I'd like to open a topic for all C-Brats to consider and offer suggestions about.
I've had a number of thoughts about how to make posts clearer, easier to read and understand, and how to make the information within them easier to find with the search engine.
Please feel free to add to this discussion as you feel fit.
Here are some thoughts to begin with:
1. When choosing a title for a thread, try to make it exactly reflect the content intended, so it can be selected out of a list in the Forums. A thread title like "Sturgeon Fishing Gear and Methods for the Columbia River" is a lot more definitive and easier to figure out what's inside than one entitled "Skunked Again on the Big C!", although we do get a good idea of your frustration and need for some help with the later!
2. Write for clarity and to avoid misunderstanding. While the person you're writing back to may not require a very specific carefully worded response, many others will also be reading your post, many of them without the same background as yourself and your corresponding partner, and they may well not be able to visualize what you're talking about. Try to thoroughly explain and illustrate what you're saying so that anyone can understand it, even the newest C-Brat members. Remember we're not only individually responding to each other here, but also involved in generally educating all the members of the C-Brat family. These posts are not just read today, but for months and years in the future when they're well done.
3. When using terms like SOG (Speed Over Ground, discounting for current losses and gains), define the acronym, abbreviation, or term. When mentioning the anti-ventilation (not anti-cavitation) plate, you might explain the difference so that others may learn the difference too! Computer/email acronyms like RITFLMAO (Rolling in the Floor, Laughing My A-- Off) and ASFAICT (As Far As I Can Tell) can also be baffling to a newcomer. Use a * when you use the term and another * down below the paragraph to explain the term if more convenient than parentheses.
4. When referring to a product, boat, or whatever, a photo and/or a link to a website will greatly facilitate other's visualize what you're talking about. If you're going to ask what other C-Brat's think of the Anchor Buddy system, it would be very useful to put in a link to the Anchor Buddy website, and a photo or diagram would be nice, too!
5. When you're done with your first drafting of your post, go over it to check for spelling, correct English, and to see if anything is unclear or will lead to misunderstandings. Clean it up a bit, if possible. Write it in a word processing program if you need to, then import it on your clipboard and post it.
6. Use humor whenever it's appropriate and you can do so, making your posts easier and more entertaining to read.
7. Try to stay away from too colorful use of four-letter words, as they do offend some and detract from what you're saying, generally.
8. Be careful when hedging into controversial topics to not ignite a passionate discussion that precludes rational discussion of a topic. Once it gets out of control, the discussion is really over, and all we have left is name calling and fault finding, etc.
9. Be as personable and friendly as possible. The one thing that sets this site apart from many others is the degree of friendliness and helpfulness we share with each other.
10. Just remember, if all else gets too complicated, "Just Be Nice" still rules.
Other thoughts?
Joe. :teeth :thup
I've had a number of thoughts about how to make posts clearer, easier to read and understand, and how to make the information within them easier to find with the search engine.
Please feel free to add to this discussion as you feel fit.
Here are some thoughts to begin with:
1. When choosing a title for a thread, try to make it exactly reflect the content intended, so it can be selected out of a list in the Forums. A thread title like "Sturgeon Fishing Gear and Methods for the Columbia River" is a lot more definitive and easier to figure out what's inside than one entitled "Skunked Again on the Big C!", although we do get a good idea of your frustration and need for some help with the later!
2. Write for clarity and to avoid misunderstanding. While the person you're writing back to may not require a very specific carefully worded response, many others will also be reading your post, many of them without the same background as yourself and your corresponding partner, and they may well not be able to visualize what you're talking about. Try to thoroughly explain and illustrate what you're saying so that anyone can understand it, even the newest C-Brat members. Remember we're not only individually responding to each other here, but also involved in generally educating all the members of the C-Brat family. These posts are not just read today, but for months and years in the future when they're well done.
3. When using terms like SOG (Speed Over Ground, discounting for current losses and gains), define the acronym, abbreviation, or term. When mentioning the anti-ventilation (not anti-cavitation) plate, you might explain the difference so that others may learn the difference too! Computer/email acronyms like RITFLMAO (Rolling in the Floor, Laughing My A-- Off) and ASFAICT (As Far As I Can Tell) can also be baffling to a newcomer. Use a * when you use the term and another * down below the paragraph to explain the term if more convenient than parentheses.
4. When referring to a product, boat, or whatever, a photo and/or a link to a website will greatly facilitate other's visualize what you're talking about. If you're going to ask what other C-Brat's think of the Anchor Buddy system, it would be very useful to put in a link to the Anchor Buddy website, and a photo or diagram would be nice, too!
5. When you're done with your first drafting of your post, go over it to check for spelling, correct English, and to see if anything is unclear or will lead to misunderstandings. Clean it up a bit, if possible. Write it in a word processing program if you need to, then import it on your clipboard and post it.
6. Use humor whenever it's appropriate and you can do so, making your posts easier and more entertaining to read.
7. Try to stay away from too colorful use of four-letter words, as they do offend some and detract from what you're saying, generally.
8. Be careful when hedging into controversial topics to not ignite a passionate discussion that precludes rational discussion of a topic. Once it gets out of control, the discussion is really over, and all we have left is name calling and fault finding, etc.
9. Be as personable and friendly as possible. The one thing that sets this site apart from many others is the degree of friendliness and helpfulness we share with each other.
10. Just remember, if all else gets too complicated, "Just Be Nice" still rules.
Other thoughts?
Joe. :teeth :thup
Ok....so I am kidding about that last one...... Have a good one guys!
owell" returns 1 result with similar entries omitted, clicking the "Repeat the search with the omitted results included" gives me three pages. So, for "Lake Powell", I need to use the "intitle" parameter: "allintitle:lake powell".