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A rant... SUBJECT LINE ETIQUETTE

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  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Glue and paint smeared bench, in La La Land
A rant... SUBJECT LINE ETIQUETTE
Posted by dahut on Sunday, February 10, 2008 8:13 PM

Wouldn't it be nice if people actually put a bit of info in subject lines? Something to let others know what it is about, for instance? Then we wouldnt have to open up a post, just to find out we had no interest in the matter.

Here's an example of the sort of thing I mean. You're scanning along in your favorite section of FSM and you see a posting subject line like this:

"I found..."

Thinking someone was generously tipping the group off to a good deal, you open 'er up - only to read:

"... that paint thinner works great for thinning paint." Or some other drivel like that. Or, it's not drivel, but you immediately find it doesn't interest you. If you'd known from the subject, well, you could've gotten on to something that was useful to YOU.

Now, most don't do this, thankfully. But there are plenty who do... you know who you are. Such folks figure the rest of us will open their post, because they made us "curious." They're right - and they're being manipulative. I could collect half a dozen such topics on any forum here, at any time.

'Worst part is - it's not needed. Really. A better subject line in this case might be...

"I learned paint thinners work well..."  Or something like that. If your post is about Abrams tanks, then say that. If it's about a good deal, say THAT. But don't use leading tactics, hoping to snare the unwary into reading your post.

In a written medium, surprise goes far enough, then it becomes tedious. Please do everyone a favor, you budding advertising copywriters and give us some inkling as to what your post is about. Spare us the ad tricks. It's just common courtesy.

Cheers, David
  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by namrednef on Sunday, February 10, 2008 10:24 PM
David....good to vent.....we're all guilty of it and feel your painBanged Head [banghead]
  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Glue and paint smeared bench, in La La Land
Posted by dahut on Sunday, February 10, 2008 10:56 PM

David....good to vent.....we're all guilty of it and feel your pain

Thanks. I was feeling fussy for those few minutes. At least I was pretty nice about it.

Cheers, David
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Ohio
Posted by mikepowers on Monday, February 11, 2008 7:16 AM

I agree.

If you have dial up or a slow connection then opening something like that is a complete waste of my time and I've seen too many of those.

Good point.

Mike

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Monday, February 11, 2008 8:15 AM

I tend to bypass posts that have vague topic titles like the example you mention. If the poster can't be bothered to come up with a subject title that depicts the topic he wants to know, then I won't bother reading the post.

I see so many that are titled
"Quick question"
"What color?"
"I've got a problem"
"Need help"

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Reno, NV
Posted by espins1 on Monday, February 11, 2008 10:47 AM
I have limited time to spend on the forums as I'm so busy now, so if the subject line is vague I will skip right over it and look for ones that interest me.

Scott Espin - IPMS Reno High Rollers  Geeked My Reviews 

  • Member since
    November 2006
  • From: Coastal Maine
Posted by dupes on Monday, February 11, 2008 12:01 PM
 mikepowers wrote:

If you have dial up or a slow connection then opening something like that is a complete waste of my time and I've seen too many of those.

Sign - Ditto [#ditto] Roger that!

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Hayward, CA
David, I understand.....
Posted by MikeV on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 12:40 PM

What you mean. Laugh [(-D]Clown [:o)]

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.  

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
  • Member since
    July 2013
Posted by DURR on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 12:57 PM

although it is not Grabbing the handful of people that will answer this post,  in general it does grab a lot of people (curiosty killed the cat as the old saying goes)

many advertisers, news articles too many of the "PRO" people know that stuff like that does catch the wondering eye

MY friend i am not saying i dis agree or agree  but i do understand your point

i am just stating the above as well...  (a fact of life as best as i can say)My 2 cents [2c]

  • Member since
    March 2005
Posted by philo426 on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 5:18 PM
Well I try to be specific with my posts and provide basic info.It does waste your time when a post is a "teaser"!
  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Baton Rouge, Snake Central
Posted by PatlaborUnit1 on Friday, February 29, 2008 12:05 PM

My favorites to skip right on by:

 HELP WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?????? [all caps usually]

 a question for the pros

 Im new here help!!1

and a classic, posted just this Wednesday

help

 

David

Build to please yourself, and don't worry about what others think! TI 4019 Jolly Roger Squadron, 501st Legion
  • Member since
    July 2013
Posted by DURR on Friday, February 29, 2008 2:52 PM
 PatlaborUnit1 wrote:

My favorites to skip right on by:

 HELP WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?????? [all caps usually]

 a question for the pros

 Im new here help!!1

and a classic, posted just this Wednesday

help

 

David

David  why these?  most of the it's a poor rookie crying out in the night like a young child having a nightmare.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Modeling anything with "MARINES" on the side.
Posted by AH1Wsnake on Monday, March 3, 2008 1:32 AM

Rotorheads...this is YOUR fault!!

Sign - Dots [#dots]

Laugh [(-D]

 

"There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines: Marines and those who have met them in battle. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion."
  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Glue and paint smeared bench, in La La Land
Posted by dahut on Monday, March 3, 2008 5:01 AM
You got me there, bud. I try to be good about it, but sometimes even I slip...
Cheers, David
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA
Posted by tigerman on Monday, March 3, 2008 3:19 PM
Frankly, it doesn't bother me. If it's something I want to pursue, than I will. It's all up to me whether or not to open up the thread and peak. Evil [}:)]Laugh [(-D]

   http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/wing_nut_5o/PANZERJAGERGB.jpg

 Eric 

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Baton Rouge, Snake Central
Posted by PatlaborUnit1 on Thursday, March 6, 2008 11:37 AM

Durr

maybe if they make thier posts a BIT more helpful it will sound more like a request for help, rather than a wail in the night.

Rookie, new modeler, new to the Internet or new to the planet, I see these all the time by posters with triple digits in thier avatar, meaning they have been here a while.

Frankly, it irritates me to see this on any forum, so I pass right on by when I see them.  Call the tech reps at GE aircraft engines  and tell them you cant get your engine lit off and see how far that gets you. Over the years I have spent, --no WASTED-- a lot of time wading through these posts only to find out that there was an ID10T error going on (using water based acrylic paint thinner to clean soidified lacquer out of a paint cup) or he corrected it himself (couldnt find the box top instructions because they were between the lid and the box bottom which was stacked inside.)

I used to jump all over these years ago on RMS and other forums. Wound up spending a lot of time scanning instructions, pulling out kits to look at parts that were missing, etc etc etc, you name it.  Finally,I got burned out on being johnny on the spot to try to help the "one liners" who I thought may be new and simply knew no better.   

So, that's my point of view.  a LITTLE bit more descriptive title line, as suggested in by the forum guidelines when we sign up, would go a long way.

David

Build to please yourself, and don't worry about what others think! TI 4019 Jolly Roger Squadron, 501st Legion
  • Member since
    July 2013
Posted by DURR on Thursday, March 6, 2008 4:06 PM

david  

i see now  i was just curious  as to the title lines you specified

 

 

joe

 

 

  • Member since
    November 2006
  • From: Coastal Maine
Posted by dupes on Friday, March 7, 2008 12:32 PM

 PatlaborUnit1 wrote:
only to find out that there was an ID10T error going on

David, I'm guessing you're ex (or current?) military by your nomenclature here...Big Smile [:D]

We had many many ID10T mishaps in my unit(s). Heh. Laugh [(-D]

 

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by the doog on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 7:50 PM
The worst art is that you can't search for it if it's a subject you might be nterested in...you're stuck there thinking; "hmmm, now what was that post called?"
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