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.
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”
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.
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)[2c]
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. [}:)][(-D]
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.
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?”