Using the QUOTE Feature - going overboard

Paul Motter · #1 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2009, 09:16 AM

Quote:

USING

THE QUOTE

FEATURE

JUST

MAKES

LONG

AREAS

PEOPLE

HAVE TO

SCROLL

PAST

I Just want to point out that it is NOT necessary to quote entire messages just because you are replying. All it does is take up a vast amount of space which people have to scroll past to get to your post.

If you just read a 10-paragraph post are you really going to read it again just because someone quoted in the next post?

It doesn't make sense. I don't understand why people do this.

green_rd · #2 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2009, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Motter

I Just want to point out that it is NOT necessary to quote entire messages just because you are replying.

So we should just do this instead?

CruzNut · #3 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2009, 08:02 PM

These quoters think others have a short attention span!

Ron · #4 (**permalink**) May 13th, 2009, 08:21 PM

I am not guilty of quoting--now listen to me--I did not have quotes with that girl ( or man )

Seriously I agree. I don't use the quotes at all. People can read for themselves without me reproducing something they have already read.

Triton · #5 (**permalink**) May 14th, 2009, 01:26 PM

I agree. I don't mind a one or two sentence quote, but good Lord, some quotes are a bloody page and a half! :evil:

Since we're on the subject, what I don't understand is quoting a quote of a quote of a quote. We're talking a 1-minute scroll. Oh well...

Manuel · #6 (**permalink**) May 28th, 2009, 04:12 AM

People do have short attention spans, so there are some cases where a quote might be in order.

TM

Rev22:17 · #7 (**permalink**) June 1st, 2009, 06:39 PM

Bob,

Quote:

Originally Posted by You

So we should just do this instead?

It seems best to quote just the specific portion(s) of the previous post to which you are actually responding, as in this example. Note that I copied only your question, and not the quotation embedded in your post that preceded it.

And if you are responding to more than one part of a previous post, it helps to put each part in a separate box followed by your response thereto.

FWIW, you can use quote boxes for quotations from other sources, too, by putting the appropriate attribution in the "quote" tag. For example,

[quote="Norm"[i][/i]]I don't believe in miracles. I rely on them.[/quote]

produces

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norm

I don't believe in miracles. I rely on them.

in the display.

Norm.

Trip · #8 (**permalink**) June 7th, 2009, 06:26 PM

To be honest, to quote the entire post, just to answer, has always boggled my mind, and a quote within a quote, within a quote is just annoying...

A sentence or two, is fine but c'mon

Manuel · #9 (**permalink**) June 9th, 2009, 12:12 PM

Paul, can we quote you on that?

TM

Mike M · #10 (**permalink**) July 14th, 2009, 12:33 PM

I can see the benefit of quoting the original post in a thread when the thread has gone off track or is has a large number of responses.

I do not see the point in quoting a quote within a quote......etc. Plus most people mess it up and their reply is lost within the quote so it looks like it just a bunch of quotes within a quote.

I also cannot understand large fonts on a response. Some people say it's because it's easier for "them" to see. That doesn't make sense since the larger quote doesn't show up until "after" they post. I guess they only want to read their own posts.

Take care,
Mike

Paul Motter · #11 (**permalink**) July 27th, 2009, 12:51 PM

Seriously... when you see some 12-inches of quoted quotes in any message, don't you tend to not only skip the quotes, but also the whole message?

If someone intends to comment on everything a person said, then I think they have far too much time on their hands for me to get involved.

Quote:

ONLY QUOTE THE PART YOU WANT TO REPLY TO.

That's what I think.

Manuel · #12 (**permalink**) July 31st, 2009, 07:51 PM

Paul, I will keep your advice in mind. I have been guilty of using the quotes in the past.

TM

Rev22:17 · #13 (**permalink**) August 21st, 2009, 06:18 PM

Mike,

Quote:

Originally Posted by You

I can see the benefit of quoting the original post in a thread when the thread has gone off track or is has a large number of responses.

I do not see the point in quoting a quote within a quote......etc. Plus most people mess it up and their reply is lost within the quote so it looks like it just a bunch of quotes within a quote.

If you quote the specific question or point to which you are responding, it makes it much easier for the reader to make the connection between the original comment and the response. This is particularly true when a thread spays into several strands of conversation or when addressing a specific remark in a single post that's several paragraphs long, but it's helpful even when threads grow to a few relatively short posts.

Norm.

Nurse Debra · #14 (**permalink**) August 23rd, 2009, 11:04 PM

Paul,

Thanks for the tip. I know that I have been guilty of quoting too many posts and I will make an effort to cut that way down.

The posts that are the very worst are the ones that not only quote the whole post but then for some reason feel a need to parse the post line by line and then seem unable to control themselves and feel compelled to respond to each and every point in the original post. These kinds of posts waste space on the web site and also waste the reader's time in trying to wade through the posts.

Debra

DocJohnB · #15 (**permalink**) August 25th, 2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by green_rd

So we should just do this instead?

perzactly!!!!!