Search guidance
 

I know this has been discussed but we still have issues with people not knowing how to search.

It has been brought up that some forums have a feature to bring up possibly related threads while you're typing the title of a new thread so that everyone who starts a thread will end up seeing some search results.

I was also thinking that simply adding a page to the registration process with an image showing where the search button is located with a link to a searching guide and a "I understand" check box. At least this would be something that would be more difficult to ignore and there would be no doubt that people could at least find the search button. Obviously the necessary information is available in stickies, but those don't seem to do any good.

I felt this should be brought up because someone posted about a problem and that person searched his or her car to find out more instead of searching the forum...

I remember that thread. I think the problem was that someone told him to search, but didn't say where. It does seem intuitive that if there's a problem with a car you should look at the car.

When I suggest that someone search I'll say something like "search this site" or "search this forum" or "google". I see that if a search of the car is needed (e.g., finding the duck lips or the cabin air filter) people will usually say where to look.

So there should be a rule that if someone is told to search, it's the responsibility of the teller to say where. Not sure if that warrants a check box on the sign-up, though.

Ken

:lol: Click on the first thread linked in my sig.

Sure - that's great for someone who knows they're supposed to search the forums.

But I have this horrible mental picture of what happens when someone is told "Search noob."

Ken

See, I knew there was information about how to search, but it's never shoved in their faces when they first become members. There might be stickies with the useful information, but those get ignored when the shiny new thread button is so easy to spot. At least if it was required for part of the registration process, it would grab their attention so they'd at least have a chance of catching the basic idea of how to search.