Another thread about CD etiquette? You bet.

[Madison]

I spend a lot of time these days moving threads into the proper forums and making titles more explicit and closing threads that are no longer useful. My life and yours will be a lot easier if you do these simple things while posting here on ChiefDelphi:

When starting a thread, keep this in mind:

• Are you posting to the correct forum? I know there are a lot of them, but many people do not read all the forums. A question about motors posted to the Programming forum is going to be overlooked by most of the people that can answer your question quickly and correctly.
• Can someone browsing through things get a very good idea what you need from the thread title? "I need help...," "Question...," and "CIM Question" are not good titles. "Removing pulley from large CIM Motor" is better. Capiche?
• Did you search the rules for your answer? Did you do any research at all? Don't ask me to find something for you simply because you're lazy. If you don't include some information in your post that indicates you've done some homework prior to coming to us, I won't answer it. I can't speak for others about that, particularly, but it saves everyone time if we don't repeat work you've already done.
• For heaven's sake, don't 'bump' your thread. Not only is it against the rules, it's annoying. Nobody's answered your question yet because nobody knows what you're talking about or because you haven't done one of the things listed above.

If you're replying to a thread, this is for you:

• Does your answer about a rules question include phrases like, "I think," or "I'm pretty sure?" If it does, please don't bother posting. When answering questions about rules, particularly, do not post unless you can quote the rule chapter and verse because "someone on ChiefDelphi said so," doesn't fly when your robot can't pass inspection.
• Does your reply contain the phrase, "Read the manual" and little else? Again, don't post. We don't care if it's in the manual unless you're going to prove it. See above.
• Are you in a forum other than Chit-Chat? If you are, please -- for the love of all that is sacred -- make meaningful posts. If you're in Chit-Chat, just remember that for every post you make in "1 to 1,000" that I and others have to see, you make us upset.

Forgive me if this is a bit sarcastic or too much of a killjoy, but things are very busy for many of the most dedicated people around these parts this time of year and I know already that many who are knowledgeable, friendly and helpful avoid this place because of the ridiculous amount of static there is. For six weeks can we please remember that every post we make is like calling someone here into a meeting. For the thirty seconds or five minutes they take to read your post, look up a rule, and reply, they could've been teaching someone physics or something.

Edit: Please note the irony that Greg's posted about the same thing while I was writing this.