Very true...and I have gone to these other places (on FT, anyway
) in the past. I knew nothing (or very little) about these other boards...but did not start threads. I read and the answers were there.
Take the BA board. They have stickies. I knew almost nothing about the program. But I read, and found out how to open a BAEC account without accumulating a single tier point. I also found out that I could check in online for an international ex-LHR or ex-LGW flight, from here in the US. I had no idea. It took maybe 10-15 minutes. Sure, I could have started a thread to ask about things that were well-answered, but I felt that that would show disrespect for all the work that had gone into those stickies.
Cheers.
I agree with you - I also try search first - and hence my idea of a revolving ad spot reminding newbees and oldbees "Did you search first?"
The person who is debating every word I said dismissed this right away, and my only point was that as i said, how many blinking 12:00s were there on VCRs. Folks just don't seem to read directions, but instead of crucifying them, why not work on solutions that will make them feel welcome but also show them how to get more out of FT - like Lehava's.
My gut is that there is a relatively small clique that is not truly interested in improving the forum but maintaining it as their fiefdom. I could be wrong, but sometimes it seems that way.