Old Members Missing - Lots of New Members - Please USE SEARCH FEATURE

[PurpleChicken]

This is just a discussion. It is meant to answer some questions and pose a few
more.

1-Many of the older members here have slowed down and haven't been
around as much. This is due to many reasons. Spring is almost here
so we are working on coops and gardens. It's also hatching season.
In my case I changed jobs and just don't have the ability to log on as much.
Some of us are members of other chicken sites too but the same thing is
happening there.

This is something else I am facing:
I log on at 10PM, look for members I know, fun threads to join in on, or
questions that I may be able to help on. The trouble I have is I've seen
the same questions OVER & OVER. I'm not going to spend 10 minutes
answering a question that has been asked 100 times already.
PEOPLE MUST LEARN TO USE THE SEARCH FEATURE!!!!!

Listen, I've asked the same questions myself and am very guilty of not
using the search tool but it works great. You may only find part of your
answer but now you can start a new thread a little more prepared.

Examples:
I just got eggs now what do I do?
HELP!!
My chicken is making a noise.
Sick chick.
What incubator should I buy?

Honestly, at this point I avoid these and I know many others do to.
This also puts an unfair burden on the mods who try to answer every post.

THE POINT HERE IS HELP US HELP YOU. USE THE SEARCH FEATURE FIRST!
DO YOUR HOMEWORK. THEN GIVE MORE DETAILS. WE HAVE ALL
BEEN NEW TO CHICKENS AND HAVE ASKED THE SAME QUESTIONS. WE
ARE HAPPY TO SEE YOU HERE AND WANT TO HELP YOU IN ANY WAY WE CAN.

I hope everyone understands what I am saying here. I enjoy helping people
and especially making stupid threads that make people laugh. We are a
group of friends here.

IT'S ALWAYS OK, AND EXPECTED, FOR YOU TO POST PICS OF CHICKS AND
CHICKENS. WE NEVER GET TIRED OF THOSE.

Don

 

[TheOLDNewChick]

Amen!

 

[texaschickmama]

AMEN, AMEN. Well put, thanks.

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

Very well put PC. I tried to start up an incubator thread to become a sticky for reviews but it never got any hits. I will try one more time that way it will limit down on 100 what incubator to buy threads.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
You actually bring up a good point. Sometimes the search feature gives too much info.
Stickies should be required reading!!!

 

[rooster-red]

Quote:
They answers are already out there, starting another thread on it will just compound the problem.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I personally don't mind giving answers to questions over and over to Newbies...Sometimes they are so scared and new to raising chickens and chicks they forget the search button and I sometimes tell them where it is and what to type to find an answer if I've never dealt with that problem or it's too long an answer to type up....

So it's not a problem for me....Thats what this site is for.....

 

[MRNpoultry]

Thats partly my fought I ask questions with out seeing if anybody else has asked them. When I am looking for question that I can try to help I see alot of the same ones.

 

[UnttouchableRose]

I frequent another forum (not a chicken one) and it has the same problem all the time.

I do try to use the search feature as much as I can but try as you may sometimes I think you just have to create your own thread.

Stickies are a wonderful thing and I try too look for them too.

I think alot of people that join forums simply do not know to use the search feature or stickies, it's not like they are doing it to annoy someone they just don't know you can search for something.

I understand your frustration though.

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

We should siticky up a (Please use the search feture) post. In the faqs area. Tell them why its important to use it or whatever you want to say? Hoe does that sound?