Community Chat

[Mistreatedbycs]

I must be missing something, when starting a topic, should the author partake in every single comment by copying the entire conversation?

I noticed that let's say "mary" starts a thread on drapes (example)

she says mine our blue

the author comes back and asks why she picked blue

then another post comes up and says I have blue too

then the author comes back and copies the entire response from both parties and comments on that.

pretty soon one comment "box" equals about 6-10 inches and the thread goes on for 11-20 pages, not because one received so many posts but because everything was copied and commented on.

Is that how a forum is supposed to work?  I thought it you start a thread, if you want to acknowledge others commenting, a heart would be nice.

Is there "user" rules  (not the rules printed by the Q), just general forum rules or does anything go?.

Just want to understand and yes, no one is targeted, just an observation over the years.

[Kachina624]

When there is a long response, you can delete part of it in the interest of brevity.  I wish more people would do this.  You don't have to quote anyone if the thread is short and others can easily figure out what's being discussed.  There's no rule; use your common sense.

[Tinkrbl44]

@Mistreatedbycs

Good questions .....  some threads get rather lengthy, especially if several people weigh in.  It sometimes can be rather difficult to follow comments & responses ....  I know there've been times someone posts an answer, and I wish I knew who they were speaking to. 

A thread can have several people having "mini-conversations" and quoting the previous comments makes it clear who you're responding to.  I think it's helpful, but others may not.  No biggie, IMO. 

If you're new to message boards, googe "message board etiquette" and read the tips they offer.   Of course, the board rules and posters styles can vary quite a bit from board to board.   HTH

[Lindsays Grandma]

It is difficult and sometimes impossible to respond to every post.  If I feel it is necessary to respond because someone has misunderstood what I said in the Thread, I will respond.  Otherwise I give a heart to those who were nice enough to share their advice or kind comments.

[qualitygal]

Maybe if someone wants to refer back to a post, they could say, "in response to message #13".  

[World Traveler]

@qualitygal I think saying "in response to message #13" can change to #14, #15, etc., depending upon how you have your settings to show the most recent response first or whether your settings are to show the original post first. Does that make sense how I explain that?

Right now, as I write this, your response is #2, but when someone else posts after me, you will be #3, and so on.

I prefer to include at least part of the original post before responding so everyone knows what I am responding to, especially if the conversation has gone off topic. Many, many times when someone has a short answer like "I agree," I don't know whether they are agreeing with the original post, or the opposite response given by a subsequent poster.

Or maybe one could say "I agree that the dress fits a little big on the models," if that is what the original poster said. Or, "I don't think the lace top was too long," if the original poster or someone else said they felt it was long. 

I believe you are okay to just say you agree or disagree if all the responses are in accord, but that is rare. ha!

[dooBdoo]

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@World Traveler wrote:

@qualitygal I think saying "in response to message #13" can change to #14, #15, etc., depending upon how many people after you respond and whether you have your settings to show the most recent response first or whether your settings are to show the original post first. Does that make sense how I explain that?

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@World Traveler

            True, our settings can determine the order in which responses are listed so that would make the message numbers different.   Also, if any responses were removed, that would change the numbers of the comments that followed. 

[World Traveler]

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   Also, if any responses were removed, that would change the numbers of the comments that followed. 

@dooBdoo Oh, never thought about that.....deletions. Good point.

[dooBdoo]

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@Mistreatedbycs wrote:

I must be missing something, when starting a topic, should the author partake in every single comment by copying the entire conversation?

I noticed that let's say "mary" starts a thread on drapes (example)

she says mine our blue

the author comes back and asks why she picked blue

then another post comes up and says I have blue too

then the author comes back and copies the entire response from both parties and comments on that.

pretty soon one comment "box" equals about 6-10 inches and the thread goes on for 11-20 pages, not because one received so many posts but because everything was copied and commented on.

Is that how a forum is supposed to work?  I thought it you start a thread, if you want to acknowledge others commenting, a heart would be nice.

Is there "user" rules  (not the rules printed by the Q), just general forum rules or does anything go?.

Just want to understand and yes, no one is targeted, just an observation over the years.

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            @Mistreatedbycs,  Regarding the portions of your post I placed in bold, about quoted text...   sometimes a response makes more sense if it quotes the complete post to which it's directed.  

            The quotes-within-quotes-within quotes definitely can become cumbersome and very hard to read.   Many people won't try to read a response containing too much nested quoting, so the effort is completely lost.   I think it helps to note, however, if someone is in a rush they might not have time to edit the quoted text and on some mobile devices it can be really difficult to do. 

[goldensrbest]

That drives me up the wall ,when people do that, i just can not keep reading. I was speaking of all the quoting. long post of what each person typed.