Newcomers and the search function

Please do not berate newcomers about the search function.

Newcomers to the chat forum frequently ask the same questions. Most common questions are, for example:

• What is life like in Germany?
• How can I get a visa?
• How can I find a job?
• How can I find an apartment?
• How can I meet people?
• What is the best way to learn German?

When these questions are asked, more experienced members sometimes berate the newcomer for not having used the search function before asking the question. Experienced members are requested, however, not to do this. Telling the newcomer to search first is bad because:

• It comes across and unfriendly and elitist
• It scares the newcomers off
• Without newcomers the community stagnates
• Newcomers will always forget to search first, so shouting at them will achieve nothing

Besides, no great harm is done by asking the same question as has been asked previously. Yes, it can be frustrating to experienced members, but it's something that you will have to learn to live with because the forum will always have newcomers.

The correct way to reply to newcomer questions

If you wish to reply to a newcomer's question, the correct approach is to first politely welcome them to the forum. Secondly, post just a few words giving a summary answer to their question. Thirdly, provide a link to the existing page or discussion where their question has previously been answered in more depth. Then sit back and allow a moderator time to decide if a topic merge is necessary.

If a newcomer question is on the exact the same subject as an earlier discussion, you may like to use the report function to request that the threads be merged. A moderator will then take a look and determine if a merge is really necessary. If threads are of the exact same topic, they will likely be merged. If there is a suitable difference in the subject being discussed, there will be no merge. A merge might also be rejected if the old topic is out-of-date.

A note to newcomers who are reading this

To any newcomers reading this: If you wish to avoid being labelled a merge offender please seek out an existing discussion that you are interested in and post a reply there. Do not start a new topic if an older topic already exists. If the older topic is kind of out-of-date, or lacking in information, feel free to post a reply asking for updates. If your question has an interestingly different angle on the subject, then feel free to start a new topic.

Note the difference between the following two buttons:

The first button, the one labelled "add reply", will add a post to the end of an existing discussion. The second button, the one labelled "new topic", will start a new discussion. Take care to use the correct button. But if you're not sure, then don't worry. Just post away! A moderator will gladly fix it if you make a mistake, that is their job.

See also

• Newcomers and the search function - related chat topic
• Please do not bite the newcomers