Mike, One problem is that after performing a search and finding the correct post, there appears to be no way to refer to that post so that others can go read it. The only thing I have found is to repeat the original search criteria.
Searched for (found) posts should have some sort of identification that can be re-entered by another person so they can find the specific post in the archives. Dan On Sun, Feb 28, 2010 at 3:58 AM, M. G. Devour <mdev...@eskimo.com> wrote: > Hi folks, > > I've been meaning to post a message on how we use the archives when > helping each other and new people. > > I imagine that most of you that have used them already, notice that > search results can be all over the map. They're sorted, I think, by > some measure of relevance. Whereas it might be nice to sort by date, > subject, or sender as well, that is not an option at present. > > There are many ways to tweak and refine the search, but the syntax > takes a bit of work to learn, and despite your best efforts, it can be > tough to find exactly what you were looking for. > > I want you to keep this experience clearly in mind when you are tempted > to suggest someone 'look in the archives' to answer a question. Even > answering the simplest questions can become a nightmare search effort, > especially when one doesn't know exactly what to look for. > > As a minimum, before telling them to make an archive search, please > attempt it yourself -- and provide the search terms you found most > useful. > > If it turns out to be more complicated than you thought, describe the > steps you took, along with giving the relevant message links. > > Best of all, summarize and describe what you found, to give them a feel > for the context *and* to add words to the archive that might aid other > people's searches in the future. > > The idea here is, rather than send some poor soul off to assault the > Great Wall of China with a teaspoon, instead give them a guided head > start that lets them experience, first hand, bringing up the archive > URL in their browser; typing search terms into the search box and > hitting the button; and scrolling through and displaying the results to > find what they need... Without having to figure it all out from > scratch. > > I can imagine no better way to get them started learning how to help > themselves! > > In the world of Linux geekdom, one of the worst forms of arrogance and > hostility is expressed by the acronym, RTFM, which stands for Read The > F***ing Manual. As an answer to a question, it is at best useless when > you can't yet even find the right manual, let alone the right chapter > or page. At worst, it's the kind of thoughtless and insulting response > that drives people away for good. > > Please meet people where they're at. As you get better at using the > archives, remember the learning curve you had to climb. > > Add in the ever present concern that someone might be stressed, > fatigued, brain-fogged, in pain, or otherwise challenged by the health > issues they're coming to us with, and it will be easier to remember why > they might need a little more help than they "ought to." > > I've been dreaming up a few suggestions to make to the archive folks to > improve the interface, as well as thinking about how I can supplement > the search facility via our own web pages. If you have ideas or > suggestions based on your experience, please contribute them. > > Thank you for all the help and sharing that goes on here. You do good > work, folks. > > Be well! > > Mike Devour > siver-list owner > > [Mike Devour, Citizen, Patriot, Libertarian] > [mdev...@eskimo.com ] > [Speaking only for myself... ] > > > -- > The Silver List is a moderated forum for discussing Colloidal Silver. > Rules and Instructions: http://www.silverlist.org > > Unsubscribe: > <mailto:silver-list-requ...@eskimo.com?subject=unsubscribe> > Archives: > http://www.mail-archive.com/silver-list@eskimo.com/maillist.html > > Off-Topic discussions: <mailto:silver-off-topic-l...@eskimo.com> > List Owner: Mike Devour <mailto:mdev...@eskimo.com> > > >
