Comic threads: Making titles & friends at the same time

[Martin Blank]

When you're posting a thread about the current comic, one of the worst things that you can do is to spoil the punchline. Unfortunately, the last few months of using just the date have made for a bit of a bland forum, even if the threads have good content.

What is spoiling the punchline? Something like this:

Go read this older comic: http://reallifecomics.com/archive/991122.html

Now, spoiling the punchline would be using a title such as "They weren't your acquaintences!"

Doing this is lame, so don't do it. Instead, it would be more appropriate to use something along the lines of "UO Friends" which does not spoil the punchline.

Even better is to do something like "22 Nov 1999: UO Friends" which not only does not spoil the punchline, but also provides a reference date.

Mods will be enforcing this, but as they're not present 24/7, it's not always possible to catch these in time before regular forumites see them. Eventually, it will be possible for me to smack down those who spoil the punchline on a routine basis by preventing them from posting in C&C, but until then, just be considerate of your fellow fans of the comic.

One last note: NO BACKSEAT MODERATING. If you see a poorly-worded thread title, do not flame the poster in here. Find a mod or an admin to deal with it, or send a POLITE private message or e-mail to the thread creator asking for the title to be changed. Backseat moderators may face disciplinary actions.

[dmpotter]

Honest question: is any mentioning of bad titles considered backseat modding, or just generally hostile posts? For example, would something like the following be considered backseat modding, or I suppose more accurately, actionable backseat modding?

Could you please not include spoilers in the thread titles? Some people may check the forums before reading the comic and have the punchline spoiled for them. Thanks!

[Deacon]

Martin Blank, that kind of thing would be a lot easier if Greg titled his comics, but he doesn't. Is blandness in subject lines really a problem that needs solving?

[Martin Blank]

dmpotter: Yes. Find a mod, or, as Jez suggested to me last night, send a POLITE private message or e-mail to the person asking for a title change. In fact, I've just changed the post to reflect that.

Deacon: Yes.

[heavybass]

We can do it ourselves anyway... at least I do but when authority is used then i'm pissed off.

[Mae Dean]

Tough. People are tired of the punchline being given away in the thread title, and I agree that the titles are boring when it's just the date.

They only get changed when they're A) Dull, or B) Give away the punchline. Everything else is fine.

[Pyrotech]

I'm always amazed at the fact that someone can do so much damage to a freakin' comic just by sayin the last line.

[Lizzegirle]

Just drawing attention to this thread again since we're having a flood of new members.

[amlthrawn]

Just drawing attention to myself again since we're having a flood of new members.


Teh Aml: Attention whore for the stars.