Here's an idea, not sure if its good or a waste of time.

How about a guide to posting questions in the forums, something like:

1. search for similar questions
2. if there are no similar questions, post you question in the relevant thread
3. google you search term, if the answer is found then post in your thread, helping others to find the solution
4. if you have found some information, post in the forum, asking if this is the right way

Just though something like this would make it easier and quicker to find help, and also help avoid repeat questions that come up all the time?

What you think?

Would obviously be in official sounding writing, but its too late to write post

Yeah, make them as a sticky note!

Where do you recon we should do this?

Are you the moderator somewhere? I think they are still working on it..
I think you just have to ask the 4 VIP for advice on this

Hey guys! We have this stuff covered ... we just haven't had time to post it yet.

Thanks for the reminder

Its a great idea, I know I've seen on many forums (that get big) duplicate posts. If there could be like a quick box above creating your new topic post information on the new topic page, that "Search to make sure your topic or question has not been posted before." and a search inside. That might be nice. Or do what Digg does show possible relating topics, and have them confirm that it is unique! I wouldn't mind in some of the code forums, just not the web critique forum.

Oh nice idea about the position! I think that is a great spot for a little posting guide.

Perhaps an AJAX things?
When they are typing the new thread title, an AJAX will guide them and somehow "tell" them if there is a related/similar thread title that they are currently typing!
Upon seeing it is actually exist, they can just click the link and go to the appropriate thread
Saved some database space I would say...

I would say that this is a php based server and they might not want to attempt ajax with php.

PHP goes hand in hand with Ajax, creating an Ajax module does not require the rest of the page to be rewritten in php. I believe that I mentioned what Monie had said somewhere else. If not then I was certainly thinking about.

I don't think that it would be wise to send people off to Google, they might not come back.

Well I wasn't referencing to goggle searching, but mabey getting the search to auto magically search based on whats in your subject and the first couple lines of text in your post. If they don't see a match then they can post.

Google is the third posting suggestion of the original post.

My point is that Google will answer almost anything. By sending users off to Google what forum activity will surely drop.

I agree with Jason, That is what I meant when suggesting for ajax!
AJAX can work no matter what server you are using(Apache, IIS/Windows), or no matter what scripting language you are using (PHP, ASP) I have tested using ajax with my ASP page and MySQL database, they work great!

I am not suggesting to send the user to google, instead the ajax things will just check the current thread title in the forum database
Let say the user are creating a new thread title: CSS Hover Menu. At the same time, all the thread inside the CSS forum with the similar title (like CSS Menu, CSS Hover, Problem with CSS Hover, Problem with CSS Menu) will pop up so the user know that the similar thread has been discussed or exist in the CSS forum. They just can go there and find if that thread solved their actual problems..

There is an excellent example of this on the Ubuntu forums. (A place I am currently spending a lot of time getting help from )

So, Jacob.. Don't you think this features is cool?
Will this features use lots of resources and slow down the server?

Currently, we are not too worried about server resources, we have enough for the time being. In the next week we will be moving to a new host to give you guys the best speed, reliability, and most uptime possible. However, I do feel we should hold off for another few weeks before implementing this feature. After the server move we will all be on the look out for small bugs, glitches, and be busy making sure everything is functioning as planned. This will also involve testing the new server, and a few other random things.

The admin team is in preparation for some major advertising campaigns, which we will be doing to promote The Web Squeeze. I really feel we should hold off for a while so that we can get a better estimate of where we stand on server resources.

We are happy to know that Jacob
Can't wait to see all the new features up and running as well..

Awsome, and I thought TWS couldn't get better, it alwasys does. {well that besides the other memebr who keeps giving you feedback}

Look forward to more company, good luck with advertising.