longer thread titles

Bas · Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 11:10 am Post subject: longer thread titles

I've run into this problem a couple of times now; having a title for a thread that just won't fit in the title bar and not being able to put it in other words without having to leave out "essential" information about the thread; then having to resort to abbreviations and 'bad' English.

I think allowing the title to be longer by 6-10 characters would root out 95% of these cases. Can this be done?
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"The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time."

- Abraham Lincoln

Tyler_JC · Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:22 pm Post subject: Re: longer thread titles

I believe the problem is that regardless of how long we allow the titles to be, someone will always be 3 characters short...

Also, I think we might have a limit as to the amount of text we want on thread titles, lest we risk warping the current look of the forum.

It's the same problem on TeamSpeak.

If we allow people to have super-long names, they will widen the left hand box and mess up the forum.
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Heineken · Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 9:02 pm Post subject: Re: longer thread titles

I think the title length limit is adequate. Longer titles are not necessarily better titles; in fact, usually they communicate poorly. Some people try to cram everything plus the kitchen sink into titles. That benefits no one. Think of a pithy "handle" for a forum and leave the details for the initial post.
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"Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog

"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother

Bas · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 1:41 am Post subject: Re: longer thread titles

Well, I find them a bit short, also compared to other forums I visit.

Concerning warping the look; with the current length of titles it's already possible two have a two line title, however the second line will never contain more than two words due to the current limit of characters.
_________________
"The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time."

- Abraham Lincoln

Heineken · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 8:07 am Post subject: Re: longer thread titles

What we're discussing here is just a basic principle of journalism, Bas, or for that matter writing at large.

A title is not supposed to inform, it's supposed to label the subject, and hook the reader (cleverly and creatively, if possible). Detailed, verbose titles turn readers off, and may send them elsewhere. The only exception I can think of is those mile-long titles you see in scientific journals when the subject is so abstruse and narrow that a long title becomes necessary . . . if remaining repugnant. Even then, good editors pare out the fluff. And there is almost always fluff.
_________________
"Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog

"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother

Heineken · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 8:15 am Post subject: Re: longer thread titles

Well, looks like you got your way, Bas?

The box for titles on the home page looks much wider . . . unfortunately scrunching up the rest of the page from left to right and creating a lot of wasted white space.

Now you can make your titles as looooooooooong and wooooooooordy as you want.
_________________
"Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog

"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother

Heineken · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:24 am Post subject: Re: longer thread titles

Now the home page is back to the way it was before. Much better.
_________________
"Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog

"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother

Bas · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:34 am Post subject: Re: longer thread titles

Heineken · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 1:27 pm Post subject: Re: longer thread titles

Partly I'se jez funnin' wit'cha, Bas.

Seriously, though, I think the current length limit is already generous. That's just my opinion, of course.
_________________
"Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog

"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother

Bas · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 3:39 pm Post subject: Re: longer thread titles

How are you anyway, Heineken, it's been a while since I ran into you...
_________________
"The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time."

- Abraham Lincoln

Heineken · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:37 pm Post subject: Re: longer thread titles

Well, I've maintained a presence here, Bas, although not an obsessive-compulsive one. Guess we're just going to different places on the site.

Right now we're having an ice storm. Usually, these result in the loss of electric power as overloaded trees and branches collapse. In a bad storm it's possible to lose for power over a week.

Whenever the lights go out it's a good object lesson for me in future realities. Candles and buckets of water are standing by.

Thanks for your patience in coping with my exaggerations (kindly note spelling) and general muckraking.

Hope all is well there in "Neverland."
_________________
"Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog

"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother