To make this reply, I simply clicked one link marked "reply", and the next thing I saw was a form/textarea in which to type.

To ask a question, I have to know to go to Seekers Of Perl Wisdom or another section, wait 20 seconds for it to load ( Newest Nodes takes only 7 seconds), then scroll past 10 questions to find a form/textarea to ask my question.

If I didn't already know this, it might take me half an hour to find the ask-a-new-question-form.

Hmm, one half hour to find the right door? I go to The Monastery Gates and I can't ask a question. I can [Offer your reply] but I can't ask a question?

There is a big SEARCH button at the top of every page, but there is no NEW QUESTION button, and if try to search for NEW QUESTION it won't lead me to the place to ask a NEW QUESTION

On practically every forum the NEW QUESTION button is always prominent

Having a NEW QUESTION button is is the equivalent of having DON'T PANIC in big friendly letters

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