If you need links to columns, why not just ask for it on the Post New Topic page?
It seems like that would be nicer than nagging people after they’ve left the post-a-new-topic page. http://boards.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000621.html
[list=a][li]Because it wastes an entire thread just to ask “hey, post the link, woudja?” This is tedious, and time-consuming, and inefficient, and it takes up space.[/li][li]Also, it slows the discussion WAY down, if everybody has to wait until the person who posts, “Hey, post the link” has their question answered, so we can all get on the same page here.[/li][li]We tend to assume that everybody knows they’re supposed to post the links, because if you hang around long enough and read other threads, sooner or later you will stumble upon a thread in which somebody demands, “Hey, post the damn link, will ya?”[/li][li]JillGat didn’t really NEED your link; she’s the moderator. She just wanted it posted for reference, so people who tuned in late would know what ya’ll were talking about.[/li][li]We try to be tactful. If you post a comment and don’t include a link to the column in question, generally we will just tactfully have our next post include your missing link. Arnold Winkelreid is the champion at this, which is what the comment, “Don’t wait for Arnold to post the link” means.[/list=a][/li]
Hope this helps clarify things. 
“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast!” - the White Queen
(edited to fix overlong line length.)
[Note: This message has been edited by TubaDiva]
It occurs to me that maybe I ought to point out that this isn’t really a chat room, it’s a message board. Things tend to move much more slowly.
“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast!” - the White Queen
:::not really intending to pad post count here, it’s just that it’s lunchtime and my blood sugar’s getting low:::
Some people only check the board once a day, or even every other day (I have heard stories that there are dysfunctional people out there who only check once a week :eek:, but I think that is just another Urban Legend.)
So, it’s unbearably tedious and annoying to find a thread you want to talk about, but there’s no link to which column it concerns, so then, what? you’re supposed to scroll through the entire Comments MB to hopefully find a thread somewhere that says, “Hey, post the link to carbon dioxide”, and then finally you find it and THEN you can get on with things? I don’t think so.
Much better to nag the offender in hopes he’ll remember better next time (not to mention everybody else within the sound of your voice.)
To borrow ManGeorge’s sig–Peace.
“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast!” - the White Queen
Um,Notthemama-
For a person with time to post 3 answers, you’d think you could respond to the question, which is NOT “why are links important”, but (and you can check this)
“Why not just ask for it on the Post New Topic page?”
It would completely remove all the bad things you point out.
Even “regulars” don’t put in links - see for yourself. They would, however, if you changed ONE line of the Post-A-New-Message page. It doesn’t even have to be a type-in box, just a one line suggestion/reminder.
Less work, in other words, than that inevitable next nag.
Since you seem to forget the question, I’ll repeat it at the end. Try to answer this:
“Why not just ask for it on the Post New Topic page?”
I could think of several possible reasons.
To what extent is the “New Topic” page customizable? Most of it is “canned” and/or generated by the UBB software. Also, the New Topic page is seen for a new post in any forum, but only two of the fora ask that you include a link to a straight dope column/mailbag item in the original post.
- Are you saying they can’t add ONE line?
Doubtful. Seems like they have a 2"x5" banner header now. - The wording could use a conditional, i.e.,
“If applicable, Please include a link to a straight dope column/mailbag item in the original post. Thanks”
Well all right, lamerino, if you’re going to try and use logic to back up your suggestion… 
I imagine that it could be done…but…(you did know there was going to be a “but”, right?)…I also imagine that that is low on the list of priorities, far below “Do what we can to stop the board outages”, “Remove all the smileys that cause the pop-up box”, “Remove all the double, triple, quadruple, etc. postings”, etc.
Your Official Cat Goddess since 10/20/99.
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                                        --100% certified genuine WallyM7™ sig
I believe you. “A word to the wise is sufficient.” -Bud Abbot
“Could you repeat that? I’ve got a banana in my ear.” -Lou Costello
Okay, I posted this in the other thread by this name, that just happens to be discussing something else. (No wonder I was lost.)
Lamerino, regarding the OP…
I’m not a moderator or anything, so my answer is unofficial, but here’s the deal. The board setup is not controlled by SD. They took a commercial product (UBB) and applied it to their situation. So that may not be a feature that the UBB code supports. It is not the SD staff’s job or abilities to update the UBB code to add that feature.
Other features we now have available were not available with earlier versions of the board. The working search engine being one of them. It is something we have to accept.
That may be an idea for Tuba and the staff to suggest to the UBB folks and see if it
can be implemented. Or not.
Other complaints for “missing features” include the ability for each poster to delete and edit their own posts. This is something that UBB can do, but is an option that is turned off here. It works that way because we want it that way - sort of. The reason is to control the history of exchanges intact. We don’t want someone posting something inflammatory, waiting for responses, then going back and deleting their remarks and playing helpless victim for all the vicious replies.
Another is a preview window, where you can see what the post will look like before you
actually submit. The edit window being a small inset frame that does not anywhere
near simulate the display window size, and UBB and HTML (now disabled) are not
displayable.
HTML is another “missing” feature. It was disabled after the last hack attack that used
HTML capabilities to gain access. So much for our fun toys.
Hope that answers the questions.
No, doesn’t help at all. In fact, seems like you’re answering a different question. Anyway, this one was just answered.
I guess I am not understanding this “request” at all. I have read this (and the double post) thread several times and I am not understanding what the OP is asking? Column? Huh?
As for customizing this software, about 3 months ago I downloaded the freebie for a trial on my own web site. It explicitly states that you can’t decompile or alter the software…hence, if you an idea on how to better the product, you might try looking to UBB for having changes made.
Okay, I re read my post, and now I understand.
This is software available to anyone with $170.00 and a web site, again, you can’t alter or change this product.
If The Straight Dope had a bank account that was unlimited, I am sure they would rather have it customized for their use. BUT, this isn’t the case.
Besides, I am sure enough people would forget to post a link to the column in question anyway. Oh, and since it doesn’t apply to the rest of the board is it really important?
Tuba, I don’t want to start a whole new thread for this 'cause it isn’t that important.
I was assuming that if you click on Close Topic, you either are allowed to close your own topic, or else an e-mail goes out to “someplace”, requesting that the topic be closed. Either way, if it’s your topic, you can say “when.” This is not so? 
What happens if in a wild drunken moment you post a topic that you are personally heartily sick of within the first 3 responses, but people just won’t let it go (some of the uglier Pit threads in the archive struck me like this)?
Sign me,
RECONSIDERING POTENTIAL HOT-BUTTON TOPICS
“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast!” - the White Queen
Closing a thread is an administrative option, not available to members. If you want a thread closed, send an email to the forum moderator OR to one of the administrators. A forum moderator can only close topics within his/her forum. An administrator can close a thread in any forum. Ed Zotti, TubaDiva, CKDextHavn, and yours truly are all admins, and can close or delete threads in any forum. Of course Cecil is listed as an admin too, but that’s only because the software doesn’t allow for a “God” title.
Most of the mods/admins will close threads upon request of the OP. In the Pit, if you open a thread and then later find out that you’ve made a complete and utter fool of yourself, I will sometimes refuse to close it, as I believe that this will teach you a lesson. But I’m a cast-iron bitch. All the other admins/mods are nicer than I am.
However, I can be persuaded by chocolate.
Lynn
I’ve had my sense of humor surgically removed so they could install an extra ‘Rat Bastard!’ module.
Notyomama is correct. sometime I snd da unspellchked letterand want to cancellit.
Lynn-
I tried to close this line:
http://boards.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000622.html
How does one get a topic closed?
This has been asked and answered already.
I invite you to read the following paragraph:
“Drop the moderator of the affected forum an email. They will review the thread and see if it needs closing. If appropriate, they will do so.”
BTW, I went ahead and closed the thread you started ON THIS VERY SAME SUBJECT in “Comments on Cecil’s Columns.”
your humble TubaDiva
Administrator
The Straight Dope
Sorry to be so much trouble. (I had a lot of trouble getting the message added at all. The site kept going down while I was writing it.)
I just didn’t see who was the administrator on that page. I see now it’s only listed farther back on the message tree. Live and learn. Next time I’ll know.