My Threads Are Disappearing Into the Unknown

[TrevT93]

Hi. I've been a regular here on the forums for a few months now, and I've always thought this place to be a helpful environment. I've been helped by the community a few times, once with GRUB2 and a little quad-booting involving several Windows and Linux partitions (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1325501), and another having to do with my Finepoint Tablet going crazy on Jaunty (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1221288) (although this one wasn't actually my thread at first, I just jumped in on it). To those who helped me with these issues, thank you :) .

However, as of late I've been having more and more complex problems, which I've posted in new threads in the support forums. The problem is that I'm having trouble getting an audience to listen to my issues. In the past few months, I've posted on the mysterious disappearance of my sound device (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1341288), the graphics acting up with an odd kernel version (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1337781), a program with a segfault (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1347085), and most recently a graphics adapter that's messing with me (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1358785). I didn't get any replies to any of them, even weeks after original posting (save the odd kernel version issue, but that person was just thanking me for finding the solution to his problem; also, the graphics adapter one is fairly recent, but I just thought I'd throw it in there).

Don't take this as an I'm-blaming-the-community sort of thread, which this is not at all. This forum is a relatively large place, and as a moderator of a couple of small-time forums I understand the dynamics of a forum community. But it seems like, if a thread isn't answered within a few hours, it slips into obscurity because of the sheer volume of replies to other threads posted in such a short time space, and how that affects the threads listed on the first page of any given section. Once a thread reaches page three or so, it's not going to be answered unless you bump the thread. Or at least that's how I feel, having had those unanswered threads.

(And as a moderator, I also understand how much people bumping their own threads annoys the forum staff. That's why I hesitate to bump my own thread, even a few weeks after it was originally posted. I was about to bump my segfault and sound card issue threads when I thought I'd post this here.)

As an example of the problem, take my recent thread on the graphics adapter messing with me. Just nine hours after my last reply, it's already near the bottom of page four. And that's a problem, or so I feel, because most of the people who can and will help with the issues check the first few pages to see if there's something they can help with, then get sidetracked with that, and never get to the rest. Or maybe there's not enough people around who can help to post on all the threads of people that need help. I don't really know.

Another possibility, as far as I know, is that people will take one look at the walls of text I usually post and go back to find another thread that's easier to respond to. That's why my most recent issue's first post was completely rewritten to be a lot smaller than before, while still having a lot of information. My problem is that I really expand on things when I make posts...such as this one!

So what I'm looking for is information. Why is it that my threads are disappearing into the void? Is this a problem with my posts or is it that there are too many threads that mine just happen to slip into said void?

(As a last remark, I understand that this might be completely by chance that my threads are the ones being left behind, and that I'm not the only person with an unanswered thread within the past few days/weeks. I also understand that I have the worst luck of anyone within a fifty mile radius (generally speaking; that number could be off by a few miles more or less), so my threads not being answered might be because of a force completely beyond my control.)

-TrevT93

[lisati]

Don't panic! There are still some of your threads showing. To find them you can click on Search->Find All Your Threads.

[TrevT93]

Lol, if you'd read the post, then you would've understood that I meant a metaphorical "Disappearing into the Unknown".

[pricetech]

Another possibility, as far as I know, is that people will take one look at the walls of text I usually post and go back to find another thread that's easier to respond to. That's why my most recent issue's first post was completely rewritten to be a lot smaller than before, while still having a lot of information. My problem is that I really expand on things when I make posts...such as this one!

-TrevT93

Just guessing I'd say that's a big part of it. A lot of folks want information, but don't want it packed so tightly. Maybe separating information into paragraphs and keeping them as concise as possible.

Having as much info as possible tied to your account helps too. I noted that you have the version you are using listed under your username. I wish more people would do that.

[Marvin666]

Just give it a bump once every day or so. I've needed to do this before to get the issue resolved.

[doas777]

one of the lessons i learned early on is to keep your initial post short and simple. describe the issue as clearly as possible but without going into too much depth. you can follow up with a second post that goes into the details of the things you have tried to remediate the issue, and perhaps a more detailed description.

also keep your paragraphs short (5 lines or less) with a line in between so that they are easy to skim, and make sure that there is a distinct point to each of them.

also sometimes it's better to play dumb (but never stupid) rather than hit them will 4 attachments of diagnostics data and a problem description a mile long. people may ask you to perform tests and fixes you had never heard of, or to rework steps you have already performed, and often it works!

good luck

[TrevT93]

one of the lessons i learned early on is to keep your initial post short and simple. describe the issue as clearly as possible but without going into too much depth. you can follow up with a second post that goes into the details of the things you have tried to remediate the issue, and perhaps a more detailed description.

also keep your paragraphs short (5 lines or less) with a line in between so that they are easy to skim, and make sure that there is a distinct point to each of them.

also sometimes it's better to play dumb (but never stupid) rather than hit them will 4 attachments of diagnostics data and a problem description a mile long. people may ask you to perform tests and fixes you had never heard of, or to rework steps you have already performed, and often it works!

good luck

Yeah, I kind of figured. It's a bit habitual for me to be long-winded because I want to get all the info out without having to doublepost, which I know is not a good thing on most forums (incl. the ones I moderate).

So then it's good to mention most but not all of what I know about the issue to start off? I'll keep that in mind.

I usually do have 5-or-less line paragraphs, and I always leave spaces.

Thanks.

Is it okay to do a daily bump? (A better question might be "what's the acceptable time period from thread creation to bump?".) I figured that would be more annoying than anything, again out of experience.

[doas777]

Yeah, I kind of figured. It's a bit habitual for me to be long-winded because I want to get all the info out without having to doublepost, which I know is not a good thing on most forums (incl. the ones I moderate).

So then it's good to mention most but not all of what I know about the issue to start off? I'll keep that in mind.

I usually do have 5-or-less line paragraphs, and I always leave spaces.

Thanks.

Is it okay to do a daily bump? (A better question might be "what's the acceptable time period from thread creation to bump?".) I figured that would be more annoying than anything, again out of experience.
a day is just fine. try not to bump at the same time of day everyday, as that may be part of the issue.

[TrevT93]

a day is just fine. try not to bump at the same time of day everyday, as that may be part of the issue.

Also noted. I do realize that I get online at odd hours (usually before 7 AM and after 10 PM Eastern), so trying to get on mid-day to bump might help. Thanks.