18.1.3. Writing Your Post
Okay, you have found your appropriate forum, you have read the relevant HOWTOs and FAQs, you have searched the web, but you still have not found the answer you need. Now you can start writing your post. It is always a good idea to make it clear that you already have read up on the subject by saying something like ''I have read the Winmodem-HOWTO and the PPP FAQ, but neither contained what I was looking for, searching for 'Winmodem Linux PPP Setup' on google didn't return anything of use either''. This shows you to be someone who is willing to make an effort rather than a lazy idiot who requires spoonfeeding. The former is likely to receive help if anyone knows the answer, the latter is likely to meet with either stony silence or outright derision.
Write in clear, grammatical and correctly spelt English. This is incredibly important. It marks you as a precise and considered thinker. There are no such words as ''u'' or ''b4.'' Try to make yourself look like an educated and intelligent person rather than an idiot. It will help. I promise.
Similarly do not type in all capitals LIKE THIS. That is considered shouting and looks very rude.
Provide clear details stating what the problem is and what you have already tried to do to fix it. A question like ''My linux has stopped working, what can I do?'' is totally useless. Where has it stopped working? In what way has it stopped working? You need to be as precise as possible. There are limits however. Try not to include irrelevant information either. If you are having problems with your mail client it is unlikely that a dump of your kernel boot log (dmesg ) would be of help.
Don't ask for replies by private email. The point of most Linux forums is that everybody can learn something from each other. Asking for private replies simply removes value from the newsgroup or mailing list.
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