Mods should alter headers to add descriptive information

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Many users still don't put a lot of descriptive information in their headers. YA Novel, Lost Book, Please Help Me, are examples. I'd like to suggest that mods change these headers to add as much descriptive information as possible. When I'm looking at a long list of headers because I've just discovered a book that might fit the description of a post I read 2 weeks ago, and the header contains no descriptive information, I'm not going to take the time to open that thread to see if it might be the same book. There are simply too many posts and headers for me to take the time to do that.

[scherzo♫]

+1

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Any input from Mods on this?

[HJ]

I agree with this. I find that I simply ignore posting which say "I can't remember the title" or "help me find this book". There are so many posts and these days the majority are in genres I never read (e.g. fantasy, YA, scifi) so the odds are against my knowing a book in a vaguely-titled posting. But I feel a little guilty passing them over.

OH, AND PUT ALL CAPS HEADERS INTO lower case please!!

[Anna]

+1

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

I can't tell if any Moderators have read this or not.

Mods, is this something you would be willing to do? Please respond. I feel like this situation is getting out of hand...

[Serendi]

I wouldn't mind helping out with that, but I'm not a mod, so...

[Andria]

I would be willing to do it for threads that I get involved with - can't promise to do it for all because my available free time varies wildly and sometimes weeks go by without a chance to check in.

Its a good idea and I've thought about doing it before, but wonder if it's a bit rude or presumptuous to do? I'd like to get other mods' opinions.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Andria wrote: "wonder if it's a bit rude or presumptuous to do?"

Perhaps it would be if there weren't a big bold reminder at the top of the group that people need to put descriptive info in their headers. Also this is reiterated at least twice in sticky threads that have titles like "How to Post" or "Read this before posting" or whatnot.

Yet people....just breeze on by that stuff, probably don't even look at it.

Is there a popup box that first time posters get? If not, there should be - and it should explain that they need to put at least a few details in their header.

[Andria]

That's a great idea (first time poster pop-up) but have no idea if or how that could happen. I agree with you, LG, people don't read the rules of posting and the generic thread titles are out of control. But one time I did change someone's heading to include detail & they got a little snippy about it, so I backed off and stopped doing that.

Perhaps if the other mods are on board we could add an official statement somewhere on our group page saying that moderators may rename any thread labeled merely "help!" (Or worse yet: "LOOKING FOR A BOOK")

[Kate]

Good idea

[Cheryl]

I do fix headers when I see them, but I can't keep up. If posters don't read the suggestions, it's their loss.

We do need more moderators.

[Empress]

Cheryl in CC NV wrote: "I do fix headers when I see them, but I can't keep up. If posters don't read the suggestions, it's their loss.

We do need more moderators."

Why don't you send a PM to the group. It's not like you do it often (or at all!) and more people will see it. Maybe they will realize that some of us don't even bother to open topics without descriptive information in the title.

[Tammy ~Witching Hour Reads~]

I'm new to the group and was invited by another member in another group I belong to, as she thought I might have luck finding a book. At the risk of sounding like a bitch, sometimes people don't realize that "Help" "please help me", "searching for a book" is not what they should use as a header as many of us belong to many different groups. A gentle reminder would not hurt, it would even be welcomed. Opposed to the "seriously what is wrong with you" that I have seen in the last week. I was shocked to see that someone would write that, but a little kindness never killed anyone.
I know it sucks for the mods to have keep repeating themselves, so a group pm would probably help.
I request a email every time there is a new post or thread started, and regardless of what it says I open it.
I'm sorry if I offended anyone and if I have I will leave the group if you would like. Again I'm sorry.