An idea for the site
 

In the forums there are always basic linux questions like "How do I burn an ISO," "How do install software" etc. Maybe you should have a closed section with basic tutorials. it would help cutdown on re-run posts and make the site more efficient.

Because even though people can look the information up on the net and even on this website they are lazy and find it easier just to ask again.

We have the LinuxAnswers section for this:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/answers.php

--jeremy

I'll second that.

And don't forget the wiki as a great resource for sharing and gathering information:
http://wiki.linuxquestions.org

@ jeremy & david_ross,

those are excellent points, but are they advertised or highlighted well enough that your average Linux beginner or first poster to LQ will know:

A. what they are
B. where they are
C. how to use some of that info

In their haste for answers...

I cant remember, do you send out mails to new members?
if you do, why not have both of those links and one for the rules added to it with a short explanation about what they are for.

After I posted this I found the tutorials sections, but it's not on the front page. You have to go to the forums section and then click on the tutorial section on the bar above it. You should probably link the tutorial section to the front page so it's easier to find

On the front page, amongst all the buttons, you will see one marked "answers", that is the link to the Tutorials page.

As far as the wiki and answers being more advertised/prominent - this is a long running discussion. It's all down to how quickly people want to post. There are those who will search the site, click the links, etc and those who will just post, even if there question has come up many many times. Seriously, if you have any thoughts on how to get the second batch of people to do searches and look around, I for one would love to hear them. And Jeremy is always looking for ways to improve the site and it's functionality.

In the long run though, I suspect that even if we had flashing lights and someone to act as friendly greeter, some people will always post before reading.

... and seriously if you think about it, this is a fourm ...
why would you just come on here and not look, and just
rush into a post ...
i mean if people actually come to the realization that if they
have a problem, then there was someone else in the huge
world of ours that has experienced the same thing ...
the answer has to be somewheres, but if after searching
this specific site, and they come up empty handed, then
sure go ahead and post ...
in order to cut down on the same questions over and over
again, it'll have to start at the end user, with a little help from
the layout of the site ... (which i think is perfectly fine) ...
as said above, there is links on the main fourm site, for the
answers section, the wiki, the HCL, etc ....
and right in your face is a search feature, plus a link to
go the search page to customize your search ...
so personally i think jeremy has done a fantastic job of trying
to stick these options out like a sore thumb its now up to
the users of the site to take advantage of these features ...

and thats how i think is the only way of cutting down on
seeing the same questions being asked over and over again.

I just finished reading the replies here, and I realise that my post may have looked a bit critical of jeremy & LQ.

I hope not, because I certainly didnt intend to critisise.
Im not going to kiss up and say how great a job jeremy is doing or how fantastic the forum is, cos that much is pretty self evident with 143,427 Registered Members & 1,280,362 posts at this time.

My apologies.

No, I think you misunderstand us - any forum has, I believe, the same problem: how can you get members to search first, then ask? Jeremy has tried a few things, for example if you go to post the "Has this been asked before?" button is there. But we are going against human nature, I'm afraid, and the only really effective way is by politely pointing out that a question has come up before.

Ahh it makes sense now,, pardon me Monday Blues (bit thick on the uptake)

I know what you mean, I have been politely pointed in the correct direction by yourself before.

I have to say, you do have the polite part perfected. ()A lot of practice I bet)
Thanks for clarifying that for me XavierP

Always customer focused, that's me :)

Getting people to look in LinuxAnswers is going to be tough because for one, I never did :p so I have no right to ask newcomers to search first and post later.

Another thing is that LinuxQuestions.org is predominantly a forum and there are people (like me :p) who always post first and search later.

Now I have started searching a lot more (that's why I haven't posted new questions in a while) and it's amazing how often the same questions get asked again and again.

But then again, problems with Linux are so specific that sometimes similar sounding questions get different results. The differences are very subtle sometimes and so there's no way of working out which is better: post first or search.

I think that any busy online forum has this problem. Things do get cluttered very quickly and a lot of wisdom tends to get buried beneath a lot of rubbish. And people are just too much in a hurry for solving their problems to dig for the wisdom lying beneath the rubbish. Just search for the keyword "ATI Radeon" on this site and you'll know. Who's going to read all those threads on ATI to find out the answer to their problems?

I think that the best advertisement for Linux Answers is having a separate site called LinuxAnswers.org :D

I think everyone should go to www.linuxanswers.org - that Jeremy, he thinks of everything! :p

Ooops! :D
My mistake.

Personal Note: Always check a URL before posting it.