Writing readable Posts on the internet.

[dirtydeeds]

nickao's comments make a lot of sense to me

altough im not too precious / worried about spelling and punctuation

posts that are just huge SLABS of text do put me off

however what is more difficult.

ive learned to my cost that that my use of english carpentry terms does cause confusion to a large proportion of north american members

the dilema i have is.....................

if i dont explain it, do i sound rude (so get ignored)............ alternativly i sound ignorant of the american term (so get ignored)

if i DO explain it, does it sounds patronising (so get ignored).............. (i personnally hate being patronised with avengance)

then again

if i dont explain it do i sound quaint or old fashioned (and get ignored)

because perhaps it sounds like an old technique that is therefore not relevant (and get ignored again)   

 

[Ned]

ive learned to my cost that that my use of english carpentry terms

I have always taken an explanation of a term or practice as an attempt to be helpful, not condescending, provided the explanation does not contain the phrase "rude Colonials". 

It's hard to know what to explain to readers, even those in the same trade, who are halfway around the world.  Explain when you think you should.  Readers will ask if they don't get it.  Both ways work, and work together.

Ned

 

[ROb McGilp]

nickao's comments make a lot of sense to me

altough im not too precious / worried about spelling and punctuation

posts that are just huge SLABS of text do put me off

however what is more difficult.

ive learned to my cost that that my use of english carpentry terms does cause confusion to a large proportion of north american members

the dilema i have is.....................

if i dont explain it, do i sound rude (so get ignored)............ alternativly i sound ignorant of the american term (so get ignored)

if i DO explain it, does it sounds patronising (so get ignored).............. (i personnally hate being patronised with avengance)

then again

if i dont explain it do i sound quaint or old fashioned (and get ignored)

because perhaps it sounds like an old technique that is therefore not relevant (and get ignored again)     

DD,

The best thing to do is put yourself in the reader's place. Assume you are trying to explain as if you are explaining to yourself. I try where possible to assume that I am totally ignorant of what I am describing and have to educate myself about the process. Better to be hung for a sheep as a lamb.
If people have a problem understanding you, they can always ask for clarification. We is Oz have the added disadvantage of having a whole 'nother brand of English and as for the Kiwis!!
Simple plain english is often best with full details where possible.

Here's a question for y'all.
In the 1966 Australian Sheep Dog trials, how many were found guilty? ;D

Regards,

Rob

 

[dirtydeeds]

ned

as always you make me smile,,,,,,,,,,,,,,      id not call you a rude colonial

colonial maybe............. but a "rude" colonial NEVER

"stupid limey" i understand ................................ but id sort of prefer it if youd not emphasise the "stupid"  bit  ;D

..........................

i am of course shocked and hurt

 

[Brice Burrell]

A few things that I dislike, first, when someone writes their reply in the quote box, example:

My wifes mother demands she is called mommy. It is strange a 44 year old woman calling her mother mommy, but she does it.

Nickao

Don't reply in the quote box! Don't reply in the quote box! Its hard to find your reply!

Also continuously quoting is hard to follow, you know, when you have a quote inside a quote, inside another and so on.

Some people use a quote when there is no need or quote a long reply when the part they a referencing is only one sentence. Its a waste of bandwidth, only quote when it is necessary and trim down long quotes to only the pertinent parts.

The third thing, starting a thread with a non-descriptive title and non-descriptive links

 

[nickao]

How is this Brice?

10) Use descriptive thread titles relevant to the main idea you want to get across.

11) Do not reply to a quote within the quote box - ie make sure your answer is AFTER the second [q"""e]  mark in the response window.

12) Only use the portion of the quote you are answering or commenting directly to and only use a quote if it is NOT the previous post. Try not to have a quote, within a quote, within a quote and so on.

Nickao

 

[robtonya]

Don't reply in the quote box! Don't reply in the quote box! Its hard to find your reply!

I have quoted in a quote box, on accident though.

 

[nickao]

Sometimes a quote in a quote is helpful. I think stopping redundancy is the point.

 

[robtonya]

Sometimes a quote in a quote is helpful. I think stopping redundancy is the point.

I need to figure out how to reduce the quote to what I am quoting too. I will work on that too.

 

[nickao]

One way to remove a portion of a quote is simply to highlight it, right click and delete. Then make sure you scroll down past the second [Q***e] mark before you type your reply. It is also good if you hit delete(as many times as needed) within the quote so there is not a bunch of empty space left in the quote when you reply.

Nickao

 

[Michael Kellough]

I have one objection.

Strike rule #2.

Per and dirtydeeds are just two examples of people who make good use
of double spacing and if one of the issues behind making a list of rules is legibility
I don't see the problem.

 

[Brice Burrell]

I have quoted in a quote box, on accident though.

And you just quoted inside a couple of quotes too. If you see your mistake, go back and fix it.

 

[robtonya]

One way to remove a portion of a quote is simply to highlight it, right click and delete. Then make sure you scroll down past the second [Q***e] mark before you type your reply. It is also good if you hit delete(as many times as needed) within the quote so there is not a bunch of empty space left in the quote when you reply.

Nickao

Thanks Nick, I'm still new to this. I did know that all caps was considered yelling.

 

[Eli]

You guys need to chill with the word police thing. Stop smoking so many banana peels. The fact that people write differently is one of the things that gives the feel here of different personalities. I haven't read too many posts that are totally illegible. My guilty pleasure is quoting someone and fixing the spelling or grammar error iin the original quote.  ;D ;D I think it's subtle and gives me satisfaction of seeing it correct.

 

[robtonya]

I have quoted in a quote box, on accident though.

And you just quoted inside a couple of quotes too. If you see your mistake, go back and fix it.

I fixed another mistake, back on page one. ;D

 

[joraft]

First, I'd like to say that of the dozens of forums I've participated in over the years, the spelling, grammar and general readability of the posts here is the best I've ever seen. I think that may say something about the type of person most likely to become addicted to Festool products. 

Secondly, I do understand and agree with the point made that some may be hesitant to post if their writing is criticized in any way. I also know from experience that some folks can become easily offended when corrected, and that no one likes the "word police". However, the flip side to that is that after a while we do get to know the writing styles of the participants in any forum, and we will tend to skip the postings of those who are difficult to understand. Especially when our available time is short (always) we will go through and click on only the posts of those we know are usually easy to read and usually have interesting things to say. 

The bottom line, while we shouldn't worry about every typo, I think pointing out how we can make ourselves better understood can probably do more good than harm. 

John

 

[nickao]

I have one objection.

Strike rule #2.

Per and dirtydeeds are just two examples of people who make good use
of double spacing and if one of the issues behind making a list of rules is legibility
I don't see the problem.

Well I totally disagree!

I can not follow the logic of double spacing every line. If I want to go back and find something Per or Dirty Deeds said it is a hassle. I have to re-read the entire post, instead of skimming and skipping the single line info I  don't want. Plus, if you double space every line in a nice length post it takes up an entire page. Don't confuse good content with good formatting, just because Per has something great to contribute does not make double spacing simpler to read.

I stand fast on this, Single space ideas together. Double space when going to your next idea. I just do not see how you can say double spacing everything is as readable as what I propose. It is not as easily readable to me at all.

Since these are suggestions you can do what you want, but striking #2 is wrong to me. It is one of my biggest aggravations when reading the posts. If Per did not have anything to say I wanted to hear, it would one one of the posts I just would skip over immediately. I just happened to be interested in his posts. I bet a lot of guests skip over them. Especially the longer double spaced posts. #2 is netiquette to me.

Nickao

 

[joraft]

I can not follow the logic of double spacing every line...

... Single space ideas together. Double space when going to your next idea...

I agree, Nick. I find the most readable posts to be those that are structured closest to the way most of us actually speak.

I see commas as representing a very slight pause in speech, periods a slight pause, a single space as a longer pause, and double spaces as a very long pause. If I knew someone that always took a very long pause between every sentence in their speech, I'd probably head the other way every time I saw them coming.

John

 

[The Woodentop]

Please girls, no squabbling! This is a woodworking forum specifically around FESTOOL. Jeez!

 

[nickao]

Woodentop I am cleaning the shop and squabbling is better than that darn dust! At least we are in the correct thread.

Nickao