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When I go to a new website I often go to the Frequently Asked Questions section to get some basic information. I just went to the FAQ section of the forum to see which "frequent"questions are included in this very prominent spot. I wonder if the moderators might want to look a bit at this section to see if it really does fill its role as a FAQ section. I know that posters choose to place their question in this section but perhaps these threads merit a different approach than other forum sections. If I only looked at the FAQ section I would not know -- for example -- that getting to SJPP is a very common question.
If I do have a transportation question I will want the most current information without scrolling through the answers from 2008 so I think there will always be a need for an updated answer.
How to make it easy for new pilgrims to find what they are looking for is one of the biggest challenges with a forum like this.
We (the mods) just had a conversation on the FAQ section yesterday. It is now not possible to post a new question in the FAQ section. For a question to end up there, a mod needs to move it in there. Hopefully this will make this section better.
Also, don't forget the tags. This was something new I added this summer. When starting a new thread, you can tag the thread with key words. Then later when you click a tag, you will get a list of all the post that has been tagged with that tag. have a look at the bottom of each page for some examples of tags.
View attachment 15060
Old threads can only be tagged by mods. New threads can be tagged by the person that starts the thread.
Little by little things are getting better... but I am always open for new ideas on how to organize things.
Greetings from a sunny but cold Santiago,
Ivar
Please, don't get me wrong, I'm quite eager to help (ask Laurie et all.), but I simply can't understand when someone just open new thread with the same "all-over-again" question instead of scroll through the forum first. I appologise to those that did it!!! But it happens every day and I feel a lot of sympathy for all the usuall suspects answering to those questions (like: falcon629, whariwarangi, mspath, peregrina2000.........).
Every day!
When I go to a new website I often go to the Frequently Asked Questions section to get some basic information. I just went to the FAQ section of the forum to see which "frequent"questions are included in this very prominent spot. I wonder if the moderators might want to look a bit at this section to see if it really does fill its role as a FAQ section. I know that posters choose to place their question in this section but perhaps these threads merit a different approach than other forum sections. If I only looked at the FAQ section I would not know -- for example -- that getting to SJPP is a very common question.
If I do have a transportation question I will want the most current information without scrolling through the answers from 2008 so I think there will always be a need for an updated answer.
Well stated, I agree completely.I love this forum and the really appreciate the advice people give (over and over again) without complaining even though I can see it’s frustrating to see the same questions being asked.
A word of caution: I used to be part of lively (and completely unrelated) forum that slowly died and is no more. The forum started to die when older forum members simply started to post links to older threads rather than replying. The forum became less friendly and over time fewer people joined - there was nowhere for new members to post because it felt like all questions had been answered before. Would hate to see that happen to a forum again.
Exactly thatCan someone tell me how I get from Bayonne to St Jean Pied de Port?
Can someone tell me how I get from Bayonne to St Jean Pied de Port?
BTW. haven't we had this conversation before? I tried to check, but my search skills weren't up to the mark!
Sorry, @hunsta, I don't drink coffee, but if you will post question in the thread about beer maybe I might be able to help you with some hints...Aah yes. Even asking questions that have never been asked before can be fraught with danger and frustration amongst the veteran members.
Now where did you guys say I could get a Cafe con leche to go from again?
Oh I had plenty of comments and suggestions in that thread. Oh my. Didn't I ? LOLSorry, @hunsta, I don't drink coffee, but if you will post question in the thread about beer maybe I might be able to help you with some hints...
What did you say...? I didn't notice it.Plus it is the only time anyone takes any notice of what I say....
And here is me thinking you were marginalised because you were living in antipodean isolation.As a member of one of society's most marginalised and invisible groups (old women) it gives me status
In general, @wayfarer, I agree that we base most of our responses on our experience. But I wouldn't downplay the willingness some posters have to carefully research their responses as well as rely on personal experience.All any of us can do is answer a question based on our own experience, there will be plenty people who will update that information if necessary and plenty differing opinions, that is what a forum is about, discussion and sharing, otherwise why bother being part of a forum.
Or better yet, how did Shirley MacLaine get from SJPP to Pamplona to watch a bullfight without speaking to anyone?Can someone tell me how I get from Bayonne to St Jean Pied de Port?
Bit off-topic, but it is where some of my forebears settled when they arrived in Western Australia. How a place so little suited to growing the fruit could be named after it is beyond me.Goodness @dougfitz where did that knowledge come from? You have just put Strawberry on my list of places to see.
=I guess I'll be sort of crucified for this, but I really do feel kind of fed up with (mostly) new members questions which could be all very easily answered by quick click or two. I mean, there are some very basic questions that had been asked AND answered thousands of times (especially on Camino Frances, and maybe even more specif. about getting to and from SJPdP...), so I simply, with all my empathy, profesional as well, can not understand how can a person (A FUTURE PILGRIM!!!) be so self-centered to just sign in and ask, ask, ask. Well, I guess forum is not a place in the middle of the Meseta where you run out of water, c'mon...
Please, don't get me wrong, I'm quite eager to help (ask Laurie et all.), but I simply can't understand when someone just open new thread with the same "all-over-again" question instead of scroll through the forum first. I appologise to those that did it!!! But it happens every day and I feel a lot of sympathy for all the usuall suspects answering to those questions (like: falcon629, whariwarangi, mspath, peregrina2000.........).
Every day!
Bit off-topic, but it is where some of my forebears settled when they arrived in Western Australia. How a place so little suited to growing the fruit could be named after it is beyond me.
Please, do read the OP again. It wasn't about having troubles understanding informations on this forum. It was about continuous posts like: "What will the weather be like on Camino XY in August 20XY?", "Are there donativo albergues on Camino Frances?" or "How I get from Bayonne to SJPdP?". Those are things that could be really very easily found in previous posts, regardless of 1st language. Or couldn't be really answered adequatly. Of course it's entirely up to me (or anybody else for that matter) if I take my time and experience to give the answer. And I did it many times. But..., well..., enough of explaining my OP if it wasn't clear. Anyway, I did stir things up a little bit though=
Please be aware that there are some people that English is not their 1st language, and can't "swim" in the whole forum for ease .(like my self, my language is Hebrew, can yourself swim in an Hebrew forum looking for answers, or you prefer direct question and direct answer? ) I myself asked some questions and was answered willingly by members. No one told me to look around. They were nice people. Zohar
I guess I'll be sort of crucified for this, but I really do feel kind of fed up with (mostly) new members questions which could be all very easily answered by quick click or two. I mean, there are some very basic questions that had been asked AND answered thousands of times (especially on Camino Frances, and maybe even more specif. about getting to and from SJPdP...), so I simply, with all my empathy, profesional as well, can not understand how can a person (A FUTURE PILGRIM!!!) be so self-centered to just sign in and ask, ask, ask. Well, I guess forum is not a place in the middle of the Meseta where you run out of water, c'mon...
Please, don't get me wrong, I'm quite eager to help (ask Laurie et all.), but I simply can't understand when someone just open new thread with the same "all-over-again" question instead of scroll through the forum first. I appologise to those that did it!!! But it happens every day and I feel a lot of sympathy for all the usuall suspects answering to those questions (like: falcon629, whariwarangi, mspath, peregrina2000.........).
Every day!
Maybe I should have searched for the word "rant" before asking ;0), but I'd love to hear your rant on multi-city ticket purchases.I certainly don't mind reading the same questions over and over again, after all it just gives me a chance to ramble on about my favorite topics over and over again.I always enjoy getting on my soap box about carrying hiking poles onboard a plane from the US, and I guess a close second is my rant that people ought to consider a multi-city ticket rather than flying into Paris, buying an Easy Jet ticket to somewhere else, etc etc etc. Oh yes, did I forget the rant about asking people to contribute to updates to the little guides I've worked on?
When I joined this forum first I was not familiar with its workings so I asked my questions which I'm sure had been asked many many times before and they were answered generously by several people. I have tried to do the same for others since even though you might see the same questions again and again, also as new members join and do their Camino they may have new information or a different view on things. This is what makes the forum great. If everyone just used the search facility it would be a very quiet forum. Keep asking your questions even if they have been asked before.
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