# Do some people on this board simply not know how to quote others' posts? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 4, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-people-on-this-board-simply-not-know-how-to-quote-others-posts/649339 "2013-02-04T21:35:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-people-on-this-board-simply-not-know-how-to-quote-others-posts/649339/1 "2013-02-04T21:35:41Z")
I’ve seen a lot of venerable posters on this board do stuff like: Random Doper said: “I like pie!” As in, copying and pasting someone else’s post then putting quotation marks around it. After being on the SDMB for years, have these people simply missed the little “Quote” button at the bottom of everyone’s post? Just curious, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-people-on-this-board-simply-not-know-how-to-quote-others-posts/649339/2 "2013-02-04T21:43:42Z")
If it is very brief quote like that, the simple use of quotation marks often more appropriate (and looks better) than putting a ruddy great box around it. Just beacuse you say > [@](#): > > I like pie! , it does not mean I have to. Versus Just beacuse you say “I like pie!”, it does not mean I have to. Those were entered exactly the same, except for replacing quote tags in the first with quote marks in the second. IMHO, the second is much better. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-people-on-this-board-simply-not-know-how-to-quote-others-posts/649339/3 "2013-02-04T21:44:29Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > I’ve seen a lot of venerable posters on this board do stuff like: > > Random Doper said: > “I like pie!” > > As in, copying and pasting someone else’s post then putting quotation marks around it. After being on the SDMB for years, have these people simply missed the little “Quote” button at the bottom of everyone’s post? > > Just curious, that’s all. How do you quote someone’s post? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-people-on-this-board-simply-not-know-how-to-quote-others-posts/649339/4 "2013-02-04T21:50:38Z")
There are posters who object to how the quote boxes work, including the “Originally posted by” tagline in the quote itself and not set off from the rest of the quote itself. It’s probably the same people that insisted on the ban on altering quotes, even when it’s obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-people-on-this-board-simply-not-know-how-to-quote-others-posts/649339/5 "2013-02-04T22:08:45Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > It’s probably the same people that insisted on the ban on altering quotes, even when it’s obvious. Since this happened many years before you joined the board, how do you know this?:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-people-on-this-board-simply-not-know-how-to-quote-others-posts/649339/6 "2013-02-04T22:27:03Z")
> [@Agent Foxtrot](#): > > > [@Agent Foxtrot](#): > > > > > [@Agent Foxtrot](#): > > > > > > > [@Agent Foxtrot](#): > > > > > > > > > [@Agent Foxtrot](#): > > > > > > > > > > > [@Agent Foxtrot](#): > > > > > > > > > > > > > [@Agent Foxtrot](#): > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [@Agent Foxtrot](#): > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [@Agent Foxtrot](#): > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [@Agent Foxtrot](#): > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [@Agent Foxtrot](#): > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [@Agent Foxtrot](#): > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [@Agent Foxtrot](#): > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [@Agent Foxtrot](#): > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Do > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > some > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > people > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > on > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > this > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > board > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > simply > > > > > > > > > > > > > > not > > > > > > > > > > > > know > > > > > > > > > > how > > > > > > > > to > > > > > > quote > > > > others’ > > posts? How could anyone not? ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-people-on-this-board-simply-not-know-how-to-quote-others-posts/649339/7 "2013-02-04T22:38:46Z")
[quote=“Vinyl\_Turnip, post:6, topic:649339”] How could anyone not?/QUOTE] I know right. I don’t see how anyone could mess it up using the quote button. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-people-on-this-board-simply-not-know-how-to-quote-others-posts/649339/8 "2013-02-04T22:50:55Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-people-on-this-board-simply-not-know-how-to-quote-others-posts/649339/9 "2013-02-04T22:55:16Z")
I too have heard the explanation that some people don’t like the way the quote function functions. Though I don’t remember the reasons. Chronos explained his reasons here if I remember correctly. Maybe it had something to do with the way they were searchable? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-people-on-this-board-simply-not-know-how-to-quote-others-posts/649339/10 "2013-02-04T23:12:14Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > How could anyone not? Vinyl, no one could call you an “empty nester.” ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-people-on-this-board-simply-not-know-how-to-quote-others-posts/649339/11 "2013-02-04T23:17:10Z")
We have one poster here who thinks this is Usenet. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-people-on-this-board-simply-not-know-how-to-quote-others-posts/649339/12 "2013-02-04T23:20:30Z")
I do know how to quote other people’s posts, but when I’m at school, it doesn’t work out quite right, so it ends up getting a bit messed up. I hope this hasn’t caused any problems. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-people-on-this-board-simply-not-know-how-to-quote-others-posts/649339/13 "2013-02-04T23:25:08Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > I too have heard the explanation that some people don’t like the way the quote function functions. Though I don’t remember the reasons. Chronos explained his reasons here if I remember correctly. Maybe it had something to do with the way they were searchable? He thinks it’s different than the way things were 20 years ago, or something like that. Damn technology, always changing! Or maybe he just likes the way “quoth” looks. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-people-on-this-board-simply-not-know-how-to-quote-others-posts/649339/14 "2013-02-04T23:56:28Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I do know how to quote other people’s posts, but when I’m at school, it doesn’t work out quite right, so it ends up getting a bit messed up. . That’s what the “preview” function is for. If you don’t like the way it looks, either fix it or don’t post it. ---
**Author:** ![splatterpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@splatterpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/splatterpunk)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-people-on-this-board-simply-not-know-how-to-quote-others-posts/649339/15 "2013-02-05T01:55:59Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > We have one poster here who thinks this is Usenet. It’s actually worse than that. He _knows_ this isn’t Usenet, yet he painstakingly attempts to mimic Usenet when quoting other posters. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-people-on-this-board-simply-not-know-how-to-quote-others-posts/649339/16 "2013-02-05T02:00:55Z")
Turnip, that is a work of art. sad and wrong, but art! ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-people-on-this-board-simply-not-know-how-to-quote-others-posts/649339/17 "2013-02-05T07:54:55Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > I’ve seen a lot of venerable posters on this board do stuff like: > > Random Doper said: > “I like pie!” > > As in, copying and pasting someone else’s post then putting quotation marks around it. After being on the SDMB for years, have these people simply missed the little “Quote” button at the bottom of everyone’s post? > > Just curious, that’s all. > [@John\_Mace](#): > > How do you quote someone’s post? > [@BigT](#): > > There are posters who object to how the quote boxes work, including the “Originally posted by” tagline in the quote itself and not set off from the rest of the quote itself. It’s probably the same people that insisted on the ban on altering quotes, even when it’s obvious. Leet quoters use the multi-post button. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-people-on-this-board-simply-not-know-how-to-quote-others-posts/649339/18 "2013-02-05T13:27:28Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > That’s what the “preview” function is for. If you don’t like the way it looks, either fix it or don’t post it. Thanks! (I’m at school now. Hey, it looks like the quoting thing works. 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-people-on-this-board-simply-not-know-how-to-quote-others-posts/649339/19 "2013-02-05T13:48:30Z")
We’ve got it easy here. Most people I correspond with in email will top-post, instead of bottom-posting like we do here. A bit annoying having to switch between one and the other. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-people-on-this-board-simply-not-know-how-to-quote-others-posts/649339/20 "2013-02-05T18:39:43Z")
I don’t remember who, but I’ve seen some posters who regularly quote other posters by actually retyping the entire post. You could tell because of inadvertent spelling errors that were introduced in the quote that weren’t in the original post. So not only do some posters not know how to use the quote tags, but some don’t even know how to copy-paste. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-people-on-this-board-simply-not-know-how-to-quote-others-posts/649339.md?page=2)