Author
Message
mottjr
Veteran
Joined: 26 Sep 2002 Posts: 122 Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE
RANT: think before you post Are we going to continue this thread ad infinitum? We are starting the discussion of yet another (is it three now?) puzzle in a thread that started off as a SOLVE. I'm all for people playing however they want, but a little more organization and attention to detail couldn't hurt here in the forums.
I think we've been doing a pretty good job of labelling posts, but we need to separate discussions into threads that address just a puzzle or just an email or just whatever. There may be times when they get hard to separate but if we all just think to ourselves, "hmm. Should I post this thought here, or here, or should I perhaps start a new thread?" these boards would be much easier to follow.
I find that if I stay away for a few days it is extremely difficult to get back up to speed. I can look a title and think that I can skip it because I already know about it.
Does my frustration show? I hope so.
Jim
note: this was originally posted as a reply in this thread but i thought that it was worthy of standing on it's own so i moved it. something for us all to consider, thanks for bringing it up Jim. -imbri
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2003 1:25 pm
RPGgame
Unfettered
Joined: 02 Jan 2003 Posts: 501
Re: RANT
mottjr wrote:
Are we going to continue this thread ad infinitum? We are starting the discussion of yet another (is it three now?) puzzle in a thread that started off as a SOLVE. I'm all for people playing however they want, but a little more organization and attention to detail couldn't hurt here in the forums.
I think we've been doing a pretty good job of labelling posts, but we need to separate discussions into threads that address just a puzzle or just an email or just whatever. There may be times when they get hard to separate but if we all just think to ourselves, "hmm. Should I post this thought here, or here, or should I perhaps start a new thread?" these boards would be much easier to follow.
I find that if I stay away for a few days it is extremely difficult to get back up to speed. I can look a title and think that I can skip it because I already know about it.
Does my frustration show? I hope so.
Jim
ummm please dont hurt us....
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2003 4:31 pm
imbri
Entrenched
Joined: 21 Sep 2002 Posts: 1182 Location: wonderland
Re: mottjr's RANT with a few more things thrown in :)
mottjr wrote:
I find that if I stay away for a few days it is extremely difficult to get back up to speed. I can look a title and think that I can skip it because I already know about it.
Does my frustration show? I hope so.
It does and i'm right there with ya! I've been away for a week and it's been a bear trying to catch up. A little thought initially will go a long way to making our lives a lot easier The threaded topics can be one of the strengths of the phpbb system, it can also be a weakness. With just the tiniest bit of effort on all our parts, we can make sure that it's a strength
I'll throw in a couple other thoughts suggestions (and then split this from the original thread, just so we don't go on topic 4). Feel free add on or tell me that i'm being picky I'm not meaning to tell you all how to play or set up rigid guidelines, just some thoughts about posting that may make it easier for us all. Most of it is common sense and, for the most part, already in practice.
Subject titles: Adding something short yet descriptive is a good thing!
While subject titles are often looked over (at least by me) when reading through a thread, they make the search function much more functional! Something short and descriptive will help us all find the proper info quickly.
Labelling your posts: We've all gotten much better about this, but the mods & admins still go through and edit or add stuff. Try to be brief but not just EMAIL from dale. What's the email about. You get the point. I'd also suggest that unless you are posting an actual solve, to just post PUZZLE. once the puzzle is solved the original author or a mod can go through and change it to SOLVED.
misplaced posts and other issues: If you notice a post that should be located in a section other than where it is, PM a mod or admin and let us know. We can move the post to the appropriate place. We can also split a post (which is what we should have done in this case), if you think that a post should be split. Sometimes we miss stuff or just aren't in a mod mode.
Think about where to post something: Just repeating what Jim said, but a little thought goes a long way. If it something directly related to the initial post/topic then post it there. If it's a new thought completely, start a new post. There is a gray area, just use your judgement. If you feel that it stands on it's own, start something new (maybe quote or link to the posts that inspired your thought).
so....rant on. tell me i'm too picky or that you're feeling the same way. just think before you hit submit the next time
brooke
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2003 4:42 pm
SpaceBass
The BADministrator
Joined: 20 Sep 2002 Posts: 2701 Location: pellucidar
To be fair, mottjr asked me a few days ago to split that monster thread. Aveena and I took a look at it and neither of us had a good splitting spot jump out at us. I'd like to chop it down into separate subjects wherever possible. Help?
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2003 4:54 pm
vpisteve
Asshatministrator
Joined: 30 Sep 2002 Posts: 2441 Location: 1987
Posting guidelines Let's face it. It's easy to just hit "reply" and add your post to an existing thread. Those of us who started on Yahoo are used to doing it like that.
Consider if you need to start a new topic before you post. Or let one of the moderators or admins know so that they can split the thread. That's what we're here for.
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2003 4:58 pm
RPGgame
Unfettered
Joined: 02 Jan 2003 Posts: 501
rant with place to put it Now thinking abou it one thing that people are having trouble with is newbies are posting in the wrong part of the forum. I know I did the first time since I had no idea that there was more than general update. Is there a way to make it more obvious that all four belongs to ctw. Say put it into a ctw folder so that
unforum Forum Index -> CTW: General/Updates
Would Include
unforum Forum Index -> CTW main folder -> CTW: General/Updates
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2003 4:59 pm
imbri
Entrenched
Joined: 21 Sep 2002 Posts: 1182 Location: wonderland
CTW folder & splitting the SOLVED:2nd step thread to Space: I just looked through the huge puzzle thread and I don't know where/if it should be split. I think it should have been split, perhaps, where the grid was put together. At that point it became a new puzzle. The title should have been PUZZLE: grid or SPEC: Grid puzzle. Then once it was solved it could have been changed to SOLVED. I don't know
to RPG: I think that the CTW folder is seperated about as well as possible. When first looking at the forum (from the forums.unfiction.com/forums link) it's not quite as obvious. However if you look at it from this link , you can see it quite clearly. Though, I'm looking at it with the eyes of someone that's been around since the first days of the unforums... so I don't see thinks without that bias.
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2003 5:08 pm
kimer
Unfettered
Joined: 01 Mar 2003 Posts: 400 Location: South of Oz
INFO: Posting Guidelines For those that may not have taken the time to check out some of the great resources on this site OR are saying "geez how should I label my posts?" here is a good start.... see posting guidelines at: http://www.unfiction.com/dev/tutorial/posting.html
_________________Success is a Journey NOT a Destination!
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2003 5:20 pm
Barbarellany
Decorated
Joined: 12 Nov 2002 Posts: 245
Sometimes it's hard because your though came out of what someone else said and your not sure if it's important enough to start something new.
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2003 7:05 pm
imbri
Entrenched
Joined: 21 Sep 2002 Posts: 1182 Location: wonderland
Barbarellany wrote:
Sometimes it's hard because your though came out of what someone else said and your not sure if it's important enough to start something new.
that it is it's just a judgement call and not really a huge ordeal. just something to keep in mind. it's certainly not hard to split posts if it would be deemed necessary to do so (unless it's just completely mindboggling like the guides 2 step thread) and if the new thought turns out to be nothing (like most of thoughts are :/) and it's posted seperately, it'll just fade down to the bottom of the page. clearly, there's nothing of grave importance. just that a little thought goes a long way.
another thought is to maybe quote or link to the old posts, especially if it's maybe a solve that leads to another puzzle (which is where I think the problem with the guides second step got so muddled).
imbri
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2003 7:23 pm
onyxw
Guest
OT rambling here but...
Wow...I'm used to other message boards where everyone gets pissed off at posting multiple threads about the same thing. Just kinda 180 from my normal boards...but from experience I'd say it actually is better to err on the side of consolidation...while it can be confusing to find where you left off reading on this board, it's probably 5X as tough having 4 or so threads on the same basic thing and then having it branch out....you forget which thread had the important idea that you wanted to follow up on and end up having to scour through multiple threads....which have all been built upon (and likely had reiteration of stuff in the 3 other threads).
Anyway my $.02 + tax.
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2003 10:48 pm
Diandra
Unfettered
Joined: 27 Sep 2002 Posts: 390
Where you left off Actually, it's pretty easy to find where you left off here. When you get to the list of topics, each thread has it's own line. If you click on the title of the thread, you'll be taken to its beginning. However, if you click on the tiny page graphic to the left of the thread's title, you'll be taken to the "new" postings in that thread.
Pretty cool, huh?
Dia
_________________You can't solve vast puzzles with half-vast ideas!
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2003 1:27 am
RPGgame
Unfettered
Joined: 02 Jan 2003 Posts: 501
Re: Where you left off
Diandra wrote:
Actually, it's pretty easy to find where you left off here. When you get to the list of topics, each thread has it's own line. If you click on the title of the thread, you'll be taken to its beginning. However, if you click on the tiny page graphic to the left of the thread's title, you'll be taken to the "new" postings in that thread.
Pretty cool, huh?
Dia
thats how I get things done around here
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2003 7:02 pm
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