The gripe

[Ratus Ratus]

There has become a bad habit of starting threads in almost any forum without the initial poster thinking where it should actually go.
For a period of time this appeared to be sorted, but lately it has restarted.

The end result I suspect is an overload of trivial work for MODs to move thread about, or leave thing where they are started and the format of this place goes down hill.

The other gripe is people posting articles without any link to the original article they have just copied and pasted in their post.

These just seem to be ongoing issues.

 

[fatman17]

There has become a bad habit of starting threads in almost any forum without the initial poster thinking where it should actually go.
For a period of time this appeared to be sorted, but lately it has restarted.

The end result I suspect is an overload of trivial work for MODs to move thread about, or leave thing where they are started and the format of this place goes down hill.

The other gripe is people posting articles without any link to the original article they have just copied and pasted in their post.

These just seem to be ongoing issues.

ha! tell me about it!

 

[Elmo]

There has become a bad habit of starting threads in almost any forum without the initial poster thinking where it should actually go. For a period of time this appeared to be sorted, but lately it has restarted. The end result I suspect is an overload of trivial work for MODs to move thread about, or leave thing where they are started and the format of this place goes down hill.
The other gripe is people posting articles without any link to the original article they have just copied and pasted in their post. These just seem to be ongoing issues.

This needs to be made a sticky

For those who have been members for some time and still post threads in the wrong sections/forums, well may be they make a mistake once in a while but if someone is doing it repeatedly, then the PDF admin can ask them to stop being lazy.

But for starters PDF can certainly provide newcomers a guide on how to go on posting about this forum. You have the forum rules but they need to be updated — they deal with the content of the posts comprehensively but not about other practical simple stuff such as which section the content you want to publish has to go, that you need to have at least 15/25 posts till you have privileges to all features such as starting threads, having access to PM etc. You know basic things...

There are only a couple of entries in the Forum Rules vis-a-vis where threads/posts go but then again fleeting references that more often than not do not register. Such as: "You're not allowed to post pictures in Strategic Discussion Forum or Global Discussion Forums for that we have made a special room, and that room is Global Military Images. Post in the appropriate section. If you would like to point an equipment just post the link of the image rather than using the code."

You can add the bit about the different forum sections to this rule probably: "Redundant threads will be deleted. As a courtesy to others before beginning a new thread, please look to see if an active thread on that topic has already been established. If so, place your comments there instead. Multiple threads on the same subject clutter up the forum needlessly and many good ideas may be lost. (Add: Please ensure that new threads are started in the relevant section otherwise they will be deleted on sight — not moved.")

Or provide a "Dummy's Guide to How to Start Posting on PDF" and let the Forum Rules be as they are. So every time someone registers, you can send them a list such as:
a. click on forums to go to the forums.
b. threads are sorted out according to forum headings etc
c. new threads should be in the relevant forums only
d. (whatever else you want to add)


Hopefully, it will take off some work off the admin of PDF.

I'll be honest, it wasn't till couple of months that I figured out by trial and error the different sections available for threads. And being not at all tech-savvy, did not even click on all the links there were on the header because "Forums", "Calender", "Community" just didn't seem like fun subjects to go to :angel:

Good luck!

 

[Elmo]

Just revived it like that...

 

[third eye]

I second all the posts above.

Since this thread is drawing the attention of the Mods, I will take the liberty of repeating a point I made some time ago on the dwindling quality of threads.

Would it possible for some sort of slots to appear above or below the title of a thread wherein the starter could type or select from a drop down menu of options to indicate the aim behind the thread he / she started. This is particularly relevant to the ' cut & paste ' Post #1's.

Some suggestions are ;

1. To increase awareness.
2. draw attention to an issue glossed over thus far.
3. Revive / re kindle attention to a subject.
4. Seek views.
5. Flame.( !)
6. Useless banter. (!)

The list could be selected by the mods.

No ' cut & paste ' articles should be allowed unless the starter has penned down a few lines on the subject adding his / her views on them.

 

[Elmo]

No ' cut & paste ' articles should be allowed unless the starter has penned down a few lines on the subject adding his / her views on them.

I am guilty of doing the same. Sometimes you just want to share a good piece of writing that may not be worthy of a debate. At times, the article automatically generates a debate and you don't need to give it an impetus. What type of cut/paste are you referring to exactly?

 

[third eye]

I am guilty of doing the same. Sometimes you just want to share a good piece of writing that may not be worthy of a debate. At times, the article automatically generates a debate and you don't need to give it an impetus. What type of cut/paste are you referring to exactly?

Well, any kind really. I too have done the same hence am guilty too.

So long as the poster selects an option from the list available or adds a reason if none of the available options meets his intention- the aim is not to disuade but to know the reason why someone starts a thread.

Sometimes one wonders what was / could be the logic for starting a thread.