To 'REPLY' or to 'QUOTE previous posters in disc. threads?

Post Reply New Topic

Hello,

In posting to forums, the three basic choices are to use: The 'REPLY' button, the 'QUOTE' feature, or to begin an new discussion thread.

The 'REPLY' choice adds new content to a topic thread, and can even be used to respond to a previous post.

The 'QUOTE' option adds to an existing post, and quoting can help maintain continuity within a discussion thread.

Bumping up old topic treads on important topics that have "gotten lost in the shuffle" may also helps keep important content updated.

Beginning a new discussion thread is an option if there is no previous mention of a specific topic, or if it's necessary to consolidate important content in separate discussion threads in order to reduce both confusion, and the time it takes to locate often scattered bits of information.

Thank-you

Now that you've waisted our time to tell us all what we all already know about how WP works do you have an actual point to make?

Or a question to raise?

Those topics are lost because either the author gave up or people missed them, or people didn't feel they could add anything significant.

I don't know why you're so concerned by it. I don't think anybody else cares, in fact it annoys people when threads get necroed.

There is nothing worse (on any forum) than reading a page of something that looks interesting and where you may be able to contribute (and help), only to find that the OP posted the thread 2 or 3 years ago.

Yes. The OP implied that he was talking about reviving old threads. Be never actually dropped the other shoe and made the point that he was talking about that.

One could argue that its more economical to revive an ancient than to start a new thread on the same subject. But if the old thread was started by someone asking for help in their personal life it IS maddening to discover that your well thought out advice to them was years late.

It would be okay to revive a thread if you note that you are aware that you're doing that: actually say "I know that this is a seven year old thread but it bears repeating!".

Thank-you for your response 'Naturalplastic.'

WrongPlanet.net can be an active, and at times confusing place. Hence, this thread can be treated as a "speed-bump of sorts" -- to encourage us to never take "anything for granted." To encourage us to make WrongPlanet a well.......less confusing place!

but what would one have to gain from doing it in that thread, then?

In what thread?

The 'QUOTE' response tends to maintain continuity within a discussion thread.

In discussion threads of up to about two-dozen posts (threads of up to about 24 posts seem optimum to reassess), one can readily scan posts, and determine if a 'QUOTE' response, or a 'POST REPLY' response applies. Most often, discussion threads are read, and no response decision applies.

And speaking of necro bumping - you just did.

I understand that some people process information entirely literally, but reading about the posting options, in even the most technically and grammatically correct prose, seems less efficient than just observing for a day or two and figuring this stuff out organically.

JMHO.

In a longer than two page thread with lots of participants you sometimes need to quote the original post, or quote whatever, just make it clear WHO THE HECK you're talking to!

Once I replied to an original poster in language that I thought was clearly referencing his original post, but the person just above my post got defensive. Had to explain to that person "that I wasn't replying to you, but to..."

Of course there are other techniques. Folks use the "at" sign instead of the word "to", but you can use either to address multiple folks on a thread.

@the original poster: you are full of it!

@Joe Blow: you are so full of it that its dripping out of your ears!

@Jane Doe: I agree,but with the following caveats...

And so on.

Last edited by naturalplastic on 02 May 2019, 3:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.

When I was new here I used to bump old threads (because I wasn't sure how to use the forum), and I would get members attacking me because of it. I never knew why people got so wound up about old threads being bumped, but now I'm a regular member and know how to use the forum, I can totally understand why. I get bloody wound up too when an old thread is bumped, unless it's a thread like the "You might be an Aspie if..." thread. But threads like "should I go to college?" being bumped 10 years later is annoying, because the OP of that thread has most probably been and gone to college, got a degree, moved right on and probably not even a member here any more.

Economy!

Why use up our precious digital digits when you can recycle old threads!

I dunno.

Some folks argue that if a topic is still relevant its okay to revive it.

Some old discussion-thread topics remain timely, and hence it's periodically necessary to bump-up old discussions a.k.a. necrobumping- especially if current/recent discussion threads have not revisited topics which remain more or less on "the edge of the radar screen" of interest.

On the opposite perspective, it's sometimes necessary to begin new discussion threads of similar content when said content in recent discussion threads becomes too cumbersome AND/OR confusing to understand.

I did the same, that dang "Similar Topics" section got me and I think my first post was a necrobump

That is ok for a thread that is relatively recent say a year or two or maybe three years old. Understanding, termanology used changes rapidly about autism. A 10 year old thread is likely to be dated.