What is an FAQ?

A FAQ is a file of Frequently Asked Questions, which is exactly what it sounds like - common questions on a subject, and their answers.  This file you are reading now is a FAQ.  Most FAQs provide a great deal of useful information.; novices are strongly encouraged to read FAQs to familiarize themselves with the basics of their chosen field of interest.

FAQs exist for several reasons: 
- To provide a quick and efficient resource for newcomers to the subject. 
- To keep the subject matter of mailing lists and newsgroups fresh and interesting. 
- To prevent repetition of 'simple' questions from irritating and/or boring more experienced readers.

FAQs exist for thousands of subjects on the net, not just on DSMs.  Most newsgroups, mailing lists and discussion boards have a FAQ.  A collection of FAQs on many subjects may be found at the Internet FAQ Consortium, and here.  A DSM-specific FAQ Locator is used to be available but is now out of service.

Maybe we could point faqs.dsm.org to this website?