Well that sound you heard was me dragging my soapbox out from under my desk to begin an epistle.

I'm an old timer here so just by seniority I get to rant sometimes. I'm beginning to see a pattern that is going to cause a problem down the road. Maybe it's from the newbies or some of us that are just lazy (which I tend to be sometimes) but I need to remind those guilty parties about this.

Thread titles... We have a search engine that does a pretty good job finding the stuff we didn't bookmark or said "I don't need that info" then two weeks later you do... but maybe that only happens to me. There are also some of us that don't frequent this site daily and miss stuff before it falls of the bottom of the screen. Some of us 'weekly readers' will scan the titles looking for something that interests them or that they can actually help with.

When you make a post with a title of "question" or "I need" or "how many" and my favorite "?" it doesn't give you a clue on post content so we have to open the post to read that your "question" was about what type of hubcap grease the Argentinian truck builders used in the '46 models. So 6,000 people open the thread and finding out they haven't got a clue have wasted some time and I have less time than hub cap grease.

All of us need to put something descriptive...pertaining to the post in the title. That way the search engine can find pertinent information faster and those with out knowledge of Argentinian grease can move along. Besides, theres a whole lot better chance I'm gonna open a thread titled "Argentinian hubcap grease" than one titled "What type".

It could be that I'm just a crusty old codger in my 6th decade and realize that I've got fewer years in front than behind me and don't want to waste them or it could be that clearer definitive titles will help everybody.

I don't know how to type the sound of the box being shoved back under the desk...(pretend you hear a coffin being drug across the floor...it's a big box) but it's there now. End of rant... ya'll have a nice holiday weekend

thanks

John

 

Amen...........Hear ye hear ye.................This man speaks the truth

 

Here, you can use this next time:



BTW, If for some reason you can't use the search feature on this site, maybe you're too new and don't have enough posts or the search feature isn't working, it seems to stop working every month or so, you can use the advanced Google search. Just type in "www.ford-truck.com" in the "Search within a site or domain:" and then enter your key words as usual. You'll get a lot of results.

 

Well put John, my turn on the soap box. I use to be one of the daily readers but find myself popping in once a week. One of the reasons is because of the topics. Most are topics, like lowering your truck, where there are numerous posts already in the search. I use the search all the time, if I can't find exactly what I need, then I'll put a new topic on explaining why or what I'm looking for. Maybe that's why some of the old timers don't post anymore, no new material? BTW- John, I still have some of that Argentinian hubcap grease left over. I've been searching for a Lithuanian sealed bearing lubricator and am having a heck of time locating one. Maybe you have one laying around? Before I step down, I want to add that there are other forums besides the 48-60 trucks that everyone can use. If I have questions about my engine I go to SBF 289,302,351W and often get the answers there. Same applies to you guys with the flatheads, transmission questions, etc. One more thing and I'll step down. I noticed John has been a member of FTE since 1997. 11 Years! That's something! I know John (jiolon) has helped me several times in the past and I've seen his excellent articles he's written on other websites as well. Those articles were really helpful during my build. Thanks John!

 

KaleCoAuto, Hard to find automotive items! You can try looking here. They have all the hard-to-find items.

 

I am Guilty.!!!!!! .................................If I promise not to do it again will you please let me stay?

I disagree about the search feature, even with the correct thread headings, it can be inefficient, time consuming, and very frustrating to use.

 

If I may expand this a bit. Also add the year and model you are seeking info on in the first line of the new topic post. I will often not post to a topic if I have to search the poster's profile or worse can't find any clue as to which truck the info is needed for. Don't assume the readers already know what truck you are working on, or that the alignment procedure for the front clip is the same for a 1960 F150 as for a 48 F6 COE!
Even if you had posted the info in another topic a few minutes before, those posts are unlikely to be ajacent in a later search.

 

I agree. All remarks are helpful. The funnies on here are better than ever.Adding to this thread, many are not giving information about their truck/ engine/tranny, etc. before asking a question. Trying to find info, we check their gallery and nothing there. Also many are not putting their city on the right side over the total post. I have always wondered how to mark the threads to save for future review. Is that a bookmark? How to use it, I missed reading about how to do it. Many sites have a, I agree or I disagree, you need to read or do before you are able to sign in or use the site. Maybe we could have a list to read and agree upon. I know the kiss system but we need something. You guys are constantly making this site better, thanks!!!! Have a great holiday,chuck

 

Good point, and if it matters I totally agree I seem to remember this "rant" coming up before, actually a few times, it will sure help the search if more info is in the titles.
Too bad I just thru out a half can of Argentinian hubcap grease didn't think I would need it anymore.
....... have to go the penguins are talking to me again

 

Easiest way to bookmark a post or topic is to go to the first page with the original post and do an "add to my favorites" under the favorites menu. Change the title of the favorite to something more meaningful to you before saving it.You can then organize your "favorites" into folders and subfolders by whatever organization is useful to you just like organizing clippings in a file cabinet. I have a main folder called F100, under it is the link to FTE and several subfolders by topics (specs, suspension, vendors, T56 transmission, etc etc). You can nest subfolders inside one another as deep as you would like. You can even drag and drop favorites between folders like rearranging a file cabinet, or make multiple copies of a link to file in several folders.

 

Great reminder, John! Thanks.

 

John - I totally agree.

What would be the search term to use to find THIS THREAD later?

 

Search... "Argentinian Hubcap grease"


but who would want to find this thread , RJ ?????


later
john

 

Well said John and everyone that came after to add their 2 cents. I know for one that I've had to post a question because the search comes up with pages of information that would take a week to go throught only to find out 90% of it doesn't relate to what I am seeking. Discriptive subject titles would help users to quickly sort out the relevant tons of info this site has.

 

Maybe there is a misunderstanding of how the Search engines work; neither just look in the titles for the keywords, they look in every word of every post in every thread. Using the "standard" search is pretty fruitless; you'll be swamped with results from all FTE forums. Using the Advanced Search feature you can narrow it down, both to this forum and time period, etc. When it's up it works splendidly.

But it seems to be an academic discussion; I don't know any forum where newbies don't still come on and ask how many quarts of oil their truck takes, or which spark plugs, or has anyone ever put a SBC in a '56 Ford? It's just so much easier than doing some research.