Forum (Discussion Board) Etiquette

Maxx

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I've hung around different forums on and off ever since I first got into computers - which is around ten years ago. As time has progressed the forums have started looking better and better, but I've noticed the quality of posts and threads have drastically decreased, and the etiquette of the users have been getting worse. I don't know what the reason for this is, but I've decided to make this thread to explain some basic forum etiquette and manners.

1. Get to the point
I've seen one too many threads where the author starts side-tracking and spends a lot of time talking about unnecessary things. Reading someone elses posts or threads can be very time consuming, try to be straight to the point! However, too little is just as troublesome as too much.

2. Me too! I agree!
These type of posts are certainly less than appreciated on forums since they don't add any depth to the discussion or learning. Readers get frustarted with the constant agreements and comments such as 'Good point', 'I agree', etc. It makes the conversation overly positive and fake. Try to avoid these type of posts, they just clutter up the forum.

3. Be respectful
This one is self-explanatory. Keep swearing to a minimum and refrain from personal attacks and derogatory. This will make the discussion more fun for everyone.

4. Check previous postings before you post
Reading what's already been said before posting yourself is key. By reading the thread before posting you can form a better understanding of the topic and it also keeps you from repeating what's already been said.

5. Quoting, reference and summarizing
Another way to help readers engage in a discussions is by quoting, referencing and summarizing. Instead of saying things like
Yep, me too, that's why I [...]
it's much easier for a reader to follow if you use quotes.
When Nick wrote he always formatted his posts the same way I began to think [...]

6. Grammar, spelling and fonts
Forums are a great way to meet people online and that's why it's important to make sure everyone understands you properly. Try to avoid using slang words, read through what you've written before posting and DON'T WRITE THE ENTIRE POST WITH YOUR CAPS LOCK ON. Breaking this rule will reflect poorly on you, and people will take you less seriously.

7. Learn to use BBCode
BBCode can be a wonderful tool. It helps you format your posts and structure them properly.
  1. Lists
  2. Are
  3. Great
Bold, Italics and underlines can also be useful to format your text.
More on BBCode here:

8. Quality over quantity
"Your greatest asset is not the quantity of your friends, but the quality of your friends!". Quality beats quantity every time, it's better to post some very high-quality posts that contribute to the discussion or forum rather than going with the shot-gun approach of spamming the forum with useless clutter. This one is important!
 
Great thread, I stickied it and hopefully, members will pay attention to this. I will be editing it a bit to make it "stand out" more.
 
I think one of the reasons is alot of people think they deserve certain things handed to them right away and then the etiquette goes right out the window