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In cooperation with several of the regular answers of questions here I have put together this short "how to get the best answer to my question" instructable.
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Signing UpStep 1Search instructables
Use the search box at the top right of the page - This will give back any similar subjects - Your question may well already be there.
There are some questions that get asked over and over (like "how do I talk to this girl/guy?") - if you have a search, you may not need to ask the question at all.
However don't ask the same question again, a couple of days later, just because you don't like the previous answers. Very rarely will the denizens of the answerers give a flippant or silly answer without provocation, so the answers you receive will in the main be the best we can manage with the information offered
There are some questions that get asked over and over (like "how do I talk to this girl/guy?") - if you have a search, you may not need to ask the question at all.
However don't ask the same question again, a couple of days later, just because you don't like the previous answers. Very rarely will the denizens of the answerers give a flippant or silly answer without provocation, so the answers you receive will in the main be the best we can manage with the information offered
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I'll be visiting often. I'm always looking for creative/innovative ways to fabricate/repair/create things of all kinds. Thanks! --James in Seattle WA USA
I do have a question though. Why does it say "403 Forbidden
Request forbidden by administrative rules." under the pics for the steps?
Steve
the laws of physics of which they know only one ( probably gravity ).
We are not Wizards but older people with discrete Knowledge, experience and
weI get it wrong sometime.There are ranters, conversationalists, liars, re-qualifier-addoners, tricksters,
sex inquisitors, and weapon makers that ( I try to avoid ) and most should
go to the forums.
A
If step six (search) was moved to step 1, I'd give it five.
Well, yes, but you aren't in an exclusive club, there are many members in it with you.....
Steve
I agree - It's always a problem with an open unmoderated medium - but better than keeping genuine creativity out. (I guess).
If you have any suggestions for anything else that might go in here I am open to ideas.
Rick
I think the point that most needs stressing is that a question shouldn't be "my XYZ doesn't work- how do I make it work". The questions most likely to be answered, and most likely to help other people, seem to take the form
- What I'm doing
- What I'm stuck with
- What part I need help with
"I'm building a recumbent bike, but the frame flexing is messing up my chain tension- how do I maintain proper chain tension over a changing distance" is a far better question than "how do I fix the chain tension on my recumbent".
Of course, there are also open-ended questions like "What telescope should I get for looking at the planets" or "Where can I buy 1.21GW flux capacitors in North Dakota" which might not fit that formula quite as well, but still having broad context and a specific query tends to make a good question.
I suppose this is just an elaboration of "What have you done or found out so far"... I just like detail :)
I agree that many questioners seem to expect mind reading. i get that a lot from my Wife.
"Don't ask the same question again, a couple of days later, just because you don't like the previous answers. Very rarely will the denizens of the answerers give a flippant or silly answer without provocation - see above, so the answers you receive will in the main be the best we can manage with the question offered."
Most of this site is in English, a very little of it is in Spanish, but none of it is in SMS. DON'T use leet speak, SMS speak or any shorthand that can't be read by any of our members for whom English is not their first language.
If you have a question, and it needs illustrating with a photo, PLEASE make the effort to make a decent, focussed picture of it.
Steve
(Best answer Rick?)