Topic Titles

[Gepard]

Can I ask that when people decide they want to start a topic they don't simply call it something like "HELP!!!!!!!!!" or "Piston" or some other random word plucked out from their limited vocabulary. Pick a title that describes WTF the topic is about.

Geez.....

Michael

[sandman]

agreed, i want to know what it is about so i know if there is a possibility to help

[Flying_Salt]

Inbubitably. (Yes I finally found a reason to use that word!)

[Pete Zaria]

@Gepard,

There's a comment to that affect in the Rules page, and all the mods and I have told countless n00bies to do that, and renamed countless topics named "CANNON HELP", "HELP ME", "VALVE", "NEW GUN", etc.... to more relevant things.

In an online community with only a little over 4,000 registered users, statically, if one in ten is an idiot (a very conservative number given the culture of America's youth, where most of the forum members are from), that would be a little over 400 idiots.
We make attempts at educating them as to forum etiquette, which gradually succeed, but new members constantly join and the cycle repeats....
The maturity level on this forum has an inherent problem. Since it's directly related to potato cannons, pyrotechnics, and things that go boom, this forum will inevitably attract adolescent males... need I say more?

Having said all that, I 100% agree with you. I wish there was more that could be done to give the forum n00bies "common sense" which actually seems more like "uncommon sense" these days.

This rant brought to you by your friendly (if not occasionally frustrated) neighborhood moderator...

Peace,
Pete Zaria.

[Flying_Salt]

I updated my sig to to and educate people of their mishapen ways.

[Gepard]

Wow - I thought I'd get flamed for saying that

Glad to know I'm not the only one who has a problem with it.

And yeah, I hear where your coming from Pete.

Cheers,

Michael

[hi]

agreed

[Fnord]

Having said all that, I 100% agree with you. I wish there was more that could be done to give the forum n00bies "common sense" which actually seems more like "uncommon sense" these days.

Have ever new member to spudfiles take an IQ test before they are admitted. It wouldn't give anyone more common sense, but it would thin the idiot crowd a bit.

[Gepard]

I think the board would be very empty then

Michael

[hi]

Have ever new member to spudfiles take an IQ test before they are admitted. It wouldn't give anyone more common sense, but it would thin the idiot crowd a bit.

thats a good idea. make them have at least an iq of 100 to pass.

[PCGUY]

If you guys found this forum out of the blue on Google and was curious about what a spudgun was, would sit there and take a test just to get on here?

I know I wouldn't. Many people have suggested a "test" before, however that discourages new members so badly that this community would die rather quickly (from old members leaving and no new ones to replace them).

This hobby attracts young people, I can't help it, the best thing we can do is try to teach them (by words or force) how to behave on here

[iPaintball]

I know that this is off-topic, but how do you bcome a moderator? i just noticed the Pete was one. Do you become a mod when your post cont reaches a certain point?

[Killjoy]

no, you can volenteer i believe to become a moderator, its not granted to people. Mr crowly volenteered a while back and so did pete i believe.

[PCGUY]

Yes offtopic

However mods are hand picked by me. Requesting to be a mod is actually NOT the best way to go about it. If you are "mod worthy", it will be noticed. It is NOT easy.

Mods are only added when needed.

[iPaintball]

Okay, just wondering. Thanks for clarifying that for me.