Recommendation to newbies, & others, about msg subjects

idamtnboy · Post by **idamtnboy** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 7:37 pm

Please allow me to mildly rant about a pet peeve of mine. I have noted a variety of subject lines on new messages since I joined the forum. Some are meaningful, and some are, sadly, clueless. When you post a message use a subject line that gives a real idea what the message is about. That way busy forum members can more productively decide what messages they may be interested in reading, and possibly offering assistance to the poster. Also, don't mix two totally different issues in one message thread. I have and it doesn't work! What usually happens is the second issue doesn't receive the attention it should have, or worse, it is completely misunderstood.

Here's some recent subject lines that say very little, if anything, about what the poster wants addressed. Some questions that popped up in my mind when I first read them are in [ ].
Central Apnea [What about CA? Worried? How many are OK? Going up or down? Recent spike? Which machine reduces them?]
Newbie [Introducing self? Needs help using CPAP? Scared? Great success already? Where to buy supplies?]
Room Air Filter [Impact on CPAP air quality? Impact on asthma? Best one to buy? Worthwhile installing?]
Local User Group [Where, Timbuktu? How to organize one? Just found a great one?]

You get the idea. Now here's some examples of informative subject lines.
breathing and sleeping problems with S9 Autoset
2nd CPAP night good, 3rd a Bust
POLL: What is your TYPICAL nightly AHI?
Follow-up doc appointment angst

So, when you post a message do yourself and all the forum readers a favor and give an idea, the best you can, what it is you are discussing in the post. This will help increase the already very high usefulness and helpfulness of this forum. There are a lot of truly interested and giving members here.

cpapernewbie · Post by **cpapernewbie** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 7:47 pm

great comment, my pet peeve too
Wish that everybody be more specific and clear

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 7:52 pm

Otherwise, it's an adventure; but, unfortunately, not for the O.P., who is probably tired, frustrated, and stumped-and maybe even scared.
BTW, I just recently figured out how to edit that subject line--ooh, I'm such a doofus!

scrapper · Post by **scrapper** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 8:22 pm

ditto ditto ditto

islandboy5150 · Post by **islandboy5150** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 8:27 pm

Idamtnboy, you don't have to be an arrogant smart ass about it either. All you need to say is please be more specific in the subject line. You don't have to use sarcasm and arrogant, insulting tones of voice in your recommendation.

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 8:35 pm

Right; we don't want to be jerks--these noobs are checking in for HELP!

jnk · Post by **jnk** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 8:35 pm

Re: Recommendation to newbies, & others, about msg subjects

Frankly, I haven't seen any newbies posting about monosodium glutamate in a long, long time.

idamtnboy · Post by **idamtnboy** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 8:45 pm

islandboy5150 wrote:Idamtnboy, you don't have to be an arrogant smart ass about it either. All you need to say is please be more specific in the subject line. You don't have to use sarcasm and arrogant, insulting tones of voice in your recommendation.

I'm sorry if it comes across that way. That certainly is not what I intended.

jnk · Post by **jnk** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 8:50 pm

idamtnboy wrote:
islandboy5150 wrote:Idamtnboy, you don't have to be an arrogant smart ass about it either. All you need to say is please be more specific in the subject line. You don't have to use sarcasm and arrogant, insulting tones of voice in your recommendation.
I'm sorry if it comes across that way. That certainly is not what I intended.

Good reminder to all. You introduced it as a rant, so I saw no arrogance in it, myself. Your good motives are obvious. We all have pet peeves.

This board attracts newbies with zero board experience, so it is good to cut a lot of slack on this board, I think. But reminders never hurt, and newbies may get better help faster when they are specific.

So I give the OP two thumbs up, even if I did just make fun of the subject line.

idamtnboy · Post by **idamtnboy** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 8:52 pm

jnk wrote:
Re: Recommendation to newbies, & others, about msg subjects
Frankly, I haven't seen any newbies posting about monosodium glutamate in a long, long time.

Good one. I had to read it a couple of times before it sank in what you were saying. But seriously, your answer does point out the pitfalls we can fall into when different people have different interpretations of abbreviations and acronyms. We need to be careful when & how we use them!

Laurie1041 · Post by **Laurie1041** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 9:19 pm

[/quote]Frankly, I haven't seen any newbies posting about monosodium glutamate in a long, long time.[/quote]

I mean no disrespect, but I can't help it! I honestly was wondering why anyone, new or not, would be posting questions about monosodium glutamate on a CPAP forum It was not until I opened the post did I become "enlightened".

It's all good. We all have pet peeves and a different way of looking at the world. Sometimes our message is not taken as intended. It's really OK - we are all humans just trying to make our way in this world. The important thing is that we all keep on doing our best. Hugs to all, Laurie

idamtnboy · Post by **idamtnboy** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 9:50 pm

Laurie1041 wrote:
Frankly, I haven't seen any newbies posting about monosodium glutamate in a long, long time.
I mean no disrespect, but I can't help it! I honestly was wondering why anyone, new or not, would be posting questions about monosodium glutamate on a CPAP forum It was not until I opened the post did I become "enlightened".

It's all good. We all have pet peeves and a different way of looking at the world. Sometimes our message is not taken as intended. It's really OK - we are all humans just trying to make our way in this world. The important thing is that we all keep on doing our best. Hugs to all, Laurie

Thanks. I'm glad you got a good laugh out of it. But it sure does make my point about being careful about abbreviations and acronyms, doesn't it? I wonder how many teen romances have blown up over misunderstood shortcuts in phone text msgs?

DoriC · Post by **DoriC** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 10:59 pm

jnk wrote:
Re: Recommendation to newbies, & others, about msg subjects
Frankly, I haven't seen any newbies posting about monosodium glutamate in a long, long time.

Is that the stuff they put in Chinese food? Frankly, I've never found this to be much of a problem although sometimes I am surprised when the question doesn't exactly fit the subject line. I may be guilty of that myself, sometimes it's hard to figure out the exact keywords to use. But somehow questions get answered and everyone gets the help they need, only it may take a little longer or go OT for awhile.

Laurie1041 · Post by **Laurie1041** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 11:23 pm

[/quote]Thanks. I'm glad you got a good laugh out of it. But it sure does make my point about being careful about abbreviations and acronyms, doesn't it? I wonder how many teen romances have blown up over misunderstood shortcuts in phone text msgs?[/quote]

I agree with you that the written word needs to be precise in many situations. I also believe you meant no harm and were just trying to be helpful. But it is important to remind ourselves that everyone has the right to post a question in their own style and according to their abilities. Your intentions were honorable, however posting examples of a forum member's subject line might be construed as offensive - especially by the person who wrote that post. Laurie

DoriC · Post by **DoriC** » Mon Nov 22, 2010 12:25 pm

Good point, Laurie.