I always thought that there should be a true "FAQ for newbies," Seperate from the Newbie discussion board. On most other websites when you see "FAQ," it is usually a list of frequently asked questions, with answers. Here you click on FAQ and it takes you to a discusson board. It could be that newbies click on that and actually expect a true FAQ, then they get led to a board, and feel like they have no choice to ask.

Other forums have "stickies" which take the most frequently asked questions, and put them in one spot.
It could be said that the "self help center" is the real FAQ. I think your idea of forcing the newbies there first before the discussion board has merit. There are also a lot more questions that get asked over and over again that could be added to the self help center.

One thing I find kind of amusing, is that we are all encouraged to be nice on the newbie board, and I was even scolded once for telling someone to use "search." LOL. Yet if you go back to the very early newbie board in 2002, There are tons of posts and reminders from moderators and admin telling people to, "please search the board before asking a question."

Here is an example

And thanks x10 for being nice to us newbs!!