dbiel Posted November 12, 2005 Share Posted November 12, 2005 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. 35775[/snapback] The following was taken from a post by pop found in the newsgroup 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- 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 ---------------------- And rewritten with editing comments removed/applied Following these guidelines should make it easier for you to get the help you need (and easier for us to help you). Guidelines for posting; aka, help us help you: Search First It is very likely that your question has already been asked and answered. By searching you may find the solution you need faster than waiting for a reply. And the best place to start is the SpamCop FAQ Where to Post? The Forum layout is self-explanatory when it comes to where to post a question. For example: Having problems with a bad parse result? Post in the support topic SpamCop Reporting Help. Setting up your SpamCop filtered e-mail account confusing? Post in SpamCop Flat-Rate Email Account Setup. Want some feedback on a Blocklist issue? Try SpamCop Blocklist Help. There's several How to Use ... Forums, a place to get geeky, even the SpamCop Lounge for general / other stuff. Topic Title You need a good topic title. 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... Titles need to introduce your problem as clearly and concisely as 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 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. The Details If your problem involves a spam, do not post the spam. Instead, post a Tracking URL which provides a link to both the spam and the parse results. That way everyone has access to all of the relevant data, which usually helps in answering the question. If it's a bounce/rejection notification, provide the critical lines of data (anything that helps to identify where the original message came from, specificly any IP addresses that are refered to and the reasons why it is being rejected). The SpamCop BL does not use domain names or email addresses, it only uses the IP address of the server used to send a message. 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. Edit: Originally posted by Wazoo as a Managed Announcement. Edit: Including suggested changes by pop from the newsgroup as well as some of my own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Betsy Posted November 12, 2005 Share Posted November 12, 2005 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. I think this is too general. It would intimidate me. This is my draft for the section The Question. THE QUESTION This is the most important part of your post. The more details you can provide make it easier to know what your problem is. Answer the questions When: i.e. When did the problem start? Have you installed new software lately? How: i.e. Exactly what were you doing when the problem occurred? What: i.e. Quote any error messages If you are new to SpamCop and can't submit spam, Give the name of the email application you use, i.e. Outlook Express, Thunderbird, Outlook Quote the error message Describe what you do If your emails have been blocked by the SpamCop blocklist AND you have read the Why Am I Blocked FAQ, Copy the rejection message Provide your IP address Do you run your own server or does your email go through someone else's server? 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 you have a problem with the SpamCop Email service, What has changed on your end? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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