Do you like ambiguous message titles?

ANACONDA · January 30, 2003 11:44AM

Generally speaking, when I see a message title that doesn't really indicate what the message is about, i usually skip it.

For example:

"Has anyone ever been able to prove ..."

"ACK!"

still offering big reward! $100+

"$100 Reward for finding a dealer or collector who has...."

"Are you pateint?"

"Nice coin.... BUT...."
I never read any of these. The titles basically say to me, "i probably don't have anything to say, so i'll just be ambiguous and maybe those of you with too much time on your hands will read this."

I usually don't read them. If you guys read them, i'd like to know. And maybe those people who post ambiguous message titles might want to know to.

Now, i'm not trying to pick on anyone, especially any of my friends who posted one of the above threads, but i just wanted to ya know, possibly improve my message board experience by well...enough said.

Feel free to flame me or to lean back in your chair and consider what i've said in an effort to make what little time we have on this earth just a little more productive.

well-meaning but potential masochist

Tonelover · January 30, 2003 11:45AM

What do you mean?

LucyBop · January 30, 2003 11:46AM

I like titles that have the word HepKitty in them!!!!

ANACONDA · January 30, 2003 11:46AM

One minute. Jon, you're a non-leaner.

robertpr · January 30, 2003 11:54AM

I concur, Anaconda. This message was just barely non-ambiguous enough to warrant my attention, but only because I anticipated your point. Speaking of which, and no offence, I really think that b*tch threads have gotten a little out of control too, as well as general "well gosh, have ya seen what THIS seller on eBay is doing....?" threads.

jbsteven · January 30, 2003 12:03PM

Personally I would like to see more coin photos.

OneYearTypes · January 30, 2003 12:05PM

Atleast in my case, there is a reason for ambiguity. It's psychological and specialized marketing. When i'm ambiguous, i don't want everyone and they're dog reading it; rather, only people such as myself who would pick up on certain points.

clw54 · January 30, 2003 12:06PM

<< <i>I like titles that have the word HepKitty in them!!!! >>

I'll create one if you want.

DHeath · January 30, 2003 12:06PM

Dear editor,

I never believed anything like this could ever happen to me, but........

Sometimes the ambiguous title is more interesting that the idea posited in the thread.

DesertLizard · January 30, 2003 12:11PM

Dear editor,

I never believed anything like this could ever happen to me, but...

DHeath,

Now some of know what you have been reading!

PF perhaps?

Bear · January 30, 2003 12:13PM

Threads should say what they mean, and mean what they say!!!!

DHeath · January 30, 2003 12:14PM

Strictly CoinAge, Desert Lizard.

ANACONDA · January 30, 2003 12:14PM

That's true. The ambiguous titles are indeed usually better than the message. They both suck, the message just usually sucks most.

And with regard to b*tch messages, at least when you clicked on this one, you knew what you were getting.

And with regard to seeing more images, man, i'm always for that. I love to come into this board and look at good images of cool coins.

adrian

gmarguli · January 30, 2003 12:18PM

I usually skip them.

Anyone who puts ........ in place of the key word in the title deserves to have their thread be a dud thread.

leothelyon · January 30, 2003 12:18PM

Hi Adrian
I imagine there are many ways to start a thread. The reasons or proper use for a title, the technical names used to distinguish one from another, all this goes beyond my comprehension. I for one, have somewhat of a difficult time coming up with a title to the theme of the thread, if that makes any sense.
Perhaps there is a high school or college student on these boards that could shed some light or possibly
a teacher or a professor who specializes in the concepts of our english grammer..............lol..........I really
have no idea.

Leo

Placid · January 30, 2003 12:25PM

...

robertpr · January 30, 2003 12:47PM

And with regard to b*tch messages, at least when you clicked on this one, you knew what you were getting.
Yes, and I didn't mean to point a finger at you. I agree with your points.

FatMan · January 30, 2003 12:49PM

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.

zenny · January 30, 2003 1:02PM

not just sometimes

but perhaps never always

" . "

z

p.s.

?

Blade · January 30, 2003 1:03PM

Nothing annoys me more than bad etiquette in e-mail, voice-mail and threads. I am with Adrian on this one - a useful subject line makes life much easier. Don't you hate when someone leaves you a voice message and just says "call me back"? Isn't it so much better when they ask what they wanted to know so you can have the right information when you call them back? And if you get their voice mail in return, you may actually solve their problem instead of saying something lame about phone tag. Same with these threads.

Dave99B · January 30, 2003 1:03PM

Those are usually the only ones I read.

Dave

TomB · January 30, 2003 1:17PM

I do read some of them but certainly don't read them all. I'd rather have someone give me an idea of why I want to read the thread first instead of having to do the determination without the author's help. That's just me, though.

richbeat · January 30, 2003 4:07PM

"Do you like ambiguous message titles?"

Um, I'm not sure.

MadMonk · January 30, 2003 7:40PM

Not all people are talented at writing what is is thay want to say.
One thing we know is that we all love interacting with each other.
We all have a lot to say, and a lot to learn.
I can see Adrians point. I also agree that the way a thread title is structured
can directly effect it's viewing, but hey, you never know what you might experience from one of us less
succinct writers.

ksteelheader · January 30, 2003 7:51PM

THERE IS NO REHEARSAL FOR LIFE.
IF YOU DON'T DO IT RIGHT THE
FIRST TIME YOU WON'T GET A SECOND CHANCE.

kranky · January 30, 2003 9:23PM

I don't like the ambiguous titles either. The worst is when a thread turns into a good one, and you can never find it again because it's impossible to remember any of the words in the thread title. Was it "Check this out", "I don't believe it", "I didn't know that", "A great day"? I have found searching on titles does a better job than trying to find a word in the body of the thread, so having something useful in the title helps me find them again.

Personally, I don't have to be teased into reading a thread. If the title states what the thread is about, and it's about coins, I'm probably going to read it. Chances are I've missed some good discussions because of a thread title that was the equivalent of "Here is a thread".

nwcs · January 30, 2003 9:35PM

I'll usually read them. Mostly at a glance. Unless the title hints at something that doesn't appeal to me.

cladking · January 31, 2003 5:05AM

I try to skip them. Sometimes there's a hint that it's about something interesting, but it's usually disappointing.

dorkkarl · January 31, 2003 6:19AM

i prefer titles that are ambidextrous.

K s

AbesNeighbor · January 31, 2003 6:21AM

Sorry about the misspelled - Are you Patient? I'll try to stay away from Ambiguity...if I can spell it.

Do you like ambiguous message titles?

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