here are some quick - I won't say rules - lets say guidelines, for posting questions on the rage3d forums... :
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USE SEARCH FIRST
There is a pretty good chance that unless you have some really odd or unique problem that it has been addressed on this forum before (or even hundreds of times before for some issues).
Use the forum's search feature first to see if there are already some good threads on the subject. It's easy to search - just click the "Search" button at the top right of the page.
BE DESCRIPTIVE
We cannot possibly help you if you simply post a thread and say "this doesn't work right". Keep this in mind:
1. First of all... Exact System Specs! Anything and everything, you can't be too descriptive here.
2. Explain to us what exactly the problem is, what you're trying to do, and what you have already tried to solve it.
3. Remember that you know a lot more about your computer setup than we do. Don't assume we know.
DON'T USE STUPID TOPIC NAMES
Post a descriptive topic name! Give a short summary of your problem in the subject. Don't use attention getting subjects, they're not fair to other users! Things like "PLEASE HELP!" or "URGENT" make your post unfairly look like a priority over other users post who need help just as much as you. Posting non-descriptive leading in topic names just to get more reads will not be tolerated.
Here's a great list of topic subjects YOU SHOULD NOT POST by freebsd:
1) Help me
2) Hello
3) You must know the answer
4) Please help this female newbie
5) Something wrong
6) Come on PHP gurus
7) This one for you
8) Just wondering
9) This is too complicated for me
10) possible?
11) Very urgent
12) I have a question
13) Stupid question
14) Newbie needs help
15) pulling my hair out
16) this is driving me nuts
17) WHAT THE?!?!
Generally anything similar to those is unacceptable. Just post your problem.
Here is a good example of a way to post a question about video-out and your Radeon 8500DV
"Need help with video-out on my 8500DV"
or even better:
"black screen trying to Video-out with my 8500DV"
These are bad examples:
"I can't figure this out!"
"Stupid question..."
"Female newbie needs regex help"
"Help me! Urgent!"
ONLY YOU KNOW WHAT "DOESN'T WORK" MEANS
Please tell us what your trying to do and what you mean by "doesn't work". When you come in and say "it doesn't work" or just "t's not right", that means nothing. There could be a million things wrong and no one will know where to look.
IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE ADVICE, DON'T ASK FOR HELP
Often times, people post questions about their problem with the wrong mindset from the very beginning. Soon they are receiving replies, and silently trying solutions, making no effort to even acknowledge the people helping them! It becomes one sided, and the poster isn't aware that many of the people helping them hope to learn something as well! Letting people know of your progress and how their suggestions apply (or do not apply) will not only help you figure out your problem quicker, but you'll be returning the favor to those of us who learn more by helping.
In even worse scenarios, sometimes the poster will argue back even when they don't know what they're talking about. Hey - if you know it all, don't ask for help.
When people give you free advice that may solve your problem, by all means, try it out! And if it's not what you need or you've tried it already, at least thank them.
And if people post solutions that are over your head, ask them for an explanation. Too many times I see great solutions posted, then the original poster doesn't understand it and goes hunting around and finds something they think will solve their problem but really has Nothing to do with their problem! The solution you are given may not always be something you are totally familiar with, so just ask for a better explanation!
REMEMBER THAT WHEN PEOPLE HELP YOU, THEY ARE DOING YOU A FAVOR
Regardless of how big your ego is, it is not someone else's privilege to solve your problem. It is not their privilege to have them help you. It is yours. Remember that when people help you they are doing you a favor. You are not doing them a favor by letting them help you. Be patient, help people out by posting good descriptions of what you need help with, and not snapping at people with garbage such as "if you aren't going to help don't waste my time replying".
--------------------
modified from a similar post at the devshed.com forums
--------------------
USE SEARCH FIRST
There is a pretty good chance that unless you have some really odd or unique problem that it has been addressed on this forum before (or even hundreds of times before for some issues).
Use the forum's search feature first to see if there are already some good threads on the subject. It's easy to search - just click the "Search" button at the top right of the page.
BE DESCRIPTIVE
We cannot possibly help you if you simply post a thread and say "this doesn't work right". Keep this in mind:
1. First of all... Exact System Specs! Anything and everything, you can't be too descriptive here.
2. Explain to us what exactly the problem is, what you're trying to do, and what you have already tried to solve it.
3. Remember that you know a lot more about your computer setup than we do. Don't assume we know.
DON'T USE STUPID TOPIC NAMES
Post a descriptive topic name! Give a short summary of your problem in the subject. Don't use attention getting subjects, they're not fair to other users! Things like "PLEASE HELP!" or "URGENT" make your post unfairly look like a priority over other users post who need help just as much as you. Posting non-descriptive leading in topic names just to get more reads will not be tolerated.
Here's a great list of topic subjects YOU SHOULD NOT POST by freebsd:
1) Help me
2) Hello
3) You must know the answer
4) Please help this female newbie
5) Something wrong
6) Come on PHP gurus
7) This one for you
8) Just wondering
9) This is too complicated for me
10) possible?
11) Very urgent
12) I have a question
13) Stupid question
14) Newbie needs help
15) pulling my hair out
16) this is driving me nuts
17) WHAT THE?!?!
Generally anything similar to those is unacceptable. Just post your problem.
Here is a good example of a way to post a question about video-out and your Radeon 8500DV
"Need help with video-out on my 8500DV"
or even better:
"black screen trying to Video-out with my 8500DV"
These are bad examples:
"I can't figure this out!"
"Stupid question..."
"Female newbie needs regex help"
"Help me! Urgent!"
ONLY YOU KNOW WHAT "DOESN'T WORK" MEANS
Please tell us what your trying to do and what you mean by "doesn't work". When you come in and say "it doesn't work" or just "t's not right", that means nothing. There could be a million things wrong and no one will know where to look.
IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE ADVICE, DON'T ASK FOR HELP
Often times, people post questions about their problem with the wrong mindset from the very beginning. Soon they are receiving replies, and silently trying solutions, making no effort to even acknowledge the people helping them! It becomes one sided, and the poster isn't aware that many of the people helping them hope to learn something as well! Letting people know of your progress and how their suggestions apply (or do not apply) will not only help you figure out your problem quicker, but you'll be returning the favor to those of us who learn more by helping.
In even worse scenarios, sometimes the poster will argue back even when they don't know what they're talking about. Hey - if you know it all, don't ask for help.
When people give you free advice that may solve your problem, by all means, try it out! And if it's not what you need or you've tried it already, at least thank them.
And if people post solutions that are over your head, ask them for an explanation. Too many times I see great solutions posted, then the original poster doesn't understand it and goes hunting around and finds something they think will solve their problem but really has Nothing to do with their problem! The solution you are given may not always be something you are totally familiar with, so just ask for a better explanation!
REMEMBER THAT WHEN PEOPLE HELP YOU, THEY ARE DOING YOU A FAVOR
Regardless of how big your ego is, it is not someone else's privilege to solve your problem. It is not their privilege to have them help you. It is yours. Remember that when people help you they are doing you a favor. You are not doing them a favor by letting them help you. Be patient, help people out by posting good descriptions of what you need help with, and not snapping at people with garbage such as "if you aren't going to help don't waste my time replying".
--------------------
modified from a similar post at the devshed.com forums