A Public Service Announcement, in a way.

[Brandon Martus]

So, I've noticed a number of new (and veteran) users who haven't quite got the hang of all the essential features that are included with vBulletin, the forum software we use. I thought I'd go ahead and explain a few of the essentials, to hopefully prevent a few double-posts and such.

Edit
There is an edit button on every post. If you are the owner of this post, you can edit it. When you post something, and then realize 2-3 minutes later that you forgot to say something, try to edit the post, rather than post another right after it. Thats the whole purpose of the edit button.

Quote
If you want to reference someone's post above, click the 'quote' button on their posts. This will start a new reply with their text already quoted/bolded/etc. A few people have bolded, italicized, and such, which is inconsistent with how 90% of the users normally quote text. Thats the whole purpose of the qoute button.

Preview Post
Take a look at what you're going to post before you post it. You may realize something is missing, looks wrong, or shouldn't be said before you post it. It may help in the long run.

Report post to moderator
Rather than harrass someone who's posted something, and risk causing even more problems, hold off on replying-to/yelling-at the user publically, and report the post to a moderator. The post will get reviewed, and if any necessary action is required ... it will be dealt with. This causes less hassle, less flaming/harrassing/bickering/etc and make the forum environment a little less crazy.

Search
If you're going to write 'I dont know if someone posted this or not but ...' at the top of your message, at least go search for the topic before writing that. The search is pretty easy, semi-effective, and doesn't take more than 2 minutes. Doing this will keep the forums more orderly and easier to read. I would rather look at 1 long thread on a topic, rather than flipping between 4 different threads on a single topic.

Anyway. If I think of any more helpful hints, I'll reply to this thread. Feel free to do the same.

Thanks,
Brandon

-edit-
Another thing to remember: Sarcasm does not come across too well in text.

[FotoPlasma]

So as to bump this back up to the top of the new threads list, I will post.

A note on sarcasm:
You can enclose a sarcastic comment in pseudo-html, which usually gets the message across.


<sarcasm>
Ooooohh! A sarcasm detector! Now that's useful!
</sarcasm>

*sarcasm detector explodes*

[Trashed20]

or if you want to not say someones name if you are accusing them of doig something stupid you can always *cough*trashed20sucks*cough* but you might catch a cold, or something like that

[Wetzel]

Originally posted by FotoPlasma
So as to bump this back up to the top of the new threads list, I will post.

A note on sarcasm:
You can enclose a sarcastic comment in pseudo-html, which usually gets the message across.


<sarcasm>
Ooooohh! A sarcasm detector! Now that's useful!
</sarcasm>

*sarcasm detector explodes*

Nice Mr. Jim.

Mr. Brandon: This was needed, thanks.


Wetzel
~~~~~~~
*bump*

[Brandon Martus]

An addition to my original message.

Delete: You are able to delete your message for the first 24 hours. After that, then contact a moderator by way of e-mail, PM, or the 'report this post to a moderator', and they can delete it for you.

[Denman]

Sometimes its usefull to type /me does something to show an action that you might perform.


eg
/me builds a robot
or
/me Falls asleep on keyboard and starts typing rubbish...foganr;ghojkernb;kebfpgh

:)

[rosie6]

how do you post with out replying to something (what button do you push)


So, I've noticed a number of new (and veteran) users who haven't quite got the hang of all the essential features that are included with vBulletin, the forum software we use. I thought I'd go ahead and explain a few of the essentials, to hopefully prevent a few double-posts and such.

Edit
There is an edit button on every post. If you are the owner of this post, you can edit it. When you post something, and then realize 2-3 minutes later that you forgot to say something, try to edit the post, rather than post another right after it. Thats the whole purpose of the edit button.

Quote
If you want to reference someone's post above, click the 'quote' button on their posts. This will start a new reply with their text already quoted/bolded/etc. A few people have bolded, italicized, and such, which is inconsistent with how 90% of the users normally quote text. Thats the whole purpose of the qoute button.

Preview Post
Take a look at what you're going to post before you post it. You may realize something is missing, looks wrong, or shouldn't be said before you post it. It may help in the long run.

Report post to moderator
Rather than harrass someone who's posted something, and risk causing even more problems, hold off on replying-to/yelling-at the user publically, and report the post to a moderator. The post will get reviewed, and if any necessary action is required ... it will be dealt with. This causes less hassle, less flaming/harrassing/bickering/etc and make the forum environment a little less crazy.

Search
If you're going to write 'I dont know if someone posted this or not but ...' at the top of your message, at least go search for the topic before writing that. The search is pretty easy, semi-effective, and doesn't take more than 2 minutes. Doing this will keep the forums more orderly and easier to read. I would rather look at 1 long thread on a topic, rather than flipping between 4 different threads on a single topic.

Anyway. If I think of any more helpful hints, I'll reply to this thread. Feel free to do the same.

Thanks,
Brandon

-edit-
Another thing to remember: Sarcasm does not come across too well in text.

[Collin Fultz]

how do you post with out replying to something (what button do you push)

at the bottom of the thread page is a "post reply" button that allows a generic post...or simply delete the quoted part in the post.

[Denman]

if you are going to moan about something in a semi grumpy way, do this

<Rant>
grumble grumble useless team grumble...
</rant>

[Schnabel]

or if you want to not say someones name if you are accusing them of doig something stupid you can always *cough*trashed20sucks*cough* but you might catch a cold, or something like that
You forgot your sarcasm identifiers!

[Mr. L]

What is the difference between quickreply and regular reply (aside from the obvious)? Is a regular reply read before it is posted?

[Wetzel]

What is the difference between quickreply and regular reply (aside from the obvious)? Is a regular reply read before it is posted?

The only diffrence is where you type your response, now in how it is viewed or posted. Also, the proper place for this question would be CD Forum Support (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=8)

That said, gravedigs are bad, m'kay?

[Elgin Clock]

That said, gravedigs are bad, m'kay?

What's a gravedig?

[Wetzel]

What's a gravedig?
Thread necromancy. This is the third :ahh: time this thread has been revived when it should have been let to rest.

[Pavan Dave]

Thread necromancy. This is the third :ahh: time this thread has been revived when it should have been let to rest.

Its missing something...

Spoilers: If you are posting something that may call for a "Spoiler Alert" or something, please use the {Spoiler][/Spoiler} Tags..

Insert whatever you want spoiled... .... If you don't have the "="+"text" after the "[spoiler" but before the "]" it will not work.

[whcirobotics]

How do you start a new thread? I had seem to know how to do it before but its been a long time. Can someone tell me where i go to start a new thread?
Tnx

[GaryVoshol]

How do you start a new thread? When you are in a forum - not in a thread - there is a "New Thread" blue button at the top and bottom of the list. The buttons are in the same position as the "Post Reply" buttons in a thread.

[whcirobotics]

I went under "new posts" on top bar, and clicked All Forums. on both "last week" and "within 24-hr" but i still do not find the "new thread" button?

Tnx

[Taylor]

Try this - next to the Wings of Fire logo at the top of the page, click on "Chief Delphi". This will take you to the Forums page. From there, scroll down to find the proper forum along the left side in which you would like to place your new thread, and click on it. Near the top-left of the page, there should be a "New Thread" button. That's what you want.

[whcirobotics]

Thanks!! it worked! finally i can ask my questions :) thank you very much

1514 Whci Robotics

[JohnBoucher]

Thread titles.
I am seeing more and more threads with titles that do not describe what the thread is about. As with email subject lines, you need a strong title to get people to read the email or thread. The better the title/subject the more eyes you will have looking at it.

I filter my email by sender and subject. If the subject does not interest me, I usually trash it. The same holds true for this forum. The better the title, the better the answers you will get.

[davidwillson]

You forgot your sarcasm identifiers!

What is the difference between quickreply and regular reply (aside from the obvious)? Is a regular reply read before it is posted?

[rtfgnow]

What is the difference between quickreply and regular reply (aside from the obvious)? Is a regular reply read before it is posted?
The only difference is that regular reply takes you to a reply page that has more options.

[Mark McLeod]

That was spam...

[smokecigrate12]

great tooic to go with,wil update regularly.

[rutzman]

great tooic to go with,wil update regularly.
Spam reported.

[Rangel(kf7fdb)]

Its amazing how there is 2 separate spams in the last 2 years on only one thread! I didn't think it was this bad.

[Molten]

Its amazing how there is 2 separate spams in the last 2 years on only one thread! I didn't think it was this bad.

It's a lucky thread. At least its a good topic that gets revived.

[davidrss]

i am not geting that what is this topic fot....can some one explain..........

[rsisk]

reported

[steev001]

i think it was later on declared to be unwise and spam reported news.

[EricH]

Reported.

[~Cory~]

@EricH I think either spam engines are getting smarter, or the post above isn't spam. I think he is trying to say something about not spamming un important news. Also, his other post makes perfect sense.


The lack of team information doesn't always define a bot. Sometimes there is a confused freshmen on the other side. Some teams make it a requirement to have atleast one post on CD...

[EricH]

@EricH I think either spam engines are getting smarter, or the post above isn't spam. I think he is trying to say something about not spamming un important news. Also, his other post makes perfect sense.
Cory, he was reported in another thread. He's had a number of other posts deleted.

There are certain signs that a spammer has slipped through the filters--I've seen them before. This one triggers at least two without looking at post count.
1) VERY old thread. It's been 4 months since this thread was last active, and that was reported as spam. The last non-suspected-spam-related post was 1 year, 1 month, and 1 week ago.
2) Questionable "sense" in the post in question/poor command of English.

There may not have been any spam links, but there has been discussion of a spam method where the spammer makes a "normal" post and later puts a link in the signature.

[Molten]

Cory, he was reported in another thread. He's had a number of other posts deleted.

There are certain signs that a spammer has slipped through the filters--I've seen them before. This one triggers at least two without looking at post count.
1) VERY old thread. It's been 4 months since this thread was last active, and that was reported as spam. The last non-suspected-spam-related post was 1 year, 1 month, and 1 week ago.
2) Questionable "sense" in the post in question/poor command of English.

There may not have been any spam links, but there has been discussion of a spam method where the spammer makes a "normal" post and later puts a link in the signature.

True, but lets not jump to conclusions. There is also a chance that this is a new person who has poor english and doesn't know the etiquette of this forum. In some forums, opening threads that are 1 year old is acceptable. Also, depending on how they found the thread they might not have noticed the date of the last post. I'll agree with you that the odds are that its spam. That said, if 1 person gets turned away from FIRST because they are new...I'd say that is far worse then putting up with a spam bot getting through occasionally. If there is suspicion that they will spam in the future, we should monitor their account possibly. We shouldn't take any hasty actions though.

Jason

[Ninnel22]

Hi, Learning a new language can add a new dimension to your career. Learn language online with native tutor. However, it is you who can decide better. If you wish you can have a look.

[Taylor]

What do you think about that one ^ ?

reported.

[Sean Raia]

Why say reported after a spam post? Why not report the spammer and simply stay silent? And why hasnt this been locked and put to bed already?

[plnyyanks]

Why say reported after a spam post? Why not report the spammer and simply stay silent? And why hasnt this been locked and put to bed already?

We do that so we don't flood the mods with emails about reported posts. That way, we only report a spam post once, and basically, we're trying to be nice to the mods and save some of their time.

[Sean Raia]

That makes sense, it just seems silly to me that every spam post is doubled because somebody shouts "got em!".

Anyway, is locking threads even done in CD? I know VBulletin has the feature.

[GaryVoshol]

Anyway, is locking threads even done in CD? I know VBulletin has the feature.
It happens from time to time when a discussion gets out of hand.

[EricH]

It happens from time to time when a discussion gets out of hand.
I think this thread is out of hand with SPAM, Gary. And I don't mean FRC180!