Bad Answers - How to re-ask the question without starting another thread

[Former Member]

This thread is probably posted in other places, and in other ways. That's one of the fun things about SCN. It's hard to find the information without knowing the search terms to use.

Anyway - here it goes.

I went to Teched LV. While I was there, I met a lot of different people. One group was discussing SCN with me. They said there was "no value" to posting questions on SCN. Me - I get a lot of value. (And I told them that I did) I don't post questions very often. But when I do, I get a good response. So I went looking. AND yes, a lot of people simply post links. "point hunters"

My advice was to answer the non-hepful response with "This does not help me" to move the question back up to the top of the forum. Probably a bad answer.

What would you suggest? How would a "normal" person move their question back into people's minds? Links or pointing to help documents sometimes are not what they need. And yes, I know some people don't read help documents or want you to write their code for them or do their consulting job. I'm talking about the ones that have a legitimate question. The people that get turned off because their question is being answered with a link.

Thoughts?

Thank you - even if I am re-asking a question that has already been answered...

Michelle

(Yes, I see all the threads for "Point hunters". Just didn't see any for the poor souls that ask the questions.)

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

If you aren't getting good answers, you might ask why not? Two reasons that come to mind are:

1) The question is unique and no one has thought it through before. This would probably apply to most "good" questions.

2) The question is not interesting or is poorly stated. You might want to look at a blog I wrote a while ago - [Asking Good Questions in the Forums to get Good Answers|/people/rob.burbank/blog/2010/05/12/asking-good-questions-in-the-forums-to-get-good-answers]

Rob

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Rob,

That is perfect!!! And an example why it's hard to search sometimes. I did search on bad answers, point hunters, solutions, but not on good questions. Go figure!

It's a nice basic guide to how to write the correct question. I love it.

Thank you!

Michelle

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

I used another blog written by someone outside of SCN as a guide for this. During that process, I was in touch with him a couple of times. One thing I remember him saying was that the only people likely to read and use the guide were the ones who really don't need it.

I'm afraid he might have been right.

Rob

[Former Member]

I have came through many question which are easily searchable on SDN or SAP Marketplace. Even though I have clearly updated the thread to search before you post but some are so lazy and need spoon feed. I have even sent request to mentors to lock the thread. Until mentors take some actions I don't think so people will stop posting links.

[Former Member]

Sunil,

I agree some questions are easily searchable. But what about the one's that are "good" questions. The links do not answer the question. The response is to read the help or even worse help is posted.

On the flip side, if the question is easily searchable, does the person know how to find the information? I was couldn't find anything on this thread. I could find "point hunters", but I could not find the answer for the people that get the "point hunter" response. (If that makes any sense.)

Michelle

[ThomasZloch]

I think it is legitimate to bump up own threads by posting replies like "this did not help me / is irrelevant, are there any other suggestions?" or just editing the last own post without changing anything meaningful, if still possible.

This should not be done after ten minutes of silence or once per hour though, I for my part will delete these signs of impatience on sight.

Some irrelevant link farms deserve being exposed by a "please read my question before replying" or a "do not post irrelevant nonsense", this is even more effective if done by OP than by a moderator, who is usually ranting anyways.

Thomas

[Former Member]

This message was moderated.