Decide to make a self-moderated topic or not
- Decide to use it or not at the beginning, because after creating your topic, you will unable to activate self-moderation option. For some reasons, there are a few boards, in which you can not make self-moderated threads. Honestly, I made same mistakes with my threads and regreted sometimes when spammers join and spam in my threads.
- How to activate it?
You can get it by clicking on Additional Options at the bottom-left corner below the composing box. Tick on the box "Self-moderated". Remember that you is only able to choose it at beginning.
Self-moderated topics
In most sections, you now have the option of marking topics self-moderated when creating them. In self-moderated topics, the OP can delete replies. The option for enabling this is under "additional options". Topics cannot be converted to self-moderated topics after creation.
Make good topic titles
Please read:
Topic title style guide
Make your topic title, posts more attractive
Don't over bold, highlight, paint, glow
Over using those effects is likely distracting readers' attention on those effects rather than what writers want to discuss.
Don't over capitalize characters
Only use capitalization for the first charater, that will keep your title looks more friendly, and readers will be able to fastly skim your title with more time to think of your main ideas.
Use normal capitalization, not "newspaper capitalization". "Thread title style guide" instead of "Thread Title Style Guide". Capitalize the first letter of the title unless it a trademark like "eMachines".
Don't over-modify font
The fact is mobile platforms display default font, and over-modification on fonts might makes your text unfriendly. I also believe that most of users prefer default font.
San-Serif or Serif when modifying Font Face for your posts/ threads
Don't directly leave links to dangerous sites, instead use code block
Instead of posting direct link to dangerous sites (phishing, eg.), like this: https://siteA
You should post the link this way, with code block
https://siteA
Read topic title, OP, a few first and last posts before posting
Spend a little time to read topic title, OP is not enough. Users have to spend more time to read (at least) a few first posts and last post in each thread, before posting. If there are answers above their posts, those posts they made are trash, no matter how much time they spent.
Don't plagiarise
Plagiarism will cause permanent ban, so it is one of most important stupid things to avoid.
[TIPS] to avoid plagiarism
Don't do pyramid/nested quotes
Personally, nested quotes if using without convincing reasons, will result in trash posts.
User Script: Automatically remove nested quotes v1.1.1
[TIPS] to avoid pyramid quotes (for Newbies)
Edit rather than make multiple posts in a row
Using edit button to edit your posts, if you want to add more details, and no one reply after your original posts. Making multiple posts like mono-conversation will be reported by users, and your posts will be deleted (rule 32).
32. Posting multiple posts in a row (excluding bumps and reserved posts by the thread starter) is not allowed.
Don't feed the troll
Trollers always try to make noise and catch attention from their abundant boring threads (like this). What you should do is don't feed their trolls, then trolls will automatically tail off over time.
Know how to use draft page
It is not very helpful, but sometimes you can use it.
Draft page - Pros & Cons
Don't post in Spam Mega thread
Spam mega threads are spam ones, in which users post without reading. Please read: Spam Megathreads.
If you are good poster or have intention to be a good poster, you should stay away from Spam Megathreads.
Check date of last active day and notice warning message
Threads that are inactive for months/ years (last post made months/ years ago) are mostly:
- Outdated
- Trash
- Problems asked by OPs solved.
- etc.
There is no reason to make those threads lively again. Most of those threads revived by spammers. So, if you are not spammer, please don't do this.
It is the warning message that appears whenever you open the Post Reply page in threads that have not been posted last 120 days.
I got this message in that thread (after clicking on Reply button): Switch forum software?
"Warning: this topic has not been posted in for at least 120 days.
Unless you're sure you want to reply, please consider starting a new topic."
When you see this message, it is time for you to reconsider that you should make your post in that thread or not.
Lock after receiving answers and problems solved
To avoid spammers join party. Lock button is at the bottom left-corner. Click on that button to lock your threads. Most of users forget to lock their threads.
Using patrol page
You can use patrol pages to check potentially spam posts from newbies; then report spam posts to staffs. Giving your hands and make contributions to clean the forum also help your good posts won't be covered by trash posts.
You can also modify which boards you want to check with patrol page. Please read:
New options for patrol pages and ignore board preferences (profile page), please
Do you often use report button? There are guides to more effectively report (I wrote more details on steps to customize patrol page)
Using grammarly to check typos, grammar faults
This tool is helpful for all, native or non-native English speakers. Because we all can make typos or grammar faults.
You can read a review here: https://www.lifewire.com/best-spelling-and-grammar-check-apps-4176088
Don't post in altcoin give-away threads
The forum has a rule on this issue, and one disobeys it will be temporarily bans. I highly recommend users don't post/ reply in those threads.
15. No on-forum altcoin giveaways. [6][e]
More details, please read: Altcoin give-away rule results in temporary bans. Read before posting.
Don't send multiple PMs
Sending multiple PMs to multiple users might result in ban on your account, if someone in your list of receivers report your PMs to moderator.
Your PMs will be considered as spam if users report. As I know, ban for such a PM-spam is temporarily.
Don't leave over-large images in your quotes
It is very popular to see people quote, then instantly jump to write their replies without spending a couple of seconds to edit their quotes to avoid nested/pyramid quotes [11]. That is annoying. Beyond this, quoting over-large images without snip or adjust width / height of original images is more annoying, much more annoying than nested/pyramid quotes without images inside.
Because over-large images will require more unneccessary bandwith and more time to load pages. I don't think serious users will like to wait and see pages fully display after jumping up and down while loading.
Read some complaints and suggestions here:
Feature suggestion - Turn embeded images into URLs + thread topic hijacking prev
The inclusion of large, unnecessary images in threads. Opinions?
In fact, admin took action and restrict rights to display images from Junior Members and above [a] due to the kind of annoyance but you can help with your own efforts before admin does more serious restrictions.
[a] Images in posts disabled for newbies
Don't use list block in thread titles
I mentioned about it there Small reminder for you when name your topic titles and tag with LIST block.. You can read it for more details.
In short, some users who have enough experience on the forum do know how to adjust the list block to help displaying the thread title correctly. Unfortunately, newbies don't know how to edit original thread titles and it will mess up their posts.
It costs you only a several seconds to use {List} or {list} rather than the list block. I don't think using the list block in thread title is necessary but if you still want to use it, let's change it to {} rather than [].
The change is helpful for you and for other forum users too.