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The Ultimate Posting Topics Correctly Guide

The Introduction (and rationale behind this thread)

 

I've really noticed some weird posting habits (and dumping), so I made this thread in hopes that everyone new (and maybe those of you with a bit more experience) can finally figure out where to put your topic, among other things. So, here you go, the ultimate guide to posting your topics. Let's hope that we can finally be rid of those damn chaos emeralds  "is not overpriced" threads.

 

Before I make any more bad Sonic puns, let's just get into the guide ^_^

 

BTW, this is posted in General Discussion because everyone looks here. If someone wants to move it somewhere else, feel free ;)

 

Guide Preview

 

The Basics

  • The search function
  • What not to post about
  • Reading a topic before you post
  • Naming your topic
  • Tags
  • Formatting

Sections of LTT

  • Community Portal
    • General Discussion
    • Troubleshooting
    • Off Topic
    • Hot Deals
  • News, Reviews, Articles, and Guides
    • Tech News and Reviews
    • Member Reviews
    • Guides and Tutorials
  • Computer Hardware Overview
  • Software Overview
  • The Workbench Overview
    • Build Logs
    • Case Mods and Modding
    • New Builds and Planning
  • Video Games Overview

 

The Basics

 

The Search Function

 

Everyone fears it. Nobody understands it. It is avoided like the plague. Dreaded world-wide. The one thing even the strongest of wills cower before.

 

Your friendly neighbourhood search function. It helps you find topics already made (helpful for news topics), what a concept.

 

Looks like this, if you have trouble finding it:

2199jc.jpg

 

If you have a question, it's probably been asked here. Use this first, always.

 

Search one or two key words, otherwise the search bar will get confused.

 

For example, let's say your shiny new R9 290 is artifacting, just search "290 artifacting" and you will probably see lots of threads on the subject.

 

EXTRA NOTES:

  • Very good for people looking to post a news thread.

 

What NOT to post about

 

Nobody likes these threads, we don't need 'em:

  • Alienware is not overpriced
  • Apple is not overpriced
  • Do you think ____ is overpriced?
  • Why all the hate for Apple?
  • Why all the hate for Razer?
  • Best mechanical switches? (listed because it's all up to preference. Someone may love Greens, but the resident Red lovers will just sit in confusion if they see that)
  • Duplicate threads (Be patient. Click the button once. Please)
  • Should I get a prebuilt or build my own? (Again, preference)
  • Threads calling out Linus/Linus fanboys/Linus haters/anybody in general.
  • Why *insert thought* is wrong
  • Please Stop/Can you not threads
  • Should I wait? Threads

Alright, I think that covers it.

 

Reading a topic before posting

 

Some great reads, check these out before posting your topic. Everyone will love you if you read them.

  1. http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/38-welcome-to-the-linus-tech-tips-forum/
  2. http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/40334-read-before-asking-for-help/
  3. http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/42440-readme-how-to-respond-to-a-no-post-or-no-power-up-situation/ (slightly situational, still great though)
  4. http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/11724-read-before-posting-in-this-section/ (TN&R)
  5. http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/3061-build-plan-thread-recommendations-please-read-before-posting/

Naming your fresh, new topic

 

2dm7bz7.jpg

 

Ah, where your topic begins. Here's some tips to get our attention.

  • Don't be vague with your title (ex. Need help, I have a problem, Please help, New build, Why is this not working, etc.)
  • Be concise (I'm sure someone's tried to post a novel for the title once)
  • Be specific (ex. Is the MSI Gaming 5 the best bang for buck?)
  • OPTIONAL: Be clever

If posting in Hot Deals

  • List the country/platform at the beginning of the title
  • List product name and price

Don't worry too much about capitalization. It is indeed a title, but you could just make a complete sentence.

 

Tags

 

You don't need to worry about these too much. Nobody checks them.

 

However, if you do like using tags, remember that:

  • You use the comma to separate them
  • They should be relevant to your topic (don't put "stuff" as a tag, you're not clever)

If someone who loves tags wants to throw out a tip, just PM me and I'll add it to the list, and put you in the contributor list.

 

Formatting

 

This forum uses BBCode. Not that markup crap. Remember pls.

 

Make sure your post is clean, bro. It definitely makes your post seem less like a wall of text and more like a nice post that doesn't deserve a tl;dr

 

There's a great little rule in the CoC:

 

 

  • Excessive use of different fonts / font colors for non post formatting purposes will result in moderative action.

 

So basically, it is indeed just a way to pretty up text walls like this.

 

Tips and trix:

  • Think of the dark theme users, they are many, they are strong.
  • Bullet points are fun for lists :lol:
  • Punctuate and indent/space correctly. Nobody likes a messy post.
  • Use quotes at the beginning of your post. It shows that you're actually responding to that rather than showing the quoted what you're thinking.
  • Changing colors can be a nice way to grab attention at the start of a new section.
  • Bold and italics, not ALL CAPS for emphasis
  • Hyperlinking is pretty cool
  • Most of the functions in the Rich Text Editor are probably useless.
  • No Italicized TNR or Comic Sans because nobody likes those fonts.

Again, if you have anything you feel should be added, PM me and I'll add it into the thread and you to the contributor list.

How to Post Topics, the Right Way / The Ultimate Build Parts List

 

"4 words. DON'T BE A DUMBASS" ~@Swndlr

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The Sections of LTT

 

The Community Portal

 

There are 4 important sections here that you can post in, unless you're into F@H, Boinc, or just mining.

 

These are:

  • General Discussion
  • Troubleshooting
  • Off Topic
  • Hot Deals

These are NOT places to dump your topics. Actually check out the other subforums.

 

General Discussion

 

Everyone's personal topic dump. Or is it?

 

General Discussion should only be used for tech related topics that can't fit anywhere else (like favorite all-round brand, or your favorite color scheme).

 

Do not dump your topics there. If your post is about RAM, put it in the RAM section ffs.

 

Troubleshooting

 

If you got a problem, we can fix it. Unless we already have (See: Search Function).

 

No real guidelines, except that you should gather as much data as possible, such as:

  • Hardware
  • OS version
  • Driver Version
  • The Windows/your OS here crash dump file
  • What you were doing when the problem happened
  • If the problem is unique to one piece of software

Off Topic

 

If you feel like shitposting, put it here.

 

Nothing is too off topic for off topic, as long as it follows the CoC.

 

Hot Dealios

 

Awesome sales and stuff go here.

 

Essentials of the title:

[Platform/Country where sale takes place] item, percent/dollars off, @place

 

Include in your post:

  • Thoughts (optional)
  • Slightly more detail on the sale

Pls no dupes

 

News, Reviews, Articles and Guides

 

Here, there are 3 places you can create a topic in. They are:

  • Tech News and Reviews
  • Member Reviews
  • Guides and Tutorials

Great place to start if you want to have your handle said on The WAN Show find the latest tech news, get another point of view, or just figure out how to build a desk from IKEA.

 

Tech News and Reviews

 

If you found the hottest new news piece like Samsung being stupid again or information about Tonga, post it here!

 

Unless it's been posted already. Remember our friend the search function? Use it! Or, just browse the first three pages.

 

If posting a news topic:

  • Quote at least 1 interesting thing from your source (use the quote button in the text editor).
  • Have at least some personal input - Have personality!
  • Link your source at some point in the thread.
  • Optional: Use pictures if they are important.

Again, remember to search before posting.

 

Member Reviews

 

No comments from me, if someone wants to help me fill out this section, please do!

 

The only real tips I have are:

  • Have some glamour shots.
  • Nitpick, tell us every little flaw.
  • You don't need to be completely objective: It's your opinion: not someone else's!

Guides and Tutorials

 

Do you have a good way to solve a problem? Post it here!

 

Again, I can't say much, but:

  • Be very detailed, like a (good) manual.
  • Pictures or screenshots.

IMPORTANT: Guides and Tutorials is NOT a place to ask for help, it is for, well, actual guides.

 

Computer Hardware: Overview

 

*under construction* :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

How to Post Topics, the Right Way / The Ultimate Build Parts List

 

"4 words. DON'T BE A DUMBASS" ~@Swndlr

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Btw the search function of the site is garbage. Should not be in the guide. 

It works fine if you use one keyword or two, or it gets confused.

 

I even said that in that section of the guide.

How to Post Topics, the Right Way / The Ultimate Build Parts List

 

"4 words. DON'T BE A DUMBASS" ~@Swndlr

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Someone tried this before, everyone ignored him and now the thread is on page 20934095325234523

 

I'm not hating though I wish the thread luck.

How is there that many pages? :P link ples

|| MAELSTROM ||

|| i5 3570K W/ CM 212x @ 4GHz || r9 290 Windforce || Corsair Obsidian 450D || 2tb HDD + 120gb 840 evo SSD || 2x4gb Hyperx Fury Blue

 

 

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Nobody likes these threads, we don't need 'em:

  • Alienware is not overpriced
  • Apple is not overpriced
  • Do you think ____ is overpriced?
  • Why all the hate for Apple?
  • Why all the hate for Razer?
  • Best mechanical switches? (listed because it's all up to preference. Someone may love Greens, but the resident Red lovers will just sit in confusion if they see that)
  • Duplicate threads (Be patient. Click the button once. Please)
  • Should I get a prebuilt or build my own? (Again, preference)
  • Threads calling out Linus/Linus fanboys/Linus haters/anybody in general.
  • Why *insert thought* is wrong

I have only been on this forum for a short time but the amount of times I see these is getting seriously out of hand. Nice post, BTW, I see it becoming very useful.

I done been through a whole lot. Trial, tribulations, but I know God - Kendrick Lamar


I question your mother's upbringing if you don't like me - Action Bronson


You apocalyptic dingleberry - James 'Captain Slow' May

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1 problem. Most people that make all the dumb threads are new members and new members wont have seen this. so unless we all have it in our signatures then its not really gonna work

|| MAELSTROM ||

|| i5 3570K W/ CM 212x @ 4GHz || r9 290 Windforce || Corsair Obsidian 450D || 2tb HDD + 120gb 840 evo SSD || 2x4gb Hyperx Fury Blue

 

 

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1 problem. Most people that make all the dumb threads are new members and new members wont have seen this. so unless we all have it in our signatures then its not really gonna work

Which is why I dumped it into GD, in hopes some of the new guys see it.

It's definitely ending up in my sig, though.

How to Post Topics, the Right Way / The Ultimate Build Parts List

 

"4 words. DON'T BE A DUMBASS" ~@Swndlr

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@Mods: Pin this, Pin this.

"If it has tits or tires, at some point you will have problems with it." -@vinyldash303

this is probably the only place i'll hang out anymore: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/274320-the-long-awaited-car-thread/

 

Current Rig: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600, Abit IN9-32MAX nForce 680i board, Galaxy GT610 1GB DDR3 gpu, Cooler Master Mystique 632S Full ATX case, 1 2TB Seagate Barracuda SATA and 1x200gb Maxtor SATA drives, 1 LG SATA DVD drive, Windows 10. All currently runs like shit :D 

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Sucks no new members will see this before they spam the forums.

Can't a guy hope?

really it'll only help if it gets pinned but it probably won't so idk hope at least a few noobs see it

@terrytek <3

TBH I would tag the mods but that ain't worth a warning point.

How to Post Topics, the Right Way / The Ultimate Build Parts List

 

"4 words. DON'T BE A DUMBASS" ~@Swndlr

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Official Changelog:

 

23/8/14: Added the "News, Reviews, Articles and Guides" section and all subsections.

-

22/8/14: Added the "Community Portal" section of the guide and all subsections. I should have reserved another post lol.

How to Post Topics, the Right Way / The Ultimate Build Parts List

 

"4 words. DON'T BE A DUMBASS" ~@Swndlr

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You're link in your sig says "how to post topics like a civilized human being" does that mean that if the poster is a bot they don't need to pay attention to this thread?

 

 

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You're link in your sig says "how to post topics like a civilized human being" does that mean that if the poster is a bot they don't need to pay attention to this thread?

um

A human had to at least program the bot?

 

Also your*

How to Post Topics, the Right Way / The Ultimate Build Parts List

 

"4 words. DON'T BE A DUMBASS" ~@Swndlr

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um

A human had to at least program the bot?

 

Also your*

Not if the bot had some amount of machine learning and it learned how to post topics from someplace like 4chan.

 

 

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Slick and others have poured a lot into the Code of Conduct (should be mentioned)

and the Core Values

 

two main emphasised points on forum friendliness are:

 


  • "Don't be a dick" - Wil Wheaton.
  • "Be excellent to each other" - Bill and Ted.

stay on those terms and most conflicts on posting/commenting won't have

moderation issues.

 

another is to not discourage someone to post/comment on topics. yes they

could be tedious and "noobish" but we all had those points in our lives and

to stifle their voice of opinion devalues the services of the forum.

 

they took the time to join and create a thread only to have a portion of the

community condemn what they might need to have uncovered in their

thought process.

 

another would be "let me google that for you" or asking the OP/commenter

to use a google search. again, someone is reaching out to the community

for a solution/suggestion and instead of answering the question, some

reach into their unfriendly bag of comments and proceed to bash/show

their bad manners with retorts that don't follow Slicks Law.

 

some helpful insights...

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@Mods: Pin this, Pin this.

 

pin this

 

Not gonna really do anything. Nobody reads pinned topics when they just want to dump their post around. Nobody even reads the megaphone thing by @Windspeed36. We just have to educate newcomers one by one.

^^^^ That's my post ^^^^
<-- This is me --- That's your scrollbar -->
vvvv Who's there? vvvv

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-snip-

was gonna reply last night but I completely lost my train of thought

 

I'm not sure if the "don't be a dick" part of your post was directed at me or anything I wrote, but if it came out that way, sorry. I'm just attempting to promote some cleanliness on the forums and some tips to make us have an easier time trying to help.

 

For example, in NB&P, if the OP reads that form that's pinned, we can help faster and stop wasting the OP's time asking questions like budget and use.

 

 

another is to not discourage someone to post/comment on topics. yes they

could be tedious and "noobish" but we all had those points in our lives and

to stifle their voice of opinion devalues the services of the forum.

 

they took the time to join and create a thread only to have a portion of the

community condemn what they might need to have uncovered in their

thought process.

Gonna reiterate, I'm just trying to help clean up the forum a bit (if someone happens to see this thread), not discourage anyone from replying to a topic posted in the wrong place.

 

In the end, we are here to help anyone who asks, that's true.

How to Post Topics, the Right Way / The Ultimate Build Parts List

 

"4 words. DON'T BE A DUMBASS" ~@Swndlr

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I'm not sure if the "don't be a dick" part of your post was directed at me or anything I wrote, but if it came out that way, sorry. I'm just attempting to promote some cleanliness on the forums and some tips to make us have an easier time trying to help.

 

nothing was directed towards you, just thats Slick's quote is the easiest to observe

and keep out of moderation troubles.

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Not gonna really do anything. Nobody reads pinned topics when they just want to dump their post around. Nobody even reads the megaphone thing by @Windspeed36. We just have to educate newcomers one by one.

 

Then I guess I'm one of the few that check forum rules/good pinned posts right after I join.

How to Post Topics, the Right Way / The Ultimate Build Parts List

 

"4 words. DON'T BE A DUMBASS" ~@Swndlr

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I used to dump everything here when I was new but I learned the problem is for most people is too many different sections and questions are always answered fastest inn General

MY RIG | AMD FX-8320 | COOLER MASTER HYPER 212 EVO | ASUS M5A97 R2.0 | CRUCIAL BALLISTIX SPORT 8GB DDR3-1600MHz | WD CAVIAR BLUE 1TB | ASUS RADEON R9 280 3GB DIRECTCU II | CORSAIR 300R | CORSAIR CX 600W 80+ BRONZE | 1x COOLER MASTER SICKLEFLOW 120mm | WINDOWS 7 ULTIMATE 64-BIT | DELL S2240M 21.5' 1080p <p> | G602 | G710+ MOBILE| ONEPLUS ONE 64GB RUNNING OXYGENOS  | NEXUS 4 16GB RUNNING LOLLIPOP | NEXUS 7 2013 32GB RUNNING LOLLIPOP

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