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How do you go about choosing the titles for your threads? Inquiring and suspicious minds want to kno

I see many thread titles which let potential readers know exactly what to expect, but, there are also a good number, which provide little, if any clue. I often wonder if the latter, are intentional or not.

Who, here, tries to let other forum members know what will be contained in their threads?

Who purposely makes their thread titles vague and / or mysterious?

Who ignores threads, whose titles are vague?

Who makes their thread titles inflammatory / controversial, in an effort to get people to read them and / or respond, when they otherwise might not?

Fess up and please let us know your thought process, if you even have one. imageimage

Comments

  • ShamikaShamika Posts: 18,785 ✭✭✭✭
    I make my titles as clear as possible without any controversy.
    Buyer and seller of vintage coin boards!
  • MacCoinMacCoin Posts: 2,544 ✭✭
    I try not to go on and on and on in the title. thats the part I like to keep short and sweet.
    image


    I hate it when you see my post before I can edit the spelling.

    Always looking for nice type coins

    my local dealer
  • mdwoodsmdwoods Posts: 5,559 ✭✭✭
    Oh yeah, like I'm gonna share my secret to successful posting with this motley crew. It depends on what I'm posting.
    I usually like to be clear as to what my thread is about. But sometimes a creative title stirs the pot a little. image
    National Register Of Big Trees

    We'll use our hands and hearts and if we must we'll use our heads.
  • mgoodm3mgoodm3 Posts: 17,497 ✭✭✭
    I write what comes to mind for the thread. Not deceptive unless that's what comes to mind.
    coinimaging.com/my photography articles Check out the new macro lens testing section
  • IrishMikeIrishMike Posts: 7,737 ✭✭✭
    I quit opening threads that are vague because I usually don't find them interesting to read or I have nothing to contribute. I don't open threads that refer to an ebay seller or auction that is there to be ridiculed, because there are too many of them and of little educational value. I rarely open threads any more that say grade this or look my grades are back. You can't accurately grade a coin from a picture so they have little value to me and the grades are back threads can be interesting but meaningless to me unless I have viewed the coins.

    Lastly I vowed to quit reading the toning versus nontoning threads, AT because this continues to be beat to death. Quite frankly market acceptability is a nebulous phenomenon and often forgot concept in the threads.
  • tjkilliantjkillian Posts: 5,578 ✭✭✭
    I try to be concise and to the point. I try to be descriptive and avoid any ambiguity.

    Tom
    Tom

  • I try to be very much to the point like:


    Why is Mark Feld Being Mean To Me Again?????


    Stuff like that image
  • nwcsnwcs Posts: 13,386 ✭✭✭
    I try to make mine clear as to what I'm expecting.
  • ArtRArtR Posts: 474 ✭✭✭
    I don't start very many new threads but when I do I try to follow Shamika's Post
    If It doesn't have great eye appeal, I don't want it.
  • LanLordLanLord Posts: 11,723 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I try to create logical subject matter for the thread, but since I'm a very abstract person, it doesn't always seem to work. My thought processes are like a lifelong acid trip, anything seems to be a good subject at times.image
  • When I open a thread I like to be direct and to the point.

    I don't open threads that are redundant, that have been beat to death, like the recent debate on toning.

    I don't open threads that are vague, are that aren't interesting.

    I always open threads posted by members that I know that are knowledgeble, and will have something of importance to say, wether it be positive or negative.

    Then there are members such as "JR" and "Coincop" that I like to read their back and forth banter, that is sometimes hilarious, and that I know is just for fun!image

    I don't like members that are constantly "badgering", or picking on other members, unless it is just in fun like like "Cammie"!image

    Then there are some members that are simply obnoxious, and overbeaing "know it alls" that I avoid like the plague!

    I always read threads by knowledgeble coin dealers, or members that I know I can gain knowledge from.image

  • LakesammmanLakesammman Posts: 17,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I agree with Irish Mike and Puff, though in my earlier days, they were vague....image
    "My friends who see my collection sometimes ask what something costs. I tell them and they are in awe at my stupidity." (Baccaruda, 12/03).I find it hard to believe that he (Trump) rushed to some hotel to meet girls of loose morals, although ours are undoubtedly the best in the world. (Putin 1/17) Gone but not forgotten. IGWT, Speedy, Bear, BigE, HokieFore, John Burns, Russ, TahoeDale, Dahlonega, Astrorat, Stewart Blay, Oldhoopster, Broadstruck, Ricko, Big Moose, Cardinal.
  • In the next post to this thread... the secrets of the Universe will be revealed.

    I promise.

    Clankeye
    Brevity is the soul of wit. --William Shakespeare
  • A title to a thread is like a headline on a newstory. It should capture your attention and interest. It should draw you in.

    After being here a while you get to recognise thread titles that try to draw you in by feigning controversy or some other drama. I tend to avoid those.

    Too vague? I figure if the writer is too lazy to write an interesting lead in to the thread, the thread itself may not be that interesting.

    There you go, a few thoughts on the subject.

    Clankeye
    Brevity is the soul of wit. --William Shakespeare
  • coinguy1coinguy1 Posts: 13,484 ✭✭✭
    Clankeye, your two replies look remarkably similar.image

    Edited to add: I really do think you made your points quite nicely the first time.image
  • Thread title:

    "Do You Own Up to Your Mistakes On the Forum?"


    Better than:


    "I Just Did Something...."



    Brevity is the soul of wit. --William Shakespeare
  • krankykranky Posts: 8,709 ✭✭✭
    I make mine as straightforward as possible for two reasons.

    1. Anyone with interest in the subject knows immediately what the thread is about.
    2. Someone who might be looking for it later could easily find it via the search function.

    While we're talking thread titles, I don't usually read the ones with vague titles. I'm sure there have been good threads which didn't get the attention they deserved because too many people skipped over it. The other reason to have an appropriate title is that it makes it easier to find again later even without the search function.

    New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.

  • BochimanBochiman Posts: 25,556 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I also try to let my title have as much info as possible (or at least, be specific and short if possible).
    I dislike the misleading ones or the ones that have nothing to do with the context.

    I used to read them all, but, have gotten busier and more jaded, so, I read those that the titles seem to be something worth reading. If, after opening the thread, the title was misleading, I click on my back button and go on my way.

    I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment

  • coinguy1coinguy1 Posts: 13,484 ✭✭✭
    As always, thanks for the replies.

    Kranky, despite the fact that I had done a few searches of various topics on this site, I hadn't even (consciously) thought about the fact that the wording used in thread titles, made / makes it easier to do such searches. imageimage
  • Purely random thoughts.....Ken
  • XpipedreamRXpipedreamR Posts: 8,059 ✭✭


    << <i>A title to a thread is like a headline on a newstory. It should capture your attention and interest. It should draw you in. >>




    It depends on my mood; sometimes I feel very serious,Wall Street Journalish, but sometimes I'm more like the National Enquirer!image
  • I perfer to say what I mean in the least amount words in the title and still make sense. If I want to write a book, I`ll call Doubleday. So if somebody isn`t interested in the topic I present then, they can go to another one. I`ve been here long enough that people here already know me and I`m comfortable enough to be as frank as possible and to the point.
  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,733 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Kranky said it well.

    In addition I avoid opening threads if the subject isn't clear from the title.

    As an aspiring thread resusitator I'm also concerned about all the bad spelling
    in titles. Sometimes the only word I remember will be spelled wrong and then
    it can't be found.
    tempus fugit extra philosophiam.

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