something to keep in mind...

[Maxadia]

This has irked me for a while, and as I am a complete FNG here I thought I would quote a post from one of the forum veterans:

:stirpot:  My thoughts on this is that I think some folks are a bit too quick to lambaste and admonish other folks for not searching first.  It's worth noting that the search function on this site doesn't always work, nor in my experience does it use good boolean logic.  In other words, it can be very difficult to find things.  Furthermore, people asking questions often want current information, but many of the posts on this site are years old.  How reliable are they?  Finally, posting on this site is voluntary.  If you don't want to reply to a post, you don't have to. So if you feel someone is wasting your time, just ignore them and move on. :2c:

That was from over a year ago, but I still think that it does hold some truth.  I don't see the necessity of slamming every single person on this forum who is not a veteran, when the ask for a link to reference material or reposting someting.  For example, someone posted a "Beep test" file, and got heckled for not finding the "20MSR" post (or vice versa).  Two different terms, so why, if you only ever knew it as the "Beep test" would you go searching for a "20MSR" search term? 

Part of being a valued member of a forum is to help out the newer people.  NO, you do not have to hold their hand.  However, on the other hand, how long does it take to paste the link for them as well?

 

[darkskye]

I agree with you, but on the other hand it's not that hard to use the serach function. I can bet that the person providing the link used to search function to find the answer for that person asking the question.

 

[Michael OLeary]

Two different terms, so why, if you only ever knew it as the "Beep test" would you go searching for a "20MSR" search term? 

Another advantage to encouraging people to learn effective ways to search the forum is that they should also start to learn the vocabulary applicable to what they are seeking.  There are, in fact, 70 returns from Google that link beep test and 20MSR in forum threads and once someone starts searching on either term they should quickly encounter the other and can use that to refine their searches.

site:army.ca beet test 20msr

Developing a habit of exploring the information on the forum, by whatever mechanism a person chooses, will usually also provide answers to further questions before they get asked separately (again).

 

[Strike]

I just did a search on the forum for "Beep Test" for poops and giggles and found 25 posts, including your, many of which linked 20MSR and beep test.  And that search was for the past 365 days!

The reason the veterans get annoyed by having to answer simple questions, aside from having to create a whole extra thread to deal with the topic (which only results in more confusion when trying to find an answer) is that we are seeing more and more people coming in expecting to be spoon fed, which will NOT (should not anyway) happen when they join the CF.  Why not get in to the habit of looking for the answers first before coming to the forum members?  It's called initiative.  It will only serve to better prepare candidates for success in the CF, which is ultimately everyone's goal.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Also, if you're not happy with the built-in search function, to take Michael's info one step further, you can always bookmark various search engines to let you search the site:

Google => site:army.ca xxx
Yahoo =>  site:army.ca xxx

When you click on the link, you replace "xxx" in the search box with whatever term/s you want, and hit the "Search" button.

Why not get in to the habit of looking for the answers first before coming to the forum members?  It's called initiative.  It will only serve to better prepare candidates for success in the CF, which is ultimately everyone's goal.

+100 - and initiative is handy in more situations than just joining the CF, too 

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Both 'beep test' or '20 msr' punched alone into Google will also give you first page army.ca hits.

So endeth another thread on the subject of searching.............that wasn't searched for. 

Milnet.ca Staff