topic and after all isn't that why we are all here.

To me it seems what's being said is if it's already covered in anyway, shape or form then don't post and I fear if it continues this forum will die a slow death which I don't and I am sure many others don't want to see.

I have seen forums come and go in my time and don't want to see it happen here because nobody wants to talk anymore.

By all means search but don't jump on people instantly for not.

Maybe this has been covered before I didn't want to search for it

Im waiting for Ruchi's reply

Over time - hopefully this will ease, and with the work Ruchi is doing as head of the TWG (Technical Working Group) - this site should soon have a much more user friendly guide on FAQ's, how-to's, where to go's - etc.... etc..... etc.....

This should make finding what you need easier

and remember - the TWG is a work in progress - so submit any ideas you have to Ruchi and he and us (the committee) will discuss and possibly implement depending on whether the site can support the idea

Regards
Tanya

I totally agree with you Dr. Jones!

Sooner or later, there will be no more topics to discuss, because everything will be covered.

I'm totally agreed with Dr_Jones too. As some of the new post had proven, even the topic been cover before, lots of member are still going to reply it even after the Nazi had posted "THE SEARCH" or similar, & that generate a less boring forum.

Here's the sample i'm refering to

http://www.ftoaustralia.com/modules.php ... pic&t=3574

what the...... there's a search button??



for what it's worth, i agree with you 100% Dr Jones... such appalling attitudes are more friggin' annoying, counter-productive and intimidating more than anything in my opinion...

having said that, i have seen cases where ppl gets "lectured" for digging up an old post from the grave... so, if you can't post a new thread and you are being lectured when you dig up an old post, what's the point of participating in these forums then??

i will not comment any further because given my history in this club, it is a very sensitive issue and i believe things could get ugly as there will be certain individual(s) who will feel inclined to declare World War 3 on me so pfffft...

edit: i would also just like to add, that such measures are very difficult to enforce and it will come to a point where participants / members will feel that this forum is just too strict and will be turned off by it... (and i suspect this is already happening for a while) - on that note I am in no way implying that the committee is to blame here, all i'm saying to the Nazi's is "LAY OFF AND TAKE A CHILL PILL"

end rant...

[said with humour] Do a bloody search, this has been covered before!

In fact the same issues have been covered by a thread started for the total opposite reason of this one! - i.e. too many topics being repeated (and it wasn't started by me)

http://www.ftoaustralia.com/modules.php ... pic&t=3243

I find it interesting the one-sided opinions that are being raised here and how strongly they are being argued. I believe anyone who takes a very one-sided view on this topic, from either perspective, is missing the point.

I'll even go as far as to say some people are just sh*t stirring rather than trying to do what is actually best for the club.

In short, those who are being labled as "Search Nazi's" want to ensure these forums remain a valuable resource by centralising information so it is easier to find, while those doing the name calling are concerned that people won't start new topics or will interact and socialise less.

For this club and its forums to continue to flourish, both need to occur, not one or the other. We need these forums to remain the valuable resource that they are and also to encourage participation and enhance club spirit. To argue just one point only shows that you are missing the significance of the other.

To help explain to the name callers what us "Search Nazi's" are talking about let me slip on my mangement hat and introduce the "Do a search!!!! Matrix"



To quote our fearless leader:

Stephen Morison wrote:what annoys me is people who have been here for a long time who ask questions that have been answered since they became a member...

You have some valid points and I can see where you are coming from but quoting a great man

Dr_Jones wrote:asking a question that has already been asked could spark new conversation on a topic or better yet promote new ideas on the same topic and after all isn't that why we are all here.

The question I ask is do we want this site to be a stopover where people pop in>do search>then go? Or do we want people to get involved and share ideas? Doing a search isn't going to move peoples brains into thinking and ideas mode is it? Well maybe for the person doing the search.

I don't see anyone saying "don't post" what I see is people saying "search first". There's quite a big difference and I don't understand why you would interpret one to mean the other

In fact, as some of you are pointing the finger specifically at me, let me quote what I often say "search twice, post once" (that's "search twice, post once" not "search and don't post").

By searching first, if the person cannot find an answer to their question or has a different point of view, they would then add their comments to an existing thread that is relevant to the area of concern. This way the information stays centralised and easier to find, meaning this club and its forum become a more valuable resource.

The "spark" of new conversation would then continue in a relevant topic rather than diluting the information over many topics.

i'll going in on this rant too!..

the thing is some people dont know what to serch for. for example, when i first started, i was looking for information about stalling during idle. took me ages but it was rewarding. and thats why im here. my point is, if a newbie goes "my car is stalling", and some guy goes "stepper motor" its not going to mean much .

but topics like stepper motor testing, window guides etc are all listed many times and not much has or can be changed. most of the time people are just lazy to do a search, but i have to admit, sometimes the search is tricky. for example ruchi's head light mod, i probably would have never found it if it wasnt for ruchi.


ps, please ignore this post if it doesnt make sense. i have no idea what i've ranted on about and is primarly to pad out this thread. *gets ready for a flaming*

Indeed you aren't saying don't post but I know there would be some including myself who have searched and maybe not found what they are looking for. Then they don't want to post a new topic because it has most likely been covered before even after a search and I don't want to be told to go and use the search button after I have already tried.

Also I find and I may be the only one but I hang around a lot of forums and even as a moderator I find it a bit confusing when a thread from two years ago pops up out of nowhere and half the people including the person who posted it get an email saying there was a topic reply from your topic "I loved the year 1999"

The mere nature of the internet is information but to want it so streamlined when a club like this starts to gain momentuum may be asking a bit much. It's what happens when lots of people join a forum.

Smorison what are your thoughts?

Let's put it this way, if there were 2 identical threads, one of which was 10 pages long (because it was dug up over and over again which is filled to the brim with convulated sh*t) and the other was 3 pages (which was the most recent and less likely to be convulated), I know which one I'd rather look at... If i need more info than that, well i'm happy to search for it at my own convenience/leisure.

Besides, digging up an old post has the potential to confuse people, as this has been shown in the past... (and some of you would probably remember how fux0red that ended up - 'nuff said)

IMO there's no such thing as the 'perfect forum'... i have been a part of at least a dozen forums for years and sh*t like this is so common it's not funny. I won't pretend to say or imply that I know it all but, I'm sure we are all grown up enough to appreciate (and respect) the fact that not everybody share the same level of "forum-savviness" as others, whether they be newcomers or old-timers... PEACE.

what are we searching for

keeping in mind, if it needs discussion, and the old one is no longer relavant, sure start a new thread (maybe add a link to show you have made a effort to "search" and how it relates) but things like

how do i
- take off my bumpber bar
- what lights are in the fto
- where is my fuse box
- window guides
- test my steper motor
etc.

they arent going to change. so i dont think there is a real need to start a new thread on them.

then again, the moderators might like to make a thread with links to common topics, like www.ftooc.com

Valid points.......

and no... I don't think there will ever be the "perfect" forum - as much as you try - someone will not like something, oh well *shrugs*

the primary reason the TWG was created is to help members - there is so much valuable information from our member base - and its stuck all over the place, a bit here, a bit there, and searching to find the right thing can be very confusing - especially as everyone's terminology can differ a little bit (as someone quoted some time ago - you say pot-ate-o - I say pot-art-o)

but..... saying this..... the project the TWG has been created for is HUGE!! so it will take a little/lot of time

All that I can say on this is, please, everyone have a little patience. If someone starts a new thread on a topic that has been covered before (and is something that does not need re-hashing) - then posting up links to the previous thread would be helpful, don't jump on anyone harshly, think how you would like someone to respond to you -and post based on that....

For those of you that have information to contribute, as per Ruchi's post in the TWG forum - can you please submit this information to him - so it can be used to benefit all members

Also - on a side note, smorison is extremely busy at the moment, so if anyone has any urgent concerns, please direct them to either myself or Robert, we can contact him if necessary:-
kaveman (robert) Club Vice President
teania (tanya) Club Secretary

Regards
Tanya

dannyboyau wrote:what are we searching for

LOL! The best comment yet in this thread!

One way to mitigate the "multiple threads for the same topic" is to have a comprehensive FAQ section (i.e. FTO Information) which is updated frequently. I don't think this facility is being used or maintained to its full capability.