A Suggestion For Future Posting.

Just an idea, not pointing a finger at any individual...

I can't go on reading the huge amount of one line posts and threads with such little concern for what is written.

While I realise there are many threads dedicated to posting issues, not everyone reads them, understands them or follows them. I think this applies more to our younger and/or newer members.

When the 2010 "revamp" comes which is in the pipeline and to be implemented this year, would it be possible to include something additional in the replying section for threads?

When the "post" button is hit, rather than going straight back to the thread with the new post, would it be possible to automatically show a preview of the post with a reminder of some key points. Key points that many members either ignore, flaunt ignorantly or are just unaware of.

The concept:

A thread or reply is created and the "post" button is hit.

The poster is automatically shown a preview of their thread/post before it is posted.

Underneath the preview is a box, asking the following....
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Have you checked your spelling and grammar?
2. Is what you are saying a valid and worthwhile response? (NO 1 liners please).
3. Are you providing proof, evidence or speculative theory? (There is a difference)
4. Do your links work? (click them in preview to check).
5. Do you wish to rewrite anything that may unneccessarily offend?

If you are satisfied with your post, click "post". If not, click "return" to edit.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The above are only suggestions and could include many other "reminders".

Wouldn't this help raise the standard of content, avoid flaming, reduce the number of complaints and remind individuals that they are personally responsible for their contributions? Not to mention less work for staff.

This would be to help people create better posts and consider what they are writing. Just an idea because I'm fed up!

If I'm clutching at straws, please tell me why. And all other suggestions welcome.

Spelling, grammar, politeness, validity all checked, and this is not proof it would work and I have no evidence to say it could...just speculative theory.

QUALITY NOT QUANTITY PLEASE.

edit to remove ---- but looks fine in MY browser

[edit on 22/1/2010 by nerbot]

In my view all threads have a serious side and a not serious side and sometimes a one line comment is ok if it had humour or just shows appreciation or support for a particular poster.

So i don't have a problem with one liners or even one character posts.

Bad spelling and grammer used to annoy me but I'm now past caring about it. Apparantly its the modern way.

Most links ic work. I doubt anyone deliberatly ( possible misspell ? )posts a non working link, but sometimes it happens.

Less hate would be good though

I have a really fantastic idea to add to YOUR suggestion box.

How about adding a reminder to not put too many

___________________

or

--------------------------

or other things that stretch the browser window.

One must know, before one PREACHES to the choir.

edit to or too add-damn I tried preaching and did it myself



[edit on 1/22/2010 by endisnighe]

Originally posted by bigyin
In my view all threads have a serious side and a not serious side

What about 9/11 or the Earthquake in Haiti. What's funny about them?

I understand your point though and maybe this is more suitable for ATS topics and not BTS.

Originally posted by nerbot


What about 9/11 or the Earthquake in Haiti. What's funny about them?

omg

dum dee dum dee dum

reply to post by nerbot


Great idea.

I don't know how many times I've gone over my post, thought it to be free of errors and then BAM - I hit the post button, only to find my post full of spelling and grammar errors as soon as I look at it.

For some reason, I can't spot obvoius errors in the little gray box that stand out like a sore thumb when posted. Seeing a preview would be an excellent idea so we don't have to see 2 dosen edits at the bottom of our post.

It will also give us the time to read over what we've written and figure out if we could have phrased something better, need a reference to back up a claim, included something that could offend or maybe just came off sounding stupid.

I'm all for this idea!

[edit on 22-1-2010 by FortAnthem]

[edit on 22-1-2010 by FortAnthem]

[edit on 22-1-2010 by FortAnthem]

[edit on 22-1-2010 by FortAnthem]

[edit on 22-1-2010 by FortAnthem]

[edit on 22-1-2010 by FortAnthem]

reply to post by FortAnthem


Just so you know ... if you have to edit more than once you can take out the previous "edited on" line ... so there is no need to end up with a load of them.

Hope this helps

Originally posted by endisnighe
I have a really fantastic idea to add to YOUR suggestion box.

How about adding a reminder to not put too many

___________________

or

--------------------------

or other things that stretch the browser window.

One must know, before one PREACHES to the choir.

edit to or too add-damn I tried preaching and did it myself

[edit on 1/22/2010 by endisnighe]

Thats funny as hell, I totally agree with you. Also we don't need what that other poster said, thats why we have the edit button. Everyone makes mistakes , it will happen from time to time. Many of us are intelligent enough to read through the missing e's or whatever mistakes that where made to see the posters point. It seems to me that the guy wants things to be exactly as he wants it and the world doesn't work that way. You do as best as you can and then go with it. And the one liners, I don't see them as that bad. Most of the time they are a quick quip about something a poster put down and the person showed support.

1. Have you checked your spelling and grammar?

Not possible And I will never ever support this demand from members
Many many many of our members speak English as a 2nd, 3rd and even 4th language. They do the best they can and we should appreicate the fact they are trying to communicate in a language not native to them so the rest of us can read it.

On top of that we have some members who are responding via their phone or with kids on their lap or some other thing that could prevent them form posting a college paper level response.

Also, when people submit posts they do have a sort of "reminder" at the top of the text area.

Another thing. If people are posting one line pointless responses that really do not add to the topic, feel free to hit that alert button!

Thanks though for having enough passion about ATS to want it to be the best it can be!


[edit on January 22nd 2010 by greeneyedleo]

Hey what if it just takes one line to say what you have to say what do you need filler!

Originally posted by bigyin
reply to post by FortAnthem

 

Just so you know ... if you have to edit more than once you can take out the previous "edited on" line ... so there is no need to end up with a load of them.

Hope this helps

Yeah, I learned that little trick a few weeks ago.

I just added all the extra edits to my post for humorous effect.

Originally posted by wizardwars
Hey what if it just takes one line to say what you have to say what do you need filler!

Precisely, I get so tired of reading verbal diarrhea that I want to puke.

reply to post by nerbot


For what it's worth, I think it's a WONDERFUL idea.
And it's perfectly feasible.

Personally, I would dispense with the "one liner" rule. (They CAN be helpful, not to mention witty.)
Instead, I would emphasise the need to actually READ THROUGH all the previous posts in the thread. (That alone would weed out a lot of unnecessary or unhelpful posts.)

However, I fear you'll find out that many people secretly (or not) prefer the current situation.

Maybe it's because needlessly verbose and/or inflammatory postings attract many viewers and/or potential participants, which ultimately translates to $$$.
Or maybe some people just like the "drama".

Either way, "quantity" means money.

And, of course, I hope I am proven wrong.





[edit on 22-1-2010 by Vanitas]

Another point to add is that the newbies probably don't know a lot about the topic in question which is why they join ATS, hence the short posts.

I'd like to add something to that list, something that was asked about buy staff a while back
but newer members probably don't know and older members who have seen it must have forgot,
or just ignore it. The subject I believe was brought up in a please stop posting like you are texting

Abbreviations -- What I would love to see is, if people use them in there post more then once write
the whole thing out then put in the abbreviation after words, on the first time you are going to use it.
That way others know what people are talking about. As stated before not everyone speaks English
and understands the abbreviations.

Also please for the love of many peoples eyes ,
can we not have a massive amount of angry faces / smileys / and such
I think one would do just fine after what was said

Originally posted by greeneyedleo
Not possible

And I will never ever support this demand from members

This wasn't a "demand" but a suggestion. The grammar and spelling point isn't because some of us are spelling nazis but so members are more satisfied with their posts and would be less inclined to have to correct their errors IF they wished to.

Also, when people submit posts they do have a sort of "reminder" at the top of the text area.

Oh yeah....I've never noticed that before! See my point?

Another thing. If people are posting one line pointless responses that really do not add to the topic, feel free to hit that alert button!

Hey, it's YOUR time and MY time that could be saved in having to deal with alerts. Why should we be responsible for other peoples pointless responses?

This whole idea is so some members might have the opportunity to learn for themselves about making a good post rather than a process of reprimanding or rule-making.

Thanks for your comments, it's good to have staff imput.

Cheers.

[edit on 22/1/2010 by nerbot]

I don't mind one line responses and I don't mind spelling errors. People don't have to be perfect.

Why don't you guys let the moderators be moderators and the rest of you perfect people just know your place on this website?

reply to post by Whine Flu


FYI...nobody is saying anyone has to be perfect. These are suggestions, not complaints, and they're aimed at helping individuals create better posts in future for everyones benefit by offering the chance to reflect on what they just typed.

Something you could have benefitted from just now, but you chose to post a condescending response to everyone with your second line and lose the respect of at least one member instead.

Thankyou for showing us why these suggestions might be helpful.

Next...

I'll take that as my daily irony supplement.

reply to post by Whine Flu


No worries my friend. Good reply for a one liner.

I'm only trying to make our time here a little better and I'm not trying to get under anyone's skin.

I understand the point you (and others) make about things like one liners and spelling, but my suggestions are for the creator of the post to help them avoid unneccessary editing, flaming and mod intervention. Things that most of us would prefer not to have to be concerned about.

It would be a chance for the individual to ask themselves "Is this really what I want to say and is this how I could best say it".

I think any poster who's been given stick because they post a clip with one of those "Wow! proof, this must be real" kinda titles or maybe something with minimum comments would appreciate the chance to see what others will and be more aware of what they are (or are not) contributing before it is let loose on the whole world and ends in dissappointment.

I imagine there have been members who wished they never posted something the way they did and end up feeling persecuted instead of educated all because they didn't see things from the readers perspective. Not their fault but possibly avoidable eh?

"Preview" is that perspective, and reminders are possibly the aid to reshape that perspective into something of more substance and satisfaction.

For instance, for this thread I could have just titled it "Why Do You Post Rubbish" and then gone on a personal rant.

Achieves nothing except negativity, makes me look and feel stupid and certainly doesn't deny ignorance or contribute much worth reading or thinking about seriously.

I guess I just give a damn that's all, and got fed up seeing misleading titles and clips, and reading members comments who can't tell proof from evidence or theory, and shaking my head at the consequences that often followed.

Ho-hum.., yeah, not perfect, but don't blame me/us for at least trying to make it better by flicking some lightswitches and opening doors, I don't choose other people's paths though. That is up to them.

Cheers...nerb