If we create a page with a friendly title, implying that the information within is for the benefit of the reader, we could send them there whenever necessary, without their feeling that we are yelling at them. The aim would be for them to feel that we are doing our best to help them get the most out of Python Discourse.
We could create a new go to (or send to) thread, permanently pinned at the top of the Welcome to Discourse! category with a title such as:
Best Practices for Creating a Good Post
or
How to Benefit the Most from Python Discourse
The title would be prominently displayed in large bold type at the top of the page.
Below the title, we would briefly discuss, each in its own concise paragraph, the common practices that make for a good post, or to put it another way, the issues that most often necessitate corrective action. These could include the following, perhaps each in a little more detail than given below:
- How to format code, because by making it easier to read, it will increase the likelihood of informative responses.
- Respecting others for the benefit of the quality of the discussion for all involved.
- Disclosing the use of automated content editors or generators, when they have been used, because understanding the context of post’s creation may help others respond to it effectively.
- Citing sources of material, when used, because it enables the reader to consult related information, so that they may learn more or formulate a helpful response.
- Being as clear as possible when posing questions or providing answers. A careful review of an entire post before submission, with a consideration of whether the reader at the other end will understand it, will yield a better post than one that is submitted in haste.
- Additional common issues not listed here …
- …, etc.
Underneath all of that would be a subtitle such as:
Additional Details and Important Rules for Using this Forum
Following that subtitle, we could list all the standard go to pages, such as:
Lock (close) this new thread as soon as it is created, so that it does not accumulate distracting responses.
Revisit and revise it periodically, as necessary.