Note that all I state/ask in this discussion is referring to the style guide located here.
As more new users have problems with Ubuntu or XUbuntu, and they come to AskUbuntu for help, there are more and more questions that are unreadable or non-understandable. This has been an issue for a while, which is why there is the option for other users to edit the question if they believe that they can improve it, however, sometimes a question is so jumbled and screwy that not even an experienced user can understand what the OP is attempting to ask. For Example something like this:
hi I am new too using linux and i have a problem with my browser. there doesn't seem to be the correct buttons and the browser opens slowly. please help. thanks
Note the above is just an example. Not a real question
These kinds of questions are asked on the hourly, and to attempt to help these people is fruitless at points. What I'm trying to get at here is that questions nowadays have little to no needed guidelines besides a title, one tag, and a few clicks.
Here is my suggestion. Again referring to here, there should be a more guided GUI for asking a question. Not entirely changing it, just adding a few different boxes, to make asking a question easier, and getting an answer faster. Here is what should be on the screen
- Title stating a brief problem description
- Flavor & Release Version of (X)Ubuntu
- IF the problem refers to hardware, a list of hardware (specs) that may help in answering the question.
- A description of the problem, and how it is affecting the user
- What the OP has tried to solve the problem (if any,) and why it hasn't worked.
- Any additional information that the OP thinks may help (for example screenshots, links, etc.)
- Tags
This structure would help keep questions organized and make the site better and faster. I realize that not everyone is in favor of this but that's why I started this discussion. I would like all of your ideas and opinions on this topic, and what you think would be good to fix this issue.
Have A Great Day, David