Titles that say "Can You Help ME???"

[CDRIVE]

As anal retentive as this may sound this is a pet peeve of mine. When I do a forum search I invariably select Titles Only as this will return far less superfluous hits. I think posts like this should be yanked and be replaced with a Mod's message informing the member that their title is unacceptable. "Help Me Pleeeeeeeez!" doesn't cut it! It's also inane!

[dclamp]

Now that is just silly. The next best thing is to post a reply saying they should pick a suitable title next time. Then help them...

[Nightwalker83]

Users should realize that in-order to receive the best possible help is to inform people of problem in the thread title.

[CDRIVE]

Now that is just silly. The next best thing is to post a reply saying they should pick a suitable title next time. Then help them...

Well maybe, just maybe, that post turns out to be one of the most informative posts, regarding a particular topic, that the forum has ever had. No one will ever find it though because it has a useless title. Care to take a guess how many hits you'll get with the "Help!" keyword?

[Nightwalker83]

Well maybe, just maybe, that post turns out to be one of the most informative posts, regarding a particular topic, that the forum has ever had. No one will ever find it though because it has a useless title. Care to take a guess how many hits you'll get with the "Help!" keyword?

I guess it is like a person caught in a rip waving to try and get assistance instead of holding a clenched fist in the air. The person viewing you/the thread isn't going to take you seriously.

[RobDog888]

The best approach is to provide the help and also mention that they should edit the thread title (if they have rights) to something more related to the issue at hand. Education will go farther then anything else

[Lord Orwell]

The best approach is to provide the help and also mention that they should edit the thread title (if they have rights) to something more related to the issue at hand. Education will go farther then anything else

what are the criteria for rights? I thought you just had to edit the OP.

[Nightwalker83]

what are the criteria for rights? I thought you just had to edit the OP.

I thought new members those members with under 10 posts couldn't edit their posts! Correct me if I'm wrong.

[dclamp]

I thought new members those members with under 10 posts couldn't edit their posts! Correct me if I'm wrong.

Members <10 posts are basically on lock down. They cant do anything.

I think PowerPosters should be able to edit posts of others in the Technical forums. I say technical forums because i know it would be crazy in chit chat.

Just a suggestions though.

[Nightwalker83]

Members <10 posts are basically on lock down. They cant do anything.

Yeah, I know! The new members are more likely to write a thread title like that.

I think PowerPosters should be able to edit posts of others in the Technical forums. I say technical forums because i know it would be crazy in chit chat.

I know Power Posters can delete their own posts in chit chat but I'm not sure what other rights they have.

[dclamp]

Yeah, I know! The new members are more likely to write a thread title like that.



I know Power Posters can delete their own posts in chit chat but I'm not sure what other rights they have.

PowerPosters get custom title, delete own CC threads, and thats about it.

[dee-u]

PowerPosters get custom title, delete own CC threads, and thats about it.

PowerPosters can also delete their replies in the other sections of the forums excluding the first post in their own threads.

Just to add, PowerPosters can also give a negative reputation to other members.

[QUOTE=dclamp]I think PowerPosters should be able to edit posts of others in the Technical forums. I say technical forums because i know it would be crazy in chit chat.[quote]
I believe that is the job of the Moderators and Admins.

[Nightwalker83]

@ dee-u

Use the "Edit" button!

[dee-u]

@ dee-u

Use the "Edit" button!

What? Why should I?

[Nightwalker83]

What? Why should I?

You deleted the evidence of your spamming!

[dclamp]

I think PowerPosters should be able to edit posts of others in the Technical forums. I say technical forums because i know it would be crazy in chit chat.

I believe that is the job of the Moderators and Admins.

Yeah i know that... i am just hoping here!

[dee-u]

You deleted the evidence of your spamming!

I am only showing one of the capabilities of a PowerPoster.

[brad jones]

Mods and admins can delete or edit posts as necessary.

As to titles - That is just a part of having a community. We do the "before you post" message and we can inform people that they need clear titles, but even so, there will always be people who don't listen and create worthless titles. The result is that they might not get any help.

I've told people more than once that the reason they didn't get help was most likely the pointless title. My stance is that if you see generic titles like "Help" then simply ignore them. There is nothing that requires you to read them.

I will agree, however, that threads with such a title are the one time where I don't mind a tiny bit of noise to tell the poster that they will get more help if they change their title to something more descriptive.

Brad!

[Kasracer]

I think PowerPosters should be able to edit posts of others in the Technical forums. I say technical forums because i know it would be crazy in chit chat.

While that would work, in theory, I don't think the Mods and Admins would want Power Posters to have the ability to edit other user's thread titles. Also, I'm not sure if you can grant access to update titles without granting access to edit their posts as well.

There are quite a few power posters out there (including myself) and I just can't see Brad! allowing all of us this ability.

I think if Mods / Admins want to change them then fine. I also think if Brad!, JP or whoever else want to appoint people as pseudo-moderators that can only update titles that could work as well but I would agree that telling the user to change their title would probably be the best course of action.

[brad jones]

There are quite a few power posters out there (including myself) and I just can't see Brad! allowing all of us this ability.

Right. There are a few power posters that we would not want to give this ability....

Of course, that isn't any of you

But without it being all or not, it is best to leave it to the mods, or to let the posters suffer with a lack of responses to their post until they figure out the title is the problem.

Brad!

[CDRIVE]

As a lark I did a search for Help and Urgent. The results were not what I expected but *Help* was a different story. It's not a fair test though, as many legitimate titles include the word Help.