E
Edward Dolan
Guest
[email protected] (john riley) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> "Mark Leuck" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<Hoh0c.5796$PR3.130515@attbi_s03>...
> > Since I already know the subject I'd rather not see it a zillion times during the thread but
> > instead like to see the replies, if it annoys some well sorry but I'm more annoyed scrolling
> > down to see a one line reply
>
> Or having to scroll down, and _then_ go to another screen to see the one line reply. That's
> better? That's stupid.
Yes, I do agree with John and Mark here. If you are just giving a one line reply, then all you need
do is just provide the barest context above. Some posters are notorious for doing what you so aptly
describe as "stupid" (Lorenzo Love of Bigha fame).
As you well know, I am almost incapable of a one line reply to anything. Even when I am just calling
someone an idiot, I do know how to go on and on doing it for several paragraphs! Sometimes if the
message I am replying to is not too long I will include all of it because that is what I am replying
to. But if I am just replying to a segment of a very long message, then that is all that needs to be
included for context.
I am convinced that some just do not know how to edit. Technically, they know how to edit, but not
according to the thought that you are addressing in the message to which you are responding. You
need only include enough to give the reader context. In fact, that is the secret: to pretend that
you are a reader who knows next to nothing of what has been said heretofore. Most readers are way to
lazy to go back and read all the messages in a thread in order to acquire context.
Freewheeling has a very interesting way of posting. He will edit for context above and then reply
and then include the entire post to which he is responding below at the very bottom. I think this
may be technically the most correct way of doing it, but I do note one of the previous posters in
this thread who complained that this really slows down his dial up connection. I think it is
basically overkill for ARBR, but I think scholars and intellectuals would probably do it this way.
It does in fact provide perfect context for all those who will come after.
For the most part I always thought Mr. Sherman had it about right. Occasionally I thought he was
trimming some of my posts too much and occasionally he would repeat my entire post when he was just
giving a one line reply (he did that just to irritate me I am sure), but for the most part he was
very good at getting his posts right.
The real secret to correct posting is not to be so lazy all the time taking shortcuts. If you have a
proper respect for your readers, you won't take shortcuts but will do everything possible to help
the reader understand your message without confusion.
Regards,
Ed Dolan - Minnesota
> "Mark Leuck" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<Hoh0c.5796$PR3.130515@attbi_s03>...
> > Since I already know the subject I'd rather not see it a zillion times during the thread but
> > instead like to see the replies, if it annoys some well sorry but I'm more annoyed scrolling
> > down to see a one line reply
>
> Or having to scroll down, and _then_ go to another screen to see the one line reply. That's
> better? That's stupid.
Yes, I do agree with John and Mark here. If you are just giving a one line reply, then all you need
do is just provide the barest context above. Some posters are notorious for doing what you so aptly
describe as "stupid" (Lorenzo Love of Bigha fame).
As you well know, I am almost incapable of a one line reply to anything. Even when I am just calling
someone an idiot, I do know how to go on and on doing it for several paragraphs! Sometimes if the
message I am replying to is not too long I will include all of it because that is what I am replying
to. But if I am just replying to a segment of a very long message, then that is all that needs to be
included for context.
I am convinced that some just do not know how to edit. Technically, they know how to edit, but not
according to the thought that you are addressing in the message to which you are responding. You
need only include enough to give the reader context. In fact, that is the secret: to pretend that
you are a reader who knows next to nothing of what has been said heretofore. Most readers are way to
lazy to go back and read all the messages in a thread in order to acquire context.
Freewheeling has a very interesting way of posting. He will edit for context above and then reply
and then include the entire post to which he is responding below at the very bottom. I think this
may be technically the most correct way of doing it, but I do note one of the previous posters in
this thread who complained that this really slows down his dial up connection. I think it is
basically overkill for ARBR, but I think scholars and intellectuals would probably do it this way.
It does in fact provide perfect context for all those who will come after.
For the most part I always thought Mr. Sherman had it about right. Occasionally I thought he was
trimming some of my posts too much and occasionally he would repeat my entire post when he was just
giving a one line reply (he did that just to irritate me I am sure), but for the most part he was
very good at getting his posts right.
The real secret to correct posting is not to be so lazy all the time taking shortcuts. If you have a
proper respect for your readers, you won't take shortcuts but will do everything possible to help
the reader understand your message without confusion.
Regards,
Ed Dolan - Minnesota