Use the search function before creating a thread.

[Aanuoluwatofunmi]

Is better you use the search feature than to stress yourself creating thread only to have it locked, move to off topic or deleted.

Is it possible that what you are bringing to the forum as a thread has not been discussed before or someone has not taken such an update to the forum as well, but in case if it has been discussed already before yours, the only way for you to know this is by using the search engine, which we bring to you similar related topics that have been discussed in this manner.

[Su-asa]

Honestly, you did a good job here making it clear to anyone considering creating a new discussion to use the search button to check whether a similar discussion has already been created. But my question here is: did you also check before going further to create most of your threads? (Talking about this particular discussion), I think you didn't, if you had, you would have known that many similar discussions normally come up. Well, I get the point, everyone wants to keep the forum clean, but funny how we also make the same mistakes.

[Rruchi man]

So before you create a thread use the search function to check if the thread you want to create has recently been created by another member.

After using the search option to check if a topic similar to yours has been created, ensure you don't just read the topic but go through the content to see if it actually answers the question you want to ask. If it answers the question you want to ask, there is no need to start up a new topic because the question has already been answered, but if perhaps you have a new question from another perspective different from what has been posted, it is still very possible that you go ahead to share your point of view and create a topic about it because this is a forum and everybody's perspective is important as we are learning from each other.

[Marykeller]

The truth of the matter is that both old and new members wouldn't stop creating existing threads.

You know, as humans, we are not perfect; we forget important things easily, and we want our opinions to be heard one way or the other. The moment we have done that, we feel somehow relieved as we have said what's on our mind at that time. Like this your post this is not the first time; it won't be the last time the forum members would make a thread like this, to tell old and new members to make use of the search button. But still you made yours, and you feel a bit relieved as you have passed the information by saying what's in your mind. That's the same way it is for others who don't make use of the search button before creating a new post.

[Comeacross]

The truth of the matter is that both old and new members wouldn't stop creating existing threads.

Exactly. The forum is old, about 17 years now.

The idea to search before creating a thread is a great one but let be honest, if we should be practising that always, we could probably have nothing more to discuss every day again.

Almost every angle of Bitcoin is discussed already. If you want to talk about wallet and security, mining and trading too have been discussed several times. Most of the things we are discussing today is just a recycle of previous discussion and that's why there's increment of spam in the forum.

Forum might become inactive and unattractive that way. New users are onboarding every day and some old user are existing. New ideas are also evolving with the help of new technology. Creating a thread is not really a problem but creating meaningless thread is where the problem is.

[tbct_mt2]

The idea to search before creating a thread is a great one but let be honest, if we should be practising that always, we could probably have nothing more to discuss every day again.

What do you want to say here?
It's useless to discuss about what was discussed, especially many times before, and if a new discussion does not have anything new.

Creating a thread is not really a problem but creating meaningless thread is where the problem is.

If a thread is discussing about an topic, an issue that was discussed repeatedly, while a new thread does not bring anything new, it's a useless thread.

Searching is important, not only about the forum. This is reason why a powerful searching engine like Google changed the world years ago and that's also why Google succeeded massively with their helpful search engine.

Searching is a first step to do, for learning, for researching, for new innovation. You can not work blindly by your own thinking and imagination without searching about what's already done by the others. In the forum, it's true too.

[Mrbluntzy]

AFAIK, I have read a similar topic and pitch before, either on this board or another one, yet that still did not stop some members from creating duplicate topics. Some people are just in such a haste to create a topic without even checking first. Meanwhile, there's no excuse for that because there are already topics that clearly explain how to use the forum search function effectively. For example, [Guide] Searching Effectively gives a clear explanation of how to search.

Well, this won't stop until some members finally learn to do things the right way. The old me would create a topic without checking whether it had already been posted or not, but now I don't unless I have searched and couldn't find an existing topic. I wanted to create a topic yesterday about Truth Media wanting to sell early access to trading information to wealthy companies, but because I searched first, I was prevented from creating a new topic since one already existed.

[Nheer]

Exactly. The forum is old, about 17 years now.

The idea to search before creating a thread is a great one but let be honest, if we should be practising that always, we could probably have nothing more to discuss every day again.

Almost every angle of Bitcoin is discussed already. If you want to talk about wallet and security, mining and trading too have been discussed several times. Most of the things we are discussing today is just a recycle of previous discussion and that's why there's increment of spam in the forum.

Forum might become inactive and unattractive that way. New users are onboarding every day and some old user are existing. New ideas are also evolving with the help of new technology. Creating a thread is not really a problem but creating meaningless thread is where the problem is.

What do you mean what will be left to be discuss when we've already discussed everything in the past? There are topics that further discussions can be made on a particular topic but not all, news and new speculations based on price changes are always popping up and can be discussed, alot of other topics can be discussed without repeating past discussions. Some topics could have been updated which will need a to be discussed again. It's true creating a post is not the issue but creating an obvious spam is where many get it wrong.

AFAIK, I have read a similar topic and pitch before, either on this board or another one, yet that still did not stop some members from creating duplicate topics. Some people are just in such a haste to create a topic without even checking first. Meanwhile, there's no excuse for that because there are already topics that clearly explain how to use the forum search function effectively. For example, [Guide] Searching Effectively gives a clear explanation of how to search.

Well, this won't stop until some members finally learn to do things the right way. The old me would create a topic without checking whether it had already been posted or not, but now I don't unless I have searched and couldn't find an existing topic. I wanted to create a topic yesterday about Truth Media wanting to sell early access to trading information to wealthy companies, but because I searched first, I was prevented from creating a new topic since one already existed.

Most especially beginners new to the forum and their motive is just to try and earn some merit. They believe by creating topics they will earn merit and so they flood everywhere with repetitive topics. I know it can be challenging for them to make search the forum at first but it's not a reason to create topics blindly. In a place like this you are meant to ask questions for what is not understood but I am already used to reading duplicate topics since no one has listened to all the complains.You did the right thing else we would have two threads about Truth media right now.

[BitBakerr1]

The truth of the matter is that both old and new members wouldn't stop creating existing threads.

Exactly. The forum is old, about 17 years now.

The idea to search before creating a thread is a great one but let be honest, if we should be practising that always, we could probably have nothing more to discuss every day again.

Discussing something that has already been discussed last year is useless and pointless. From what you are saying people like you are the ones that will bring back something that has been discussed recently. It is better we have nothing to discuss which I think and believe is impossible than to keep repeating one discussion over and over again, don’t you think if we do it that way this forum is going to turn into a shit discussion place.
It is understandable if you bring discussions that has been discussed 5 years ago not recently past discussions.

[Miles2006]

For newbies who don’t know, your thread will be locked if it has recently been created and posted by another person.
So always use the search function in the forum to know if the discussion or information you want to create thread for has already been posted by another member.

This advice applies to everyone not just newbies, forum users who create thread all the time might likely fall into this category. Creating multiple topic for discussion purpose is actually not right especially when the topic is already talked about not quite long, they’re some topics that needs consistent attention but, abusing this system is wrong.
The search engine is meant for such a purpose though this advise is repeated always yet no changes, people don’t learn to make research using the search function or they feel the need to air their opinion at every given opportunity which always result to creating new topics all the time.

[standardnepo]

I don’t think that’s a good approach. If newbies never created topics that already exist, this section of the forum would eventually become inactive.

I also don’t see a problem with creating a topic that’s been discussed before, as long as it’s not an extremely overused or cliché subject. There are always new members joining the forum, and they can bring fresh perspectives or updated information. Bitcoin and the technology around it evolve quickly, so discussions from a few years ago may no longer reflect the current situation.

In my opinion, allowing similar topics also keeps the forum active and encourages more participation. So I disagree with your point.

[Cookdata]

I don’t think that’s a good approach. If newbies never created topics that already exist, this section of the forum would eventually become inactive.

Why do you say so? Check the threads on the first navigation page of beginners and help, they are mixed of old and new threads. Like scams awareness for newbies are new discussions, there previous scams that are reported and discussed but they scammers comes with new approach different from what has been discussed before. There are some threads that are guide which are well details to inform newbies and existing members, I'm not sure if you are right on this one.

I also don’t see a problem with creating a topic that’s been discussed before, as long as it’s not an extremely overused or cliché subject. There are always new members joining the forum, and they can bring fresh perspectives or updated information. Bitcoin and the technology around it evolve quickly, so discussions from a few years ago may no longer reflect the current situation.

In my opinion, allowing similar topics also keeps the forum active and encourages more participation. So I disagree with your point.

OP was specific, he is making reference to people that asked frequent questions, low quality threads when most of them are already asked before. The forum search bar is enough and if it's doesn't work, use Google to ask your questions and include +Bitcointalk, if that topic existed the links will be the first to appear on Google and if it doesn't show something similar then it has never been asked before. Better than spamming which might even be deleted if moderators don't like it.

[CryptoHeadlineNews]

This is to all newbies and old members too.
Threads are created in this forum everyday and they are on different topics concerning different things.
So before you create a thread use the search function to check if the thread you want to create has recently been created by another member.

For newbies who don’t know, your thread will be locked if it has recently been created and posted by another person.
So always use the search function in the forum to know if the discussion or information you want to create thread for has already been posted by another member.

Is better you use the search feature than to stress yourself creating thread only to have it locked, move to off topic or deleted.

The search feature was created as a forum tool to help people find related threads or topic of interest at else. And in regards to duplicate spamming or threads, it is indeed a good tool to use for making research if the thread you want to create do actually exist. So I agree with O.P if newbies can start making use of the search feature before creating a thread. However, if the thread which is discovered is an old thread that have got no comments for the last 120 days or more, it's actually not bad to create a new one, but from a different dimension and it shouldn't be the same like the old thread. Because I'm sure some people will still create similar threads tomorrow without taking all these discussions into consideration. Hence, as old members of this forum, it is our responsibility to always correct newbies, because each day new people join this forum.

[AYOBA]

This is to all newbies and old members too.
Threads are created in this forum everyday and they are on different topics concerning different things.
So before you create a thread use the search function to check if the thread you want to create has recently been created by another member.

For newbies who don’t know, your thread will be locked if it has recently been created and posted by another person.
So always use the search function in the forum to know if the discussion or information you want to create thread for has already been posted by another member.

Is better you use the search feature than to stress yourself creating thread only to have it locked, move to off topic or deleted.

This is not just for beginners it's for all, because we all creates new threads everyday. This platform is big with differences threads, OP advice is clear search the function bar before creating any thread to avoid repeating topics. So you know,  we have moderators that up and doing,  they will trace any duplicate thread and move it to off-topic or they will deleted the thread.  To avoid wasted efforts do a diligent search and create thread that's worth engaging.

Honestly searching function cannot only be useful for only newbies but the entirely members of this forum. Because as you said that is how it goes, in this forum we’ve large numbers of members and that is how they created a new thread everyday, and due to most of them don’t make a research before creating the thread that’s why a lots will be repeated same topic.

But with this thread now it can help a lots of members, both the newbies and old members to always make sure they make a concrete research before everything to avoid duplicating thread

[ColdLava40]

Is better you use the search feature than to stress yourself creating thread only to have it locked, move to off topic or deleted.

Fair enough fair enough, every member is guilty of this.

One reason I do not check is because Im a bit sure I don't make duplicates. But looking at the memory lane, majority of new topics today must have been discussed in the past but buried beneath 100 of pages.

Some could be outdated, some incorrect or not well organized. So if a new discussion is made it must be able to present new information outside what has existed to not call it a duplicate. Buh at least the moderator on beginners and help board is swift with such issues. So won't be much of a problem would it?

[KingsDen]

This is one of the most popular advice in the forum but yet, people, especially newbies ignore it. This will continue to happen because it is part of the forum but threads like this which reminds will help to mitigate the occurrence.

Do you know that some new users do not actually create a thread because they want to pass and information, ask questions or learn. They actually create threads to make their username popular or known. Someone in this category will create a thread in any slight given opportunity.

This actually shouldn't bother us much because there's another rule prohibiting bumping of old threads. Sometimes new members might be stocked at either creating new or bumping old.

You might be right sir but at some point, I think the high rate of alt accounts makes it very difficult  for newbie accounts to grow and these bunch of alt accounts make it seems every newbie account who writes very well is an altcoin especially when the account associates itself with 3rd world countries and when they write genuinely as newbies they are who are trying to figure their way round the forum, they are easily tagged as shitposters and spammers which makes me feel for them

You would agree with me that, creating threads would be one of the best way to expose yourself to the forum because the more people see you, especially when you write more interesting and worthy post, people will be more interested in going through your profile and rewarding your work, so I wouldn't have to totally blame newbies when they create more threads but where they issues lies Is, if these threads they create are good ones or just another trash for visibility sake .

Yea, I understand where you are coming from. But one thing is that everyone is responsible for what they think and the newbie know themselves whether they are genuine or not. The newbies are also responsible on how they react or perceive criticism.

When I was growing here, a few established members thought I wasn't a genuine newbie, and even till now. But that's not the fact and I have chosen how to react to it.

But honestly, genuine new members are disadvantaged by numerous alts because these alts owners have already known how to navigate the forum, so they are starting from experience.

[uchegod-21]

Funny enough, this very thread already exists on this forum. The rule against creating duplicate threads does not apply in all cases. If a particular topic already exists, you can create a thread based on that existing topic, but with an updated version; the version that seeks to improve on the already existing thread or topic.

Another thing is, before you join a discussion on an already existing thread, check how old the thread is. Except if you have no intention of writing in the thread, you can simply go through the existing discussion and find the answers you seek. If the already existing thread is too old, you can create a new one.

Some posters deliberately make duplicate posts for reasons best known to them, while some do so out of ignorance. It is good that the moderators are always active in deleting, locking, or moving such topics that violate the forum rules.

[Youngrebel]

This is very important, a lot of newbies just create threads on topics that have already been discussed before without using the search function but almost everyone has made this mistake, that's the reason why it is important to learn from others everyday so you don't keep on making the same errors.

Some people come up with certain topics and it doesn't really occur to them to search if such topic actually exists, it is okay if this is done once or Twice but if making this mistake consistently means that you are not improving.

As new new members there are a lot of things that you need to take out sometime to understand before you can make significant improvements in the forum.

[Supreme Donvic]

People need to use the search function whenever they want to create a new thread, a lot of people even me usually don't use it and the reason is because I believe or assume that the thread I want to create has not been created by anyone and that believe or assumption is the reason for creating thread that has recently be created by another person.
From henceforth I will not believe or assume that the thread I want to create has not been created by anyone, I'm going to ensure that I use the search function to check if anyone has posted it recently, and I will urge everyone of us to be doing the same thing, don't assume that no one has posted it, always ensure you check first before posting.

[Hyphen(-)]

This is to all newbies and old members too.
Threads are created in this forum everyday and they are on different topics concerning different things.
So before you create a thread use the search function to check if the thread you want to create has recently been created by another member.

For newbies who don’t know, your thread will be locked if it has recently been created and posted by another person.
So always use the search function in the forum to know if the discussion or information you want to create thread for has already been posted by another member.

Is better you use the search feature than to stress yourself creating thread only to have it locked, move to off topic or deleted.

Yes, using the search function will gives you hint on the topic you are about to create so that if you have gotten the information you needed, then there is no need for creating a new thread. If you use the search function, you will be exposed to several topics related to what you are about to create, and if it is a question, you will have several options to get the right answer based on the previous threads you just searched because the results will be more than one if the thread has been created before.

Sometimes, you might not get familiar to the outcome of the search, therefore, you can use your normal search engine by asking google, but adding Bitcointalk in front of your question; google will give you recommended or similar threads being created about the topic in the forum.