Simple courtesies like please, thank you, and patience with newcomers go a long way. Accusations and insults have no place in the photoclub . If something annoys you, try to let it go—most of the time it’s just a misunderstanding. Personal disputes don’t belong in a photography forum.
Please use the search function before asking a question. It’s the quickest way to find a solution to your issue. Plus, it helps avoid creating duplicate topics on questions that have already been asked or even answered.
Having multiple simultaneous discussions on the same topic is counterproductive because the conversation splits into two “threads.” Eventually, no one knows who posted what in which thread, and BOTH threads die out.
Please select the appropriate forum for your issue. This way, your topic can be easily found when browsing. It also saves the team from having to move your post later to the correct forum.
One-word titles turn into guessing games for later readers because it’s never clear what the thread is really about. As a result, people don’t click on the title, and the thread gets fewer responses.
Also, everything related to that one word tends to get posted in that thread, turning it into a dumping ground for unrelated posts. Future readers won’t benefit from these contributions because who wants to sift through 50 off-topic posts just to find 5 relevant ones? If the title clearly describes the topic, only responses specifically related to that subject will be posted. Plus, members with the same issue can find the topic via search.
For example, “Help with Photoshop” is quite vague. A better title would be “Layer Editing in Photoshop.” Of course, you’re seeking help in the forum, so mentioning that in the title is pointless. Use the characters instead for a brief, descriptive summary of your issue that includes possible search terms. Please pay special attention to spelling in your title so it can be found via search.
Titles don’t need punctuation. Repeated letters, excessive punctuation, and all caps are considered “rude shouting for attention” and disrupt readability.
The term off-topic, often abbreviated as OT, comes from English and means roughly “away from the main topic” or “unrelated to the subject” (Wikipedia) <= please take a moment to read this!
Hijacking forum topics is generally considered rude and disrespectful to others involved in the discussion—especially the topic starter, who is focused on that one specific subject.
Since many different people discuss many different topics simultaneously in a forum, discussions are organized by topic. This allows later readers to participate and benefit from the posts. Too much off-topic content makes it hard to follow and eventually causes the thread to lose responses and die out.
Think of each forum topic as a small discussion group focused ONLY on that one subject. If you “hijack” the topic by posting unrelated content, the thread loses focus and eventually fizzles out. That’s why it’s so important for the title to be clear and not just a single word.
Future readers should be able to benefit from the posts. Nobody wants to read through 50 off-topic posts just to find 5 relevant ones.
Exception: If you have something to say about the topic but also want to add an off-topic comment, please mark that text clearly with “OFF-TOPIC.” This saves later readers time because they can skip that part knowing it’s unrelated.
Always remember that answering questions is voluntary and helpers put effort into their responses. So please take care with your wording, spelling, and formatting. Sentences without punctuation or all lowercase text make understanding difficult. Follow-up questions sent via private message (PM) are rarely answered and can be very annoying. Please avoid this unless someone explicitly asks you to.
Simply directing the questioner to Google is not appreciated here in the photoclub . We want to communicate with each other in the photoclub . Your answer should be as detailed and thorough as possible. One-line hints often lead to follow-up questions, making the thread confusing and less useful for future visitors. Clear and comprehensive answers help not only the person asking but many others as well. Excellent, detailed answers may even be included in the FAQ or Wiki.
You’re always welcome to ask follow-up questions—that’s normal and nobody minds. Saying thank you for help received is also customary here. A simple “Thanks, that helped” makes your helper happy and signals to future readers that the answer was good. Please consider suggesting especially helpful answers on interesting questions for inclusion in the FAQ or Wiki.
Give and take. Did someone help you? Then try to find questions where you can assist other members. The principle of a forum is always: help others and get help in return!
If you’re proficient in German spelling, please pay attention to it. Proper use of capitalization, punctuation, and paragraphs is not only required but also a sign of courtesy.
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