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Message FiltersSome people filter out posts that they are not interested in. Message filters are added to a post as a courtesy to aid in the filtering process. In ACF the most common filters are:
[OT] - added to off-topic messages and responses
[AVU] - added to anti-virus update notices
[PL] - added to Pricelessware List discussions
*SPAM* - added to responses to spam posts
SPAM information can also be noted in the ACF links posts. Add #SPAM or similar to the spammer's URL.
How to win friends and avoid flames.What ware types is it okay to discuss in in the alt.comp.freeware newsgroup?
An informal opinion poll was taken in Oct.- Nov. 2003.
Subject: Ware Types - Question for the group
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003a) on-topic - always okay to discuss
b) on-topic - usually okay to discuss
c) ???-topic - sometimes okay to discuss
d) off-topic - brief mention sometimes okay (for comparison etc.)
e) off-topic - discuss only when a warning is neededThe number of people who selected each choice is shown in the table. Click on any header to sort on that column.
Ware a b c d e responses Adware 1 2 12 8 13 36 Betaware 9 13 11 2 35 CDWare 2 4 9 11 10 36 Commercial Software 1 23 12 36 Crippleware 1 4 11 7 13 36 Demo-ware 1 4 12 19 36 Donationware 11 22 3 36 Freeware 36 36 Liteware 21 11 4 36 Malware 1 1 1 32 35 Nagware 1 2 10 9 14 36 Orphanware/Abandonware 6 8 13 4 5 36 Registerware 7 14 11 3 1 36 Requestware 8 15 10 1 34 Shareware 1 14 21 36 Spyware 3 1 32 36 Trialware 1 1 8 7 19 36 Warez 1 35 36
An Adware poll was taken in August 2005.
Subject: Poll: Should adware be discussed here in a.c.f.?
Date: 06 Aug 2005The choices:
A. No, absolutely not!
B. Yes, under the condition that it is not intrusive to my privacy.
C. Yes, but only if the ad is not too "eye-catching"!
D. Yes, but only if an ad is not of the "nag screen" type
E. Yes, if there is no ad-free alternative...The results were posted on 14 Aug 2005.
I have counted 48 Votes in total:
33 votes "No, absolutely not!"
1 Vote "Yes, under the condition that it is not intrusive to my privacy."
1 Vote "Yes, but only if the ad is not too "eye-catching"!"
0 Votes "Yes, but only if an ad is not of the "nag screen" type"
5 Votes "Yes, if there is no ad-free alternative..."
Then there were people who invented new options, 8 in total, these votes were counted as invalid.A Nagware poll was taken in April 2006.
Subject: Poll: Call for a vote:
Date: April 29, 2006The question:
Except in the context of describing features that one is looking for in a freeware program, should discussion of nagware be considered on-topic in this group?The results were posted on May 3, 2006.
There were a total of 62 valid votes. 29 no, 33 yes.What Makes a Good Post? (excerpts from a June, 2003 thread)
Freeware Program Reviews
Freeware Request
Freeware ProblemFrom: bob Pros and cons of the program and why they like the program. A link. From: Boomer Size. :) From: Alisdair Upgrades of existing programs or descriptions of programs that I might find of interest. Description would include size of dl, size of installed program. Any quirks that it would be helpful for others to know about. From: bob > entries in the registry. Others: No install program File size Special requirements like .NET or MSI installer. From: JimSP Name: Version: Filename: Size: License: Requires: By: Homepage: Date noted: Details: From: Susan Bugher Nice list - I'd like to see this info too - download link: languages: release date: (don't care what date you noted it) ;) ware type: install: registry entries(?) etc. From: JimSP > release date: (don't care what date you noted it) ;) But MY computer is the most fascinating of them all! ;0) Date noted" is for update checking purposes. A release date of 2001 doesn't tell me that I checked just 4 months ago, and while 1997 looks foreboding, recommendation may currently persist. Latest word seemed the most pertinant. Also, some blurbs I only snagged from somewhere without yet reviewing. > ware type: It's not in the template but I add that to the name at the top, eg. Pegasus (email client) > install: registry entries(?) etc. Well, Special note: "no install" is as far as I bother in that direction, I do appreciate bloat warnings tho.
Freeware RequestFrom: Iain Cheyne <advice>Please check www.pricelesswarehome.org, the FAQ and Google Groups before posting in alt.comp.freeware.</advice> From: Susan Bugher And note in the post that you have done so. From: bob What functions they're looking for rather than "like Such and Such a program". For complicated requests, a concrete example of what they're trying to do. From: "Dick Hazeleger" To the point, and descriptive (enough information to base an advice on (not: "REQ: I need a program" and that is it! From: Suzanne >What information is helpful when someone posts a question? 1) An informative subject line. I read offline and first go through the list of messages and mark them for download. I usually ignore the entire thread if the subject is something vague like "looking for a program" or "help i need a program". 2) What you have already tried or where you have searched. 3) What you really want to do. Sometimes there's an easier way to do things. 4) OS From: kqs_v1 The subject line. Very good point. An extra benefit of a specific subject line, beyond the benefit for the poster's responses, is it considers posterity: it benefits those of us who somewhere down the road might be using the Google archives to find answers to the same question. > I usually ignore the entire thread if the subject is something vague like looking for a program" or "help i need a program". In the windows user groups, "help" (aka HELP!!1) is my most useful kill filter. If the poster is not thoughtful enough to provide a subject more specific than that, tends he's not going to become more thoughtful or informative in the course of the thread; so that subject line alone tells me that the thread will be boring enough to ignore. > 2) What you have already tried or where you have searched. This is a nice bonus. Too, it indicates someone isn't merely asking to be spoon-fed from their easy chair. > 3) What you really want to do. Sometimes there's an easier way to do things. Someone else in this thread thought to also point this out. The concrete task, not just how the poster thinks the function should be abstractly generalized. It's not only useful, but also more interestng, to read about what tasks are being approached. > 4) OS Linux, and the occasional Mac, users, as minority, have the awareness to indicate their OS. Windows users seem to constantly forget that there are a few distinct differences amongst the successive Windows releases. Particularly important with system related tasks & utilities, the indication which variant of the W OS. Repete, good you pointed it out: a good subject line, as specific as possible, that's of primary importance for posting a question.
Freeware ProblemFrom: Blinky the Shark Actual program, and actual OS. *Everybody* isn't using OE/IE on Win2k, just because you are. From: Alisdair Specific descrition of the problem, OS used, repeatability of the problem.
