Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Being a relative noob, I don't want to step on any toes or look like I am pushing my weight around, but I notice a lot of repeat questions/threads on the same, often very simple, topics here.

Being a forum junkie and a member of many different sites, I've become a bit of a stickler for using the SEARCH function. I also find myself telling people to "USE SEARCH!!" from time to time. Forum rage, much??

I know there is the FAQ section, but is there a sticky that we could place in the New Members section, gently suggesting the use of the Search function? Or maybe the FAQ could be stickied at the top of every different section? It might go a long way to keeping the various boards uncluttered and different topics in their respective locations...

...and yes, I searched before I posted this

Sometimes the forum search function isn't too friendly and discounts or ignores part of the search terms, but Google can do a thorough job to scour the forum if you add to the search criteria:

site:www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum

e.g.
site:www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum chift pist system


Scott

Its a hard one.

There is loads of info and threads on the forum now. Other than what you have stated there is also the IBC of aquaponics etc that all provide the simple answers. From the Board index the link to "basics" once would of been the best place for someone first working out...well...the basics, but it is getting quite lengthy in there now too. There is also the "useful information" link. Its all there, just need to browse.

Unfortunately you cant teach someone how to use a forum or use the search function in 5 minutes so you can only hope that they go to the effort of looking/searching/read/learn as much as they can before posting a question. Sometimes it may be laziness, sometimes it may be computer illiteracy or maybe just simply overwhealmed by the forum itself and unable to work it out.

It might be possible to open another link called something like "commonly asked questions" but then I think you will find you will still get the questions due to the mentioned reasons and we will be constantly refering them to that link,...... and around it goes.

I enjoy helping new members here and the common questions will come and go, no biggy.

Although its alarming sometimes how many people jump into aquaponics before learning something about it first.

I thought this was going to be another "I can't get the search function to work properly" thread.. I don't know if there's an answer to solve the problem... A few things have been tried over the years, I tend to wonder if it's just one of those things, I've seen these problems on every type of forum..

Until recently I was never a fan of search "clouds", but on very active forums (fora?) such as BYAP, they work quite well as the number of genuine searches will exceed the rubbish searches. I think the clouds are improved if they track the entire phrase as well as the individual words within the phrase. They take time to seed, but once they're populated they can prove quite valuable for users (some of whom, for whatever reason cannot use the in-built search!)

I can definitely vouch for this method of search. As they say on the interwebs "Google is your friend!"

On the topic of friendly and helpful, I am a member at XDA Developers (phone modding) and they have some very harsh methods for laziness with the Search function or starting multiple threads...you wanna see flaming, go there!! In that situation, I can see the point as that site has well over 4 million members worldwide and every time someone asks the same old questions, it's very easy to lose track amongst the hundreds of threads. The way they deal with this, is that each model of phone will have it's own development section and as threads begin to appear with regards to particular mods, handy apps, general tips or whatever, they are linked within one particular sticky thread in that section. It's basically a hub for all helpful info and is even great for the more experienced folks that may have forgotten or lost track of something. Doesn't stop repeat threads popping up (that's what the banstick is for, lol!), but it really is a valuable resource and does keep things much tidier.

We do have the FAQ section here, but it seems to be not quite as concise as it could be. Maybe having direct links to popular threads or topics, whether they be system threads, cycling, DIY could be linked there. And I still feel the FAQ should feature as a sticky in each and every section.

Anyhoo, I guess if most people are happy as it is, there's no point re-inventing the wheel.

Just thought I'd throw the ol tuppence in the ring

It is not always an easy task to find a specific titbit of information amongst the huge volume of material. Even re-finding something you have read before can be quite difficult. It is also fairly daunting to troll through thread after thread with multiple pages and hundreds of replies which are often off-topic. I can see how frustrating it must be for some of the old timers to see the same questions again and again, but some of us newbs would like to spend more time in the garden than sitting in front of the computer...

I went out and looked at the clouds, but they didn't look any different to normal, and they slowed down my searching...

Clouds - latest IT buzzword which is selling like hot cakes - but not always the answer.

Clouds... are usually a result of hot air....

Its raining negativity around here

I would have said that it's positively precipitating down!!

Just another thing from that XDA site (not that I am trying to turn this place into that place)...if you go to start a new topic, the system will recognise keywords, particularly in the Thread title field, and automatically display 5 or 10 similar threads.

So, in context here, someone might type "Is PVC safe??" into the Thread Title and immediately see a list of threads that discuss this topic pop up on screen. It's a bit like a pre-emptive, safety net, automatic search function...

I am a mod on another forum.
My theory, if people dont want to answer the same question 10 times over, they can ignore it.
I get really annoyed when people reply to a post and type

when it would take the same amount of time to just answer the original question.
And as an added bonus, the newbie asking doesnt get made to feel like an idiot for asking what they thought was a legitimate question.

Cheers for that werdna! Here Here!!! as a newbie I have asked many questions that in retrospect could have been answered by searching However, knowing that real people care enough to answer what seems like a dumb question is quite moral boosting in times of trouble

]OK, time to click on the search button for "salt baths"

I guess thats kind of how it works.. Newbies join up and ask lots of silly questions, sometimes they get told to search, sometimes they get given answers and links. Then down the track once they have learnt more about AP, they become the ones answering the questions for the next crop of newbies.. I guess if everyone just gets told, "go search", then they will do the same to other newbies down the track.