Topic: Alternating Colors for Replies, Neat Thread Titles

[NukleoN]

Hi!

I don't know if this is possible, but it would be nice to see alternating colors for replies, like on the VBulletin boards. I am sure there's a way with SMF to do it. (I'll see if I can find out from my own board). It would help differentiate posts, especially since signatures have lines and stuff which tend to blur one post into the other.

Also, I recommend one of the moderators be assigned to fixing any spelling/capitalization errors in thread titles. This should be someone with a mastery of English and who likes geeking out on this stuff like I do.

I find that keeping thread titles neat makes a huge difference for first-time readers, and displays an air of professionalism and upkeep. Spelling is also important just for clarity, as misspelled words can actually make for a nonsensical thread title on occasion. To me, it's like having a piece of bird guano on a Ferrari...someone just needs to mop up the messy bits once in a while.  Of course, this doesn't mean changing the user's intent or words, just cleaning them up. This also doesn't mean changing the content of the posts or threads, just the titles, since that affects the look, first-impression, clarity and readability of the board.

IE: Someone posts:

just got a lp24.

A moderator would fix the capitalization and the indefinite article to:

Just Got an LP24.

Another example:

Someone posts a thread like such:

HELP!!!!!!

This would be changed to match the actual content of the thread so browers might be more apt to participate:

Help: My cutter isn't closing corner-cuts. Suggestions?

I am officially volunteering just for this task, but I understand you probably have enough moderators. To some it's mind-numbing tedium, so pick someone who likes doing it!  

[helpinghand]

I like the idea of clarifying the thread titles. Spelling errors give me a giggle

[NukleoN]

Someone really needs to mind the thread titles. They're looking a bit ragged (spelling errors, punctuation omissions, lack of caps...driving me nuts!). Come on mods get on it (or let me help you) since I like doing that kinda stuff.

[JoeCamaro]

I'm with you. Sometimes I don't read post that go like this:
Looking for a...

Maybe I have the vector they need, but I just don't check it.

Maybe if it said:
Looking for a meerkat vector

If I knew I had it I would post it.

Titles are very important.

[kenya]

Oops... I do that Joe. 

I always want to make people curious. Most tend to click on it & read it quicker, if I leave them wondering. 

[NukleoN]

I tend to find mysterious titles boring too. I only check those if I am really, really bored!

Yeah, come on, I know one of you mods is as obssessive as I am about spelling, caps and punctuation in thread titles!

[JoeCamaro]

Oops... I do that Joe. 

I always want to make people curious. Most tend to click on it & read it quicker, if I leave them wondering. 

LOL Vette, I will have to pay attention to your posts. I didn't realize it. LOL my bad.

[NukleoN]

Can we get one moderator to clean up the thread titles? I am seeing old spelling errors lingering forever. I've seen like 6 moderators, and this kind of stuff is basic housekeeping.

[Bill Hughes]

Spelling and grammatical errors are not an important thing when it comes to reading someones post. Some people deliberately spell words wrong just because it's the way they  get attention to their post or the simple fact that it's the way they, as an individual are. To clean up someone's post to me, would be like someone changing the wording or phrasing of a song I had written. No matter how it is spelled, it's my song and you'd better leave it alone! I'm just giving you an answer as to why I as a moderator will not go onto someone's post and rewrite it. It's not mine to change!

[NukleoN]

As I mentioned in my original suggestion, I am talking about thread-titles, not posts themselves. Even the title of my thread includes 'neat thread titles'. I would agree that's it wrong to edit the posts themselves, but again, I was talking about titles only.

The titles of threads affect the readability of the site and clarity of a given thread. Some people don't sufficiently explain what they're writing about, or don't put the care in when it comes to posting titles (and let's face it, spelling is not everyone's strong point). Sometimes the mistake is a simple typo, but the reason doesn't matter so much for the purpose of this discussion. Thread titles are part of site maintenance, first impression and thus, should be something moderators maintain without changing the intent or meaning of the title. Remember, most of us who cut vinyl are cutting words. Words are part of what we sell, and we should strive for mastery of the language.

If mods never edited/fixed poorly-written titles, you would have as many spelling errors as people typed in without mitigation. You'd have vague thread titles which don't express the topic (such as endless titles named HELP!), and you'd have titles which simply make the site look less.....maintained and at worst, unprofessional.

There's a thread title with the word, 'abandonded' in it. Does that need to stay misspelled forever and ever? There's another title with the word, 'disassabled' in it. Does that need to remain forever misspelled as well? I say, no, and if I were a mod that would have been fixed before anyone noticed it was wrong, most likely. Mods should clean up those titles and leave the rest of the thread intact. Again, it's about clarity, appearance, professionalism and first-impressions on a site largely about vinyl cutting, which is largely about words.

Either way, thread titles are something moderators can and should fix.

On a related note, I believe spelling is important not just in forums, but all the time. At the very least, it's a way to avoid getting into bad habits. If we don't discover errors ourselves, someone else invairably will. This isn't just about being a nagging schoolmarm but having pride in your work.

By the way, I am a published songwriter too. I agree that there is a time and place for spelling to be affected by our artist perogative. I've got an album out which was released in 2004, and I have songs on iTunes and one went global. For lyrics, I am there with you, as I take poetic license myself, but you and I both know the difference between poetic license and a flat-out typo or mistake.

Lyrics are often heavily-determined by phrasing, so instead of 'though', I might write 'tho'. Instead of 'because' (which adds a syllable) I might write (and sing) 'coz'..

But, you have to know the rules before you can break them. If someone wrote 'there' instead of 'their' I wouldn't for a second believe that's anything but a mistake. Generally, anyone who publishes anything often has his/her work proof-read thoroughly just to avoid these kinds of gaffs.

In any case, my goal is to make the site look better.

Anyway, these spelling errors in the titles are going to bug me as long as I am here, and I'll probably never stop trying to get the 5-6 moderators I see to fix them. It may seem naggy and obsessive, but I call it 'attention to detail'. I guess that's the artist in me....spelling errors are like little pieces of bird-guano on a Ferrari. I just want to wipe them off and not argue about it.

 

Spelling and grammatical errors are not an important thing when it comes to reading someones post. Some people deliberately spell words wrong just because it's the way they  get attention to their post or the simple fact that it's the way they, as an individual are. To clean up someone's post to me, would be like someone changing the wording or phrasing of a song I had written. No matter how it is spelled, it's my song and you'd better leave it alone! I'm just giving you an answer as to why I as a moderator will not go onto someone's post and rewrite it. It's not mine to change!

[Bill Hughes]

Being an artist, then you should know as well as all of the other artists that changing what they do is a major taboo. You start changing or talking about the way a person talks or writes and you begin to stifle the creative side in them. Most of the people on this forum spend their days spell checking their work. So I see no reason to complain just because someone's tired or posts too quickly to read back what they have written. So far, you are the only one complaining about spelling. The only thing I think an admin. or mod should change is a bad link. Now for abusive, offensive or foul language I will edit those so much they'll look like they were deleted. Because they will be deleted!

[NukleoN]

Being an artist, then you should know as well as all of the other artists that changing what they do is a major taboo. You start changing or talking about the way a person talks or writes and you begin to stifle the creative side in them. Most of the people on this forum spend their days spell checking their work. So I see no reason to complain just because someone's tired or posts too quickly to read back what they have written. So far, you are the only one complaining about spelling. The only thing I think an admin. or mod should change is a bad link. Now for abusive, offensive or foul language I will edit those so much they'll look like they were deleted. Because they will be deleted!

Bill, this is the second time you've replied and discussed something I am not talking about.

I am talking ----->*ONLY*<------ about thread --->TITLES<---. This is not about artistic expression or censorship, and nobody hates censorship here more than I do, most likely. Heck, I am banned on another site for complaining and trying to STOP censorship. So trust me, I hate censorship, but this is NOT about censorship.

I don't for a second think typos or misspellings in thread titles are 'artistic expression', and I say that both as a professional artist, a musician and a writer.

Let's be honest here, they're mistakes. I think I am done trying to convince you though, but you do need you to realize that I am talking ONLY about thread TITLES, not posts themselves. Please stop mis-characterizing what I am asking. Not sure if you're just reading not carefully or if you're doing it on purpose as a defense mechanism (and it doesn't matter too much here). I think any astute reader knows what I am asking.

I'll talk to the admin, if I can get him to respond.

[Dakotagrafx]

Being an artist, then you should know as well as all of the other artists that changing what they do is a major taboo. You start changing or talking about the way a person talks or writes and you begin to stifle the creative side in them. Most of the people on this forum spend their days spell checking their work. So I see no reason to complain just because someone's tired or posts too quickly to read back what they have written. So far, you are the only one complaining about spelling. The only thing I think an admin. or mod should change is a bad link. Now for abusive, offensive or foul language I will edit those so much they'll look like they were deleted. Because they will be deleted!

Bill, this is the second time you've replied and discussed something I am not talking about.

I am talking ----->*ONLY*<------ about thread --->TITLES<---. This is not about artistic expression or censorship, and nobody hates censorship here more than I do, most likely. Heck, I am banned on another site for complaining and trying to STOP censorship. So trust me, I hate censorship, but this is NOT about censorship.

I don't for a second think typos or misspellings in thread titles are 'artistic expression', and I say that both as a professional artist, a musician and a writer.

Let's be honest here, they're mistakes. I think I am done trying to convince you though, but you do need you to realize that I am talking ONLY about thread TITLES, not posts themselves. Please stop mis-characterizing what I am asking. Not sure if you're just reading not carefully or if you're doing it on purpose as a defense mechanism (and it doesn't matter too much here). I think any astute reader knows what I am asking.

I'll talk to the admin, if I can get him to respond.

yo could also pm the person that started the thread and have them change it themselves!

[Bill Hughes]

Like I said before. You are the only one who's complaining. But I will tell you that THIS admin. will not go through all the thread titles and check them for spelling.

[kyjeeper]

Nukleon:

I appreciate your desire for attention to detail, but I tend to agree with the other admins and mods.  If you feel a thread title needs changing, send the OP a PM and give your suggestions to them.  If they feel the need to correct the title, then they are free to do so.  If their titles are misspelled, odds are their posts will reflect that as well, so it would pointless to have neat titles and sloppy posts. It would like like sticking new decals straight over old ones, instead of cleaning up the whole mess and redoing it from the bottom up.