Have just noticed this thread.
I have often wondered why people post a question without giving a clue or any letters / number of letters (as if it is a general query rather than an actual crossword question)and why anyone bothers to reply in such a case.
Some time ago, I asked if there was any way to post on here without having to type in your user name and e-mail address every time (my e-mail address is rather longwinded, unfortunately, not short and sweet like "aol.com", for example). Every other forum I go to, I don't have to type in my details every time I want to post. No one answered...boo hoo!
The reason I bring it up here is that I feel it is laborious if you have to post each time to ask for the clue and number of letters and then post the answers as well. Phew!