Suggestion for Q&P, Crosswords

[MarkRae]

Ed, would it be possible to add a sticky to the top of the Q&P, Crosswords section saying something like the following:

1. When asking for help with a crossword clue, please do a search through AnswerBank first to see if the clue has already been answered, especially if the crossword is more than a day old.

2. If it hasn't, please state the name, number, date and type of crossword in the title of your post, e.g. Sunday Times Cryptic 4461 27 Nov 2011

3. Remember that not everyone will have a copy of the crossword in front of them, so please write the clue EXACTLY as it appears, the number of letters required and which (if any) you already know e.g.

13d Excellent on-line resource for answering questions (10) A?SWE?B?NK

4. If you want to post a follow-up such as a thank you for any assistance you have received, please do so in the same thread - do not start a separate thread for this.


Thanks.

[atrollope]

Agree with OP suggestion

[Mamyalynne]

Point 2 should be largely covered in the title builder though many do not use it.
I agree that full clue, letter count and any placed is the most important factor in getting a prompt and correct reply.

'Local Quiz' as a title should be disallowed.

[Lie-in King]

(Answer from a previous thread, edited)

Hi Mark - unless it was a dream, I'm fairly sure something along these lines used to be in place?

Q'ers should be responding to the Title Builder as mamya says - perhaps make the Title a "Required Field", making posting a thread impossible without it? Not sure...

However, I don't consider it the most important information that can be given, & have never minded answering the same Q more than once.

It becomes more necessary when clues are duplicated (or very nearly so) across different puzzles over a short period of time, as the answers may differ slightly.

So, while I agree that the puzzle name can be helpful on occasion - "Now, where did I see that?..", let's face it, if it's the "Upper Creek Silage Gazette GK", it's unlikely to have a huge readership amongst AB'ers anyway...

Generally, I feel that as long as the full clue, number of letters & any placed are accurately shown, that should be enough & I (with others, I hope) will carry on reminding Q'ers (mostly newbies, although there are some serial offenders!) when necessary, in the hope that it sinks in.

These are only my opinions! I'm well aware that not everyone will agree. :-))

"A full and fair discussion is essential to democracy."

[AB Editor]

Morning.

I'll put something together this week. It's one of those things I've just never go around to...

All the best,

[factor-fiction]

I agree with these suggestions. I'm not too bothered about the name of the crossword but certainly we should ask people to state the EXACT clue (some paraphrase them ), the number of letters and details of letters they have placed using questionmarks rather than dashes to represent unknown letters.
It also helps if people put each clue on a new line.
However, whilst this will help, I'm sure some newer users will overlook the instruction, just as the guidance at the top of the Suggestions page seems to be missed by some.

[MarkRae]

Doubtless, but perhaps a polite "RTFM" reply might help them do it properly next time...

[hellywelly4]

I would also like it to be emphasised that people should thank anyone who supplies them with an answer, there are quite a few that don't.

[Mamyalynne]

Helly I agree that a thankyou is nice but some posters may put up a question and then have to leave the house etc. I do not feel that a stipulation is needed as such and dislike it when arguments re no thankyou's blow up.

[dr b]

I agree with the spirit of the OP, but it's my observation that in many cases, no matter how "badly posed" the question is, someone will come along and give the correct answer (likely because they've happened to work the puzzle in question). So, the poster has no incentive to follow the rules. Perhaps we can add: 5. Please don't answer any questions that do not conform to #1-4 above, in order to train posters to follow the rules.

[EcclesCake]

Occasionally I go searching for a crossword answer, frequently with little success.

Because I do my crossword a day late it is nigh on impossible to search for possible duplicate questions because of the way folk are searching for answers to clues. Until there is a regimented structure to Q&P with newspaper and crossword/quiz set as individual categories nothing will change. IMHO.

[AB Editor]

Afternoon. I've added some links to articles on the suggested subjects. You should be able to see them on the Q&P page, in the centre.

[MarkRae]

Top stuff, Ed - thanks very much.

Presumably, it would be acceptable to respond to anyone who does not follow your guidelines by referring them to them, if you see what I mean...?

[boxtops]

Thank you Ed - but I had to look quite hard for your Etiquette link, it just merges in with all the other stuff in that area - could you make it bigger, and highlight it perhaps? And... although etiquette's a good word, might it not be better to say "Tips for getting answers" or something less formal?

I really think that link is hard to see - people won't go to it.

[AB Editor]

Yes please Mark.

I'll change the wording and make it a little bigger.

[AB Editor]

Better?

[boxtops]

Can you put some big arrows round it...? :-)