> I see occasional apologies for
> cross-posting. Also similar posts on more
> than one board with no apology. What exactly
> are the guidelines for such?

The guidelines for cross posting on different forums are determined by each forum's owner. And, in part, by the contributors of the forum - inasmuch as any posts they may or may not make in correcting a poster's behavior.

Which is to say, while many forums have unwritten rules, the regulars enforce those rules off their own bat. Out of a loyalty, sense of belonging, etc.

> Has anyone compiled a guide for newbies on
> proper forum behavior?

Not that I am aware of. And it is doubtful it would be read by those it is intended for.

Even with large text stating NO BLATANT ADVERTISING, boards are still bombared with Blantant Advertising.

> Sure, some wouldn't care, but a lot would so
> they don't ruin their credibility before
> they get started.

My take on this is: if you are in doubt and are so concerned about whether your credibility will be ruined by an action, do not do that action. Simple.

If you say you are in doubt and are concerned about doing something, and do it anyway only to cry afoul and plead innocense, I question your desire to be a Victim. People who complain their post was deleted by posting it on the board, are trying to cause trouble, most of the time.

Think about it... in the real world if you are in some way denied you do not make a public show of it. You contact the relevant person directly and sort it out.

> Seems like there should be a better way for
> newbies to learn proper "form",
> than to either watch others be
> flamed/corrected or make fools of themselves
> (and get flamed/corrected personally) or
> lurk for months trying to read between the
> lines. Maybe even having their first posts
> zapped without realizing why.

Perhaps. However, we, as humans, learn by watching others and making our own mistakes, then correcting our behavior correctly.

What happens when you go to a place you have never been before? You watch others to quickly figure out what the accepted behavior is for that place.

My local supermarket has a Fast Checkout with six cash registers organized in two rows of three. The entrance to those checkouts is wide and there is no visible cue as to how people should line up. Locals know to line up to the left - as you face the two rows of checkouts the line goes to the left. The only way non-locals can know this is by observation.

Sometimes, when there is no line - just one person standing - a non local will stand next to them. They think they are supposed to form two lines - one line going to one row of checkouts and another line going to another line of checkouts.

Locals will line up correctly even with two lines there. Non-locals join the wrong line. After a minute the head checkout person informs the wrong line that there is only one line and asks them to form behind it. (It's quite entertaining to see.)

The point is, we function through observation. Online, it is the same.

Just as there are those in the supermarket who will immediately make comments about there being no sign to tell them how to line up, there are those who will complain about there being no book on how to operate within the forum scene.

Is there anything wrong with such knee-jerk behavior?

It's to be expected thanks to the education system which instills a win/lose response and encourages excuses as it's never your fault.

It's much easier to blame someone else, or the system, then to ask yourself "What I have learned from this" and move on.

> Could this possibly be an idea for a product
> to sell?

It is an idea. And someone could sell it - after all, there are classes on etiquette which one can attend. And some people may even actually buy it. I personally don't think the majority of people care about such things.

If so feel free to kick some
> royalties my way for stimulating your
> brain!! Just kidding! (sort of)

Sort of "just kidding"? :o)

Dave, the way I figure it, if you have the ability to find the many forums which are cross-posted on, you also have the abiliity to

a) use the search function on each forum to see if your question has been answered before.

b) use search engines like Google to find your answer.

Asking questions on forums is like asking to be spoon fed, most of the time.

There are those who will try every avenue themselves and only use a forum question as a last resort.

Take JDB's recent question about Pegasus as an example. After trying to figure it out himself, he asked the forum.

Most basic questions - as far as cross posting goes - just up and ask. No mention is ever made of whether the person bothered to try figure it out themselves. (As you did at the start of your post.)

Here's something to try...

Next time you see someone ask a question on a forum, go to Google and search for an answer.

99 times out of 100 you will have your answer within the first ten matches. (Opinion questions and subjects open for discussion are, of course, a little different.)

Also, if you have been visiting the various forums for some time, you get a feel for which forum is likely to provide you the answer you seek. Thus, no cross-posting is necessary most of the time.

Take the time to read the cross-posted questions. Most of the time they are nothing more than disguised ads. Posted by people who have never contributed to the forum before.

With such an atmosphere, no wonder most cross-posts are deleted or left unanswered.

I venture to say the only reason your cross-posting post was answered at all was because you pre-faced it with evidence of trying to get the answer elsewhere. In other words, you gave a legitimate Reason Why you were cross-posting. The key word being Legitimate. Phony reasons can be seen through.

Hope this helps.

Michael Ross