Help me please threads!

[Admin]

I have been seeing these threads with titles like help me please... I am dying and please help and so on in broadband sections...

It would be so much better if members used descriptive titles instead of help and please help or can I do this and all that crap.

Does anyone have any suggestions to prevent new members from creating threads with titles like these?

[smoothvibes]

beat them with hunter :53: for 3 days before professional training :lol:

@Topic
I think we can put this as a prompt or Tip on top of thread page "Please Don't Use Titles Like "Help Me" or "Help Needed" and try to use Title bar as subject of your problem.

[pothi]

Does anyone have any suggestions to prevent new members from creating threads with titles like these?

I don't have any suggestions here. However I'd like to say something from my point of view regarding this.

I *see* these kind of generic postings in almost every forum that I visit, every day. Choosing the right title comes only for experienced and/or serious people.

I've seen in a forum where there is an announcement in *every section/category* titled "READ BEFORE POSTING". Even in that forum, I see one or two generic posting everyday.

Thanking you,
Pothi.

[just4kix]

Most unfortunately people do not post sensible titles. I had thought of some alternatives:

1. Edit the title: But that would mean cleaning up the mess created by someone else. And that would also cause lot of hassles.
2. Ignore the post: That would be a bit unfair to newbies.

So now I do read the post and if the thread really merits an answer, I reply. Else I have a standard answer typed and a text file created for the same. I cut and paste the text:

For all your queries, please read the many guides posted in the Broadband How to section.

Some threads I don't bother replying.

[smoothvibes]

For all your queries, please read the many guides posted in the Broadband How to section.

but that is not resolution know by this we can not stop them from doing this, we need to educate new members and old members too to post proper titles

[ShAdOwCoN]

I totally agree with Pothi's views ..

Yes we cannot expect newbies to be forum savvy .... that would be too ambitious ....

Is it possible to introduce a pop-up telling them not to use such titles whenever something like that is typed in the Thread title space ?

[just4kix]

but that is not resolution know by this we can not stop them from doing this, we need to educate new members and old members too to post proper titles

I know that it is not a resolution. That is why I do reply to some threads. To others ... well...

[itsmemad]

Best way is to point and shoot! I mean at the moment any of us see a member coming up with such vague title, we should respond politely but on the face at his/her thread with or without an answer... Such as "Please use some meaningful title in future"... This way it will spread the awareness among all members... And any new member going through such threads can also see this and understand what is expected from a title if hez ever gonna start a thread... Its tedious and slow process... But it will reap benefits...

[smoothvibes]

"Please use some meaningful title in future"

I think this is something which can help

[itsmemad]

Yeah, it will...

[iChaitanya]

My Suggestions:

1) Create new thread. Make it an announcement in all broadband subforums. Use some eye-catching title.

2) When a newbie joins forum for first time, make it compulsary for him/her to read this thread before he/she can start posting. I have seen this in some forums.

Can't think of any other ways! Will post more suggestions as and when they strike my mind!

[Admin]

Most people who open these help me threads are those who havent been to a forum before or are not regular forumerer in my opinion and its just the one time thing even for them and by the time they post their 2nd or 3rd thread they learn on their own that good descriptive titles get better response.

Mending the already posted ones is not a solution coz by the time you get to action its already there... I am talking about preventing this from happening... not a correctiv measure as it would just increase work load.

I liked the idea of giving a prompt before they can post a thread that have you given your thread a good title? does their title describe whats in the thread and so on... A sort of check list before their first thread goes live.

Any more suggestions? No corrective measures please...

[just4kix]

Well yesterday I was going to suggest to search for a vB mod that makes subject mandatory and at least 5 words. But I edited this out at the last moment - will such a restriction be too cumbersome?

And what if someone titled it as "Help me ... Help me ... Help me"? LOL

[Mr.Tooth Fairy]

i think for newbies.. as soon as they join.. this forum.. there shud be a page displaying DOS AND DONTS..... in this it shuld be strickly mentioned.. rules for posting.. 1. selecting appropriate topic.. bla bla bla.. (shuld not be vague... like help plz.. need help.. how to?,, need help.. etc etc)2. replying to forums.. bla bla bla.. hope admin got some idea.. ... and all newbies shuld undergo this rules for before completing the registration in this broad band forums...

[Alexina]

but promting them to read a thread before actually postin might be a turn off to many newbies.

[iChaitanya]

^^

Agreed. But is there any other better alternative?

Maybe just making a new announcement thread in all broadband subforums could fix it. Title maybe something like - Read this before posting...

or something similar.

[smoothvibes]

Maybe just making a new announcement thread in all broadband subforums could fix it. Title maybe something like - Read this before posting...

How many times do you read Terms & Conditions of any website before posting or before creating a email account or before you enter any secure site

We still need some more suggestions for same. :sad:

[Archer]

How many times do you read Terms & Conditions of any website before posting or before creating a email account or before you enter any secure site

We still need some more suggestions for same. :sad:

I always skips Terms & Conditions. I always thinks "what is so special its all the same in every websites". I never read FAQ guides unless I have no other choice. :surrender:

I think we need a catchy title to get this to work.

[iChaitanya]

Hmm... then this won't work out. Need to cook something up!

[smoothvibes]

I always skips Terms & Conditions. I always thinks "what is so special its all the same in every websites". I never read FAQ guides unless I have no other choice.

you are not the only one vishnu, most of the users of you can say about 99% skip this step.

I think we need a catchy title to get this to work.

I agree, this can help

[Mr.Tooth Fairy]

thts wat.. no skipping business... admin shub become drona.. do some magic .. to make them understand.. lol..... drooooooooooooonnnnnnnnaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.... parminderji... lol

[smoothvibes]

doctor saab :scared:
we can not force anyone to read rules before posting but we can only advice them :52:

[Mr.Tooth Fairy]

ya smoothie.. m not telling anyone to force them...

[smoothvibes]

okies and how are you now, where were you from last few days

[Mr.Tooth Fairy]

i had a meeting in goa.. then i had to attend a convcation function.. so was out for 10 days.. now back home... doin time pass.. hey wats ya orkut name.. leme add u.. there.. i use it more..,so