When posting questions it is better to use an informative subject that
introduces the question, e.g. "problem with media" or "how to create motion
blur?"
Subjects like "newbie has a problem" or "a newbie question" are not so good.

Roy

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On Tue, 28 Sep 1999 22:06:59 +0200, Roy Schulz wrote:
>When posting questions it is better to use an informative subject that
>introduces the question, e.g. "problem with media" or "how to create motion
>blur?"

I would say "problem with media" isn't even descriptive enough - describe
the problem briefly.  When I see "problem with media" I don't know if you're
talking about not knowing how to use media, a specific question about an 
obscure media-related parameter, a potential bug in POV's implementation of 
media, or an off-topic rant about the ethics of journalists in the age of
the newsmagazine.

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Hmmm, I look at those "newbie" messages quite attentively due to the fact
that's just what they sound like in the Subject line and that means "Help!"
to me.  The very informative subject lines can almost seem self explanatory
(no need to read message) when not having a word like "asking" or "what" or
maybe even "if".
I don't mean to be getting in the way of a good concept there, ie
informative subject lines, but this is also practically a deadend to even
try to convey.  Any new users of anything aren't likely to have this idea
stapled to their foreheads.  Thank goodness for intermediate learners, now
that's where you have a chance of seeing progress (ha.... sorry, funny
somehow).

Bob

Ron Parker <par### [at] fwicom> wrote in message
news:37f12692@news.povray.org...
> On Tue, 28 Sep 1999 22:06:59 +0200, Roy Schulz wrote:
> >When posting questions it is better to use an informative subject that
> >introduces the question, e.g. "problem with media" or "how to create
motion
> >blur?"
>
> I would say "problem with media" isn't even descriptive enough - describe
> the problem briefly.  When I see "problem with media" I don't know if
you're
> talking about not knowing how to use media, a specific question about an
> obscure media-related parameter, a potential bug in POV's implementation
of
> media, or an off-topic rant about the ethics of journalists in the age of
> the newsmagazine.

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You are right, Ron. But the subject is always a compromise. It shall give
info about the article but shall be brief enough to fit in the subject line
of the news reader. And shall not anticipate the question. As Bob says:

> The very informative subject lines can almost seem self
> explanatory (no need to read message) when not having
> a word like "asking" or "what" or maybe even "if".

All in all I know that it's not easy to find a good subject line. Just a
little information would be nice to tell me, if I could be able to answer or
if it is a subject to which I cannot say anything so that I can move to
further questions faster.

Roy

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> I would say "problem with media" isn't even descriptive enough - describe
> the problem briefly.  When I see "problem with media" I don't know if you're
> talking about not knowing how to use media, a specific question about an
> obscure media-related parameter, a potential bug in POV's implementation of
> media, or an off-topic rant about the ethics of journalists in the age of
> the newsmagazine.

I would think "problem with media" should be enough if the question is posted in
the right group.  If you don't know how to use media, then use that topic in
this group.  Obscure feature: advanced users.  A bug:  bugreports or
programming, depending on whether or not you know the cause.  And finally, rants
go to offtopic. :)

-Mike

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