I’ve got fed up with the Forum because to get to anything that might interest me, I have to wade through loads of newbies asking the same bloody questions! Frankly I can’t be bothered to answer them most of the time.
That or “do you think I might have MS?” We (the existing users) should not be answering those questions and are not qualified to diagnose.
Such people should learn to use search functions first and ask more sophisticated questions later. Is it just laziness or is the forum not easy enough to navigaate? We are not a human search engine!
Got used to using the “Dismiss New” button after the first scan of the previews.
Can I suggest a restructuring of the front end?
We need much better screening of newbies asking the same questions.
Perhaps a pop-up FAQ section that says “someone may have already asked this question” or a pop-up message that directs them to FAQ’s for the first month of membership?
Am I being unfair or intolerant?
Comments please…
Graeme
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You might ask that, Graeme, I could not possibly comment. 
It seems to me that the questions that newcomers ask are the questions that we asked too, when we were new too, and frightened and in need of being listened to.
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The advantage of the forum is that information is stored and can be accessed through search. I made use of this when newly diagnosed. I have always preferred finding things out for myself rather than asking a question. People discover the forum and ask a question without exploring it firs! I tend to only respond to posts where I feel I have something special to add.
The forum format has many advantages over the stream of consciousness in Facebook as used by the MS Trust
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The search function isn’t great I don’t know if it’s the search or the fact that titles can’t be duplicated so finding lots of info on one specific issue can be difficult.
I was one of those people too unfortunately I’ve had to stick around because my could it be ms became I have ms 
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All valid points, thank you.
Maybe I’m annoyed BECAUSE I did my research before asking questions. My first points of call in 2021 were the excellent MSS & MST websites & pamphlets (well, the pdf’s thereof), so got informed that way. Loads more sources out there. Prof G was essential reading 
My first search was “Multiple Sclerosis UK” and the SEO team at MSS will be pleased they came up first!
So when I did venture onto the forum, I’d like to think my questions were already more informed and focussed. I see it as a courtesy to existing members to invest time & effort learning / researching. Others, it would appear, don’t!
I DO reply to newbie questions but when it’s clear they’ve already developed a basic understanding of the disease and its various manifestations.
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An interesting discussion. You’ve got me thinking 1999/2000 when I was in limboland/newly dx myself – anyone else fondly remember Jooly’s Joint?
It was a lifeline to me not because there was info on there, but because of the human aspect: to send a message into the void and get a message back from a real person who had MS was a comfort.
As far as information goes, in truth the only information I really wanted as a newbie was how soon I should get the doors widened, and there ain’t no information source good enough to answer that question. But a real person with MS taking an interest and going to the trouble of replying always meant a lot to me back then.
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Agree with you on the MS Trust Facebook ( which for some reason the Trust is resistant to making private - so it end up with lots of ‘Anonymous’ posts).
I keep reminding myself that MS is a great leveller I.e it affects people from early teens to oldies ( like myself) from all walks of life. Might just be my assumption but I do find myself wondering why some people seem to expect an answer to the ‘could this be MS’ question. Are these questions from a younger generation that is so used to social media and expecting quick answers.
I filter out a lot of the chatter on Facebook by ignoring people who are fixated on topics that have no answers or are irrelevant. The anonymous posts get round this and often appear to be click bait or unfocused.
I worry about questions from “people” who have no reading record. Is it a bot? When the forum was more active I only read one section.
Perhaps we need our own AI bot to give the frequently needed answers. Or could it be impossible to know, time will tell, it could be something else.
Would the admin care to look at first posts being fielded by them with stock answers pointing to good information available (if you have time and the skills to look) on the Society website? I am amazed how comprehensive the information available is, but I enjoy the challenge of searching stuff out.
Possibly because there is no such thing as private on Facebook. The idea of a ‘private’ Facebook group gives a wholly false sense of confidentiality, so I think the MS trust is quite right on that one.
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I’m a member of a ‘private’ FB group about a hotly contested area of health and it’s forever being infiltrated by trolls, who do a bit of unpleasant trolling etc before being chucked out, sometimes after having first screenshotted and shared posts that the poster considered private.
not been on before but lots experience of MS..had it a long long time now. Very different for everyone. Have secondary progressive. Too busy to look on here before.