Many people refuse to use them. Some go so far as to mark things like
>int main()
>{
>printf("Hello World!\n")
>}
or
int main() {
printf("hello world!\n");
}
Is it acceptable to use the 'report post' link to flag these illegible posts for moderator editing, or would the mods rather not spend time on something that trivial, or think it'd encourage lazines, etc.
Corona, I'm going to copy this question into the moderator area for discussion there.
In the meantime here is a link which you might prefer to use rather than having to explain the use of code tags.
Well, reviewing our rules, I don't see an explicit requirement for the use of code tags. The "repost post" should be reserved for very serious rule violations, so no, I don't think reporting such posts is a good idea.
This is an example of a general problem... a question posed by someone who lacks the ability to sucessfully pose a question. "Failure to use code tags" is something that we can overcome. I'm more concerned with people who give no details about the problem. Do they call their doctor and say "Hey, doc, I feel ill! What should I do?" Or their mechanic: "My car doesn't work. How can I fix it?"
We don't have a rule requiring success in posing a question. So what should you do? I do nothing. I ignore questions that I can't answer. And that is my advice to you. Ignore questions that you don't like. Then the questioners can influence their probability of getting help by using code tags, providing a few clues, etc. People who ignore code tags, etc will have a lowered chance of obtaining help. Trying to steer a newbie into the light might be worth a try. A good link in this regard is: How To Ask Questions The Smart Way. But if the advice is ignored, you should refrain from flogging a dead horse. Accept that the poster may not be capable of constructing a better post.
That's the same conclusion I'd come to, more or less. I just wasn't aware of the official position on this matter. Fair enough, thanks for your time.
I see moderators going around editing code tags into people's posts... what's our position on this again?
As always, the use of code tags judiciously is recommended but not mandatory. Also, in the moderator's forum, there has not been any updates to this issue as I heard of.
My opinion is the same as the other moderators (I think). The "report post" should be reserved to policy violations. Because there may be lots of posts that lacks CODE tags, and reporting each and every of these is likely to bombard our mailboxes with lots of these reporting posts (don't forget each of these messages are sent to all moderators). Not only is the sheer volume the problem, it is also likely to delay our processing of severe policy violation reports as we have a larger list to process, otherwise we need to screen each email one by one to sort out the most urgent ones first, then the more trivial ones such as CODE tag missing posts.
As the missing code tags phenomenon has not been regarded as a policy (or rules) violation yet, so we will probably just edit as we pass by, leaving the rest alone if we don't see them.
By the way, I have not been editing any posts for CODE tags as I'm pretty busy recently. Not sure which moderator you are referring to...
I have done it on occasion where the posted code is long and I just can't read it. Blowtorch appears to be doing likewise.
As you siad the general opinion appers to be that which you have expressed.
Yes, I do put in code tags, but not always. If the code is too long and impossible to read, then I put them in. I try to put in a post to remind them to use code tags, but I'm not sure how many of the posters actually read and follow it.
As with many things, there is no way to enforce code tag usage.
What I meant by that is that we can indeed insert code tags. I have often inserted code tags. I always use preview though. Sometimes the code tags don't help.
So yes, moderators can insert code tags if they want to, but they can leave the post alone too. I certainly am not going to go through all of our threads inserting code tags on each thread that needs them. I still do not think that users should use the "report post" feature to report posts without code tags. We moderators do not need all that email.
It all comes down to the taste of the moderator. I put in the code-tags when I see the code is awefully long. Un-tagged code looks so ugly 
. Another way to look at is, if the OP has provided enough details and the code is long and out-of-tags, then I put in the tag. Atleast someone can benefit from that.
Cheers !