Web Search Garage

Finding Help for Routine Things

When you have specific questions or advanced questions, online forums are great. But unless you're involved in very basic forums, there are certain kinds of questions it's sometimes hard to ask: basic questions. Often forums and communities assume a critical mass of knowledge, or the dynamics of the group make it difficult to ask a basic question without getting razzed or causing controversy. But, of course, there are lots of beginners online. In addition to basic beginner questions, you may find you have lots of “routine” needs—looking for software drivers, say, or trying to get a handle on current virus alerts. And, of course, there's the gamer's need for cheats and walkthroughs.

TIP

If you need to help someone ...