Ask A Question

[Interrupt]

Quick suggestion in regards to...

Ask a Tech Support Question (free)!

I'm not sure the "Ask A Question" link in the upper right hand corner of the page, displayed when you're unregistered, is necessarily helpful. While it might help motivate new forum visitors to ask their question it doesn't help weed out questions that have already been asked.

In a number of circumstances members of the community have asked those posing questions to please try and either search the forums first for a thread relating to their problem or to look to the area notifying the user of recommended topics (such as malware removal topics). Having a quick button to "Ask A Question" seemingly defeats the purpose of researching a question thoroughly prior to asking it.

While I see the value of that link and wouldn't like to see it gone completely, maybe there should be another way of asking users to search the forums prior to posting?

Maybe have a customized forum post page rather than the standard one, which displays a message about posting and a notice to check out FAQ Robert worked so hard on?

Just an idea... if no one else thinks this is a big deal I'll shut up.

[Dude111]

Most people come to this site looking for PC help of 1 type or another....

Clicking that link allows a guest to post a NEW THREAD on the TECHNICAL SUPPORT message base. (They have to register however to have the post become live)

It can be quite helpful i think...... (Encourages them to register when they otherwise probably wouldnt)

Yes that base could be open to guest posting but doing it this way keeps it a little cleaner and less chance of drive by spam.......

[Taxmancometh]

There should be a big fat search box that entices people to search for the question first. We have had numerous people ask about how to remove Babylon and no one has read the prvious threads already.

[RicheemxX]

Getting people to search before posting just ain't going to happen. Even long term members have gotten away from searching first, most likely because the search function isn't that great. But new members, and this is ironic, most likely come from a Google search and already land on a page with the information they are looking for, or linked to the information and they still create a new post. Most of them, even if they do do a search are still going to create a post. Most of them just aren't going to bother because they don't want the to hassle with another search.

Sometimes I think they just want a little "hand holding". Sometimes they may actually have questions about the steps involved but they aren't sure how or what to ask.

Having a quick button to "Ask A Question" seemingly defeats the purpose of researching a question thoroughly prior to asking it.

I've felt the same for years. The problem is is if everyone actually researched their own stuff we'd be sitting in a dead forum. In most cases the information is widely available to anyone out there. They just choose not to look for it.

[Interrupt]

You're right of course, I just wish we had another option. Those darn Babylon toolbar things are annoying. I half think some post them to somehow advertise.

[Dude111]

Yes that they do!!!! (I see it on almost every site im on )