Following these guidelines should make it easier for you to get the help you need (and easier for us to help you).

Search first
It is very likely that your question has already been asked and answered, searching can get you the solution you need faster than waiting for a reply. Also, don't forget to check the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) lists!

Where to post?
The Forum layout should be pretty self-explanatory when it comes where to post your question. Having problems with a bad parse result? Post in the support topic for SpamCop Reporting Help. Setting up your SpamCop filtered e-mail account confusing? Post in the SpamCop Flat-Rate Email Account Setup support forum. Want some feedback on a Blocklist issue? Try the SpamCop Blocklist Help section. There's a How to Use ... Forum, a place to get geeky, even the Lounge For general / other stuff.

Your topic title
After you've figured out where to post, you need to come up with a good topic title. Selecting an informative topic title will ensure the best results. Here's a common list of topic titles that you SHOULD NOT use.

1. Help needed!
2. Newbie problem
3. Need some assistance
4. Hi, Im stuck!
5. PLEASE HELP!
6. I have a question
7. Very urgent
8. This is too complicated for me
9. PHP expert needed
10. Looking for...

Vague topic titles are pretty much useless, they don't provide any information about the actual problem you're having. You should be clear and concise with your title. For example, if you need help with ThunderBird, try Setting up ThunderBird instead of just "How do I...."

The question
This is the most important part of your topic. If you can not clearly explain what your problem is, you can't expect to get a good solution. Simply posting an error message and asking what is wrong won't do much good. Have you installed new software lately? When did the problem start? Where does it occur? Is it "your" server or your ISP's?  What is the IP address of the server involved?  Those are all questions you should have answered in your first post. Be sure to provide as many details as possible.

The Details
If it's a spam in question, do not post the spam here.  Use a  Tracking URL to offer a link to both the spam and the parse results.  That way we're all talking about the same data.

If it's a bounce/rejection notification, provide the critical lines of data.  The IP address being rejected will be at the root of any research.

If it's something to do with data manipulation, copying/pasting, transmittal, identify the tools in question, version numbers and Operating System can be critical to get an appropriate answer.
Edit: Originally posted by Wazoo as a Managed Announcement.

I've been following the dialog between you and Mike Easter and
darned if I can tell whether it's still a seriously useful dialog
or just fireside chat between the two of you ;-}.
  It was my intention to follow a few threads and pick out
someting relevant to comment on, but I really don't feel like
it's been possible, at least for anything I can contribute to the
FAQs.  Personally, I feel the "format" is pretty good but I can't
tell just whre it is on your desk - front, back or side.

So, I jumped over "there" and grabbed the first thing I came
across that looked short and sweet.  It's the how-to-post string.
I read it thru and decided two things:
--  It's too verbose.
--  I didn't understand all of it.  And in theory at least, I
know how to post (well, -I- think I do, so there!).

And this is what I did:
------------------ start ------------
[text] = DELETE that text.

-text- = text added.

Capitalization added where thought appropriate

{ is a vetting comment}

----------------------------------------------------------------

[How-to] POST-ING- A QUESTION

Guidelines for posting; aka, help us help you:


SEARCH THE {???} FIRST
[It is very likely that] Your question has most likely already
been asked and answered-.- [,] Searching[ can get you the] -may
find a- solution you need faster than waiting for a reply. Also,
don't forget to check the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) lists!
{?? Search what? Search past posts and the FAQs? Last sentence is
frivolous IMO}

[Where to post?]
-WHERE TO POST?-
The Forum layout [should be] -is- [pretty] self-explanatory when
it comes -to- where to post [your] -a- question.
- For example: -
-- Having problems with a bad parse result? Post in the support
topic for SpamCop Reporting Help.
-- Setting up your SpamCop filtered e-mail account confusing?
Post in the SpamCop Flat-Rate Email Account Setup support forum.
-- Want some feedback on a Blocklist issue? Try the SpamCop
Blocklist Help section.
-- There's a How to Use ... Forum, a place to get geeky,
-- even the Lounge For general / other stuff.

{ I didn't look to see if the references above are ver batim what
the user will see on the screen. If not, they should be the same
words }

[Your topic title]
- TOPIC TITLE -
[After you've figured out where to post, you need to come up
with] -You need- a good topic title. [Selecting] An informative
topic title will ensure [the] best results.

Here's a common list of [topic titles] -TOPIC TITLES- that you
SHOULD NOT use.
1. Help needed!
2. Newbie problem
3. Need some assistance
4. Hi, Im stuck!
5. PLEASE HELP!
6. I have a question
7. Very urgent
8. This is too complicated for me
9. PHP expert needed
10. Looking for...
{ PUT THE ABOVE IN SMALL CAPS SINCE IT'S EXTRANEOUS INFO}


[Vague topic titles are pretty much useless, they don't provide
any information about the actual problem you're having.]
- Titles need to introduce your problem as clearly and concisely
as reasonably possible.- For example, if you need help with
ThunderBird -setup-, try Setting up ThunderBird instead of just
"How do I...." -Avoid non-defining words if you can. -

[The question]

-THE QUESTION-
This is the most important part of your[ topic] -post.-.
[If you can not clearly explain what your problem is, you can't
expect to get a good solution]. Simply posting an error message
and asking what is wrong won't do much good.
-- Have you installed new software lately?
-- When did the problem start?
--  Exactly what were you doing when the problem occurred?
-- Where does it occur?
--  Quote any error messages if you can or at least generalize
them.
-- Is it "your" server or your ISP's?
-- What is the IP address of the server involved?
Those are all questions you should [have answered in your
first] -include in your first post. [Be sure to] Provide as many
details as possible.

[The Details]
-THE DETAILS-
[ If it's a spam in question, do not post the spam here. { Where
is "here"? } ]

- If your problem involves a spam, do not post the spam. Instead,
post a
[Use a] Tracking URL -which- offer-s- a link to both the spam and
the parse results. That way [ we're all talking about the same
data.] -everyone has access to all of the relevant data, which
usually helps in answering a question. -

If it's a bounce/rejection notification, provide the critical
lines of data. The IP address being rejected will be at the root
of any research.
{ Huh? Even I don't know what "critical lines of data" are. And
what's that about the IP address? I'm confused! }

- Include as many details as you can think of so others may
understand what happened to you. The operating system, software
versions and anything else that might have a bearing on the
problem. -
[If it's something to do with data manipulation, copying/pasting,
transmittal, identify the tools in question, version numbers and
Operating System can be critical to get an appropriate answer.]

-
It may take some time to recieve a response to your posting. If
you don't receive a response in a day or so, it's probably
because
-- No one understands your question
-- Some understand but do not know how to help you
-- Your post is unreadable (always post in Plain Text) {link that
to an explanation of plain text}
-- Or you've posted in the wrong place.
All easily understood, clearly described posts in which some
member here has experience will be answered eventually if not
within hours or even minutes.
-

--------- end of this item ----------------------

The Question
This is the most important part of your post. Simply posting an error message and asking what is wrong won't do much good.

      Have you installed new software lately?
      When did the problem start?
      Exactly what were you doing when the problem occurred?
      Where does it occur?
      Quote any error messages if you can or at least generalize them.
      Is it "your" server or your ISP's?
      What is the IP address of the server involved?

Those are all questions you should provide information about in your first post. Provide as many details as possible.