A Plea for Thread Subject Clarity
Help with WHAT? for crying out loud
Monday, July 24, 2006 by rabidrobot | Discussion: Requests
I realize this is preaching to the choir, but I'd like to ask that when people make a new forum thread they make an attempt at giving the thread a title descriptive of the subject.
For example, I'm pretty handy with DesktopX, and I enjoy helping, or trying to help, people who have a question about it. On the other hand, I don't know jack about making Windowblinds and have personally given up on trying to respond to Bootskin threads.
Even if threads are created in the proper area, which Topic Category a thread is in isn't all that clear until you are viewing the thread (and even then). The easiest way for us all to communicate what the subject matter of a thread is to form a proper, descriptive subject (or "Title" here) line.
Not only are "Help Me plz" and "Looking for..." style Titles non-descriptive, they also become nearly indistiguishable from each other, and I end up opening them more than once over the course of a few days, only to discover that it is of no interest and I can be of no assistance --again.
So I ask, please, when creating a thread, put some real consideration into the Title. A good title will not only make it easier for everyone else, but is more likely to catch the eye of the specialist who can be of most help to you or the forum users with the most insightful comments.
Thanks for letting me rant,
rr
For example, I'm pretty handy with DesktopX, and I enjoy helping, or trying to help, people who have a question about it. On the other hand, I don't know jack about making Windowblinds and have personally given up on trying to respond to Bootskin threads.
Even if threads are created in the proper area, which Topic Category a thread is in isn't all that clear until you are viewing the thread (and even then). The easiest way for us all to communicate what the subject matter of a thread is to form a proper, descriptive subject (or "Title" here) line.
Not only are "Help Me plz" and "Looking for..." style Titles non-descriptive, they also become nearly indistiguishable from each other, and I end up opening them more than once over the course of a few days, only to discover that it is of no interest and I can be of no assistance --again.
So I ask, please, when creating a thread, put some real consideration into the Title. A good title will not only make it easier for everyone else, but is more likely to catch the eye of the specialist who can be of most help to you or the forum users with the most insightful comments.
Thanks for letting me rant,
rr
Koasati
Reply #3 Monday, July 24, 2006 6:49 PM
Reply #3 Monday, July 24, 2006 6:49 PM
I wish you luck with this. I gave up long ago on trying to get people to use descriptive thread titles.
thomassen
Reply #4 Monday, July 24, 2006 6:56 PM
Reply #4 Monday, July 24, 2006 6:56 PM
I'm afraid that the people who read this post most likely isn't the ones you appeal to...
Reppiks
Reply #5 Monday, July 24, 2006 7:56 PM
Reply #5 Monday, July 24, 2006 7:56 PM
As a member of the choir, I read this post (sorry) but I do agree, I hope more people get the idea! 
Jafo
Reply #6 Monday, July 24, 2006 8:04 PM
Reply #6 Monday, July 24, 2006 8:04 PM
It really is a problem. People end up upset because they didn't get assistance in a timely manner to titles like - "Help plz" in the General section ...with no indication of their subject.
Worse still are the [almost] daily posts to the News section asking for 'Help plz'...a section where the threads are by default hidden until read/moderated/accepted. They then need to be physically moved to their correct place...and I still wonder whether the poster subsequently finds them again...
thomassen
Reply #7 Monday, July 24, 2006 8:16 PM
Reply #7 Monday, July 24, 2006 8:16 PM
... I have had my share of misposts in the news section. But that was due to the old WC's layout where the news submit button was so close to the forum submit button.
Adamness
Reply #8 Monday, July 24, 2006 11:36 PM
Reply #8 Monday, July 24, 2006 11:36 PM
If people read posts (such as this one), we wouldn't have the problem to begin with. Probably most problems people have, have been answered already. Look how many people ask how to install a skin when they don't even have the program installed. The program to use is right on top of the gallery! Yet, everyday there's a new post asking the same questions.
On a lot of tech support sections, before they allow you to contact the tech support directly, they make you search for your question in the forums or FAQs. Maybe something like that could be arranged here?
On a lot of tech support sections, before they allow you to contact the tech support directly, they make you search for your question in the forums or FAQs. Maybe something like that could be arranged here?
aufisch
Reply #9 Monday, July 24, 2006 11:56 PM
That's an excellent idea. Even topics like this one have been posted again, and again, and again.... (I remember them Koa
). But hardly achieve anything (unfortunately).
If a system would be implemented that would force every visitor (registered members which haven't purchased anything" to look for their answers in an FAQ, before being able to post, that might take the load off the dozen or so "How do I install this skin?" and "Bootskin, trouble booting.." threads a day.
Reply #9 Monday, July 24, 2006 11:56 PM
| On a lot of tech support sections, before they allow you to contact the tech support directly, they make you search for your question in the forums or FAQs. Maybe something like that could be arranged here? |
That's an excellent idea. Even topics like this one have been posted again, and again, and again.... (I remember them Koa
). But hardly achieve anything (unfortunately). If a system would be implemented that would force every visitor (registered members which haven't purchased anything" to look for their answers in an FAQ, before being able to post, that might take the load off the dozen or so "How do I install this skin?" and "Bootskin, trouble booting.." threads a day.
Adamness
Reply #10 Tuesday, July 25, 2006 11:04 PM
Reply #10 Tuesday, July 25, 2006 11:04 PM
And as you can see, even this thread didn't work.
https://forums.wincustomize.com/?forumid=144&aid=124912#966970
Good grief...
https://forums.wincustomize.com/?forumid=144&aid=124912#966970
Good grief...
Bichur
Reply #11 Tuesday, July 25, 2006 11:29 PM
Reply #11 Tuesday, July 25, 2006 11:29 PM
We can only try.
I'm still confused as to why anyone would need a logo.
I'm still confused as to why anyone would need a logo.
Bichur
Reply #12 Tuesday, July 25, 2006 11:30 PM
Reply #12 Tuesday, July 25, 2006 11:30 PM
and what's with the 'undefined' at the bottom of the last reply(ies)?
dragonmage
Reply #13 Wednesday, July 26, 2006 8:17 PM
Reply #13 Wednesday, July 26, 2006 8:17 PM
How about a system where (people who haven't purchased any products)after clicking on "Create Post" are greeted with a page or series of pages with drop down lists that you must choose a sellection in to proceed...
I want >
to ask for help
to ask for permission
to bitch about stardock products
to bitch about products stardock has absolutely nothing to do with
etc
etc
etc
Each of those would then lead to another page... for example, the help one
I want to ask for help with >
Installing a skin
Using a program
etc
etc
Some of those could be directly linked to a FAQ or tutorial
Anyways you get the idea
I want >
to ask for help
to ask for permission
to bitch about stardock products
to bitch about products stardock has absolutely nothing to do with
etc
etc
etc
Each of those would then lead to another page... for example, the help one
I want to ask for help with >
Installing a skin
Using a program
etc
etc
Some of those could be directly linked to a FAQ or tutorial
Anyways you get the idea
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Reply #1 Monday, July 24, 2006 6:40 PM
On the rant note, I wouldn't mind a completely new forum topic Titled "Miscellaneous or Rants"