Should they get stricter with Thread Titles?

[keyboardashtray]

I'm a newer user, and I'm coming here at a rate of one - two questions a day. Everyone has been great helping, there is no complaint there.

I try to search before I post, to see if my question has been asked before. If I try a few variations and get either 150 or 0 posts, then I'm probably just going to start a new thread. Searching is a grueling process - the search usually turns up too much and many are titled "Help!!!" or "I'm new", etc.

I know it is a friendly community with an emphasis on helping, but maybe there could be stronger urging to try and sum up your question in one line at the title - maybe even change the title field to "What is your question?"

People need to know that when they post a good title isn't just about helping people help you, it's also about helping people like me down the road who very well might have the same question.

I guess I'm calling for more forum fascism, heh - maybe when you vets come across a question you are about to help on with a vague title, you could open with a little comment "You know, you'll get faster help if you title better, but anyway, to answer your question" etc., etc., and maybe when, someday, I'm in a position to help I'll do the same.

[lisati]

It might present a problem for the moderators, how to enforce stricter rules without impinging on people's freedom.....

[bapoumba]

It's a "known issue". How to have users choose a good title so that members willing to help know what they are talking about?
Not all the threads throughout the forums are questions, specially in the discussion areas. But that's an idea for the support areas. I do not know if this can be easily implemented though.

Mods and the OP can change the thread titles, and I do it from time to time, when I answer such threads for ex. Members usually take it easy, but not all the time ;)

[keyboardashtray]

Yeah, I know - what can you do really? :( Guess I just had to vent... have to admit, I do not have a lot of luck with the search here, I'm more the experimental-type searcher, tries a few rapid fire variations on a search until I get a narrowed down list of some good looking leads, and here you've got the 15 second rule so each search has to count.

[aysiu]

Next time you see one of these annoying titles, report the first post in that thread (using the REPORT button next to the post number). The moderators will see it and then can change the title to reflect the content.

[mdebusk]

I try to search before I post, to see if my question has been asked before. If I try a few variations and get either 150 or 0 posts, then I'm probably just going to start a new thread. Searching is a grueling process - the search usually turns up too much and many are titled "Help!!!" or "I'm new", etc.

Being a Linux newbie, I'm not much help here, but I used OS/2 for a long time and got to be pretty helpful when I had the chance. It was my habit to ignore any post that started that way. Not to flame it, but to ignore it. Well-framed questions or requests were happily answered.

Fundamentally, if poorly-framed questions or requests get the same responses as well-framed ones, there's no incentive for those who are framing questions or requests to do so in a useful way.

Just my two cents, of course.

[matthew]

He is grumpier than we are around here, but I wish I could get every user to read through the basics of Eric Raymond's "How to Ask Questions the Smart Way (http://www.catb.org/%7Eesr/faqs/smart-questions.html)."

[keyboardashtray]

Next time you see one of these annoying titles, report the first post in that thread (using the REPORT button next to the post number). The moderators will see it and then can change the title to reflect the content.

Cool - will keep that in mind - I'll try not to keep you folks too busy though.

BTW, Aysiu - it was your tutorial (http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/installing) that brought me into Ubuntu, so thank you! Any other rookies stumble on this, it is a good place to go if you want to know what to expect while you are installing off of the Live CD.

He is grumpier than we are around here, but I wish I could get every user to read through the basics of Eric Raymond's "How to Ask Questions the Smart Way (http://www.catb.org/%7Eesr/faqs/smart-questions.html)."

Yeah - I was having a bad day - bad connection lately :mad:
I guess it's not so much a problem as I thought, I haven't been yelled at yet for posting a question that has been posted before, so knock on wood!

[matthew]

Yeah - I was having a bad day - bad connection lately :mad:
I guess it's not so much a problem as I thought, I haven't been yelled at yet for posting a question that has been posted before, so knock on wood!You are fine. I meant Eric Raymond is grumpier than most people around here. :)

[keyboardashtray]

You are fine. I meant Eric Raymond is grumpier than most people around here. :)
Oh :) Yeah I just got back from reading your link to that, it was harsh, in a humorous way though. Have to admit I've broken a few of those, some were news to me. Good stuff to know.