Numerous fascinating topics are posted. Yet there are so many responses that appear to chastise the topic introducer by saying "Oh, this has ALREADY been discussed. Before introducing a topic is it expected for each person to comb all the archives over the years to see if the same or similar question was previously discussed?
’
A bit late with that complaint. It’s old news, my friend.
Hell is Other People.
A lot of topics have been discussed but some keep coming up from newbies to the board. Don’t worry about it. Post your question and someone will point you to the old thread or tell you to search it for yourself. If you think GQ is bad you ought to see MPSIMS.
Let’s see. I lathered and I rinsed. But did I repeat?
No, especially since the search engine is not working properly. Often, a reference to an earlier discussion is a “signal” of sorts for someone to manually go through the old threads to see if an answer lies there. The “signal” is not necessarily to the original poster; it can be to anyone who remembers the topic. I don’t think most people mean it personally.
But I think most people do appreciate it, as a courtesy, if someone about to post a topic does three things:
Go through a search of Cecil’s columns and Mailbag items (that search engine works fine, and this is highly recommended).
Think about whether the answer to the question could be found with a simple web search. There are a lot of smart people here who want to explore different topics, but who get upset if they think they are being used as a homework tool or a substitute for laziness.
Page through at least a couple of weeks topics to see if the topic came up recently. New people to the board should do this anyway, if only to get a feel for the personality of the board.
Livin’ on Tums, Vitamin E and Rogaine
Skelton–yes. The previous columns are also available in an easily searched and portable format known as a “book.” These “books” are available through the Straight Dope store for a reasonable price.
Yup. That’s exactly what people expect.
That’s why there are (ha) searchable archives.
Otherwise you have the problem that has plagued newsgroups and message boards since the beginning: streams of newcomers who ask the same questions over and over again.
This is why FAQS (frequently asked questions) were devised, and why good Net/newsgroup etiquette insists that you familiarize yourself with the FAQ before you participate.
Yes, it’s easier to just ask a question than it is to do a bit of research. It just reduces the quality of life a bit for everyone else on the board.
If you feel that there is something new to be added to a previously discussed topic, you can always reference it by saying, “I have this new and fascinating angle on this <URL> topic.” This has the advantage of impressing people that you’ve done your homework.