How to effectively ask a question on this forum

Question

Ok, so this'll take a little explaining. I was kinda bored over my lunch break, so i decided I'd write a general reference for how to post well on this forum. I realize that many people aren't gonna read this the first time they post, but i thought it would be a good thing to reference when replying to people who post a poor question.
_10 Ways to Post a Good Question on this Forum_
_1) Write a descriptive subject line_
This is the first thing that people see, and it influences how they read a question. Subjects like "Java error" tell people nothing about your problem. Subjects like "How to implement a SAX parser for use in multiple classes" are infinitely more useful.
_2) Don't use phrases such as URGENT or HELP ME!!! or IT'S DUE IN AN HOUR!!!!_
The people on this forum don't have the same priorities as you, and therefore don't care if your problem is urgent. In fact, they find it rude to assert that your problem should be solved before somebody else's just because you procrastinated. They also don't pleas for help too fondly. Typically posters who write this sort of phrase in their post has given up and become helpless, making it very difficult to guide them to the answer. Also, keep the caps lock off. THERE IS NOTHING MORE ANNOYING THAN ALL-CAPS POSTS. IT SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE YELLING, and people will make you aware of how it annoys them.
_3) Dont post your homework assignments asking for "teh codez"_
You will get flamed like none other for this sort of question. You may get codes, but when you submit them to your instructor, you may get suspended or expelled (depending on your school's cheating policy). The people on this forum are more advanced than you in Java, and can make it painfully obvious to your instructor that you cheated.
_4) Write in normal English_
Think of this forum as your supervisor or instructor, you want to sound professional and convey your question effectively. SMS speak or any other sort of abbreviation of the English language becomes difficult to read, and many people on this forum won't even try. This forum is filled with professionals in the Java world, and they are accustomed to reading true English (full sentences).
_5) Don't be helpless_
This forum is here mainly to help with specific problems, not to teach you Java. If you don't know where to start, a person is most likely going to tell you to write the solution out on paper first, breaking it down into small steps that can be accomplished by the computer.
_6) Do your research_
Many of the questions posted can be solved with a quick Google search. You should check a few places before you even post a question. They include: this forum (do a forum search), Google (do a Google search), the API's (http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/docs/api/), and the Java Tutorials(http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/)
_7) Post code and errors with your question_
The answer to your problem is in the error messages and the code. Instead of asking a general question about for loops, post the code that you have written and the error info that you get. When asking a question it is IMPERATIVE that you have tried to do it your own way, because the people on the forum mostly won't do it for you, they'll only point out where you have done it wrong and try to help you fix it. Don't paraphrase your error messages, because there are subtleties in the actual messages that you may unknowingly edit out.
_8) Don't Multi-post_
It is rude to post the same question multiple times or in multiple places in the this forum. This is for the same reason as #2, it makes it seem that you think your problem is more urgent or important than others' problems.
_9) Don't resurrect dead threads_
If a thread is 3 years old, nobody is going to remember it, so make a new thread to ask your question. If you have a question about something in the old thread, reference it through a hyperlink.
_10) Take it easy_
As long as the people in the forum see that you're legitimately trying to help yourself, they'll help you as much as they see fit. The biggest problem that newbies have is they rely on the forum to spoonfeed them the info, and it's not going to happen. They'll either get flamed or ignored. The people on the forum aren't trying to find "fresh meat to flame", they legitimately want to help you, and they'll typically give you fair warning if you're doing something annoying or unorthodox.

Answer 1

There does seem to be a way to sticky posts, but I think only mods and admins have the power to do it. There's one over on the Generics forum : http://forum.java.sun.com/forum.jspa?forumID=316
I've been trying to add a pseudo-signature to my posts as far as possible, with a link to a page which pretty much covers this stuff, only it's on JavaRanch:
People on the forum help others voluntarily, it's not their job.
Help them help you.
Learn how to ask questions first: http://faq.javaranch.com/java/HowToAskQuestionsOnJavaRanch
But I've had a couple of occasions where the OPs thought it was directed at them and they got a tad upset :)
And without hyperlinks, I'm not quite sure how many people actually take the pains to go to that page.
Ah well, no one can say I didn't try.