Its hard to read

Originally Posted by Rockcat

I mean this with the utmost respect... so, please don't take offense if you think I mean you.

Please, if we could all break up our posts into paragraphs, I would greatly appreciate it. I have these 47 year old eyes and if there are big blocks of words, they all run together and it is hard to read.

I end up skipping posts for that reason. Many times I know that the person posting is intelligent and has something valuable to say, so I'm missing out.

Thank you!

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My 23 year old eyes also have a problem

Originally Posted by mybabyphx

I would gladly help people out (even though my typing isn't PERFECT). I have a lot of free time on my hands, and love helping people.

What do you expect them to do though? Type every response to me, I correct it, send it back to them, and THEN they post it?

Maybe I'm being blonde but I don't see how that would work.

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Actually, that's what I'm doing for one member, and there are two others who know I can edit their posts, as a mod, and have requested that I do so. Just review posts, note problems, send the corrections to the member by PM, and then they can edit their own posts.

Originally Posted by crittermom

But the posts that go something like this and you can't make heads or tails out what in the world they are talking about can and do tend to get on your nerves and make you not even want to respond because you don't know what in the world they were talking about in the first point.

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If they're so bad, all you can really do is ignore them. Quite simply, don't respond to them, as you aren't under any obligation to reply.

I feel bad for OPs that post and ask for info or what not, and because they do not paragraph them,they get no help.So, I do try and read them.But, sometimes that isn't even possible.

Run on sentences don't bother me much. Sometimes a huge long paragraph does. Sometimes what I do so I can read it is break it down myself. I highlight a section read it, highlight the next section and read it.

Originally Posted by crittermom

That's my whole point though Tricia. Is if we can break them up some, then they are alot easier to read.And therefor the OP will get more responses in the long run.
I feel bad for OPs that post and ask for info or what not, and because they do not paragraph them,they get no help.So, I do try and read them.But, sometimes that isn't even possible.

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You have the tools to do so, though. You can quote the entire post, and then break it up into segments, and add your own remarks. Give me a couple of minutes , and I'll post an example.

What I meant was, if the OP would break them up some with paragraphs. it would be easier.

Originally Posted by Rockcat

I mean this with the utmost respect... so, please don't take offense if you think I mean you.

Please, if we could all break up our posts into paragraphs, I would greatly appreciate it. I have these 47 year old eyes and if there are big blocks of words, they all run together and it is hard to read.

I end up skipping posts for that reason. Many times I know that the person posting is intelligent and has something valuable to say, so I'm missing out.

Thank you!

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I completely understand!

Please, if we could all break up our posts into paragraphs, I would greatly appreciate it. I have these 47 year old eyes and if there are big blocks of words, they all run together and it is hard to read.

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Nobody has to worry about indenting - just skip a line!

I end up skipping posts for that reason. Many times I know that the person posting is intelligent and has something valuable to say, so I'm missing out.

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Exactly! Your typing/posting habits may be causing people to ignore your posts, so please try to "conform" if you expect respones!

Originally Posted by jcat

Actually, that's what I'm doing for one member, and there are two others who know I can edit their posts, as a mod, and have requested that I do so. Just review posts, note problems, send the corrections to the member by PM, and then they can edit their own posts.

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Well, like I said before, I am not perfect with typing by any means. But, if you know of someone that would like for me to edit their posts then by all means let me know.

I would gladly do it for someone. I have actually been trying to figure out a way to help out TCS. I would buy a membership, but I am limited on funds.

jcat: If you can think of anything at all just PM me!

Originally Posted by Rockcat

I mean this with the utmost respect... so, please don't take offense if you think I mean you.

Please, if we could all break up our posts into paragraphs, I would greatly appreciate it. I have these 47 year old eyes and if there are big blocks of words, they all run together and it is hard to read.

I end up skipping posts for that reason. Many times I know that the person posting is intelligent and has something valuable to say, so I'm missing out.

Thank you!

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Other posters have hinted gently to those posters that do this but I'm glad someone has seen sense and bitten the bullet. More paragraphs equals more replies imho
tbh if I see half a page without a paragraph I don't bother any more, I know I'll feel too infuriated by the end to reply

I guess, we all need to gently mention it to the OP, and ask if they need help.

Originally Posted by crittermom

I guess, we all need to gently mention it to the OP, and ask if they need help.

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If we mention it to the poster though, they may get upset about this. They could stop coming to TCS, because they may feel that we are nagging at them to write perfectly. (which we all know isn't true)

Originally Posted by mybabyphx

Do you think that this thread will actually 'change' the way people write?

I don't think they care, or they just don't realize it.

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Well maybe after reading this they would understand how others feel.

Originally Posted by mybabyphx

If we mention it to the poster though, they may get upset about this. They could stop coming to TCS, because they may feel that we are nagging at them to write perfectly. (which we all know isn't true)

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I think this way might be better than 20 people PMing the OP.

I don't care about spelling or grammer...that's easier to overlook than a page without any breaks between thoughts.

I don't think the point of this thread is to scare away those who don't use paragraphs. Hopefully those individuals understand.

More than 5 (ish depending on punctuation etc) lines without a paragraph break and I find it hard to read, especially if bold or coloured (or both) text is used.

The same for run on sentences without punctuation even when broken down into paragraphs, although I try to be more flexible on that as many people do not have English as a first language etc.

As far as PMing people, I have in the past, and generally if done nicely, they don't realise they are doing it and change, some people may leave and others may say 'that is the way I write get used to it'. You can't tell before PMing them (although you can get a general feel by looking at their responses to posts).

Originally Posted by Crazyforinfo

Well maybe after reading this they would understand how others feel.

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better being a general comment that makes them think 'I do that' and changing themselves than someone PMing and it being taken the wrong way

Originally Posted by Crazyforinfo

I don't care about spelling or grammer...that's easier to overlook than a page without any breaks between thoughts.

I don't think the point of this thread is to scare away those who don't use paragraphs. Hopefully those individuals understand.

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Spelling and grammar doesn't bother me too much, as I said before, we don't know if English is their first language, if they have learning difficulties or the extent of their schooling. But a wall of text just all blurs into one for me and I can't read it.

I can admit that i have been one of the culprits. Especially when Jasmine died, grammar was the last thing on my mind, and i just blurted everything out in one big block.

Originally Posted by silentNate

Other posters have hinted gently to those posters that do this but I'm glad someone has seen sense and bitten the bullet. More paragraphs equals more replies imho

tbh if I see half a page without a paragraph I don't bother any more, I know I'll feel too infuriated by the end to reply

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I know you and I have commented together before about it, but we must be WAY more subtle than I thought possible. It got no better.

Originally Posted by Dragoriana

I can admit that i have been one of the culprits. Especially when Jasmine died, grammar was the last thing on my mind, and i just blurted everything out in one big block.

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I think that's one of the times when people would completly understand an emotional run-on. It's when it happens with practically every post that it gets unbearable.

It's different though when it is a one time thing.There are sometimes though, that it is an everytime kind of thing.
The no paragraphs and run on sentences tend to make me look the other way.I will open the post, read the first little bit, and then my interest is lost.When you can't decipher all the things that are being talked about, it's hard to respond responsibly

Originally Posted by neetanddave

I think that's one of the times when people would completly understand an emotional run-on. It's when it happens with practically every post that it gets unbearable.

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Well i've also done it when i've been depressed or am not sure what to say. Then i don't use uppercase at all (although my spelling has changed since i got this keyboard a few weeks ago, they keys are so stiff and i can't type fast on it anymore! *poop*

Now i've admitted twice, someone punish me by locking me in a room full of m&ms!!! I'm trying to be good and haven't had chocolate since Sunday!!!! *sobs*

Originally Posted by neetanddave

I know you and I have commented together before about it, but we must be WAY more subtle than I thought possible. It got no better.

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I have commented too..but pretty subtly for me..I don't want to hurt anyones feelings

But I do avoid the posts altogether unless I am REALLY bored.