Dear IL'ites, As some of you might be following, we recently launched this "Unanswered Threads" widget. I made an announcement on that here - Can You Help Out?. Many IL'ites have started helping out, but one of the things that stand out is this. Vast majority of the threads that don't get answered are the ones asking for local recommendations. Examples are.. Asking for good coaching center - Coaching Center's For Tnpsc-group 2 Exams Good Bridal Makeup Artist - Bridal Make Up Artist Good Marriage Hall Decorator - Marriage Hall Decorations Good Public School for ADHD Student - Good Public Schools For Adhd Kid In Austin What are your thoughts on why these types of threads don't get answered? After all, we are all are from some city. Secondly, do you have any ideas on how we can solve this and get those IL'ites the information they are looking for?
People might be thinking let them get their information through google search. Google uncle is always there to help people. PS
Jey most active ILites wish to remain anonymous (to the extent possible). Answering queries specific to locations wouldn't help their cause .
What percent of the IL'ites do you think belong to this category? 25%, 50%, 100%. The reason I ask is that if it is 50%, what about the other 50%? Any other suggestions for overcoming it and still help those asking IL'ites?
@stayblessed @madras2018 @PushpavalliSrinivasan I wondered about the same thing too. I am sure there are other "yelp" type sites available for these queries. But the volume of these types of queries makes me wonder about this. Are these IL'ites, asking these questions because... 1. Didn't know Google could help them with this. 2. It didn't occur to them to google for this 3. Easy to type in IL than just google for it? 4. Or have googled, but couldn't find what they are looking for? 5. Something else? Which of this do you think the reason why they keep asking these local recommendations?
@Jey I believe some threads are just a round about way of advertising or luring. Just look at this thread, this person says he is new in Lebanon and needs adult diaper for a aging gm. Having been in mea, it feels a highly improbable situation and I still went back to trace earlier threads .. I Am New In Lebanon And Need To Buy Adult Diapers For My Aging Grandmother. Suggest A Brand. The other point is that people never revert with a fb about whether it helped And if I have to be honest sometimes it is so irritating to see a thread for already discussed issue. If a query on google lead them to this site wouldn’t bumping the thread be enough
Very insightful @Shanvy. This particular one seems odd. One question. Is there any chance these folks might be looking for some recommendations that is vetted by the community or used by people similar to them? Something that a generic google search won't provide? That's a good point. One idea that I have often wondered is whether we identify those "already discussed" resource threads for the various recommendations like "Good Tailors in West Mambalam, ", "Indian Cooks in London" etc and anyone who starts a new thread asking for these, we just link to this resource thread and close the new thread. Do you think that would work?
@Jey after 11 yrs you tend to notice there always is a pattern. Earlier we were strict about promotion. Wedding gift for a close friend - Suggestions There is this person here in this post. If you have the time please go through few of her posts you will understand what I am referring to. Another one— Providing Review About VGN Builders/ VGN Developers That said when I feel there is a genuine request I do reply. Don’t you think it is odd that a x member who is new starts a thread for a school or some shopping and after a few replies you have someone posting promotional links so cleverly. I was about to suggest the same regarding redirecting to a already discussed thread .
and best school for adhd type queries are sensitive and need to be guided right. sometime the hearsay replies maynot be helpful too. i am wary of recommending doctors because a dr who works well for me maynot for somebody else. so many similar parameters come into play is my pov
The RO water purifier is pretty versatile, serves as a good wedding gift for a friend as well as a cure for gall stones . I won’t be surprised if is next suggested as cure for all MIL problems ( with RO there will be No RO-NA DHONA)
