How to make a clear & appropriate Topic Title

Yes, I know it's probably futile, BUT THAT'S NOT GONNA STOP ME TRYING! I'm getting increasingly cheesed off with the number of useless and content-free subject lines that go on the forums. They're subject lines. They're supposed to give the subject of the post. How else are we supposed to know what they're about? Right, by clicking on them and reading the thing. Ah, modern marketing techniques.

Here's a sample list of Dumb Subject Lines - what NOT to write. Every one is a genuine post from these forums. Now, you may disagree with having some of these subject lines here - maybe you think they are adequate descriptions of the problem they purport to describe. Maybe you know some (or a category of) subject lines that I've missed. I invite discussion (obviously - this is a discussion forum) and examples. Also of interest are Good subject lines: I didn't put them here because it's so hard to build both lists simultaneously. After less than thirty seconds I found a Good Subject Line: "Php class - Mysql mysql_fetch_assoc problem returning results"

Now I should point out that the content of the post is irrelevant to my present purpose. It might be a sensible, well thought-out post that was just let down by having a DSL. Or it might have been an illiterate's "gimme". I wouldn't know, because I didn't check when I was making this list. It makes sense really: these are the subject lines that don't give you any idea as to what is being asked for. All are from the Coding forum; the Discussion lists are obviously not expected to hew to the same standards (not necessarily worse, just not the same).


So: the list.

* little question
* Please Can Someone Help Me
* Easy fix for pro?
* Basic Bit Of PHP
* One More Time For The Boss Please
* something in my switch screwed
* Adding to DB I'm P*** It's an emergency!
* Reading a url
* conditions and terms
* Apache reports error but PHP doesn't from what i've seen (questionable)
* php mySQL
* Please Help, My Shopping script
* Meaning?
* very strange error
* Counting
* can someone help me with this script
* I need a Pro please
* File name


Just a thought

so whats your point...are we supposed to ignore questions with subject lines that you feel are not relevent...if you have a question...ask it and we will try to respond with a reasonable answer. Please dont expect everyone to follow your particular standard of how subject lines should be written. There is no right or wrong way as far as I am concerned.

P.S. moving this thread...

Thread moved from 'PHP Coding' to 'General Chat' by Blindeddie.

Reason:

i was just pointing out that it is frustrating to not know what specifically someone wants when posting in a forum. a descriptive title gives the respondant more information as to wether they will be able to help with the problem or not before going into the thread

people with limited english ma have trouble coming up with an appropriate subject. They can however seek help here because PHP code, in general is self explanatory.

I am not saying you need to be a expert at english, lord knows i'm not.

but topic titles like i pointed out (from this very forum) are very vague at the type of help people are looking for, and even in the Forum Rules and Information point 10 reads

the ones that i singled out are similar in style, proving that the rules are not being read. i was just trying to post in the forum, where possibly someone might read it, and say, "Hey, i should make my title descriptive." since apparently the rules page is a waste of time.

Remember, it's the forum rules and information page. This particular bit is more information than a rule. It is true that a well thought title is a good tool in getting help faster, but if someone makes a bad title, it's not my problem if he doesn't get any help.

What would be a good punishment for making a bad title, or posting to wrong forum in your opinion?

I'm not about the punishment, i am about.... well, posting good titles

its more of an effort to say, hey.. make a better title, and your chances of getting answered faster is better

my punishment for unclear topics, is i do not click on them

*Shudders* That's OK. I wont be objective on such a thing if I can offer help. I guess we will just have to struggle on. *grin*

basically, he is right. we should put more effort in trying to educate users about the importance of good subjects..

among other things, searching is very difficult with bad subjects, and i know we all hate those questions that have been asked like hundreds of times (register_globals anyone?), but we simply can't say to them "did you even search the forum", because it might be possible that he did, and didn't find nothing that looks like his problem..