Searching Prior Threads...Worth Your Time...



Not trying to dissuade people from starting any kind of thread they want(With AudiogoN's approval)....but,..it is worthwhile to look through prior threads using the Forum search...by topic, brand name...whatever.

The only reason I thought this might be worth people thinking about, has been the number of similar posts over the last week or so asking for suggestions on small speakers..seems there have been similar questions with some of the same answers.

Just food for thought....now, think I'll go start one of those Power Cord threads...
whatjd
I myself have also harped upon doing forum-searchs from time to time. Appartently erroneously, because I was disappointed to find that not everything worthwhile has been saved (& I'm not referring to some of those awful insulting older threads that absolutely *deserved* to be deleted).
Case in point: a member was recently inquiring (the n'th post on the subject) regarding dedicated AC lines & installation techinques. I had previously done numerous detailed posts on the issue, & so I referred to the search engine in order to retrieve some reference links to them (for emailing to the guy who posted the question - I figured there's no sense in filling up Audiogon's hard drives with repetitive duplicate posts). Well guess what, I couldn't locate my older posts!
Makes me wonder about what other precious forum-posts have been lost? Like some of Redkiwi's & AlbertPorters discussions about shelving & isolation techniques - just one example of sacred information that should be not only archived but placed into an FAQ. I sure hope that those posts haven't vanished as well? Who knows what else has been deleted (by someone who apparently has no idea or appreciation of its' value to us members).
Once I realized what's been going on here I can hardly blame those who post apparently repetivite questions? Just because the old-timers have "seen this all before" doesn't mean that the info. is still available via the search engine for newer inquiriers. It's very disappointing to learn that this has happened.
As someone new to this forum I have a suggestion. Most forums, or other sites I use, place the search engine in the most conspicious place possible. Take a look at the asylum or Bottlehead. The text search is front and center. Here, unless I'm mistaken, you have to go to "other chat" and then to the bottom of the next page which isn't visable unless you scroll all the way down. Not the first place someone new is going to look. I confess I was here for a while before I knew there was a seach capability here. Maybe some of this could be avoided with one line of instruction: " Want Info Fast? You may search all prior posts here." and placing the search engine at the top of the new threads page.

Sincerely, I remain
I agree with Clueless. Once you're there, the forum search is easy to use, but it should be easier to access from the "new today" page...which is(I think) where most people start their time on A-goN. Hopefully this is of value to Arnie and all at A-goN, it could save drive/bandwidth.
As a follow-up. If they take suggestions. Mention Search Audiogon Forum on the page that shows up when you hit the "learn" button too. The only search that is mentioned there takes you to Hifiheaven.

Sincerely, I remain