Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums

TheColonel · 12-20-2006, 01:50 AM

Do you skip long-winded posts? You know the ones.

Typically, they are 500-2000 words, and they're 1 - 4 gigantic paragraphs.

Personally, I have to admit that unless I know the poster, it's an interesting subject, or I really have a lot of free time...I just skip it.

I might skim it, but probably not.

There's something about looking down at a blob of letters, numbers and punctuation - with no space to catch your breath - that makes me say "uh, no thanks."

Is it just me?

Cron · 12-20-2006, 02:09 AM

Yes.

One of the best ways to get read less on the internet is to write more.

Another good way to drive readers away is to post what you have to say in large, long monolithic paragraphs.

Angela · 12-20-2006, 02:15 AM

Oops. I just wrote one. Rats.

songwriter · 12-20-2006, 10:23 AM

Yes. I'm not a philosopher but a musician. I prefer to sum it all in a few words.

TheColonel · 12-20-2006, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angela

Oops. I just wrote one. Rats.

Actually, yours wasn't too bad. At least it had different colored fonts in it.

But the one right after yours had over 800 words in it.

SKIP!!

I'm sure whatever he had to say was chock full of thought and clarity.

But when I realized I would have to scroll a bunch of times - just to get to his point - I moved along.

Call me lazy. I really don't care.

Cron · 12-20-2006, 12:07 PM

Like it or not, the internet is a medium for short attention spans.

Dharma · 12-20-2006, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheColonel

Personally, I have to admit that unless I know the poster, it's an interesting subject, or I really have a lot of free time...I just skip it.

I'm with you Colonel. That's pretty much how I read the forums too.

Akashic_Librarian · 12-20-2006, 05:07 PM

I like short, to the point as quick as possible posts, not because I am impatient or lazy but because I just don't want to hear peoples life story....

Also a pet hate of mine is when people start posts with titles like:

"Smoking CAN make you Gay!"

This is like they are stating a fact, it IS not a fact, nor is it their own idea. Please STOP this. Thank you.

TheColonel · 12-21-2006, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akashic_Librarian

I like short, to the point as quick as possible posts, not because I am impatient or lazy but because I just don't want to hear peoples life story....

Also a pet hate of mine is when people start posts with titles like:

"Smoking CAN make you Gay!"

This is like they are stating a fact, it IS not a fact, nor is it their own idea. Please STOP this. Thank you.

I agree with you.

ALL GENERALIZATIONS ARE WRONG. Maybe I'll start a thread about that.

Scott · 12-21-2006, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheColonel

ALL GENERALIZATIONS ARE WRONG.

Including that one.

TheColonel · 12-21-2006, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott

Including that one.

Of course you caught the irony in that statement, right?

Gene · 12-21-2006, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheColonel

Do you skip long-winded posts? You know the ones.

Typically, they are 500-2000 words, and they're 1 - 4 gigantic paragraphs.

Is it just me?

I will read a long post if it is interesting. I almost always move on when the post is one huge paragraph.

Michael Chui · 12-22-2006, 11:09 AM

I have a short attention span, but I have fast reading comprehension.

So I read more in the same amount of time before distracting-- ooh, shiny!

Patrick · 12-22-2006, 11:34 AM

Yes, most of the time (as an answer to the original question). I actually skim a post or article when I think it's long. For me that is more than fits on my screen. Does it appear interesting? If yes, I read it. If no, goodbye.

There are so many posts already on this forum. Steve pavlina actually limits his own time on online forums as part of him being a succesful being. So why should I spend hours to read long posts?

It has been said already: most people's span of attention is a matter of seconds on the internet. Within 3 secs something appeals or it does not. So just make sure you write a decent subjectline and then get to the point quickly.

12-20-2006, 01:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
TheColonel Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 319	Do you skip loooooong posts? Do you skip long-winded posts? You know the ones. Typically, they are 500-2000 words, and they're 1 - 4 gigantic paragraphs. Personally, I have to admit that unless I know the poster, it's an interesting subject, or I really have a lot of free time...I just skip it. I might skim it, but probably not. There's something about looking down at a blob of letters, numbers and punctuation - with no space to catch your breath - that makes me say "uh, no thanks." Is it just me?

12-20-2006, 12:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cron Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 420	Like it or not, the internet is a medium for short attention spans. Last edited by Cron; 12-20-2006 at 12:10 PM.

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12-20-2006, 02:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
Cron Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 420	Yes. One of the best ways to get read less on the internet is to write more. Another good way to drive readers away is to post what you have to say in large, long monolithic paragraphs.

12-20-2006, 02:15 AM	#3 (permalink)
Angela Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 22,520	Oops. I just wrote one. Rats.

12-20-2006, 10:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
songwriter Family Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,123	Yes. I'm not a philosopher but a musician. I prefer to sum it all in a few words.

12-20-2006, 05:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
Akashic_Librarian Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Darkness / The Never Posts: 1,673	I like short, to the point as quick as possible posts, not because I am impatient or lazy but because I just don't want to hear peoples life story.... Also a pet hate of mine is when people start posts with titles like: "Smoking CAN make you Gay!" This is like they are stating a fact, it IS not a fact, nor is it their own idea. Please STOP this. Thank you.

12-22-2006, 11:09 AM	#13 (permalink)
Michael Chui Family Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Seattle, Washington, USA Posts: 3,977	I have a short attention span, but I have fast reading comprehension. So I read more in the same amount of time before distracting-- ooh, shiny!

12-22-2006, 11:34 AM	#14 (permalink)
Patrick Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 8	Yes, most of the time (as an answer to the original question). I actually skim a post or article when I think it's long. For me that is more than fits on my screen. Does it appear interesting? If yes, I read it. If no, goodbye. There are so many posts already on this forum. Steve pavlina actually limits his own time on online forums as part of him being a succesful being. So why should I spend hours to read long posts? It has been said already: most people's span of attention is a matter of seconds on the internet. Within 3 secs something appeals or it does not. So just make sure you write a decent subjectline and then get to the point quickly.

Personal Development for Smart PeopleTM Forums

Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums