It will soon be two years since as part of the Dreamstime team I monitor the Message Boards on daily basis. It's not a secret that while on-line communication might seem suspiciously easy it does actually require more attention and care than usual (live) communication, in order to be beneficial for all sides participating in it.
So, here's a few tips on how to make the most of the Message Boards and how to ensure others will have the same good experience.
1) Follow the Message Board rules (to be found here). Just as it's inappropriate to say or ask certain things in a large group of people, so it is to address certain issues on the forums. In general, account or image specific questions should be directed to support.
2) Do search and read before you post. This is essential for new users (it will save lots of your time), but also for those who don't follow the Message Boards activity regularly.
3) Compose your titles in a descriptive way. Writing something like "I have a problem!!!!!!!!!!!!" or "Help me!!!!", or "Urgent!!! Need attention!!!!" might get you the attention initially, but if someone else experiences the same problem at the same time, there's no quick way for them to see what you're talking about. Thus, they end up starting another thread on the same subject.
Furthermore, if one later on searches the Message Boards for a specific term, it won't be anywhere near useful to have a list of 20 threads all with the title "Help me, I have a problem!!!"... Will it? :)
4) Write in English and English alone. If you're not a native speaker - try your best. Short sentences are generally easier to write without losing the meaning or bringing too much confusion. English is the "native" language of our community and it's, beside all else, polite to ensure that everyone else will understand you as easily as possible.
5) If your thread/post disappears... there's a reason behind it. Chances are, it shouldn't have been there in first place. Thus, don't re-post it. If what you wrote was in regards to a problem or a question you had - direct it to support and it will get solved or answered.
6) Continue to be nice to the others. I say "continue" because in the time since my registration on Dreamstime up till now there have only been a handful of posts in which someone wasn't nice. And that's pretty amazing for a community of well over a million members from around the world.
