Well if the OP has the time to start a thread they have the time to search for themselves.

 

Taken from the rules:

II. Forum Rules

The following rules apply to all members of evolutionm.net. They are instated to ensure a well-run board and to embrace meaningful discussions related to the Mitsubishi Lancer, Lancer Evolution, and Ralliart Lancer:

* No vendor advertising unless registered with our site. For advertising information please click here.
* Before posting a question, please conduct a search for an answer and check our Newbie forum.
* Etc, etc......

I believe that so many people say "search" because it is actually a rule here!!!! Yes, an answer to the question could be done, and in some cases people actually answer. However, commonly asked and repetitive questions such as "best BOV?", "how much do you pay for insurance?", "CF wing fading: Help!" have all been asked and answered MANY times over. It may take a bit of time and effort, but this site has been around for a while and has massed a huge amount of data. Chances are you're not the first person to pose a particular question. Searching around makes you a more involved and informed member, which can only improve this site. Just my opinion, of course.

J.D.

 

The funny thing is when people say, "why don't you just give them the answer and tell them to search next time?" What those people fail to realize is that people who DO try to help and give a lot of answers already answered that question 10 times explicitly...then answered it 10 more times by doing the search for the OP and explaining how to search...then the next 100 times just got fed up and told the OP to search.

The other argument is that there are so many threads that show up now when searching, and the only info they have is 5 people saying to search. Well hello!!!1 That's why we tell people to search before posting! I have made this EXACT argument countless times when I tell people that the reason the search engine is clogged up with useless info is because people like them don't bother searching first. It's a self-defeating cycle that is perpetuated by newbs who don't follow the rules, lazy people who refuse to follow the rules, and lack of moderation. Some of the mods try hard, but they can't keep up with the # of noobs and pissants who refuse to search. The best example is Mr. 17-year-old Kevin Knight who not only refuses to search or use the newbie forum, but he even flaunts this fact in his sig with no repurcussion...

 

I suppose it depends on the question being asked. There's been plenty of times I've tried to do a search for something specific and have either brought up 10 pages worth of posts or less than one page. Now what is the point in me spending 30 minutes to wade through hundreds of posts that probly only have one of my key search words and don't even pertain to what I'm looking for? It would be so much easier to just make a thread to say "hey, I did a search and it provided no answers".

I also believe there is a flaw in the search system itself. I don't know how vBulletin works but is there anyway to modify the search parameters so that you can make it bring up posts that include all of your keywords and not just one? That would certainly cut down on the clutter.

And attitudes like the one presented above this post is part of the reason why some choose not to use the search button. What kind of example is being shown by a memeber with 18000+ posts when he gripes about newbs and how they lack the use of the search button? Hell the only reason he has so many post counts is probly due to "use the search feature" answers.

I think the answer is pretty simple. If you don't feel like taking the time to answer a question or point someone towards the answer...stay the hell out of the post. That will most certainly reduce the number useless posts and perhaps the new members will work just a little harder to find their answer without being made to feel like their being scolded.

 

Because it clogs the system up even more. I've been in your situation, when I broke my clock spring I shifted through dozens of threads to see if there was any install info and found there was none; in the end I made a thread looking for help. The point is that I searched first and looked at all relevant threads before I started another one. Sure people could just stay out of the thread but that doesn't help either, I've had to report users for starting multiple threads asking the same simple question because "no one responded".

 

warrtalon is right, it is perpetuated by people asking a question, which adds that thread to those keywords in the database, before they search thoroughly.

basically you are saying you don't search for anything unless the answer is slap dab in front of you after you click the search button. do you even know the definition of search? it has nothing to do with you typing a keyword and getting immediate and correct information. if you search on google for bewbies, and you come up with 100 sites about playing cards, does that mean your answer is not out there, or because you didn't actually try and search? searching implies work, and if you don't do the work then everyone on here has a right to tell you to search.

to further prove my point: when a little kid is lost in the woods, do the SEARCHERS stay at the edge of the forest and call out the kids name once or twice? HELL NO, they jump up in that **** until they find what they want. When the don't find it, they ask for help finding it. man up and find your own answers.


























n00b!!!!!!1111!!111!!!1!11

 

AND, OR, and NOT functions all work in search. Default is AND, so if you enter "Corvette 911" you're really using "Corvette AND 911". You can also use astericks as wild cards.

 

I assume you're speaking to me so I will answer in kind.

No that is not basically what I am saying. I specifically said that most times I do a search for something specific the search comes up with too many posts that have nothing to do with my question or there isn't any info at all. I never once said I didn't sift through any of it. But after a few minutes of scrolling through multiple posts and not finding anything I will certainly ask for someone to guide me in the right direction by either linking a pertinent thread or answering the question for me. That is not too much to ask of anyone unless that person is just a lazy-***.

And what does a lost child in the woods have to do with the internet? I'm plenty man enough to look for my own answers, but I'm also MAN ENOUGH to know when I don't have the knowledge and will ask for help.

Noob? Check out the sign on date (a full year and half prior to yours)...don't think that quite qualifies me for a noob.

 

the reason your search comes up with so many "useless" results is because the system is clogged up with useless posts with people asking the same question. by allowing people to continue asking the same questions over and over again the problem will only get worse as time goes on. This is why I usually PM an answer or point the person in the right direction and then delete the thread so it doesn't add to the ever growing trash heap of crappy, useless "what BOV" posts.

 

I see that and it's quite annoying that it happens that way. I think the FAQ is a good place to start and perhaps more emphasis needs to be put on that however there doesn't seem to be too many individuals who would be willing to take the time to gather all the information to fill this. Until that happens you will find that new members will get frustrated with the current clutter of the board and will take the easy route in finding the answer to their questions.

 

And that is the problem, too many people want their answers spoon-fed to them.

 

I wouldn't exactly say it's their problem. It's full circle. Sure there are quite a few posts asking about the most basic of mods. Hence why we need a FAQ covering these questions. But for more advanced questions if I want something specific I will type in 3-5 words which brings up every single damn post that has those words in it. Like I stated before, perhaps I don't know how to make the search feature work more for my benifit but that's a lot of crap to wade through to find one or two posts relevent to my query.

 

Advanced questions are fine, I'm talking more about things like "which exhaust is best", "what BOV should I get?", "how does an intake work?", etc.. There are FAQs out there (at for lancer guys) but no noobs use them, they assume that since the intake/exhaust/BOV that they specifically want isn't stated it is somehow exempt from the laws of motors.

 

so in your opinion it would be best then to just let them "take the easy way", break the forum rules, and make the problem worse?

 

No, in my opinion we should limit the ammount of bashing when somone asks a "simple" question and build up the FAQ so that when they do ask we can link them to the FAQ where hopefully they will learn more than they were originally seeking.