# Can there be an ATMB guideline similar to "please use descriptive titles" in GD? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 11, 2010, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-there-be-an-atmb-guideline-similar-to-please-use-descriptive-titles-in-gd/539046 "2010-05-11T13:56:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-there-be-an-atmb-guideline-similar-to-please-use-descriptive-titles-in-gd/539046/1 "2010-05-11T13:56:51Z")
\*Why was this thread \*closed as a title and just the code-link to the thread is lazy, useless, and borderline rude (albeit unintentionally). There are automated tools in the post box to make it very easy to include text descriptions of links. Some closings are obvious, some less so, some questionable, and some closings themselves are unknown–knowing which before opening a thread and following links would be helpful. Thread closings are not necessarily a private affair—it’s a prime way in which rules and whatnot are communicated to other members, particularly those not involved in a thread. Even an abbreviation in the the title would help (e.g., why was my GD thread on flibbertigibbets closed), with the full title in the OP. Oh, I’m not including a link here because I don’t mean this to be directed at anyone in particular. A Google search of \*intitle:why was closed site:straightdope.com \*should bring up plenty of examples. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-there-be-an-atmb-guideline-similar-to-please-use-descriptive-titles-in-gd/539046/2 "2010-05-11T23:50:58Z")
I’m trying to find the tools you mention. I’ve seen them on other VB boards, but not here. Some places, if you paste a link, you will automatically get a description, but not here. I personally prefer titles that say Closing of \, or at least Re:\ ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-there-be-an-atmb-guideline-similar-to-please-use-descriptive-titles-in-gd/539046/3 "2010-05-12T11:27:41Z")
There already is a Guideline (etiquette, not a rule) for the entire SDMBs: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=7697092#post7697092](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=7697092#post7697092) It’s more a case of mods/admins not being too picky about enforcement. Or perhaps differing about enforcement standards. We’ll discuss amongst the mods. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-there-be-an-atmb-guideline-similar-to-please-use-descriptive-titles-in-gd/539046/4 "2010-05-12T15:21:18Z")
While certainly it is helpful to have a bit more description in the OP of which thread is the one in question, I vastly prefer “Why was my thread closed?” and a link to “Why was my thread on flibbertegibbets closed?” and _no link_. I can easily enough open the link to see the title and forum, and if necessary/desirable read the thread myself, but I sure don’t want to go search on “poster, flibbertegibbets” and see if I get the thread they mean. “Why was my thread closed?” is a descriptive title. Knowing which thread is meant is critical, but not necessarily in the thread _title_. Dex, strictly speaking, the guideline you linked to says nothing about link descriptions.